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How do I generate more leads online for my automotive business?

April 30th, 2011

This article looks at few different ways you can approach to generate more quality online business for your dealership.

If you have a store front or a used car lot, you probably have invested a lot of money if your inventory hoping to sell them at a profit to cover your rent, expenses, and salary. But many small to medium sized used car dealership today are investing disproportionally in things such as newspaper advertising, signage, or big automotive portals. These types of investment in advertising is a good for instant exposure, but their advertising life span is usually very short with no residual effect what so ever. So how do you generate more leads, and quality leads from an online source? Well the answer is simple, consistency and little hard work. For one if you have a business and not having a web site that is well designed and developed for the user experience is a death sentence. Today with ever increasing competitions in the market place, even many smaller dealerships have a very impressive looking web site. These types of web development work is no longer exclusive to the bigger dealerships. Imagine your potential customer has just visited your competitor’s professional looking web site and comes into your poorly developed and mainly text based web site. How much confidence do you think they will have in your business?

Having a well developed web site is not that costly today, just look around there are many web solution providers can do a very good job for a reasonable amount. Having the web site is one thing, but inputting data in a consistent basis is another. I understand you may use the excuse of been busy and lack of training to avoid inputting data into your web system, but it is crucial for you to have latest and up to date information right at customer’s finger tips. Today’s tech savvy clients are used to be pampered by the web portals of their choice, they will have a very short attention span. Use your web site as a tool to communicate rather than push them away, attract your customers to stay rather to leave.

Another great way to generate more quality web based leads is through SEO work, these types of work is not so expensive but they have some ever lasting residual effect you can benefit from for years to come. When you hire the right SEO company to develop your online campaign, your Google ranking will increase slowly over time, and this difficult climb is necessary today if you want to stand out from the crowd. Remember your competitions are not just sitting there idling by, they are spending on SEO as we speak, don’t be left out in the technology race.

Thank you for reading this article it is brought to you by Benchmark Automotive Group at http://www.benchmarkautomotive.ca or http://www.usedbmwtoronto.ca for more information on bad credit, or no credit car loans please visit us online.

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Feeling hopelessly buried by your bad credit car loan?

April 8th, 2011

This article looks at some of the common mistakes when some one is taking on a car loan, and provides you with useful tips on how to avoid refinancing negative equity.

So all this talk about negative equity, but what is it exactly? Well negative equity occurs when an individual takes on a car loan and before its completely paid off, he or she applies for another one. The gap that was left on the previous loan is now tagged on to the new one. If this occurs once it is not significant enough to cause any problems. But imagine if this scenario occurs three to four times in a short period of time. The individual will be buried by such a hefty amount of loan he or she will most likely not be able to pay it back. This snowball effect can be devastating to an individual, but there are few effect ways to prevent this from happening, let’s look at some of the examples.

For one, you should make a good choice of car and stick to your decision. Avoid the habit of impulse buying and remember to pay the loan off before reapplying. I know this is easier said than done but with the help of this article I hope you will be well on your way to a health financial future. It is illegal in Canada for some one to refinance their negative equity, this is a well known fact all dealers know and understood. But in effort of making a deal and money this is often ignored from the business managers. There are also loop holes in the system allowing negative equity financing to occur, and many dealers use this to their advantage to get your loan approved. Imagine your very first loan was taken with TD bank at a good interest rate of 8%, now your next loan with the negative equity have to go to the B class lenders with the interest rate of 12%, and your third loan comes from the lender with the interest rate of 15%. The higher the interest rate usually means easier of approval, but it is actually better off by paying off the previous loan with your personal line of credit.

What if you don’t have any line of credit from the bank? And you must change your car because of changes in your lifestyle. Well then remember this tip, pick a reliable vehicle that is unlikely to break down to allow you to pay for the loan in full, and less repair cost. Don’t pick anything that is older but luxurious. Something small and fuel efficient, likely a Japanese make usually are the best choice when it comes to lowering your payment.

For more tips and facts on bad credit car loans please visit us online at http://www.nocreditcheckcarloans.ca or http://www.nocreditnoproblem.ca

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How to break a lease on a new vehicle?

April 3rd, 2011

To break a lease on a vehicle is exactly like breaking a legal contract, there will always be penalties involved whether big or small. There can be several reasons behind this decision such as loss of income, employment, change of life style. You should learn as much as you can regarding this issue before walking through the door to your local dealership.

Many of us will likely to bring the leased vehicle back to the same dealership where they purchased it from. Thinking by returning the vehicle to the point of purchase this may help them ease the transition. Well wished thinking but not always true, the original dealer will have very little to gain from breaking your current lease. Sales person will likely not be paid at all from the transaction unless you are purchasing another car. There is very little incentive to help you break your current lease other than the possibility you may return in the future to purchase another car. It is important you have all the facts and figures ready to make the process as painless as possible for the dealership.

When returning a lease early, you will see first hand about just how important is your vehicle’s resale value. Use a GM vehicle for example, the 3 year old “Chevy Malibu” is only worth 7500 but you still have 14000 out standing from your current loan with GM Canada. You will be responsible for the difference your self to break that lease. Use a “Honda Civic” for example, your 3 year old Civic will easily resale for 12000, and your outstanding balance of 14000 will be a lot easier to deal with. Can I sell the vehicle myself to get more money you ask? Of course you can, feel free to take your time to advertise your vehicle in the local papers, and compete with dealers. Get a few door knocks and tire kickers. There is a good chance you will be pressed for time when trying to break your lease. Therefore this scenario is unlikely.

When it’s a good time to break my lease? Generally speaking the later the better, that is because your lease is calculated based on the vehicle depreciation value. The closer you are to your expiry date on your lease contract, the closer the calculated resale value will be to the real market value.

Who determines the “market value”, well the short answer to that question is “consumers”. Just like the volatile stock market the value of a vehicle is determined by demand. More demand means higher resale value, and less demand means lower resale value. How many people do you know will first consider a 1997 Geo Metro as their next used car to purchase? And what do you think a used 1997 Geo Metro will be worth in the eyes of the consumers?

Can I shop for a higher value for my trade in when I am breaking my lease? Yes you can, feel free to spend some time with few dealerships to get a trade in value for your car. Chances are they will only be 500 apart, after all the resale value of your vehicle is carefully documented by a book dealer often use called “Canadian black book”.

Author Rick Tao Li for more useful articles like this please visit us online at http://www.usedmazdatoronto.ca

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How do I re-finance negative equity on my vehicle?

April 2nd, 2011

This article deals with a common issue faced by many when it comes to re-finance your next vehicle, it will offer you some insights into how to minimize your loss when it comes to your next purchase.

When you are applying for a car loan, the loan amount will include the appropriate taxes for the vehicle, the accumulated interest or “cost of borrowing” for the vehicle. All these costs will add up to a total amount that will be financed over a determined term. It is no surprise when you are trying to break the loan in its early stages you will face these penalties when attempt to break the contract.

Open ended loans is a loan that can be paid off any time without additional interest penalties from the manufacture. Which means if you have means to pay off your 60 month car loan in 32 you will not face any additional interest charges. Close ended loans means you must pay the interest promised to the lender regardless if you pay off the loan earlier than the loan term. It is usually more costly to terminate a close ended car loan versus an open end one.

It is no surprise when you are breaking your financial contract early you will have to pay the penalty which is also known as “negative equity”. To re-finance the previous debt attached to your car again in a new loan is illegal in Canada. But due to change of your life style or living situation some one may be forced into refinance the old debt. To hide the negative equity that is less than 10% of the purchasing price of your new vehicle is not difficult to obtain. Many dealers today will simply turn a blind eye just to have your business. But when the amount is noticeable by the bank it is lot harder to deal with and it will take a lot more creative thinking to get you approved. Many dealers may sell you added options that are purely for the purpose of hiding this bad debt.

The point you should take away from this article is to try to avoid negative equity at all cost possible, because this phenomena if not treated carefully can have you buried with financial burden that will be hard to clean up. If you are currently carrying negative equity in your car loan, one should wait until the debt is completely paid off before venturing into a new loan.

Author Rick Tao Li, for more useful articles like this one please visit us online at http://www.usedcarsscarborough.com

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I have really bad credit can I get a discount on the vehicle I am purchasing?

March 1st, 2011

This article looks at the negotiation process of buying a used vehicle when you have bad or no credit.

If you have bad credit or no credit, you may have a negative experience after your recent visit to your local dealership. Having bad credit or no credit is not a crime, but in the business world of automotive sales, having poor credit history means you will be mistreated or completely ignored. Been able to get a car loan is the key behind every sale from the dealership, after all if you can’t get approved for the loan a lot of folks will be pissed off because they worked for free for few days. Bad credit is much like a criminal record in the eyes of the car dealers because it will stay on your record and it will definitely affect your chance of an approval when it comes to financing. In my opinion if you need a vehicle for work or family you should be more concerned with the approval rather than the price of the vehicle. When you are looking for a vehicle, make sure you are picking out something that is affordable to you.

Price of the vehicle is less important if the dealership can approve your loan, after all what is the point of getting a great deal but you can’t get financing? If you are seeking credit from a new car dealership, your chances of approval is minimal due to the strict requirements from the manufactures for loan approval. You can try to apply to a bad credit car loan service where they specialize in bad credit or no credit car loans. The approval maybe a lot quicker and easier but the interest rate will be higher. If your credit score is so low, you shouldn’t be concerned with the vehicle price or the interest rate, simply take the loan they are offering and begin your credit rebuilding or “recovery” process right away.

With good repayment history your credit score will rise over time making it easier for you to take out a car loan in the future. Remember these types of loans are usually the “transitional” loans where you can use it towards your benefit. Once your credit score recovered enough you will be able to negotiate on the price of the vehicle as well as the interest rate on your next car loan. So be patient and wait out this period in your recovery and once you are back on top you will have a lot more negotiating power.

Thank you for reading this article it is brought to you by No Credit Check Car Loans Toronto, you can find us online for more information at http://www.nocreditcheckcarloans.ca or http://www.usedbmwtoronto.ca

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How do I know if my brake system requires repair or service?

February 24th, 2011

This article offers you the readers some valuable industry insights and warning signs your vehicle’s brake service and repairs. Look for these warning signs and you can plan your repairs accordingly.

The brake system on your car is vital to your safety, this type of repair or service is not something you can just put it off until a later date. Knowing the right warning signs and where to go to when you need brake service or repair can save you considerable amount of time and money. If you have a relatively new or late model vehicle, you maybe informed about your brake pad’s thickness every time you bring it in for regular service through your local dealership. Although this information is helpful, but it doesn’t offer you the whole picture when it comes to the brake system’s condition. Today’s brake pads will typically last about 40,000 km of driving, but many dealership service advisors will ask you to replace them at much earlier intervals. The reasons behind this practice are quite simple, since brake pads, shoes, and rotors are safety related items; it is hard to argue when it comes to repairs and service. Another reason is the brake system is simple to repair or service, but it pays the technician at least 2 hours of labor. This type of service or repair is the biggest “money maker” for the dealership, that’s why it is recommended every time you visit. Think about this scenario from the service technician’s point of view. You may have to spend the entire day diagnosing an electrical problem that only pays you 1 hour of labor, or you can change all the brake pads and machine the rotors in 1 hour while it pays you 2, which job would you prefer?

The next time your dealership recommends you to replace brake pads or machine your brake rotors, simply decline and pass on this job to your local trusted small repair shop. The cost difference can be from as little as $200 for the job to as much as $1200, while there is virtually no difference in vehicle’s performance. Unknown to many drivers today, there are plenty of warning signs before your brake system fails, here are the top 3 tell tale signs you can look for the next time you drive your car.

1. Does your brake system squeak? - Sound is one of the best indicators for potential brake problems, modern day brake pads are built with warning system in place. When your brake pads are getting low, there will be squeaking, scratching or metal to metal noises when you apply the brake pedal. This sound will get louder as your brake pads are getting lower in thickness, if you are not sure this is happening to your car, simple drive through a tunnel with your windows open and apply your brake pedal. The sound generated from the brake system will echo and amplified by walls from both sides of your vehicle.

2. Does your brake pedal vibrate or shake when applied? - Vibration is another early warning sign for potential brake system failure, since the brake rotors will heat up and cool down many times a day. It can be warped and create uneven braking surface for the brake pads, this will result in vibration when braking. This symptom can be resolved by replacing or machine your rotors to ensure the braking surface are as flat as possible.

3. Are you losing brake fluid or pressure? – When applying your brake pedal, how far does the pedal travel? If your brake pedal is almost to the floor of the vehicle, you maybe leaking brake fluid or pressure from the system. This type of failure is particularly dangerous since your brake system requires considerable amount of pressure for safe operation. If you suspect there maybe a problem, don’t delay! Get your brake system checked out right away.

So the next time you visit your local dealership, don’t be fooled into spending unnecessary repairs on your brake system, get a second opinion if you don’t experience any of the above symptoms.

Author Rick Tao Li, for more useful articles like this one please visit me online at http://www.soscarloans.com or http://www.usedbmwtoronto.ca

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Should I purchase rust proofing from a dealership?

February 16th, 2011

This article deals with the issue of rust proofing a brand new vehicle in the Canadian automotive market.

If you have recently purchased a brand new vehicle you have probably been informed of the issue of rust proofing. Due to the relentless Canadian winter and salt we use on our road and highways, it is a good idea to protect your investment from rust. Average life span of a vehicle before the rust will cause damage is about 10 years, rust proofing is not something that is required in all the countries the vehicle’s manufacture exports to. Therefore additional chemical and equipment maybe required in the Canadian market. If you are leasing a vehicle for four years and ready for a new car after your lease expires, there is very little incentive for you to rust proof a vehicle that is not yours to own. But if you are buying a vehicle with cash or financing the capital cost, you are investing in the vehicle and you should consider some form of rust proof protection to ensure the duration of your investment will last. Rust proofing comes in various form as well as cost; it can range from $200 to as much as $2000.

The traditional way to rust proof a vehicle is by spraying the vehicle with a special developed chemical mix, this type of rust proofing does work but it gets messy very quickly. The vehicle will be sprayed with the chemical in certain key areas, such as under the hood, in between the sheet metal, as well as the under carriage. This type of rust proofing is usually the cheaper way to go, the cost can range between $200 to $600. But since this chemical does wash away and with wear and tear it will disappear with time. You should consider a re-spray once a year or two, the cost may add up if you look at the bigger picture. The second option is the electronic rust module the dealers are selling today. This type of rust proofing is environmental friendly and it has been used in shipping industry in the recent years. The small on board module produces a very mild current that runs through the vehicle to repel rust, it is not only much cleaner but it is also more expensive.

The cost of the electronic module ranges from $800 to $1500 from the dealers, but you can buy them online for as little as $200 from eBay. The installation process is simple and straight forward; with 30 minutes of study you can probably install the module yourself. However the downfall to this technology is that the module will produce a draw from the battery constantly. If you are going on vacation and parked your car for 60 days, don’t be surprised to come home to find out your vehicle won’t start. Overall before you commit to rust proofing your vehicle, do your home work and research to find yourself the better deal.

Thank you for reading this article it is brought to you by Used BMW Toronto, your bad credit, no credit car loan specialist. To find us online please go to http://www.usedbmwtoronto.ca or http://www.usedbenztoronto.com, or http://www.usedminitoronto.com

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How to get the highest trade in value from a dealership – part two.

February 10th, 2011

This article deals with a common scenario encountered by customers when they are trading in a vehicle to a dealership. How do you know if you are getting a fair trade in value when you visit your dealership?

When it comes to trade in value there are few factors that should be taken into consideration before wasting your valuable time visiting from dealership to dealership. Before we go any further I would like to mention I have previously published another article that deals with the same issue from a different perspective. This article will focus more on the business end of the trade in process rather than the mechanical.

One major misconception from customers is they assume a car dealership is obligated to purchase a vehicle from any one who is willing to sell. Remember a car dealership is in the business of making profit not to help anyone out of the goodness of their heart to sell a vehicle. They can purchase a vehicle from many different sources such as private and public auctions, lease returns from the manufacturer, or their wholesalers’ network to get their vehicles. In another word if the dealership can purchase a 2008 Honda Civic for $10,000 why would they want to pay $11,000 for yours? In essence a dealership operates much like a pawn shop for cars, when you need to liquidate your asset into cash the dealership will be able to offer you certified funds for your vehicle. The catch is the amount is about 50% compare to the retail world, so next time you are trying to trade in your vehicle prepare yourself mentally and don’t take offence to their offer.

One key concept for optimize your trade in value if it’s under $10,000 is to trade it to other manufacturers. For example your 2008 Honda Civic would be worth a little more if you trade it to a Mazda dealership. There are two major advantages to this trade, for one the Mazda dealer would like to have an off make vehicle in their inventory to spark public interest. For another the Mazda’s used car manager will not know the resell value as intimate as the Honda dealership, therefore they maybe paying a slightly higher amount. However this rule doesn’t apply to premium vehicles or luxury brands. As matter of fact the rule is in reverse when you are dealing with a BMW, Mercedes as your trade in all other manufacturers are afraid to step up to the money due to one simple reason. They don’t know these cars as well as their own therefore they are afraid to make a $10,000 mistake that will cost them in the long run. So if you are looking to trade in a luxury brand it is better to deal with the original manufacturer rather than off makes.

Author Rick Tao Li, for other useful information on luxury resale values please visit us online at http://www.usedbmwtoronto.ca

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What’s the difference between a bad credit car loans versus a no credit car loan?

December 29th, 2010

This article will explain the difference between the bad credit car loans versus a no credit check car loan, with the help of this article I hope you can make the right choice when it comes to your next car loan.

You may have heard of the bad credit car loan service available in North America, but when it comes to no credit check car loans it is still relatively new. Many car loan providers today are offering bad credit car loans; this type of service is quite common. Essentially a bad credit car loan has much lower requirement versus a traditional bank loan you can get through your local bank. The interest rate is higher on the bad credit car loan, usually ranging from 12% to 29%. A normal car loan will carry an interest rate from 7-9%; this increase in interest rate can be explained due to the high risk factor with a bad credit car loan. Because of this reason the loan service provider will adjust the interest rate to compensate for the increase in risk. At the end of the day they are just trying to recover their investment, in another word the loan they provided you. Remember in the world of business and finance, getting approved for a loan is not a god given right; it is a privilege only few can acquire. Because of today’s failing economy and rise in the unemployment rate, many Canadians are fallen behind on their financial obligations.

Don’t need to feel bad if you are among the many who is currently suffering from bad credit issues. But there is a distinction between bad credit car loans and no credit car loans. Bad credit car loans is what we refer to as class “B” loan services, the class “A” been the normal bank loans. No credit check car loans will be considered as class “C”, this type of loan service is your last stop, or the “rock bottom” in the finance world. These loans are almost border line private loans, because no other financial institution is willing to lend you any money due to your poor credit history. You are essentially borrowing a large sum of money from a complete stranger. So to be trusted by the stranger without a credit check sounds far fetched. But due to the competitive nature of the automotive industry there are dealerships that are willing to offer you a loan based on your story.

It is absolutely true, a no credit check car loans means literally “no credit check required” they usually will require a small amount of down payment in the amount of $500 or less. So if you are tired been turned down from one dealer to the next, maybe it is time for you to look into a no credit check car loan. If you live in the Toronto area you can find No Credit No Problem car loan service online at http://www.nocreditnoproblem.ca Thank you for reading this article it is brought to you by No Credit No Problem Canada, the latest online credit processing center for city of Toronto. Visit us online for more information at http://www.nocreditnoproblem.ca

No Credit No Problem Canada is Toronto’s leading bad credit, no credit, car loan provider; we have a team of credit professionals who can help you to get you out of your current credit situation. Visit us online at http://www.nocreditnoproblem.ca

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How to properly winterize your vehicle in Canada.

December 28th, 2010

This article showcases few practical tips on how to properly winterize your vehicle and highlights few key areas where you need to pay attention to so you can be ready for the Canadian winter.

This article is just a refreshment course of those of you experienced Canadians, and a great read for those of you that are new to this wonderful country we call “Canada”. Let’s take a quick look under your hood to see some of the key areas you should pay attention to before the snow arrives.

  1. Is your windshield fluid ready for winter? – A quick look under the hood will reveal the level and color of your windshield fluid. Make sure it is at an adequate level and the fluid is clear not muddy. You should purchase an extra bottle just to carry in your trunk, make sure it can withstand the freezing temperature.

  1. When was the last time your engine coolant was changed? – Engine coolant is extremely important in the winter, not only the coolant should be able to withstand the freezing temperature, but it is also important not to have any leaks or bubbles in your cooling system. A few bubbles in your coolant can cause your vehicle’s heating system to fail, this will mean you will have no heat coming out of your vents.

  1. Do you have heavy duty windshield wipers installed? – This could be the cheapest yet proven most useful addition you can do to your vehicle this winter. You will thank yourself every time your windshield is splattered with mud and snow. There is no price to pay for a good visibility in rain, snow and salt.

  1. Does your car require winter tires? – Winter tires can be crucial to your vehicle’s performance in the winter months. Snow tires are made up with softer rubber compounds along with rough treads; they are able to offer you the best possible traction in the winter time. If you are driving a rear wheel drive vehicle, it is a must to have without question.

  1. Will your battery last through this winter? – Having a healthy battery is crucial in your survival through the winter. If your vehicle requires frequent boost to start, or your vehicle has been sitting for a while. You should perform an AVR test by your mechanic, make sure your battery is holding charge, and able to keep it below freezing. If you have any doubt about your battery’s condition, you should replace it before the snow arrives. After all, the price you pay for one tow equals a brand new batter in your vehicle.

Thank you for reading this article, after you go through this winterize check list, don’t forget to buy a snow brush to keep in your trunk afterall. Author Rick Tao Li, to find more useful articles please visit me online at http://www.usedcarsscarborough.com

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