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Buyer BewareMost stolen vehicles in the United States
The Highway Loss Data Institute, a part of the National Institute for Highway Safety, has released its 2010 theft numbers. By comparing the number of insured vehicles on the road to the number of theft claims, HLDI creates the most-stolen list. This year, the Cadillac Escalade topped the list, and pickups are becoming more frequent [...]
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Buyer BewareAnchoring: A trick every auto dealership uses
When people make decisions, they generally adjust their outlook based upon a set perception, or anchor. Once a person has established an anchor to compare related circumstances against, that anchor tends to remain set in the individual’s mind. This process of bias is called anchoring, and the retail sales industry uses it to great advantage [...]
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Buyer BewareTop 10 vehicles targeted for tickets
Getting a ticket is never fun. For most members of the driving public, though, it’s a part of life. On average, .23 tickets are issued for every 100,000 vehicle miles driven in the United States. Certain vehicles tend to drive that average up — though whether it is because of the drivers or the vehicle [...]
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Buyer BewareBe aware of the tricks car salespeople use to make the sale
Car salespeople who offer a no-pressure, honest sales face to the public will still engage in a number of psychological tricks and triggers to get you to buy that new car. Typically it’s perfectly legal. Thus, consumers should know car salespeople tricks of the trade before going shopping at a lot.
Car salespeople are trying to [...] -
Buyer BewareWatch out for these potential auto mechanic scams
When you take your vehicle to an auto mechanic, you should have reasonable assurance that they are reputable and trustworthy, rather than someone who is waiting to perpetrate one of many different auto mechanic scams. Researching a mechanic ahead of time via AAA or other industry resources helps. However, being prepared with knowledge of some [...]