What Kind of Franchises Should You Avoid?

On November 1, 2024By Karl

A car buying expert on TikTok posted a short video listing five types of dealerships that should be avoided at all costs.

Billy’s top five behaviors to avoid

The first behavior car buying experts list is to push add-ons. If a dealer touts extra add-ons to increase the price, whether it’s lo-jack, engraving, tint or wheel locks, Billy recommends customers avoid dealing with them. This behavior, he says, smacks of double dealing.

“They are trying to fatten the final numbers and overcharge you. I don’t think any dealership that does this is worth our time,” Billy says.

Second on the list are dealerships that do not allow customers to bring foreign checks or foreign financing.

“Any dealership that won’t let us bring our own check or our own financing and insists we use theirs is a dealership that’s up to something secret,” the expert adds.

Third, Billy says, is to avoid dealerships that advertise themselves as no-haggle or no-haggle, have only one price for each car, and don’t haggle at all.

“I think all we’re doing shopping there is reinforcing bad behavior,” he says.

Next are the dealers who insist that customers can only look up their dealership numbers. According to Billy, dealers do not give out numbers via email or text as they try to lure customers into their territory and take advantage of their unpreparedness.

Finally, Billy says that if you mention his name and the dealership gets upset, they are definitely someone to stay away from.

Other behaviors to avoid in dealers

Auto Fraud Legal Center lists a few additional behaviors to look out for at car dealerships. These include aggregation of license and registration fees, as well as transfer and title fees, backdating of contracts, and excess clearing estimates. They also recommend staying away from dealers who do not disclose material facts about any vehicle.

Zebrawhich helps customers compare insurance policies, also recommends staying away from dealers who adjust odometer readings and dealers who demand keys for trade-in before finding a car to buy.

Zebra recommends having a trusted mechanic inspect any vehicle before finalizing the sale, do additional research by checking the chassis number, and stick to the out-of-door price rather than a monthly payment plan. They also recommend arranging needed financing in advance as a way to guard against questionable practices.

Viewers shared their thoughts

In the comments, multiple viewers added advice about other behaviors to avoid at dealerships.

“It’s ridiculous to want to check credit before a deal even starts,” one of them said.

“I’ve worked in the auto business in Vermont for 27 years and agree with everything you say. “I would also add that you should stay away from those who will not allow you to take the vehicle to another garage for a mechanical inspection,” another added.

“There is something you forgot; If they offer a lower price through financing, walk away. Happens often in Canada,” said a third.

@billythecarkid Shopping from dealers who prioritize transparency and are willing to give prices and negotiate over the phone provides great benefits to consumers. This approach not only helps you save money but also provides a wider range of options. It is recommended that you avoid dealerships that require an in-person visit for assistance as they may not prioritize customer convenience or satisfaction. #car buying tips #carbuyinghelp #car buying secrets #carbuyer #dealership #negotiate #car #car buying advice #bestdeal ♬ Champion – Lux-Inspira

One person had a follow-up question.

They wrote: “Hi Billy. I’m still in the market to buy a car, looking at Toyotas and Hondas. Is it a good deal to buy one or the other if they have more than 100,000 miles?

The creator said that he would make another video to answer this specific question but as of now he has not released it.

The Daily Dot reached out to Billy the Car Kid through TikTok messages and Instagram messages.

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