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Learn how to deal the dealer Cycling through life from bottom to top
The first thing you should know about buying a car is that you call the shots.
sees you as having the potential to make his month merry from his earned commission.
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As you walk through the door of the dealership, make sure it is the end of the month. A salesperson's performance is evaluated at the end of each month. You are more likely to get the deal you want if it is the end of the month.
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Whether it be a new or used car, the salesperson has one item on his agenda- to make a profit. Of course he wants to make a big profit, but if you know what you want and what you are looking for, he will not be taking home too much of your money from the deal.
Buying a car is not like buying a house. Of course interest rates play a major role in the borrowing process of both purchases, but for the purpose of this column let's steer away from the banking half of it and say that all the money you need is in your pocket. We will worry about interest rates, Alan Greenspan and credit reports in a future article.
Making such a hefty purchase takes confidence. The dealer can really smell your fear and inexperience. The inexperience might be obvious from your youthful and charming face. But do not stop yourself from walking in and acting like you own the place. The dealer
So you got through the front door- good job. Be careful not to trip over anything as you walk gracefully across the showroom. By the time you make it to the salesperson's desk, he will have already sized you up and will want to sell you the car he believes is the right one for you.
Again, image is very important. Act cool and be tactful. Show the salesperson that you mean business and that you do not want any flack or jargon that no one understands.
Make sure you do your homework. Familiarize yourself with the dealership lingo. If the dealer asks if you want a spoiler in the non-inclusive package priced at the MSRP dealerready-to-sell price, do not be cool and tell him that you do think the Phillies are on their way to the series. Read up on the terms and tell him to spell them out if he still makes no sense.
Do not walk into a dealership and get sold on the first car. Look at all things in the car and under the hood. If it is a used car, you will want to do a very thorough search. Arrange for a mechanic to assess the _car's condition. A good tip is to check the rubber covers on the accelerator and brake pedal. They will reveal if the odometer reading is correct. Most importantly is to take your time and ask all of the questions that come to mind. When you decide that you are ready to buy a car, make an offer. Pick an amount that you think would be too low for the car. If the dealer says that be cannot do any better than the original price, get up and walk out. If the dealership is interested in your business, they will meet or come close to your offer. I guarantee that you will receive a call from the dealer saying that he re-worked things and thinks he has a solution, that is if he did not chase you down as you walked out the door. The most important advice is to make sure you feel comfortable with the final price. Do not sign anything until you are sure that you have been given a good deal.
Car shopping is still a buyer's market. Be the shrewd businessperson you have always wanted to be and remember who is in the driver's seat.
• I graduating and you are looked up to and envied by all of the classes that precede you and you are loving it. Then you go to college. Lucky you. Well here we all are. We all came here starting at the bottom. We came here not knowing anyone, or anything even though we all probably thought we did. Everything changes when you are at the bottom again.
Jill C. find.man features editor ....._______ _,
So here I am a senior. The year I have been waiting for. Even though this year is bittersweet, I am glad to be where I am With the "real world" just around the comer I am so scared, but really I am excited more than anything.
As I get older I am realizing that life is a bunch of cycles. I keep starting at the bottom and working my way to the top.
First you have grade school and go through the awkward,' geeky years, unless you happen to be in that rare one percent who has just been so cool your entire life. Newsflash, that one percent doesn't exist. So yes it is true we have all been a geek at some point. Get over it.
Next, we go onto high school. Everyone starts off as these little, scrawny freshmen scared to death. The years go by and our status progresses. In high school we hang out with different crowds, go to parties and get in trouble, meanwhile wishing we were seniors the entire time.
Finally, senior year comes and you are the big cheese. You are cool because you are a senior. You are
As the years went by I have found myself more vocal in class and not intimidated by the upperclassmen. I have learned that nothing worthwhile comes without a little work. I have learned that everyone has a story to tell and sometimes you just need to shut up and listen. I have learned that everything happens for a reason. I have learned that being happy with who you are makes everything else fall into place so much easier.
Life is an ongoing lesson. No matter where we fall in the mix there is always something to learn, something new to achieve. Take everything for what it is and make the best of it.
In nine months I will graduate and once again start at the bottom, but this time it will be different. Everything that I have gone through and learned up until now has prepared me. I know it will be tough and I'll be making a lot of coffee. But one day I'll be at the top again and appreciate it so much more.
