When it comes to making major purchases, I think of purchasing a house, car, or 52" TV. These type of items require research in comparing the prices with different store or dealers and making sure that the item meets my needs and fits my budget. I, at the moment, do not own a home so the biggest purchase that my husband and I have ever purchased is our 2002 Toyota MR2. This purchase was well thought out and we waited about a year before we made the decision to purchase the car. As with any major or minor purchase, we always discuss it amongst each other and we write down the pros and cons of the purchase.
The first step my husband and I took was to set a budget for what we can actually afford. We always liked this type of car so picking the style and color didn't take much time out of our planning. Once we decided on our budget, we then saved enough money to put as our down payment. This process took the longest because we have other bills to take care, thus leaving a little amount to put in our savings account. This is the third car we've purchased together, so we knew that the more money we saved, the less our monthly payment would be. .
After we decided we definitely wanted to purchase the MR2, we decided to see which car dealership would have the best price. We went to a few locations, but they all seem to have the same price. The nest step was to find out which dealership offered extra incentives without paying a dime. One feature that my husband and I feel that is helpful is receiving complimentary oil changes and the Toyota of Glendale was the only location that offered it at no cost. We found that this location had very friendly and informative sales associates. .
Customer service is also a factor that I look for when I am making a major purchase. I believe that customer service is the reason why I purchase merchandise at that specific location. The impressions that sales associates provide should give me the feeling that they really want my business.
