It’s a Luigi!

I was very fortunate to meet a man named Luigi Galeazi, who just happens to be one of the finance managers for AutoPark Honda of Cary, 3 years ago. He has a son that I taught as a 2-year-old pre-school teacher. I just happened to love this little boy very much because he is bright, articulate, and has the most amazing cognitive ability of any two I had every had the pleasure of teaching.

What has this got to do with cars? Nothing. And everything. You see, Luigi helped to get me a job selling cars. I never thought I could do it, you have probably felt that same way. I can’t sell cars. Yes you can. Because we all sell our selves every day…and what we do. We just don’t realize it. I mean I had to sell my expertise to parents when they toured my class while they made the decision to enroll their child in my class or someone else’s. Was the trust  factor there? Yes, because I had a waiting list for my class that was over a year and a half long, but I digress.

Luigi gave me a referral that got me a job selling cars. And I sold cars for about 8 months, when I was recognized for my customer care. Then I was given the opportunity to work solely with customers in their satisfaction with their experience at our dealership. And I can tell you that this job is just as frustrating, rewarding, and fulfilling as my teaching position.

So thank you, Luigi Galeazi for the chance…a chance that has lead me somewhere I never thought I would ever be. Do I miss working with kids? Absolutely. Do I miss selling cars? Sure. But I absolutely love what I do now. And I am sure this is what teaching all those 2 year olds prepared me to do.

PLEASE NOTE!

The photo above is a .jpg you see everywhere now. It’s amazing how much apart of our lives Facebook and other social media is. Key word being “social” you know what I mean? So I am going to go on a personal rant. And since this is a blog, I am entitled.

I believe in getting what you pay for, being treated with respect, and treating others with respect. So when it comes to getting what you want, say in a purchase…what happened to the good old-fashioned way of picking up a phone and asking for the manager? Or writing a letter to the manager? We have gotten bratty in this digital age of fast emails (hey! that’s an idea…emailing a manager) and high-speed internet access.

Soooooo, if we use social media for fun and to catch up with family and friends…why do people want to use it as an avenue to get what they want by slamming the business they made a purchase from or received a service they weren’t happy about on Facebook and any other social media site? Whew! That took a lot of air, and is a run on sentence! Once again, allowable since this is a blog and not an English paper due Sophomore year at your favorite College or University.

Anyway, Facebook is NOT the place to go off and get your way. Even though it works. Sometimes. But someone has to put a stop to it. Otherwise, review sites will go out of business. Not. My point is, social media is for socializing…not complaining. Therefore, I ask…if you have a problem, don’t use social media to get your way. Contact the management team of the business you have a problem with or write a review.

Not all businesses are out to get you. There are plenty of businesses out there (us) that will work to find a resolution for you that is fair. So I am making a declaration now…I’m keeping our social media page what it is supposed to be: social media. If you have a gripe, contact management.  Because our social media page, and the people that participate on our social media page don’t deserve to read about your unhappiness. That’s what review pages are about.

Let me clarify: I will delete any complaints targeted at our dealership. Because as many people that you want to read your complaint, to cause us to suffer or buckle down and get your way…there are more people that contact us to let us know they don’t appreciate your comments and want them deleted. And I am only to happy to comply.

Thank you for reading and understanding that our social media is just that.

Keeping it local

People talk about buying locally and supporting their local community all the time. Are we only talking about the local farmers and fishermen? What about the small business owners, i.e. local bakery that a young couple has started up? Or the small town coffee shop trying to compete with the big fish franchise? Don’t they deserve to be supported locally and thrive?  Help make our local communities an even better place to raise our families, grow old, and improve our home values?

The answer, I feel, is unequivocally yes! The mom and pop restaurant that has always served comfort food (even before the large chains moved in, renamed it “rustic”, then charge you $29.95 a plate) should be the place to go for mac n cheese and country fried steak!

Just like with the local car dealership. Why would anyone waste their time and gas (at just under $4/gallon), to drive to a dealership 4 hours away just to save $200?  Think of the miles you add to your new car driving back from that dealership that saved you $200. (Translation: that much closer to your warranty expiring.)

AutoPark Honda of Cary is proud to say we have been the Highest Volume Dealer in the Triangle for 10 Years now.  We want to earn your business! The higher the volume of cars we sell, allows for more savings passed along to you, our customers. Doesn’t it just make sense to buy locally in your own backyard dealership? 

So keep it local.

Buy local.

(Oh, yeah, same goes for supporting local farmers, coffee shops, and restaurants, too!)

YOU Are YOUR Best Car Buying Guide

Is there really such a thing as the best way to buy a car or the right way to buy a car? No, there really isn’t. The only right way to buy a car is the way YOU feel is best. Am I right? Or am I right? Because you are different from everyone else out there buying a brand new car. How can there be a science to buying a car when we are all different with different personalities…and don’t get me started on the person assisting you with your car purchase. That adds a whole new dimension to the  process

You may not care what you get when buying your new car, as long as it’s the best price OTD and the negotiations happen the way you envision from reading all the guides, articles, and books on car buying. But there is no science to this. Maybe a little math.

So take the equation: shopper + car + price = happy customer. How can you honestly configure a way to make this equation work perfectly every time? You can’t. I’m not saying it’s impossible…wait…maybe I am. But we are emotionally made up human beings. Otherwise, we would all drive the same car, in the same trim, with the same color. That’s not going to happen because I want to stand out from you. Ha! Ha! Ha! And we aren’t Vulcans.

Car buying guide at it’s best:

• Do your homework on what you need for your driving lifestyle.
• Then…and only then…go and test drive and get a feel for the car you want.
• Lastly, the math…add it all up just like Mama always said, if you have the money for it, you buy it. If not…get what you can afford. You remember the saying about hamburger and filet…

So trust YOURSELF when buying YOUR next car…not someone else. Because it’s YOUR car, YOU drive it, and YOU pay for it. And if all else fails…go in with YOUR best price. Because YOUR best price isn’t the same as my best price or ayone elses. Therefore,  the dealer’s best price doesn’t matter, it’s YOUR price that counts.

Animals aren’t the only things that are going extinct!

One of the most important things to me is customer service. I feel like it is going extinct. Between automated voices and smart phones…you can’t replace the human touch.

Don’t all of you hate having to push button after button to get to the right menu or option to have your question(s) answered? And doesn’t it just drive you insane that on some menus 0 [zero] is no longer for Operator, but an invalid response!?!?!

We are an instant gratification society, from weight loss to quitting smoking! So to use technology as an avenue for faster, better customer service…seems like a paradox. How can an automated voice get offended when I am yelling at them? I want a human now!

How can you expect to want “it” now and get “it” fast then complain about customer service? Buying a car is MAJOR! Just like buying a house…it is HUGE! Why would you not want to make the time to see the car, sit in the car, test drive the car, and meet the person you do business with? Think about it. Not take the time, but actually make the time because your car is worth this investment and so are you.

Your time is valuable and can never be replaced, I get that. I also get that I would not want to rush into making a MAJOR purchase without being thoughtful and concise.

That is where customer service comes in…having a professional to guide you, advise you, research for you, and work for you…no computer can do that (because it would actually be you pushing the buttons on the phone, and looking things up on the internet by typing). And who would you yell at if the car you bought didn’t have the rear arm rest in it because you thought you knew what you were getting when you read the website offering this for that on the car you want?

That’s right, people! There will always be competitive pricing, competitive products, but it’s who you want to do business with. It’s about who has the best customer service. Wouldn’t you agree? Good! Now, let’s start up our save customer service fund!  Why? Because you deserve it!

Winds of March

Here in Cary, North Carolina, March did not roar in like a lion. It came in with clouds and really cold temperatures. That doesn’t seem like a lion’s roar as much as a hyena laughing.

But here at AutoPark Honda of Cary, our first day of March roared in like a lion. The showroom was bursting with people and noise. It was very carnivalistic. (I love blogging because you can create words.) And cars were being sold left and right. It seemed like people thought it was the end of the month, at the end of the year of a model being discontinued and the prices were slashed!

This is what car dealerships like…hustle and bustle, people, noise, energy…and don’t forget the smell of popcorn. We have that popping all day long at AutoPark Honda of Cary!

The winds of March may not have ushered in like a lion weather-wise, but it sure did roar in at AutoPark Honda of Cary. Looks like it will roar out going into April too.

Recognize!

What makes a car noteworthy? Is it the reliability? Styling? Fan base? Manufacturer? Country of origin? Price? Notoriety? Tradition? Awards?

If all of these are or some of these are your reasons for buying a Honda Accord, let me remind you of another reason…recognition. The proof is in the pudding, so let me give you some pudding.

Car and Driver–“2013 10 Best“  NHTSA 5-Star- “Overall Rating”  Edmunds.com- “A Top Recommended sedan under $25,000“  ALG- “2013 Residual  Value Award-Midsize Car”  KBB.com- “2013 Best Resale Value Awards: Best Mid-Size Car”  Polk- “The Accord is the most durable, longest lasting car in its class.”  KBB.com- “2013 10 Best Family Cars“ IIHS- “2013 Top Safety Pick+”  Cars.com/USA Today- “Midsize Sedan Showdown Winner”  (What? You were thinking chocolate or vanilla? Ha! Ha! Ha! or as this generation likes to say, “LOL”.)

But we all know that the recognition is all fine and dandy…but we, at AutoPark Honda of Cary,  just want to earn your business and put you into a car full of pudding. (Oh, and check us out on Facebook. Now, you won’t be able to click on the image below to get to our Facebook page. I just thought it would be cute to have the image on this post. Cheeky I know. Sooooo…old school that I am, I will add our link. (Yes, you will have to do some work, i.e. copy and paste the link in your web browser to get you to our Facebook page.) We want to get 10,000 LIKES, grassroots style (ya now, old school style), so please go to: https://www.facebook.com/AutoparkHonda and LIKE our page!

Thanks for stopping by and reading our blog. Our Facebook page is just as fun! Ha! Ha! Ha! (I mean LOL!)

Perfect Gift

             

So Valentine’s Day is fastly approaching…have you gotten your Sweetie a gift yet? No, no, no. I’m not going to suggest you get your loved one a car. I mean, if you are thinking  about that, then you have been considering a car purchase already. And it’s actually a great idea, but hey…it’s Valentine’s Day and most people want something romantic. But I can tell you, getting a brand new, or new to you, car for a gift on any special occasion is the most fabulous thing ever! And very romantic…think about it…

Wings or Balls

Personally, I like balls myself. Sausage balls that is. Everyone thinks of chicken wings, aka hot wings, as a snack when they watch the Super Bowl, or football period. Not I. Every year when the most highly anticipated game of the season rolls around I make sausage balls at my SB party. Why? Because they taste good! And they are easier to eat…don’t forget less messy!

Also, I won’t contribute to the chicken wing shortage that has been talked about for the last 2 weeks. In case you didn’t know, yes. Stop. Shortage. Stop. On chicken wings. Stop. Yes, I know. Stop. I said chicken wings. Stop.

And did you hear? To top it all off, a couple of guys stole $65,000 worth of chicken wings! Now, I did some digging, notice I said some, not a lot, as in very little, and I read that the shortage doesn’t mean you won’t be able to get your favorite little hors d’oeuvres. You will just pay $65,000 for them due to the “shortage” of this most coveted Super Bowl party necessity. (You do realize I am being metaphorical when I say $65,000 for wings…just my way of exaggerating.)

But it is the beginning of a new year…and carrots. Stop. Celery. Stop. Are pretty tasty little treats on the grub table. STOP.

 

Tradition(s) or Superstition(s)

The battle of light and darkness. The war between good and evil. Two Super Bowl titans come together in an epic combat to fight for the right to be called Champion.

Doesn’t that sound great? Are you ready for some excitement? No! No! No! I’ve got it…ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL? I am. No matter if you celebrate in the traditional manner of stripping off your shirt and painting your belly with your favorite team’s colors…to the superstition of making sure you have plenty of hot wings, meatballs, pizza, chips, and beer–yeah, I said, “BEER” for your family and friends as you gather to watch the big game…the Super Bowl is always a great time to celebrate, eat, have fun with family and friends, eat, cheer, eat, act silly…Did I mention eat?

Tradition is defined as, “…transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation…a long established custom passed down…” Superstition is the “…unjustified belief in supernatural causation leading to certain actions/outcomes…” i.e. your favorite team winning the Super Bowl because you lick your nose while shaking your groove thang!

Like the longstanding tradition of the Super Bowl, Hondas have a long-standing tradition in dependability and reliability, so you don’t  have to worry over superstitions.

Who do you want to win Super Bowl XLVII? I’ll cross my fingers for ya!