Online shopping seems to be the way of the world nowadays. And for good reason! Who wants to go all the way to the store, deal with traffic, wait in checkout lines and lug your purchases back home, when you could get your shopping done from the comfort of home? Shopping online for the items we use day-to-day has certainly established itself as a more convenient alternative to in-store shopping in today’s society. So why not apply the online shopping model to the car buying industry? Would the same conveniences apply? And could it actually make car buying less expensive? The answer might surprise you.

Beware Inventory Issues

When you log on to that online car dealership’s website, you’ll likely be offered to conveniently browse through their inventory right there. What most online dealers won’t say is that the same group of vehicles you’re browsing online are also simultaneously on sale in their brick-and-mortar locations. Chances are that, after hours of browsing and finally finding that perfect car, it could have been sold days ago if the dealer neglected to update their online inventory listings.

There Could be Hidden Costs

In the event that you didn’t get beat by an in-person car shopper, another issue you might be forced to contend with is transportation of the vehicle. Online dealerships often fail to list the current physical locations of the cars that you’re shopping. So, if you decide to make a purchase and agree on a price, you could then find out that the car has to be trucked from an out-of-state lot several hours away. Unless they offer same-day delivery, this could add days to the buying process. Also, guess who gets stuck with that hefty “transportation fee” from the trucking company?

Don’t Skip Kicking the Tires

Besides simply price, there’s other considerations that should go into your car buying experience. Especially with a such a major purchase, it’s important to know exactly what you’re buying. Have you ever bought a pair of shoes that looked great online and were available in your size, but when they showed up, they just didn’t fit right? Now imagine those shoes cost you as much as a car. When buying a vehicle, you should be able to test drive that exact same vehicle. Not just a similar one on a nearby lot (as sometimes online dealers will offer). Each different individual vehicle has its own quirks, and you’ll want to get to know all of your potential vehicle’s ins and outs before you sign on the dotted line.

The Cost of Losing Face-to-Face Interaction

While some might consider cutting the human factor out of car buying a plus, there is something lost for the buyer who only has a website to interact with. Especially when purchasing a pre-owned vehicle, there could be issues that pop up when you show up to claim your car. Are there problems with your sale? Did a tire end up going flat? Is there a dent or scratch that wasn’t there before? These are the kinds of issues that can be immediately dealt with when you complete a sale in person. By going the route of buying online, you are assuming the risk that these last-minute issues could occur without having a person right there to correct the problems for you before you drive off the lot.

Considering the cost of inventory issues, hidden charges, and having to deal with any last-minute issues with your car on your own, it might make the world of online car buying less appealing to the informed shopper. If you have any questions about the true cost of buying online versus in-person, we invite you to contact us today.