Ask Automatch....

"Tom McParland" (tommcparland)
10/07/2013 at 09:58 • Filed to: Customer sevis, car buying, automatch consulting, automatch

As most of you know, I run a company called Automatch Consulting; I help folks shop for cars and get the best deal. I know there are many of you that are curious about this; some of you even want to give it a go on your own. I was having a conversation with Fractalfootwork recently and I've decided to open the floor to any questions you have. I will gather questions over the next few days and do a full post that I hope will help some folks out. So fire away!

DISCUSSION (42)

@rbalch1 > Tom McParland
10/07/2013 at 10:02

How do you get the best price from a dealership and private buying

Tom McParland > @rbalch1
10/07/2013 at 10:06

Do you mean private sellers? I don't really deal with them...the risk is too high. As for the dealership that will be answered in my post. Thanks!

Stef Schrader > Tom McParland
10/07/2013 at 10:08

How can you get me an RS4 Avant? Price shipped to 78705 plz. Thx in adv.

Also, will it tow a stripped/caged 944?

Tom McParland > Stef Schrader
10/07/2013 at 10:10

I've been trying to figure out the RS4 problem for some time...but stupid Audi is all "Americans won't buy wagons so you can't have it!" Not that I have the monies anyway. And I don't see why it wouldn't tow a 944 all those Brits seem to be able to two caravans with them.

@rbalch1 > Tom McParland
10/07/2013 at 10:10

Thanks Automatch
How do you make a profit from the sales if you are still getting the buyer a good price
are your margins slim
Do you buy the car in your name or the customers
Has it ever gone wrong for you
Do you find yourself having to make compromises on behalf of the customer (colour/engine)

Tom McParland > @rbalch1
10/07/2013 at 10:11

All excellent questions! Stay tuned :)

@rbalch1 > @rbalch1
10/07/2013 at 10:11

How many cars do you buy a month
Does your job provide full time employment
Do you get much free time doing what you are doing

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Tom McParland
10/07/2013 at 10:13

If you could only choose one wagon as your favorite, which would it be and why?

Tom McParland > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
10/07/2013 at 10:15

See profile picture and the one above :)

Why? Looks awesome, drives awesome (from what I have heard)

@rbalch1 > Tom McParland
10/07/2013 at 10:16

What advise do you have for someone considering starting their own business/
Do you need/recommend any qualifications
What other jobs had you done that led you down this career path
Most expensive car you have bought

PRBot II > Tom McParland
10/07/2013 at 10:23

I used to work for Guitar Center in college. Prices are negotiable, and sales associates earn commission. I saw a lot of customers play games and try to trick us into giving them discounts. Ever since then, I've always felt the best way to negotiate a price is to be straightforward - make the deal for the sales associate instead of the sales associate making the deal for the customer and say...

"Here's the product I want, and here's the price my budget will allow. Do we have a deal?"

Is it the same when negotiating the price of a car? Or is there a better approach?

Rico > Tom McParland
10/07/2013 at 10:30

Do you have a max distance limit for your consulting services? Is it only locals? What's the minimum? Like if someone wanted a car for less than 20k would you do it? Do you feel anything from a dealership is a better deal than from a private seller? Thanks!

thebigbossyboss > Tom McParland
10/07/2013 at 10:35

I want your job. How did you get started?

BJ > Tom McParland
10/07/2013 at 11:31

Do you only deal in new cars, or select used vehicles as well?

Have you ever bought new cars for export to Canada? If so, what were some of the problems/challenges you encountered? If not, why not?

Who is your biggest competitor/challenger? Other brokers, big dealer networks, other?

Do you have any horror stories or crazy people stories to share? Please?

Tom McParland > BJ
10/07/2013 at 11:37

All excellent questions. Thanks!

Satish Kondapavulur > Tom McParland
10/07/2013 at 11:45

If you ordered a car instead of buying something off the lot, are you still able to negotiate the price down in some cases?

Tom McParland > Satish Kondapavulur
10/07/2013 at 11:52

Excellent question!

Stef Schrader > Tom McParland
10/07/2013 at 12:19

1. Strike oil in yard

2. Buy second house in market that gets Avants

3. ???

4. Not profit, but best tow vehicle EVAR .

Tom McParland > Stef Schrader
10/07/2013 at 12:28

Indeed!

Mikeado > Tom McParland
10/07/2013 at 12:56

Kinja'd!!!

That blue is awesome. I'd spec this colour with the black styling pack and the black-sided version of those wheels.

Victorious Secret > Satish Kondapavulur
10/07/2013 at 13:25

Oh are you...

Margins on BTO are what I like to call "FUUUCK YEA"

BJ > Tom McParland
10/07/2013 at 15:05

Two more questions, of the hypothetical sort:

I live in/near a major metropolitan area, I know what I want, and I know that dealers will bring cars in from other locations, even out of state/province. Why should I bother paying you for what I can do myself? What do I gain?

I want to go into this business. Will you teach me your tricks, and help me make a business plan? I promise I won't compete with you.

BJ > Tom McParland
10/07/2013 at 15:07

Oh, and I was going to mention this as well - I believe the tag you're looking for is "cotomer sevis". According to my Google search results, it appears to be highly related to Jalopnik and other Gawker sites.

Not that this is important. I just can't help myself from pointing out these little things.

Hermann > Tom McParland
10/07/2013 at 21:01

Are there many other consulting companies such as yours?

I had never heard of such service before knowing about you. It's quite interesting.

Do you have a massive poster of Torchinsky's car chosing chart as a cheat sheet for your work?

Jsmizira > Tom McParland
10/07/2013 at 21:04

Where are you located out of? Do you have clients from around North America? Do you need scouts for different parts of the country (like the San Francisco/ Sacramento areas)?

cuts_off_prius > Stef Schrader
10/07/2013 at 21:24

You can import an 00-'01 RS4 Avant. It's on the NHTSA eligibility list.

IDDaVo - Now has a Toy Yoda > Tom McParland
10/07/2013 at 22:56

If you were going to rob a bank. What car would you use?

Hooker > Tom McParland
10/07/2013 at 23:05

Care to franchise?

No, seriously, I wouldn't mind being you. I work (second time in a few years) at a dealership and can't help but think that working for the customer and not the dealer is my true calling.

Stef Schrader > cuts_off_prius
10/07/2013 at 23:37

OOOOOOH

cuts_off_prius > Stef Schrader
10/08/2013 at 00:41

Yup, I made a post about it:

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/fyi-you-can-le…

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Tom McParland > Hooker
10/08/2013 at 07:56

As you will see in my post, probably tomorrow, I don't make enough money to do this full time. But as business grows we may be able to work together in the future.

Tom McParland > Jsmizira
10/08/2013 at 07:57

Scouts would be an interesting proposition...let me think about that.

Tom McParland > IDDaVo - Now has a Toy Yoda
10/08/2013 at 07:57

Hemi Charger with police package and lights. I want to blend in and get a way quickly.

Tom McParland > Hermann
10/08/2013 at 07:58

There are others, not many and none in my area. Torch's charts are very helpful. :)

Hooker > Tom McParland
10/08/2013 at 08:56

Indeed. I feel like I have done it anyway for my friends (and friends of friends) when I wasn't working for the dealership. Want that car for 12,500 out the door? Well, I will see what I can do. The most important thing I have to remember is that some deals are just bad deals and explaining that to a customer can be difficult especially when they have no idea how the numbers work. Looking forward to the post!

Hermann > Tom McParland
10/08/2013 at 09:50

That's awesome.

I'd love to put such thing to work here, but I can't see this type of service working over here.

Tom McParland > Hermann
10/08/2013 at 09:54

I dunno the S. American car market too well, but it might. What percentage of the population buys cars from dealerships? Do the dealers operate the same as the US? All I know is when I lived in Ecuador new trucks were pretty inexpensive and European cars were ridiculous! As you know they are on the dollar...a brand new GTI would cost like 85 USD in Ecuador.

Hermann > Tom McParland
10/08/2013 at 10:04

Most people buy new cars at dealerships, but sometimes independent dealers get better prices or conditions. And these dealers negotiate with banks themselves for better conditions or financing.

I did see some opportunity, until my lady bough herself a Hyundai with one of those independent dealers. The guy was able to negotiate with the bank to a point where no one else could beat. It was pretty impressive.

I think one could get into a business like yours here, but it would be hardly different from these dealers in terms of helping people out, consulting on prices and financing and they have the advantage of having some cars in stock.

Prices in Brazil are absurd, and I think the best example is the Corolla, which starts with no optionals at US$30,000. And it's an inferior car to what the base model of the US is. The Camry starts at US$75.

Tom McParland > Hermann
10/08/2013 at 10:06

You know I don't actually buy the cars. Oh that's right, I didn't publish my post yet. /derp. Anyway, I don't handle the product, I just negotiate on behalf of the customer. Keep an eye out for tomorrow. I will re-post at night too.

Hermann > Tom McParland
10/08/2013 at 10:17

Yeah, I got that. But that's pretty much what most independent dealers do, they negotiate directly with the car manufacturer and the bank that will finance it. They negotiate on your behalf with the advantage of sometimes having something already negotiated they might have in stock.

My fiancees Hyundai is one of those: The car was already there, sitting on the dealer's garage, among others like it. He kind of got a bulk rebate, negotiated the financing individually and got her 3,000 under the best of what Hyundai was charging. And Hyundai also had a 3 month waiting list for the car, while we could pick the car up all licensed 4 days after signing.

So, an independent service where you charge for the negotiation and car matchmaking would look useless over here. But I can clearly see why it works stateside. It's a great idea. I really hope this grows.

But thanks! I really look forward for reading your post.

Volvosaurus-Rex > Tom McParland
10/08/2013 at 15:17

How do you deal with the mainstream customers? My two roommates are both looking for cars. The girl is looking for a small SUV because driving frightens her, the other roommate is a guy who has no idea what he should buy.

I'll use the small SUV girl as an example: I had her look on autotrader for the SUV/hatchback bodystyles and write down the models she liked the look of (because if she absolutely hates the look she will not buy it). Then when she had her list I recommended she test drive all of them to compare them to each other and not her current car (she went test driving with her bf who was very helpful and listened to my plan). I even tried to recommend other models based on the ones she picked (mostly hatchbacks), but most of them she had already eliminated due to the looks. All hatchbacks were eliminated except the Buick Encore which is out of the price range. Then after driving the cars, she said she prefers cars with a short dashboard, high seating position, and upright chair position because she feels more in control.

I get that you have to cater to their wishes, no matter how ridiculous you think they are, and I try to be as objective as possible. One frustration I have is when you present them a car that meets all their needs, they immediately reject it, usually based on prejudices or a slight semblance to another car. Have you had to re-learn all of your knowledge about cars based on stuff appliance buyers are looking for? Do you even know what I'm talking about? Have you learned anything interesting?

I kind of aspire to be an "automotive matchmaker", helping people identify cars they might not have otherwise known about and hopefully helping them find the perfect car for their needs. It has definitely taught me a thing or two about taking a walk in another person's shoes.

Tom McParland > Volvosaurus-Rex
10/08/2013 at 19:31

Excellent question and I am glad you brought this up as I was almost finished with my post. I will adjust to hopefully address this...stay tuned will post sometime tomorrow with a re-post link at night.