The Pros & Cons of Buying a Car Online
The purchase of a wide range of products online by consumers, from fruits and vegetables to sofas, vehicles and even personalised number plates, is becoming more commonplace. We’ve grown to be fairly at ease with internet shopping, particularly out of need and because we’ve learned how simple and time-efficient it is. We saw a huge rise in online shopping and a change in user behaviour when covid-19 hit, as it saves us time, sometimes money, and reduces stress when we don’t necessarily have the time or patience to shop ourselves.
More recently, online car sellers such as Cinch, have emerged into the market and transformed customers experience of buying a new or used car online.
There are various ways in which purchasers of new cars differ from those of old cars. They do, however, have one thing in common: they like to use the internet to investigate cars and dealers. According to several studies on consumer behaviour, approximately 75% of people looking to buy new or used cars use websites and apps for at least some of their research and buying.
Pros Of Buying a Car Online
- Convenient 24/7*365 shopping
- Absence of high-pressure sales techniques.
- Time-saving as no physical journey is required;
- Large countrywide range of used vehicles, including uncommon models like a Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca or a Toyota RAV 4 EV.
- No-bargain prices (many traditional car dealerships have adopted a no-haggle model as well).
Cons Of Buying a Car Online
The procedure is not flawless. You may check reviews for online vehicle merchants on independent websites like Yelp, and you’ll discover how mixed those are, just as with local dealers: from those who are thrilled to be able to buy a car from the comfort of their sofa to those who are utterly disappointed by the procedure gone wrong.
Due to volume, stock photographs rather than genuine images of the vehicle being sold are frequently utilised. This makes it challenging to establish the car’s genuine exterior and interior colours, as well as its condition both inside and out.
It might take many weeks to get your car instead of just driving it off the lot. Delays in completing paperwork, such as getting the vehicle registration certificate (otherwise known as a V5C certificate in the UK) in order, are possible. Even while internet sales come with a limited warranty, there are occasions when it ends before the car is even delivered.
This is because you can’t be sure of the car’s real estate, both inside and out, or how well the previous owner took care of it. There are no two identical second hand cars of the same year, make, or model.
Online dealers of used cars may charge you a freight fee dependent on how far you reside from their “hubs,” which ties into the delivery issue. The buyer may occasionally be required to cover the whole cost of shipment.
Having no direct contact with a salesperson (yes, some buyers actually prefer that and not all used car salesmen are sharks). Humans are adept at interpreting tics and facial expressions that signal behaviours like dishonesty. Buying online eliminates those crucial interpersonal contacts.
Who do you complain to if something goes wrong, as it occasionally does with used vehicles, and how will a possible issue be resolved? Compared to a customer care employee located miles away, it is much simpler to speak with a local representative.
A Few Tips to Buying a Used Car
- A vehicle history report (MOT)
- Check to see if the title is “Pass” (i.e., free of liens, salvage records, etc.)
- Ensure that it has been examined before putting it up for sale.
- Check out online customer testimonials of the website.
- Verify that the agreed-upon selling price is inflexible and spend some time reading and comprehending a financial agreement.Make sure you have a thorough understanding of all applicable vehiclewarranties.
- Attempt to get a hold of the car’s service and maintenance records.
