Modernization has impacted many sectors and in many ways. Some of these sectors have faced a downfall while some stood firm and blooming. One such sector which is seemingly a favorite one is the automobile sector. Compared to their journey in earlier times, automobiles as a means of transportation have received acknowledgment and name. Shook hands with the technology and provided comfort to the individuals. One such most accessible and comforting mode is the car. A term with which almost everyone is familiar and adores. Past a few years back, cars were thought of as a luxury but now, they have become an in-demand necessity.
The present scenario have witnessed a drop in the purchase of the new cars and people are comforting themselves over the used cars. What could be the possible station that has led to such a shift? This is where advancement has shown its negative side. The demand for new cars has increased, the demand-supply chain has been maintained still the prices of the new car models have been increasing. Thus accelerated price hikes have led to a fall in the priorities. People need cars for their daily routines and comfort and therefore, they are ready to settle for the used cars.
But do you think finding a pre owned is a cakewalk? You will have to struggle the same amount to get hold of the used cars as well. Since the used cars are the ones which have travelled long distances and have seen many maintenance routines, thus they need to be picked wisely.
Thanks to the technology, now you can do such things at the comfort of your homes, another affirmative side of digital growth. For doing the same thing earlier, you used to go to numerous dealers, physically search for the model you like and adore, then talk to the dealer for negotiations, and after a tussle, You can make sure that the car is yours. But the only thing lacking is transparency.
Do you think dealers used to give every detail of the car being sold?
Do you even know how many miles the car has already run, and how many services has it undergone? Of course not.
Besides, nobody will tell you the exact description of the car’s history and finally, you will have to suffer from repeated breakdowns and maintenance in alternate days. This might have sacred you if you were planning to purchase the second hand cars, isn’t it? But don’t worry things were in the past and with the purchase journey a lot has changed. Now, purchasing and owning the used cars have become easy.
Today, buyers are searching for the cars they want to purchase, their description, and everything related to them with their finger tips. Just a click and you will receive the desired information. Everything has become online and loaner car deals can be easily executed here. The buyers have been following the online search trends and thus, the dealers and the manufacturers have changed their selling techniques and adapted as per the needs of the buyer. To counter the competitive arch and to stay ahead of others to attract customers, the dealers have to change their plans and start the use of social media channels like email marketing, direct mail, displays, etc. This is the change in the journey that has been talked about earlier, the involvement of technology.
Now you might have become curious to know how can you find your necessary car with just one click, What things you can do to take caution, etc. Read this article further to gain insight into the trends that have been followed in this automobile journey and you can also follow those trends to meet your destined car.
- Affordability: this has remained a major issue whenever the thought to purchase arises. For a buyer, affordability has always put a pressure on. Besides, such enhanced demands of the new or old cars have remained constant but the prices are always variable. In addition to the higher interest rates, consumers are always unsure about what leads to such rising prices. The payments for the purchase of new vehicles have surpassed twice the amount compared to the used car payments which can be said to be still in pocket. But buyers are keeping their keen eye on everything. This is the reason why people are inclined more towards the purchase of used vehicles, which are still within budget.
- Online Search: earlier, people used to visit the shops one by one to purchase the cars until they find their dedicated car but now, just make a search by sitting at your home and you will still be able to catch an eye for the one you Desired. Today, majority of the people prefer third-party sites to search. Studies have found that online car searches through third-party sites have remained at the top spot. These third-party sites help the customers by keeping the views of their other customers who purchased from them in public mode thereby keeping transparency and assuring the buyers of their genuine approach.
- Buying Experience: this is the only trend that has not improved despite such exceptional digital features available or the dealers are not able to make out of it. The customers, in the present scenario, still do not like the dealers ‘ visits in the same way, as they did not like in the past years also. Unfortunately, the shopping experience has remained the same. Took a survey of the people who have either leased or made a purchase recently, and the majority of them consented that their experience was the worst. The most frustrating part was the paperwork and the negotiations while those who completed their negotiations and paperwork online were the most satisfied.
Technology has helped in the research experience vastly. Customers have adapted to it but the only lag is with the procedural part. The dealers and the manufacturers should come up with some working idea to cover up the worst part of the purchase which is still left, the paperwork and the negotiations.
So keep these minute things in mind while online searching for a car and you will in, no time, become the owner yourself.
