Where to buy a Mercedes-Benz: Advantages and Disadvantages of Approaches

Buying a car is a job as problematic as it is pleasant. Brands, models, equipment, from the variety of proposals literally replete in the eyes, and to find the answer to the question that what exactly is worth buying, sometimes it turns out and not so easy. One more “puzzle” is added to all these concerns: where to make the long-awaited purchase of a four-wheeled vehicle - from an official or “gray” dealer? And maybe, at all, to bring the necessary copy straight from Europe? Consider the options for acquiring new and used Mercedes-Benz cars, weighing all the pros and cons of each of them.

Features of buying a "Mercedes" from an authorized dealer

Let's start, as usual, with concepts. An official dealer is a representative directly associated with the manufacturing company, authorized to sell its products on the market and provide both warranty and post-warranty service. By the way, the status of "official" not only gives the dealer a competitive advantage in the fight for the buyer but also puts it in a strictly delineated framework of the rules that the manufacturer makes for companies that want to work or are already working with their model line.

Thus, a candidate company applying for the status of the Biggest Mercedes Dealer in California must have experience in the automotive business, a good reputation, a highly qualified management team, and a stable financial position. In addition, the candidate company should actively use modern technologies in the management of the enterprise.

The variety of show-rooms not only contributes to the formation of healthy competition but also makes buyers think about where it is best to buy your Mercedes. What should I look for when choosing a dealer in the first place? First, you need to get as much details as possible about the reputation of the dealership. This can be done in several ways: see reviews on various Internet forums, find out the opinions of friends who have previously purchased a car in this particular dealership, or, even better, look for information on the rating of sellers over the past few years.

The last option, oddly enough, often turns out to be the easiest and least costly in time, because this kind of information is open and published on the automaker's official website. Secondly, it is necessary to come to the dealer and see the situation, as they say, firsthand. For example, an unfavorable attitude of the staff towards the customer, the refusal to take a test drive, the unpreventable appearance of the showroom itself can be an important factor here. If this is true, then it makes sense to look for another center.

Buying a new car: all inclusive

As already noted, the status of "official" obliges the seller to comply with a whole set of stringent requirements approved by the manufacturer. However, there are always exceptions from general rules. Often it happens that the dealer's "frivolity" floats to the surface when the money for the car has already been paid. The main problems usually begin to appear at the stage of warranty service. And they are common both for “white” sellers and for “gray” dealers. It is important to remember the following: the Mercedes Benz Dealers Southern California is responsible to the automaker, whose cars he sells, and therefore the level of service in all its manifestations will definitely be higher for the “official” than for the “gray” seller.

Buying a used car: business and business only

Image is nothing. Or almost nothing when it comes to the sale of "official" car with the mileage. It would be naive to expect, having come to the auto show of the “white” dealer, that you are insured against various kinds of “pitfalls” by 100%. Of course, official sellers value their reputation, because it is often the decisive factor that forces the buyer to come to this dealership, and not to any other. However, the desire to make a profit sometimes prevails- this is the essence of the business.

So buying a “doubtful” copy from an official representative is not so difficult. It is in practice. And what in theory? Today, the vast majority of automakers can boast of a used car sales service. The special popularity of this kind of “second-hand programs” is used by premium brands seeking to “wrestle” into the wallets of those who doubt whether to take a new “swallow” of budget class or “luxury” horse. A vivid example is Mercedes dealerships in California. Thus, the German automaker has created a special program for the sale of used cars called Star Class.

The price of the "entrance ticket" in Star Class is as follows: the car must be no older than 5 years and travel no more than 125,000 km. An important feature of the program from Mercedes-Benz is that used cars pass a preliminary expert inspection of 63 points, and the main components and assemblies are guaranteed for 12 months. Of course, you can buy a car from your hands, especially since such an option most often turns out to be much more profitable financially, but this will be, as they say in such cases, a cat in a bag.

Should I buy a "Mercedes" in the cabin of an unofficial dealer?

Such dealers are traditionally called “gray”. At the same time, the adjective “gray” itself already casts a whole complex of negative associations hinting at fraud and potential danger of activity. Obviously, this circumstance does not add to the "gray" sellers of arguments in the fight against the "official" for the buyer. It is important to remember that the "unofficial" - however, like the "official" - the disadvantages are side by side with the pluses.

New car: miser pays twice

Our psychology is so arranged that in pursuit of barely tangible discounts and other additional bonuses that “gray” dealers like to lure so much, we do not pay attention to other, much more important components of a successful purchase. It is important to clearly understand that the “gray” seller is his own master. Accordingly, the dealer is completely indifferent whether the buyer is satisfied with his purchase or not. Moreover, a car purchased from a “gray” seller does not if necessary, even fall under revocable campaigns.

So why are buyers increasingly turning their attention to unofficial dealers? First, the “gray” dealer, as a rule, is ready to offer the buyer those models and configurations that the “officials” will have to wait for several months. Secondly, the “gray” seller is always ready to deliver a completely new model to the customer, which has not yet entered the Indian market - as they say, there would be money.

A used car: faith and hope

Buying a used car from an unofficial Mercedes Dealer in California is not much different from buying a four-wheel “friend” in the car market from the hands, through a newspaper or an ad on numerous automotive Internet resources: you can buy a really worthy copy or, on the contrary, frank trash. If you are willing to take risks, then take risks. However, this option of buying a car is often chosen not by amateurs to play “Russian roulette”, but those who are eager to save on the purchase. After all, bargaining in the case of unofficial dealers has not been canceled.