Q&A with Andrew Gyamera, Pre-owned Brand Manager for Exclusive Automotive Group
What are the steps someone should take to purchase a pre-owned car?
Simply put: Assess the market, Examine your needs and circumstances, Identify a professional to guide you through the process, and Collaborate with that professional to get you the car you want.
What is the status of the pre-owned car market in the U.S. right now?
According to data from Cars.com, JPMorgan, and Carfax, the pre-owned car market right now is unprecedentedly hot. Because of the pandemic and other factors, there is a supply shortage in new cars, so many people are choosing to buy pre-owned vehicles.
Is it better to buy a pre-owned car through a dealership or online?
Buying a car through a dealership is safer, less stressful, and overall, it’s more convenient.
When you buy a car online, there’s a good chance you’ll have to deal with a third party, who you don’t know their reputation and intentions. I’ve heard many terrible stories of people getting taking advantaged of when they bought a car online, so buying through a dealership is a much safer and reliable purchasing process.
When you’re dealing with third parties and unknown entities online, it can be very stressful. On the other hand, when you buy through a dealership, you work with a professional who guides you through the purchasing process. It’s like purchasing home. It’s scary to buy or sell one of the most expensive purchases in your life. Why not work with a professional who knows what they are doing?
As for convenience, most people believe buying a car online is easier than buying through a dealership. However, when you buy online, you have to submit multiple financing applications to different lenders. When you buy through us, we take care of that for you. When you buy online, you have to visit multiple locations to test drive different vehicles then call and/or email to request prices. When you buy through a dealership, you can compare the cars at the dealership, test drive the ones you’re interested in, get guidance from the salesperson and drive the car home that day or get it delivered. So, in the end, buying a car through a dealership is actually more convenient.
What are the most important factors customers should consider when buying a pre-owned vehicle?
There are a few factors that a customer needs to consider when buying a pre-owned vehicle, including their budget, lifestyle, financing, insurance, and vehicle history.
How does Exclusive Automotive Group help customers assess those factors and guide them through the buying process?
Whether someone is looking to buy a $250,000 vehicle or a $15,000 vehicle, we treat them the same. First and foremost, we listen. We learn their needs, wants and circumstances. Then, we show them some options, explain key features, and land on a vehicle. We make the car buying process easy by treating every person like a friend. We thoroughly enjoy our work and helping people find a car that fits their needs.
How is Exclusive Automotive Group’s pre-owned car buying process different than other dealerships?
The purchasing process is a collaborative effort rather than a sales pitch. We work with our customers, many of whom we get to know pretty well, to identify the car they want and help them get it. We try to remove the stress of buying a car and provide them the guidance they are looking for.
What can customers expect when they buy a pre-owned vehicle from Exclusive Automotive Group?
Reliability at a good price. Most of our cars are Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicles, which means they have gone through a thorough inspection to fix any problems and they have a factory-backed warranty. As for the cars that aren’t CPO, they still go through a 140-point inspection and have warranties.
What do you enjoy the most about helping a customer buy a pre-owned vehicle?
Getting to know our customers. As I mentioned above, we first and foremost listen to our customers. So, we get to know them, especially the 40% who are repeat customers. I really enjoy learning about a customer, identifying a car that fits their needs, and getting them what they want. It’s very rewarding to me.
How can a customer start the buying process for a pre-owned vehicle from Exclusive Automotive Group?
They can check our inventory online at ExclusiveAutomotiveGroup.com or they can contact me directly at the information below. We can practically get them any Make and Model they prefer, even if it’s not on our website.
Andrew Gyamera, Pre-owned Brand Manager
Phone: 703-712-8324
Email: agyamera@eag-dc.com