Online or In Person?

Hi, I’m Marsha, the receptionist at Wareing Sturgis Ford.

Yesterday I celebrated my one-year anniversary here at the dealership.

In that year, I’ve had countless conversations with customers, made a lot of “phone friends,” learned quite a bit about the car business, and kept my candy bowl full for visitors big and small.

It’s a great job working with great people.

There have been a couple surprises along the way, though.

Number one: vehicle salespeople are actually wonderful, everyday people.

Just kidding — that wasn’t really a surprise. My grandfather and my husband were both car salesmen.

The real surprise?

How many customers complete the vehicle buying process completely online these days.

Things are changing.

Conversations, face-to-face visits, and negotiations are often replaced with texts, photos, and videos. Customers can now browse, compare, and purchase vehicles from dozens of online options — including Wareing Sturgis Ford — without ever leaving home.

So today, I thought it might be helpful to look at the advantages and disadvantages of both online and in-person vehicle purchasing.

Because honestly, there are benefits to both.

Things you CAN do online:

• Shop hundreds of vehicles from the comfort of your living room
• Browse and compare quickly and conveniently
• Find a larger selection of specific vehicles
• View transparent pricing
• See high-quality photos, videos, and vehicle history reports
• Get pre-approval and financing online
• Receive instant trade-in estimates
• Arrange vehicle delivery
• Take advantage of return policies offered by many online retailers

Things you CAN’T do online:

• Touch and test drive the vehicle yourself
• Work with multiple lending institutions for flexible financing options
• Discuss lower down payment possibilities
• Negotiate pricing face-to-face
• Negotiate the best trade-in value
• Discuss warranties and protection plans in detail
• Get immediate answers and assistance from vehicle experts
• Personally inspect the vehicle beyond photos and videos
• Get candy from my candy bowl

Ultimately, all of us at Wareing Sturgis Ford want our customers to feel happy and confident about their vehicle purchase.

Whether someone chooses to buy online or in person really comes down to personal preference.

Some people prefer surfing online to visiting a dealership. Others want to inspect, drive, and experience a vehicle firsthand before making a decision. And some people are simply happy to let someone else handle the title and transfer paperwork.

But no matter how we shop, one thing most of us have in common is the desire to feel informed.

Thanks for reading. I hope this helped you better understand the advantages and disadvantages of purchasing a vehicle online.

And stop by anytime — there’s always candy at my desk and plenty of tires to kick.

— Marsha