What percentage of the car buying process would you be comfortable doing online? 25%, 50%, 75%, 95% or 100% ?
About 30 minutes ago a shipping company pulled into the dealership to pick up a 2019 Ford Mustang (used) to deliver to Mrs. Lin in Lakewood, CA which is roughly 1800 miles from the dealership. She is an example of someone that is okay with doing 100% of the deal online. Mrs. Lin and I don't even speak the same language; other than a facetime conversation, some emails, a phone call and some identity verifcation we have never even met. But she got the automobile she wanted and is completely satisfied!
I am a 95% guy. I want to do everything I can possibly do online! However, I want to touch the vehicle and test drive before I commit to spend thousands of dollars. Send me video walk arounds, photos, facetime me, get my credit approval and figures up front and then I will visit the dealership. The only reason I will not purchase is because 1. The automobile is not what it was presented to be OR 2. I do not like the dealership/salesperson. By doing 5% at the dealership I do not spend MY time at a car lot.
The 25%/50%/75% folks are mainly the old school, not giving any information until I see and touch the car, scared of identity theft type of people. There will always be this type of person in the market and other than spending a little more time at the dealership, the deal will be exactly the same. It is worth their TIME to spend it seeing the product they are purchasing with their own eyes.
What percentage would you feel comfortable doing online??
