December 10th, 2009 by admin

Changing the Adversarial Nature of Car Sales
Consumers have an adversarial attitude towards car dealers, and I can’t say blame them. The retail auto industry has done so many things to create an atmosphere of confusion and intimidation that many car buyers understandably dread the buying experience. Not only do some dealerships encourage their sales staff to engage in dishonest tactics to fleece customers, many have proven themselves to be sexist as well. I always wondered how the salesmen for those particular dealerships came home at night and looked their wives or daughters in the eye. Being a dealer myself, I have encountered the best and worst that the business has to offer. While my turnover is quite low compared to most, I have hired sales associates with prior experience over the years. I have also fired more than a few of these “professionals” within a week of hiring them. Why, you ask? I don’t mean to sound trite, but I do business by the golden rule. As a result, I won’t tolerate dishonesty on the part of my sales staff or the condescending attitude that I notice many dealers and salespeople take toward their customers. I also refuse to use the dubious tactics that many dealers use to nickel and dime more profit out of every customer that enters their showroom. Now, let me tell you what the results of following the golden rule are… I don’t have an adversarial relationship with my customers. Sure, more than a few have stepped into one of my sales staff’s offices ready to do battle, but we quickly alleviate their anxiety by doing something that I can wholeheartedly recommend for any business. We give them honest, fair and respectful treatment. I know this might sound like a novel approach in the auto industry, but it’s the only way to do business in my opinion. If more dealerships would stop trying to treat every sale as though it were the last one they will ever make and concentrate on building a good repoire with their clientele, they would enjoy the success that I do. I would bet that my profit margin is, on average, a bit below that of most other dealerships. Still, I never have a shortage of customers, most of which return for their next purchase. Many of my long term customers will wait for me to find the car they are interested in before buying from another dealership. Why? Because they know that when they drive off my lot, they have been treated fairly and have received a good value for their money. More importantly, I can go home at night knowing I run an honest business and that I can take pride in considering myself part of the community I do business in. That’s worth a lot more to me than a few extra bucks. I wish more of my competitors felt this way as well, because it would benefit our industry as a whole to change our sales philosophy for the better. To learn more visit Spanos Imports of Daytona Florida visit http://www.spanosimports.com/
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Demystifying The Tire Sidewall Code
So, you need new tires for your car or truck, but how do you know what to buy? What do all those alphanumeric codes printed on the tire sidewalls mean, anyway? If you’re in the market for new tires, you may simply want to replace your worn tires with exactly the same tire it came with. But you MAY want to consider an upgrade. If you know how to read the tire sidewalls, chock full of valuable information, you’ve got an advantage over most people and are prepared to make an informed decision. So let’s get underway! Tire Size Markings (example: P215/65R15 89H) Broken down: P = Passenger Other designations are LT = Light Truck T = Temporary (spare tire) 215 is the width (in millimeters) of the tire from sidewall to sidewall. A wider tire has more grip but the bad news is that you lose fuel economy, hear more noise and the tires don’t work as well in the rain. 65 is the aspect ratio The aspect ratio is the ratio of sidewall height to tire width. With regards to aspect ratio, the larger the number, the taller the tire sidewall. Tall (60-75) is great for a quiet ride but causes howling in turns. Short (35-55) is better for handling–more for sports cars. R indicates Radial. This means it is constructed with a series of support belts sideways under the tread. Other designations include B for Belted Bias and D for Diagonal Bias The standard, and what you’ll see most often, is R. 15 is the wheel (or rim) diameter, in inches. 89 is the load index H is the speed rating Speed ratings indicate the top speed under ideal conditions. Higher-rated tires are usually made of softer rubber and will have shorter UTQG tread life. Here are a few of the more common speed ratings: R= 106, S=112, T=118, U=124, H=130, V=149, W=168, Y=186. Along with this speed rating, you have a load index which indicates the approximate weight the tire can carry. Some of the more common load weights are as follows: 85 = 1,135 pounds, 86 = 1,168 pounds, 87 = 1,201 pounds, 88 = 1,235 pounds. UTQG Ratings Passenger car tires are accompanied by a UTQG Rating (Uniform Tire Quality Grading, mandated by the Federal Government) which rates the tread life of tires by looking at tread wear, traction and temperature resistance. The UTQG Rating is usually found opposite the tire size markings and will be in three separate ratings: treadwear, traction and temperature. The treadware grade standard is 100. A grade of 200 means the tread would wear twice as well as a tire graded 100. Traction grades run from AA to C, with AA being the highest grade and C meaning the tire brakes poorly on both wet concrete and wet asphalt. Temperature grades rate the tire’s resistance to and ability to dispel heat. Those grades are A (resists heat well), B (not as good as A) and C (passes minimum safety standards.) Keep in mind that heavy loads, under-inflation of the tires, and high speeds can all affect the tire temperature. You should note that these tire grades rate tires measured under controlled conditions. Factors such as driving habits, road conditions, climate, etc., are not considerations and may affect the actual performance of your tire. DOT DOT (Department of Transportation) indicates the tire is in compliance with applicable DOT safety standards. Next to DOT is an identification or serial number–codes that designate where and when the tire was produced. You’ll also find other information on the sidewall such as the type and composition of the tire, the maximum cold inflation (PSI) and maximum load in pounds. So as you can see, tires carry a huge amount of information. But it’s really not all that complicated once you learn to read the code. Debbie Pettitt is webmaster for Everything Tires, your tire resource. For more information on tires, visit http://everythingtires.com
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5 steps to sell a Japanese used vehicle
Japanese cars are renowned for their quality. Some of the top used Japanese cars for sale are Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru), Suzuki and Daihatsu. Many surveys have shown that most buyers shop online in purchasing their next used car. In this article we will discuss five key points on selling your car online.1. Surf the webThe internet has many choices on finding the right site to advertise your vehicle. Choose a website that is popular and has a high ranking. Do choose a site that specializes in your make and model. Select a site that will continuously show case your ad. And last but not least find a site that is reasonable in fees.2. Your adUsing correct and distinct terms to describe your car will make your ad concise. This will attract the buyer to further reading your ad. Use key phrases and solid facts. State the year, make, model, milage, and maintenance records. Mention any non-standard added features and improvements. And also be precise about the price you expect and contact details. 3. Quality Photo sDo photograph your car in sunlight. Take different angle view shots of your car. Make sure before you photograph your car, that it is clean and washed from inside and out. Take pictures of the inside interior and any special features like tires or hub-cabs. Do have a flattering backdrop for your car when taking the pictures. 4. Inquires Be prepared to answer questions, always keep a standard and basic list about your car on hand, near the phone and computer. Also make sure you can give out online resources to the buyer on your car. Choose specific times and dates for car viewing and showing. If dealing with people outside your area, make sure the buyer knows it s their responsibility to pick up or make arrangements on getting the car. 5. Protecting your investment and selfNever hand over your vehicle till you are paid in full. Verify the buyer s information to make sure your not getting scammed. Find you out which method of payment is safest. Always protect your privacy, never give out more than you have to. If you are in habit of changing to new models as brand new then I would highly recommend Japanese Makers. For more than two decades the impression of lesser safety in Japanese brands have been shifted to equally same standards as its German or American counterparts.With these tips, you will hopefully find your self on the right track to selling your vehicle online. http://www.nexusscars.com
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