‘You’re going to have to wait 9 months or 1,021 people are ahead of you’ – doesn’t ring a bell? Waiting in line, the feeling feels suspiciously similar.
We know how frustrating waiting periods can be, especially regarding something as exciting as your new car. So, while there is no magic trick to getting your vehicle delivered tomorrow, here is a handy guide to help reduce the waiting time and get your car sooner.
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Don’t Show Interest in Your Favorite Car
We understand- you’d want to first see your car at the showroom, and then drive it home to drive off into the sunset. Here’s a secret: don’t show it.
If the salesman reads that you are eager, he may feel that you will wait as long as it takes. Instead, try to follow the opposite approach; appear cool. Tell the sales manager that you are considering other brands also. He will be worried about getting your car delivered in time so that they are not deprived of a customer to be dealt with by another car dealer.
No, this is not going to get your car for the next day, but this strategy could speed up the process.
Go to Several Dealerships In Advance
One might call it a no-brainer, but viewing a few dealerships and asking for the standing stock puts things into perspective about the wait periods in various showrooms. You might even zero down to one that provides you with the best price and discounts.
Book with 2-3 Dealers
Book at 2-3 dealerships instead of keeping all your eggs in one basket. Book with the minimum booking amount at 2-3 dealers and make sure to get the acknowledgement receipt for each booking. This can tie some of your ‘refundable’ money up for a while but can work in your favor.
If the dealers come to know about the multiple bookings done by you, they will start feeling that pressure to collect your car as soon as possible.
After finding one dealer with the shortest waiting time, get in contact with them cancel the rest, and take back your deposits.
Opt For Readily Available Variants or Colors
Lesser variants and color variants are not in much demand compared to others, and hence they will have shorter waiting periods. Thus, if you do not much care about color or trim, then you opt for a less-in-demand variant. This step will cut your waiting period down significantly.
Check out Limited/Special Editions
Carmakers often bring in limited or special editions to generate interest for their models or clear stock before the old one. As these special editions are few, waiting time is relatively less as compared to its standard version. Just keep an eye on the launch of such editions and enjoy driving one sooner. Find the upcoming car launches along with the anticipated date and price of the launch on CarYanams.
Book towards the End of the Month
Dealerships have sales targets every month too. Toward the end of the month, they might be more willing to give you a deal that are going to fill their target, especially if another person has canceled a booking. You might just really get lucky and get your car that much sooner.
Keep Following Up
Keep your ‘follow-up’ game strong. Whenever you book your car, dealers may give you a delivery date. If you don’t keep calling them, they might get lazy in delivering your order or delay the same in favor of a customer who is pushing for the very same model. Keeping regular calls can help you stay on their radar and get it delivered right on time.
Check Out Dealership on the Periphery
If it’s not a great issue to drive a little far, check dealers out of your city outskirts. They usually have fewer footfalls in their showroom and consequently, less demand on them, which makes this a possibility for shorter waiting periods.
If you need a ‘BH number plate‘ and your place of employment is the same city you are staying in, check availability in both places. This way you can choose the city that has a smaller waiting period to get your car quick.
Pay Higher Booking Amounts
The booking amount would generally lie between Rs 5,000 to Rs 25,000, depending on the manufacturer’s fixed amount. However, you may demand a higher amount upfront, and the dealer will agree since you are promising speedy delivery of your car from their showroom. For confidence, a higher booking amount increases your chances of purchasing the car from that showroom.
Pro Tip: Get all your finances in order so that everything from loan approval to paperwork is ready to push things along even faster and preclude any further delay.
Demo cars are used for test drives, and these are sometimes up for sale and sometimes at a cheaper rate too. They have lower waiting times and you could drive away with one almost immediately after payment. However, you must view them properly and inspect them well before jumping to this option since the demo cars are usually test-driven by several prospective buyers and, hence may wear and tear.
Anyways, a good demo car can get you the car of your dreams fast and with significant cost-cutting involved in the up to 2-3 lakh or more depending upon the model.
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