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Jul 3, 2008 10:59 am US/Eastern

Online Car Sales Help Consumers Avoid Hassle

Reporting
Paula Ebben
BOSTON (WBZ) ― Ashley Marshall is happy to be in her new car, but it took her time to get over the last time she went to a car dealership.

"I had gone to the lot with my mother to buy a car, and it was an awful experience, and we both left pretty much in tears."

This time, she tried a new way to buy a car. Without any haggling or sales pressure, she went online and picked out just what she wanted.

"They had a little online basket and all of a sudden I was doing research and putting cars in the basket."

The dealer's web site used special software that let her pick not only her vehicle, but negotiate a firm price. She even found options to secure financing, trade in her old car, and buy extras like an extended warranty. She did all of this without leaving home.

Car dealer David Thomas said this approach "is user friendly. It's convenient. It empowers the consumer and you can do all the research online and bring in a salesperson or the dealership when you are ready for them."

Online car sales are one of the few bright spots in the car industry right now, as more dealers are offering the option. These software programs take a consumer from start to finish, with the only visit to a dealer being the time to actually pick the car up.

Older dealership web sites only allowed for searches, but still required a prospective buyer to leave contact information. That turned a lot of people off. Brian Hoecht, who developed the software, says "People love to buy, they just hate to be sold and this is just meant to help them with that."

Buying a car is something that many women leave to a husband, boyfriend, or father. But this software is proving to be very popular with female car buyers.

Thomas said "It tends to appeal to more females because they tend to do a better job of shopping. They're a little more savvy."

Ashley said it make all the difference for her. "After having so many bad experiences at car dealerships, I was very wary. So once I got it, it was a great experience."

Not all dealers have upgraded their web sites, so you might have to try a few before you find one that has all the features you would like.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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