Difference between revisions of "Buy a New Car Through Fleet Sales"
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===Communicating With Fleet Sales Departments=== | ===Communicating With Fleet Sales Departments=== | ||
| − | #Contact local dealerships. It can be a little tricky, however, because retail salesman may attempt to divert your shopping to their own department and might even pretend to be fleet salesmen. For this reason, it’s best to identify who the fleet manager of the dealership is before calling the dealership.<ref>http://beatthecarsalesman.com/secret-fleet.html</ref> | + | #Contact local dealerships. It can be a little tricky, however, because retail salesman may attempt to divert your shopping to their own department and might even pretend to be fleet salesmen. For this reason, it’s best to identify who the fleet manager of the dealership is before calling the dealership.<ref name="rf1">http://beatthecarsalesman.com/secret-fleet.html</ref> |
#*Ask the operator or receptionist for the name of the fleet manager. If you are asked why you wish to know the fleet manager's name, say that you're doing research for your company's upcoming car purchase. | #*Ask the operator or receptionist for the name of the fleet manager. If you are asked why you wish to know the fleet manager's name, say that you're doing research for your company's upcoming car purchase. | ||
#*Be as insistent as you need to be. Once you get the name, ask to speak to the manager and tell him/her that you are interested in buying a car soon. Give a specific time frame (for instance, three days) to show that you're serious. | #*Be as insistent as you need to be. Once you get the name, ask to speak to the manager and tell him/her that you are interested in buying a car soon. Give a specific time frame (for instance, three days) to show that you're serious. | ||
#*Call during regular weekday business hours. Fleet managers and salesmen deal with businesses, which usually operate on that schedule.<ref>https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/220323</reF> | #*Call during regular weekday business hours. Fleet managers and salesmen deal with businesses, which usually operate on that schedule.<ref>https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/220323</reF> | ||
| − | #*If the manager asks which business you're affiliated with, give the name of the company you work for.<ref | + | #*If the manager asks which business you're affiliated with, give the name of the company you work for.<ref name="rf1" /> Don't lie, however, and say the car is for business use when it's not. Fleet managers are often allowed to sell to private buyers, and if you handle the process professionally, the manager should have no problem doing business with you. |
#List your requirements.<Ref>https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/220323</reF> Phone, fax, or email your specification to the fleet departments or managers at several dealers with a request for bids. Again, be sure it gets to the fleet department by using specific names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of fleet department managers or salespeople. | #List your requirements.<Ref>https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/220323</reF> Phone, fax, or email your specification to the fleet departments or managers at several dealers with a request for bids. Again, be sure it gets to the fleet department by using specific names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of fleet department managers or salespeople. | ||
#*Note on the request for bids that you would like their best price and that you are asking other dealers. This should help shorten the process. | #*Note on the request for bids that you would like their best price and that you are asking other dealers. This should help shorten the process. | ||
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#Don’t settle for anything less than what you want. Find a dealership that offers exactly what you're looking for.<Ref>https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/220323</reF> Your area, as far as car dealerships are concerned, should be pretty big. If you can save $500 or $1000 or more by going to another dealership, or get something much closer to what you want, it can be well worth a one-time drive to a dealer a few towns away. | #Don’t settle for anything less than what you want. Find a dealership that offers exactly what you're looking for.<Ref>https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/220323</reF> Your area, as far as car dealerships are concerned, should be pretty big. If you can save $500 or $1000 or more by going to another dealership, or get something much closer to what you want, it can be well worth a one-time drive to a dealer a few towns away. | ||
#*Wait for the various dealerships to respond with a quotation and compare the offers. Read each offer carefully. | #*Wait for the various dealerships to respond with a quotation and compare the offers. Read each offer carefully. | ||
| − | #Close the deal. Another unique thing about dealing with fleet sales is that a fleet manager or salesperson can do everything -- sell the car and arrange financing -- without the cryptic consultations between the retail and financing departments that you'd experience otherwise.<ref>http://www.roadandtravel.com/carcare/fleetcarbuying.htm</ref> If you haven't arranged your own financing, the fleet sales department can help you. However, be prepared to make a cash purchase, since many fleet sales departments expect you will. | + | #Close the deal. Another unique thing about dealing with fleet sales is that a fleet manager or salesperson can do everything -- sell the car and arrange financing -- without the cryptic consultations between the retail and financing departments that you'd experience otherwise.<ref name="rf2">http://www.roadandtravel.com/carcare/fleetcarbuying.htm</ref> If you haven't arranged your own financing, the fleet sales department can help you. However, be prepared to make a cash purchase, since many fleet sales departments expect you will. |
#Apply for a fleet number.<ReF>http://fieldservice.com/2012/07/20/seven-secrets-to-getting-the-best-price-on-fleet-vehicles/</reF> If you’re buying a number of cars through fleet sales for your business and plan on doing so again in the future, you should get a fleet number. The fleet number will enable you to qualify for deeper discounts than you would as a private purchaser. When you get a fleet number from the automaker, you can use it in future purchases to smooth the transaction. | #Apply for a fleet number.<ReF>http://fieldservice.com/2012/07/20/seven-secrets-to-getting-the-best-price-on-fleet-vehicles/</reF> If you’re buying a number of cars through fleet sales for your business and plan on doing so again in the future, you should get a fleet number. The fleet number will enable you to qualify for deeper discounts than you would as a private purchaser. When you get a fleet number from the automaker, you can use it in future purchases to smooth the transaction. | ||
#*Contact the auto manufacturer you’re interested in purchasing from in order to apply for a fleet number. | #*Contact the auto manufacturer you’re interested in purchasing from in order to apply for a fleet number. | ||
