Car Buying Made Painless, Money Saving and Fast -- Really!; Carclub.com's 'Personal Shoppers' Find Cars, Negotiate on Buyers' Behalf
11 October 2000
Car Buying Made Painless, Money Saving and Fast -- Really!; Carclub.com's 'Personal Shoppers' Find Cars, Negotiate on Buyers' Behalf
SAN FRANCISCO--Oct. 11, 2000--There is an alternative to spending hours going from car dealer to dealer haggling over prices, or buying online. A Personal Shopper Advocate from J.D. Power Clubs' Carclub.com can negotiate a good deal, saving time, money and aggravation.In fact, the more time new car buyers spent in a dealership negotiating price, the less satisfied they were with the sales process, found a recent J.D. Power and Associates survey.
"Carclub.com's trusted Personal Shopper service gets consumers great deals and spares them legwork and the trouble of prolonged negotiation with skilled salespeople," says Rod Starmer, chief operating officer of J.D. Power Clubs, home of Carclub.com. "That's why we have decided to now offer this valuable service free of charge to members who buy a vehicle."
A Personal Shopper Advocate can often negotiate a deal in minutes for just a few hundred dollars over dealer invoice and sometimes even less. If the car isn't on the lot, the Personal Shopper simply moves on to another dealer (not easy to do when visiting a dealership). The Personal Shopper service has helped consumers purchase more than 40,000 vehicles in its eight years. Personal Shoppers work on a fixed salary and do not receive a commission.
Unlike other online buying services, Carclub.com's Personal Shopper Advocates offers high-touch individualized service so buyers can ask questions and get expert guidance by phone. Personal Shopper Advocates can also help with leasing and financing.
Carclub.com's Personal Shopper Service is valuable for people:
| -- | looking for a good price without enduring a dreadful experience at a dealership. |
| -- | unfamiliar with available options and want the expertise and advocacy of a Personal Shopper that they can talk to. |
| -- | who are busy and don't have time for car shopping and want "high-touch" service. |
| -- | in a hurry to get a car (lease is up in a few days). |
Why Does It Work So Well?
Dealers participate because it is a time-efficient sale and the Personal Shopper will represent future buyers. The dealer and the Personal Shopper both know how cars are priced and what's fair, so salespeople don't spend hours on customers who are "just looking" -- just a few minutes on the phone with a Personal Shopper who has a ready buyer.
How It Works
Consumers go online to www.carclub.com or call 800/CARCLUB. To process the order, members are charged $25, with the fee refunded when a vehicle is purchased through the Personal Shopper Service. All consumers can either join Carclub.com when calling, or pay $249.
Carclub.com's Personal Shopper is not available in Maryland, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Washington due to state laws. The service may not be available in all markets.
About J.D. Power Clubs, Inc. and Carclub.com, a J.D. Power Club
J.D. Power Clubs, Inc. educates consumers to help them make better decisions and facilitates transactions through a network of participating retailers committed to delivering quality service and savings. Carclub.com, the first J.D. Power Club, helps vehicle owners shop for new and used vehicles, select financing and insurance, access sources and savings for vehicle maintenance online and by telephone at 800/CARCLUB. Selected highlights from J.D. Power and Associates' customer satisfaction syndicated research are available exclusively through the J.D. Power Information Center and through Carclub.com.
Carclub.com may be found at www.carclub.com and www.jdpower.com.