Which Car Buying Service Is Best for You?

Edmunds.com

Which Car Buying Service Is Best for You?

Using an expert to help you buy your next car can save you time, money and hassle.

Read the full story here

autobuyerdr

A 'good deal' is a relative thing - a noun preceded by a particular subjective adjective.

Any number of dangers exist for a buyer/consumer leading his or her auto retail pursuit based strictly upon price negotiation. One specific danger is clearly, "you get what you pay for". A product or service has a distinctive value, and the idea that competitive pricing can be avoided looms well for scammers and tricksters.

Second, discounting is but a single component of a good deal. Ask any consumer who bought a car for a great price and wound up in the service garage paying the difference and then some what they think about the great price in the end. A good deal has to meet many other parameters than just a big discount.

Third, a consumer and a consultant are the "must have" participants in the car buying process. Any online buying service, any concierge service, any brokerage or what have you would be hard pressed to replace 'the handshake' necessary to transact auto retail business. This being said, the relationship between the buyer and the seller becomes an important aspect of a good deal, too!

As an auto retail expert, I know Auto Retail Future (the evolution from physical dealer businesses to support physical consumer communities to mostly virtual dealer businesses to support mostly virtual consumer communities) will hinge heavily on the value of connecting consultants and consumers in this space.

As for the best deals, they will work themselves out. After all, each car deal must stand on its own merit - especially in Preowned consumer auto retail transactions (the fastest growing segment of the industry).

printerman1

car buying service? really??. you need to know what your habits for driving are, check the lemon aid guide, remember they are SALESmen/girls, they are SELLING you a car. They are NOT your friends. Do your research. Ask people who drive similar cars you like.

bharper766

How hipocritical is it of Edmunds.com to create a "Premier Dealer" program to recommend to consumers car dealers they should consider when purchasing a new or used vehicle and NOT disclose to the consumer that these dealers pay Edmunds.com to be considered one of these dealers? I have been a fan of Edmunds.com personally for over 15 years and have always respected their integrity as a consumer advocate website. But to me this violates that very integrity from which their integrity was built. There are quality car dealers, with employees who work their tails off daily to take home a living to their families, that are approached by Edmunds.com sales associates to pay them to be considered a "premier dealer" and the program does not disclose to the consumer that ONLY dealers who PAY Edmunds.com monthly can become a part of this program. Come on Edmunds.com! Full disclosure to consumers or you are no better than those you have been critical of over the years.

MarkHolthoff

To bharper766... We value your feedback and don’t in any way mean to deceive. We’ve tested the “Premier Dealer” presentation on our site with consumers, and most identify that those are dealers that are paying Edmunds to be highlighted on the site. Since “Premier Dealers” provide us with inventory content and offer a desired service to our customers (free price quotes, chat, etc.), we don’t put an advertisement label wherever dealers are listed. We have a team of folks across the country who are working with the “Premier Dealers” to share with them insights and best practices on how to best serve Edmunds shoppers. We are constantly looking for ways to improve our service and do whatever it takes to help customers find the car that meets their every need. We will keep your comments in mind.

You can find more information about our business practices published in our FAQs: http://www.edmunds.com/about/faqs.html