My Experience

I went into the industry to learn the tricks of the trade so I could use them for your advantage.

After I graduated college I went to work in the auto industry in order to learn the behind the scenes information that the industry doesn’t want consumers to know. Specifically I focused in on car sales as it is a central aspect of the industry that touches everything from sales and negotiations to finances, and even repairs and maintenance. I wanted to know what the sales people were being taught to do to manipulate you into buying their vehicle for as high of a price as they could charge. With this information I am now able to help you navigate without falling prey to their gimmicks.

The first sales lot I worked for was a stereotypical used car lot. While my time there opened my eyes to how slimy sales can be, it did not provide any opportunities to really see behind the curtain into the how and why of the system. The main thing I learned is that I would never let any of my family or friends buy from such an establishment, nor would I let any of my clients. I have started curating a list of dealerships who treat their customers with respect specifically to avoid such situations as those I witnessed. My database is comprised of information about how the shop interacts with women, including the make up of their work force throughout various positions.

I fairly quickly moved to a lot that had a much better reputation, but it still is an aggressive sales environment. My time at this second lot gave me an opportunity to experience the multi-facetted world of auto sales. I learned their sales philosophy, was taught how to determine the value of a vehicle (via KBB/NADA), and then transitioned into financing. In the finance position I saw how dealerships take credit and their relationship with finance companies into consideration when you apply for a loan. I was also a part of drawing up the legal paperwork to finalize the legal sale of the vehicles. While I worked there I was also constantly observing how representatives of the industry interact with customers. I was disheartened to watch salespeople use terrible sales practices including bullying customers into a sale and lying about the quality of a vehicle. Now I want to be very clear—not everything they did was shady. I witnessed them being honest about book values and car history and offering customers a look at the mechanical work that had been done to a vehicle before it was put up for sale. While they were by no means the worse dealership on the block, my time there taught me invaluable hidden information that I now use to assist you in getting what you want for a reasonable price.