You want to have a look at the latest and greatest models of cars, maybe a few that are far outside your price range. Or, you have no intention of getting a new car at all. Maybe you’re very happy with what you have currently or it’s simply not feasible to get a newer model.
Can you still have a wander around a car dealership even if you have no intention whatsoever of buying a car? Yes and no.
There are a few faux pas when it comes to having a browse at your local dealership to be aware of and a couple of mistakes to be avoided if you plan on having a day trip to scope out the new models. Read on to find out more about what to do (and what not to do!)
Can I Just Look Around A Dealership?
The short answer is yes. It is totally legal and free to walk around a dealership and browse the merchandise. The same as if you were shopping for clothing, no clause states if you walk into a store you absolutely have to purchase something!
Can I Go For A Test Drive Without Wanting To Buy A Car?
Absolutely. It’s worth booking in a slot in advance if you want to have a test drive and be prepared to have a salesperson under the impression that you are genuinely interested in buying a car.
They aren’t going to be quite as willing to give you free rein of a vehicle without a verbal assurance that you’re interested so a few white lies about your intentions might get you a better experience when getting a test drive.
That being said, however, you don’t need to lie through your teeth or come up with some elaborate backstory just to have a drive around in your favorite fancy car.
Is It Rude To Not Buy Anything At A Car Dealership?
This is more of a personal preference sort of question. The most similar occurrence would be walking into a showhome with no intention of buying a house and just fancying some snacks and a nose around.
It’s in no way illegal but you should bear in mind that by taking up a salesperson’s time, you could be impeding on a real interested buyer who may be waiting for the salesperson’s help. Have a browse, ask some questions and perhaps grab a few brochures as well just to insinuate that you’re more interested than you are.
Don’t Get Caught In A Lie
There’s nothing wrong with a little fun and make-believe, say you know there’s no way you could afford that shiny new Jag at the moment, what’s the harm in pretending to be a prospective buyer?
But if you start insinuating you’re already getting one or working with a different dealership, you’re likely to get more questions from the salesperson and your lies can snowball- there’s nothing worse than having to backtrack and ending up looking stupid so it’s best to keep your answers short and sweet.
Chances are a salesperson has heard it all before- the rich uncle or the promotion that’s about to come through, don’t make a fool of yourself and rather be honest about the fact that you’re not currently in the market for a new car. They aren’t going to chase you off the lot.
The best way to get a salesperson off your back is to say you’re in the market for one further down the line- say 6 months or so. The salesperson then knows you’re definitely not an immediate buyer and can then choose how much of their time they will invest in you knowing they won’t get an immediate sale from you today.
Do Dress Appropriately
You don’t need to be suited and booted to the nines but it’s probably a good idea to not walk around the dealership in a stained tracksuit or your pajamas. You might not want to buy a car but you also shouldn’t want to put others off buying one either!
Especially if you’d rather walk around without being constantly hassled by the sales reps to get you out of there as soon as possible, it pays to dress appropriately.
Don’t Waste Too Much Of The Salesman’s Time
Salespeople usually work on commission, and whilst it’s acceptable to have a browse, and to ask questions about different makes and models, don’t push too hard or take too much of the sales reps time up, especially if you can see there are other members of the public who are genuinely interested in buying a car and are waiting to be seen.
Don’t Get Suckered Into Buying Something You Don’t Want
Some might think it’s a little rude to waste a salesman’s time but that is no reason to feel you need to buy something to justify being there. It’s a salesperson’s job to make you feel as though you need a shiny new car and they may try every trick in the book to secure a sale even if you have no intention of making a purchase.
Don’t get tricked into getting something or following through on a deal just because you feel intimidated or rude saying no. You have every right to browse and if you feel like you are being pressured into a sale- stop the farce and state clearly that you have no intention of purchasing a car and just want to look around.
Final Thoughts
If it’s just the cars you are interested in and you would rather not be swarmed by salespeople trying to feel you out and ask you endless questions, maybe give the dealerships a miss and head over to an Autoshow instead.
There you usually have a huge range of excited enthusiasts who you can pick their brains, and ask endless questions without feeling like they have an ulterior motive of getting you to spend money.
These events tend to be pretty frequent depending on where you live and are often manufacturer specific so you can join other hobbyists and enthusiasts without feeling the pressure to buy anything.