How long have you been in the auto industry?
I’ve been in the auto industry over a decade. I have worked at other Honda dealerships for 8 plus years. I’ve been currently working for Phil Long Ford Lincoln for 4 years.
How did you get into the industry?
I was working a couple of dead-end jobs, and I wasn’t bringing in the income I wanted. I saw an ad in the newspaper for car sales with an income starting at 35k to 60k a year. That was more than what I was making at the time, so I went for the interview. They liked my personality, attitude and my enthusiasm which led them to hire me.
what advice would you give to people who want to get a car?
Research the makes and models of what you are looking for, see what fits you, and determine what you can afford before going to a dealership. That way, you can gauge or guide the process. Be clear about your expectations. People that don’t share what they’re trying to accomplish, tend to go from dealership to dealership. If you’re looking to upgrade your car, always know the background of the vehicle. You would need to know if your last car was in an accident or damaged, if there were repairs on the car, if any damage was preexisting or happened while you owned it.
Was the car purchased at a higher interest rate? is it for business or work.?
Finally, how much money did you put down on the vehicle? This helps to determine what you may need now for a down payment. The more you put down is always good because it can assist with your taxes and fees.
where do you see the Auto industry headed?
I see more people going to the internet to buy cars. The consumer doesn’t want to spend their time at the dealership because people have busy lives. I see more home and work deliveries happening; no more picking up your car from the lot. As long as the gas prices stay the way they are, you will not see sedans that are non-hybrid or not electric, Because we are going more towards smaller SUVs that are becoming hybrids & all-electric vehicles.