Car Dealership Deceptions: Unveiling the Tricks Used by Salesmen

Car purchasing can be a daunting experience, often marred by the misleading and often unethical tactics used by car salesmen. These techniques are designed not to serve the customer’s best interests, but rather to maximize profits for the dealership. In this article, we will delve into the most prevalent and least visible tactics that car salesmen employ, and how you can protect yourself against them.

The Advocacy Trap: The Pretense of a Advocate

One of the most common tricks is the salesman's pretense of being your advocate. They try to create a friendly and supportive atmosphere to persuade their manager to offer you lower prices. However, behind the facade, they are solely focused on maximizing profits. This strategy is often rehearsed and orchestrated, as the primary objective is to squeeze as much money as possible from you. Once they have your signature, their genuine interest quickly wanes, and they move on to the next potential customer.

Here are a few real-life instances that illustrate this:

A False Display of Empathy: During one encounter, a salesman told me he could tell a lot from my signature. Based on that, he claimed I was embarrassed to be my father’s son. This was an easy walkout as it was clear he was not genuine.

Unwanted Labels and Relationship Building: Another salesman called me 'boy' instead of my name, and when I informed him I wasn’t interested, I left without any sale.

Untruthful Requests: A request for a down payment to bring a car in from another location turned out to be a lie. I got my down payment back when it was revealed he was fibbing.

The Smarter But Sneaky Game: The Honesty Trap

The most insidious tactic is one often perceived as the opposite of deception: the salesperson and sales manager’s earnest and cordial demeanor. This strategy can be particularly difficult to detect because it is based on transparency and honesty. However, behind the facade, the salesperson knows all the tricks and uses them to their advantage. Here’s a personal experience:

While browsing at a Cadillac dealership, I was convinced to purchase a new car without much resistance. When the price discussion started, the dealer handed me an invoice and suggested I choose my car and pay the profit. With all the other tricks, I found myself with no arguments left. The worst part is, they are so sneaky that it's hard to discern their real intentions.

The Greater Good: Manufacturers and Consumer Protection

It is essential for car manufacturers to step up and establish stricter regulations for dealerships. The domination of unethical practices by car dealerships can overshadow even the best vehicle features. Consumers are continuously victims of scams, some of which are widely known and fraudulent.

Dealer Scams: Real-Life Examples

Here are a few examples of prevalent dealer scams:

New York Scam (2015): This scam, still ongoing, sees dealerships raking in an average of $700,000 a year from a single scam. The scam involves hidden charges and a lack of transparency in the pricing process. Consumers are given shiny new cars, but behind the scenes, hidden fees are added to inflate the final price.

Florida Dealer Scam: Crooked dealers in Florida use underhanded tactics to deceive consumers, from deceptive pricing to outright fraud. The impact on consumers is significant, as they are left with vehicles they didn't fully understand the cost of, often with additional hidden charges.

Hidden Charges: One of the most prevalent issues is the inclusion of hidden costs in the pricing of cars. Dealerships often add fees for warranties, insurance, and other services, which can substantially increase the total cost. Consumers should demand full disclosure and transparency in the pricing process.

Conclusion: Empowerment Through Knowledge

By understanding the common tricks used by car salesmen and remaining vigilant, consumers can protect themselves from being taken advantage of. It is crucial for both manufacturers and consumers to advocate for fair practices and transparent pricing. Car purchasing should be a rewarding experience, not a trap. Manufacturers need to step up and actively monitor dealerships to ensure fair practices and protect consumers.