Women purchase about two-thirds of vehicles and influence 80% of all sales. (Business Week, 2004)
The rate of female buyers in typically male segments has increased, including trucks and full-size SUVs where women now represent 40% of the purchases across the industry. (Frank About Women, 2005)
96% of female customers never complain. They just never come back. (Frank About Women, 2005)
Women influence about 85% of all new vehicle purchases, according to Women Motorist, a Web site dedicated to women car buyers. (WomenMotorist.com, 2004)
These statistics are from the book "2005 Women and Diversity WOW! Facts."
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"Fashion can be bought. Style one must possess." ~ Edna Woolman Chase
That's great news. Unfortunately, I have never bought my own car. My first car was bought by my mom, then my husband (who has a background in auto finance) wheeled and dealed for all the other cars I have driven since then. I let him handle it because he's strict with car dealers and because he knows the business very well, I am sure if I had managed the purchases myself that we would have gotten worse deals. Auto sales are still a male dominated industry and I think plenty of women get taken advantage of, but this is good evidence that the industry might have to change.
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"Go either very cheap or very expensive. It's the middle ground that is fashion nowhere." ~ Karl Lagerfeld
So then why, oh why do car salesmen insist on calling me "baby, honey, sweetie, darlin'," or whatever else demeaning little word comes into their puny little heads? I will leave a car dealership immediately after a situation like that. (Just like the stat says I will.)
I purchased a car all by myself nearly two years ago but really had to keep in control the whole time. They were trying to get me to buy things I didn't want or have my dad co-sign so I could get the most expensive model with all the extras (all they care about is their damn commision!) But I only did it my way and got what I wanted in the end with only my name on the loan! It's tough to be taken seriously when your a younger woman (I was 22 at the time) but let them see your credit score and they will get to business.
when I bought my car, they kept asking when my husband would come in to approve the transaction. I got a great deal, but they tried, oh how they tried...
Dizzy wrote: when I bought my car, they kept asking when my husband would come in to approve the transaction.
so shitty. this reminds me of when i was shopping around for new windows. some asshole i was going to have give me a quote said they couldn't do anything without my husband around. i obviously went with another window co. your loss of 6k, buddy!