How to Get Good Customer Service at Your Car Dealership
Maybe you’re dissatisfied with your new car, or maybe with the dealership that sold it to you. Whatever it is, you’re left unhappy with your recent experience buying a car, and feel like the customer service you received was below par. Yet despite your efforts, you can’t seem to make your voice heard and get your problems resolved. Here’s how to get the best service possible from your local car dealership.
First of all, if you’re having a problem with your new car and it hasn’t been taken care of, your best hope for a solution is to work with your local dealer. Believe it or not, your local dealership is invested in solving your problem because they know that’s the best way to make you a lifetime customer. It’s a well known fact, known by dealers and car manufacturers alike, that while dealerships spend thousands of dollars in advertising trying to create trust with their customers, statistics show that the *best* way to create trust with consumers is to solve their problems.
But before your local new car dealer will help you, they need to believe that you’re going to be a good future customer. It’s much easier for a dealership to justify helping you (especially if it costs money) if they believe they will earn that money back in the future. The best way to convince a dealership you’re going to be a good customer in the future is to show them you’re a good customer now.
A great way to prove you’re a great customer is just to be nice and polite to employees at the dealership. No one wants to help the guy who’s ranting rudely, but they’ll gladly lend a hand to someone who asks nicely. Simple courtesy can get you a long way! Get on the employees’ good side, and you’ll be surprised how much easier it is to get quality service.
While being pleasant will help you get what you want from your local dealer, working with the dealership’s General Manager (GM) will help you just as much. GM’s have the full backing of the manufacturer and they have the power to do just about anything to solve a customer service complaint. Keep in mind that many dealership general managers are powerful enough to get senior manufacturer sales executives on the phone at any time - they’re absolutely capable of getting the manufacturer to do something for you. They are also usually experienced professionals that know how to help. Make sure you ask to speak with the GM when you have a customer service problem.
If for some reason your GM is unable to help, try the manufacturer’s customer service hotline, the number for which can be found in the owner’s manual. You may also want to call the manufacturer’s regional office. They will probably simply refer you to the service hotline, but there is a chance you could speak with a regional executive. Keep coming back to the manufacturer and dealership, and you’ll get your problem solved.
In sum, your local dealer is the best place to start if you’re trying to resolve a customer service complaint. Be courteous and polite always, and give people a reason to want to help you. Remember to speak with the general manager, and if that doesn’t work, keep calling the manufacturer’s national hotline and regional office. Persistence pays off when you’re looking for great customer service!
