Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Busting Some Myths About The Automobile Business

As a 27 year veteran of the automobile business I've seen it all and heard it all. I still learn something new every day and I usually see something every day that makes me laugh and cry.This blog entry is meant to put a smile on your face while also busting some common myths and misconceptions about the Automobile business. By the way if there are any really good and funny screenwriters out there a car dealership would make a great setting for a sitcom. I see the next Cheers or Taxi. I'm only missing one thing, talent!



Myth # 1 - Salespeople can't be trusted and are liars - I've met and worked with hundreds of salespeople over the years and, for the most part, they are hardworking family men and women who would never purposely mislead a customer and most do try to help a customer with their automotive needs. There are a few, however, that have given our business a bad name but I can count on my hand the number I've personally met. If you go to a dealership and you don't like or trust the salesperson just ask the manager to have someone else help you. Usually they will accommodate you and the chances are good that the next person will be helpful and courteous.

Myth # 2 - Go into a dealership on the last day of the month and you'll steal a car. I've heard this one forever and it's just not true - It is true that dealers work on a monthly basis and will sometimes offer something to entice you to do the deal towards the end of the month (although the deals at the beginning of the month are equally important so you can also get a great deal then). The last day of the month, however, is the worst day, in my opinion, to try to buy a car. First off, all the salespeople are running around delivering the customers that have already bought cars earlier and this is probably when most customers have a problem with salespeople. Their minds are on making sure they handled everything needed for their deliveries and will ask things like,"are you ready to buy now?" and not take any time with you if you aren't. The other issue is selection and approval with the bank. It sometimes is just too late to make the deal work before the dealership closes so if you want to get a great deal on a vehicle just be a good negotiator at any time of the month and get your best price then. Also there really is less room in many vehicles than there are in others so generally dealerships will offer you a price that is fair when you're in the showroom at any time of the month. (Except for those select salespeople we mentioned earlier)

Myth # 3- Customers who come into the showroom and say they don't like the back and forth just want a bottom line price the first time out - Actually the opposite is true. If a customer comes in and says they don't like the back and forth, generally, they initiate the back and forth and continue it all the way through the transaction. It's actually quite funny to see the salesperson's face as soon as someone says they don't like the back and forth because the salesperson knows they're in for a long ride!

Myth # 4 - Coming into a dealership is scary and intimidating - Well I guess that myth is true. Sorry. We're just scary!

Myth # 5 - If you shop on the Internet you should go with the dealer that offers the cheapest price - This is my pet myth. Actually, generally speaking, a customer should disregard the lowest and the highest quotes. You also have to be careful that you are comparing apples to apples. If the cheapest quote didn't include the destination charge and the next best quote did, then the cheapest quote is more expensive. Also, many dealers have extra charges that could add up to make the lowest quote the highest so go with the dealer that you like on the phone as long as the pricing is close. Chances are if they're nice and courteous on the phone they will also be in person. Remember initial price is just a small part of what makes a good deal.

I'll have some more myth busters in the future. Contact us at www.precisionacura.com or email me at mitchell@precisionacura.com for any suggestions you may have.

Mitchell Brenner
eCommerce Manager
Precision Acura of Princeton
Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Supporting The Educated Consumer



The process of selling cars today has changed in just 10 short years. In the not so recent past, consumers found the closest automotive dealers oftentimes through the Yellow Pages, Newspapers, and local cable advertising. Today, auto shoppers have many more options in doing their research for a purchase, including sophisticated Web sites that personalize a dealership and bring to life the beauty of driving a luxury vehicle. Our website is also optimized for the MobileWeb where you can search inventory, see videos and photos, request a quote, and contact us right from your mobile phone.

You can also follow our Facebook, Twitter, Blog, You Tube and My Space pages so researching your vehicle, and our dealership, has never been easier!



As the recipient of the highest levels of sales and service excellence awards an Acura dealer can receive, Precision Acura of Princeton has changed the way people shop for automobiles. With the goal of reducing the stress of buying a car, we offer many online tools to help our educated consumers.

It starts with our state-of-the-art Web site www.precisionacura.com
where we are open 24/7, and are designed to easily walk you through the purchase of any pre-owned vehicle or a new Acura.


"Consumers have a choice," says Mitchell Brenner, the e-Commerce Manager at the
Lawrenceville Acura dealership. "Instead of settling for cookie cutter lease and purchase deals that are usually not what the customer wants, or needs, we will customize each deal to fit each customer. We offer no hassle, no haggle pricing through our dedicated Internet Sales Team".

"Each vehicle in our new inventory also offers an e-Price button which will generate an Internet Price Quote instantly. Just look for it in your inbox!" Mitchell adds.

"Our Pre-Owned inventory is set to sell and our e-Price is listed right on the site!" Mitchell says.

"As price is only a very small part of the purchase selection, and with so many choices available, we do recommend a visit to the dealership to make sure you make the right choice on the right vehicle at the right deal." he says.

Our state-of-the-art Web site was created to give clients access to information about each Acura model prior to walking into our showroom. High-resolution photographs of Precision's entire inventory - both New and Pre-Owned - can be found on the Web site with detailed descriptions of the features and options on each model. The site is a customer-friendly interface for people seeking information on just one model or to do feature comparison shopping. We also have live video of most of our pre-owned inventory on our website with new inventory coming soon.

The Precision Acura Web site offers:


e-Pricing -
Use our e-Price tool to get an instant Internet Only, Hassle Free, Haggle Free purchase price delivered straight to your email inbox. Just go to the vehicle of your choice and click e-Price, fill out the form and your done!

Appointment Scheduling
- Use the Web site to schedule your next Service Appointment or Test Drive, Product Consultation, Leasing Inquiries and Finance Questions.

Value Your Trade-In
- Prior to walking into the Precision dealership, you can visit our Kelley Blue Book Trade-In Values page to get a Kelley Blue Book Value on your automobile online. You would then make an appointment for us to see your vehicle to give you an official appraisal!
Reserve Loaner Cars - We offer free Acura loaner cars with any scheduled service (Must Be Reserved At The Time Of Scheduling of Appointment.)*

Service - Make sure to check out our Service Specials for discounts on many of our most popular services.

Parts and Accessories -
We offer many Specials on our parts and accessories. You can also order parts and accessories right online with our Acura eStore.

Many of our customers say they would never go anywhere else to buy or service their vehicles. We want to earn the same respect from you." Stop in and and let us show you how easy we are to do business with. You are the entire reason we turn on the lights and open the doors."


Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Cash For Clunkers - A Dealership Perspective


I'm not a political person so this blog entry is going to be simply about how the Cash For Clunkers worked from my perspective as a car dealership employee.

First off, we were not very big players in the Clunker deals as Acura only had one sedan that even qualified. (The 2009 RDX SUV also qualified but nobody inquired for that one) The 2010 Acura TSX was the vehicle we had the only action on. We ended up doing about ten Clunker deals and, from my perspective, that was more than enough.

I seriously don't know what the dealers that were doing hundreds of these deals did. Each deal, when the computer system was working correctly, took about two hours to submit. Our last deal took almost ten hours with the system down and continuing to try to get it in. I finally took the paperwork home and got it submitted at 1am EST. For the dealers that did the hundreds, did they have to send all their employees home to each do five deals or did they have to work through the night?

The main problem, I feel, is that they rushed to get this program out and had no time to set up the infrastructure to get it done correctly. I know from my years of experience working in dealerships and on the web that websites take time to develop and implement. There's also glitches and problems with any new website. How did they expect a website this detailed, with hundreds of thousands of submissions, to be able to handle the flow in just thirty days. It was never realistic from day one.

Our first deal was submitted in July and we still haven't been paid on any of it or any others. Again, we only did about ten. What are the dealers that did hundreds doing with what could be hundreds of thousands of dollars outstanding. It seems like a lot to ask a business owner to accept especially with all the responsibility falling on the dealer and not the consumer. What if a dealer who did 100 Clunker deals gets rejected on 30%. That's an awful lot of money to risk losing. Was it worth it to him? I can't imagine how!

What are your thoughts? How did Cash For Clunkers effect you as consumers or dealers?

Thank You,

Mitchell Brenner
e-Commerce Manager
Precision Acura of Princeton
www.precisionacura.com
Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

We are looking to purchase high quality used cars

Our Pre-Owned manager, Curt Brown, just informed me that he needs quality pre-owned vehicles for his pre-owned inventory. Does your vehicle fit this description? Now would be the perfect time to come in to have a professional appraisal done on your Vehicle and let one of our senior product consultants take you on a no obligation test drive on the new Acura of your choice.

With my Pre-Owned Manager's need for quality Pre-Owned Vehicles, maybe we could lease or sell you a new Acura for less than you're currently paying per month?

Even if you don't choose to purchase or lease an Acura, we need your vehicle!

Please contact Curt Brown directly at 800 644 2813 or email him at cbrown@precisionacura.com. No walk-ins. By appointment only! Top dollar paid for the right vehicles!


Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Friday, August 7, 2009

Welcome To The Premier Issue Of The Precision Acura eNewsletter

Acura Type SImage by mrmatt via Flickr

Welcome to the first edition of our Precision Acura of Princeton eNewsletter. This monthly e-newsletter is another example of our continuous efforts to provide our customers with the latest and greatest information surrounding our dealership.

http://www.imninc.com/precisionacura/
Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Car Allowance Rebate System


CARS - Cash for

Clunkers

Information

"CARS" (Car Allowance Rebate System), also known as "Cash for Clunkers", or "Cash for Guzzlers" is a Government program operated by the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) to offer U.S. drivers an incentive to purchase a new, more fuel-efficient, vehicle. This will get more new cars on the road, and get old gas-guzzling models off them.

There are a few requirements to receive the $3,500 or $4,500 credit. These include:

* Your vehicle must be less than 25 years old on the trade-in date
* Only purchase or lease of new vehicles qualify
* Generally, trade-in vehicles must get 18 or less MPG (some very large pick-up trucks and cargo vans have different requirements)
* Trade-in vehicles must be registered and insured continuously for the full year preceding the trade-in
* You don't need a voucher, dealers will apply a credit at purchase
* Program runs through Nov 1, 2009 or when the funds are exhausted, whichever comes first.
* The vehicle that you are trading in is required to be destroyed. Therefore, the value you negotiate with the dealer for your trade in is not likely to exceed its scrap value. The law requires the dealer to disclose to you an estimate of the scrap value of your trade-in vehicle.

There are other stipulations for work trucks.

We are a participating dealer of the

Cash for Clunkers

program!

We are happy to be a participating dealer in this program! You may use this program to receive credit on either a purchase or a lease of a new vehicle through us if you are trading in a qualifying model. We are happy to answer any questions you may have, so please call us with any concerns!

When you stop in, we'll take a look at your vehicle and determine which cars on our lot will qualify for the CARS credit. Because of our wide selection and large inventory, you should have a number of vehicles to choose from. You can browse our current inventory of new cars here. Call us today or visit us in person. We'll make the entire process easy for you!

If you would like us to contact you regarding the Cash for Clunkers program and help you determine if your vehicle is eligible, just fill out our contact form and we'll be in touch.

http://www.precisionacura.com/car-allowance-rebate-system.htm
Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Not Even For a Minute Campaign




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

07/13/2009

Precision Acura of Princeton, NJ CAR Partner with DCF on "Not Even For a Minute" Campaign

Safety campaign reminds parents, caretakers to never leave a child unattended in a car
Lawrenceville, N.J. - Precision Acura of Princeton and various members of the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers (NJ CAR) are partnering this summer with the state Department of Children and Families (DCF) to promote New Jersey's "Not Even for a Minute" public awareness campaign, which urges parents and caretakers to never leave children unattended in a vehicle, where temperatures can rise to dangerous levels, especially in warmer summer months.

"Thanks to this partnership with car dealerships all across the state, we can reach more families than ever before. Parents and caregivers must know that an unspeakable tragedy can happen in a manner of minutes," DCF Commissioner Ricketts said. "The message is simple - no matter how busy you get, you must never leave a child in a vehicle unattended."

DCF has partnered with the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers (NJ CAR) to help spread this lifesaving message to families all across the state. Through this partnership, 90 dealerships - including Precision Acura of Princeton - have stepped up to participate in this campaign and offered to distribute posters, strip cards, and newly developed car window clings in both English and Spanish. A list of all participating dealerships can be found here: http://www.njcar.org/.

"We are very excited about this opportunity to help DCF reach families with this lifesaving message," Drew Sciaulino, VP of Precision Acura of Princeton, said. "The safety of the families we serve here at Precision Acura of Princeton are paramount, and we are glad to help in this effort to prevent children from being harmed."

Precision Acura of Princeton will be spreading the word with e-Mail blasts, on our website, Blogs, Facebook, Twitter and articles in our eNewsletter.

"New car and truck retailers throughout New Jersey have always been among the first to lend their support when a community needs to promote an important message and none is more important than the safety of our children," James B. Appleton, President of NJ CAR, said.


"Dealers want consumers and their families to enjoy their vehicles and there is no better way than to promote car safety, from proper car-seat installation and wearing seatbelts to the dangers of intense temperatures that an enclosed vehicle can reach during the summer months. NJ CAR is very proud of the dealers participating in this very important program."

A child left alone in a vehicle, even for a short time, is in danger of abduction, injury, dehydration and even death. Approximately 40 children die each year in the United States, and hundreds more are injured, from hyperthermia after being left unattended in a vehicle, according to a study published Pediatrics, the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. One child died in New Jersey after being left in a vehicle last summer.

That same study noted that the temperature in a call can rise upwards of 19 degrees in just 10 minutes. The temperature inside a car can get dangerously hot, even in moderate weather with the windows slightly down.

"Not Even For a Minute" outlines tips for parents to help keep kids safe around cars, including:
Never leave a child unattended in a car. Not even for a minute.
Always lock your car and secure the keys so that your kids can't get to them.
Warn your children about playing in and around cars.
Install a trunk release mechanism so that kids can't get trapped inside the trunk.
Get your kids out of the car first, and then worry about unloading the groceries and items out of the car.

For more information on Precision Acura of Princeton and how you can access materials available at this location, please contact: Mitchell Brenner the e-Commerce Manager at Precision Acura of Princeton.

For more information on the state's "Not Even for a Minute" campaign, please contact the DCF Office of Communications at 609-292-0422 and visit the DCF Web site at: http://www.nj.gov/dcf/safety/campaigns/car.html.

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Precision Acura of Princeton Goes Mobile

His and Hers BlackBerries (BlackBerrys)Image by SheepGuardingLlama via Flickr


Precision Acura of Princeton has joined the millions of people who use their phones to surf the net. On our brand new Mobile site you can search our new and pre-owned inventory, request a quote, contact us, and much more. Check out our website at www.precisionacura.com on your Mobile Device!

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Monday, June 29, 2009

Precision Acura of Princeton


Precision Acura of Princeton is a Premier New and Used Acura Dealer - Serving Lawrenceville, East Brunswick, Bridgewater and Trenton, New Jersey. We also serve Langhorne, Pa with great service and a friendly face. Precision Acura of Princeton is your New Jersey Luxury Acura car dealer in Lawrenceville, NJ. Precision Acura exhibits a wide range of New Acuras including the all New; RL, TL, TSX, MDX, RDX and Certified Pre-Owned Acuras, Used Cars and Trucks. Specializing in Acura Sales, Acura Finance, Acura Service, and Acura Parts, we provide you with the world class service you deserve while providing you with the best price possible in the Trenton Area and throughout the States of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Our experienced sales staff is eager to share its knowledge and enthusiasm with you. We encourage you to browse our online inventory, schedule a test drive and investigate financing options, or schedule a service appointment online. You can also request more information about a vehicle using our online form or by calling 1-888-889-3321, from the Trenton, New Jersey, Philadelphia and New York City Metro areas.



Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Barbecue Season Is Here!

GrillingImage via Wikipedia


Although barbecuing is not truly what most of us do in our backyards, we use the term to encompass everything from grilling to smoking to real barbecuing. Regardless of what we call it, we love it! There's just nothing like the smell of a barbecue whether you're making burgers, steaks, hot dogs, or vegetables everything tastes better on a grill. Do you agree?

The 2010 Acura TSX is in stock

Just in time for summer, the new 2010 Acura TSX has arrived with a V6 engine coming soon! Visit us at www.precisionacura.com to check it out!
Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Welcome To Precision Acura's Blog

Precision Acura of Princeton welcomes all our loyal customers to join us on this blog. Let us know how you're doing, what you're up to, and how long you've been a loyal customer. We're just starting this blog and would love your input as to what you'd like to see here.