4 Questions Never to Answer on the Lot

Sometimes going to a car dealership to get yourself a brand-new set of wheels can be a pleasant and even enjoyable experience (especially if you happen to shop at Mike’s Car Store). But every now and then, individuals all over Georgetown find themselves working with sneaky car salesmen who know all the tricks to get you to pay more than you need to. One of their best tricks is something often avoidable and yet rarely taught, mainly because it's often through the mistake of the customer. While it's important to ask and answer questions at a dealership to ensure you’re making the most informed decision possible, there are some questions that give those sneaky dealers the perfect opportunity to take advantage of you. In this blog post, we’re here to get into the top questions you should NEVER answer on the lot of a dealership and that should instead be saved for later on when you’re about to make the deal!

Question #1: Will You Be Financing or Paying Cash?

This question is often used to get customers a specific vehicle that they think will be within their preferred monthly payments but instead actually maximizes that monthly payment in an attempt to maximize their own profits. In the event this question is asked while browsing vehicles, it’s best to say you haven’t quite decided yet!

Question #2: What Kind of Credit Score Do You Have?

Car salespeople really shouldn’t ask any pre-qualifying questions on the lot to potential customers. If they do, it's typically to help them better work their own car deal in mind that may not have your best interest at heart. It may also be a tactic to see whether you’re worth putting effort into as a customer.

Question #3: How Much Will Your Down Payment Be?

Another pre-qualifying question that they might use to exploit the customer. This is especially the case if you were to respond with either a low number or no number at all. This gives the salesperson the perfect opportunity to take control of the deal.

Question #4: Will You Be Making a Trade-in, and How Much is it Worth?

This is a common tactic salespeople use that we call “trying you on” by seeing how much a customer might think their own car is worth without actually running an inspection. If the customer were to under-value the trade-in, this works to the benefit of the dealership.  Should the customer over-value the trade-in, they will likely be bombarded with questions that might wear down your confidence.

Pro-Tip: Wait for the Right Time

These questions we mentioned are surely important for the car dealer to know the answers to but it’s important to wait until you’re about to make the sale and refrain from answering them out there on the lot. This will ensure the dealer does their due diligence to get you the best deal! 

Trust the Experts at Mike’s Car Store!

We don’t want to toot our own horn, but as a dealership run and owned by the #1 watched Car Salesman on the Planet, you can trust we know how to get you the best deal on a used vehicle and avoid being scammed in the process! We’re here for you before, during, and after the sale of your car. Even if you’re working with another dealer, we’re committed to protecting our customers.