Auto Estrogen

Whenever I see one of these car advertisements, I become a bit suspicious. I mean when you think about it, what does that really mean?

Bad credit. You’re a credit risk. You haven’t paid somebody or you’ve paid them late, consistently. No offense.

No credit. You’re young, inexperienced, and lacking in maturity. You haven’t had a chance to make credit decisions because you haven’t had one of those 3.5 x 2 inch cards that fit easily into your wallet pretending it’s the answer to all of your money needs, looking ever so attractive until the bill comes in and you suddenly realize that they want you to pay them back, with interest!

We Can Help! Why would they want to? They don’t know you and the little they do know about you isn’t so good, right? Yet, they’re right there willing to put you into a car. Are you kidding?

I’m sorry; maybe I’m just cynical. That can happen after you’ve lived a little while, but if truth be told, I’m mostly an optimist, but something here just smells a bit funny to me. And knowing what I know, which may not be a whole lot but I’m constantly learning from day to day, leads me to say no — they’re not really trying to help. They’re trying to sell you a car, in any way they can and they’re willing to put you at risk to do it.

Let me stop here and make a disclaimer: This is my opinion only. My 2 +2 thinking that looked at this picture and came to the conclusion that something indeed is not adding up here.

Let me ask you, logically, can you think of a reason why somebody that doesn’t know you — who doesn’t have the knowledge of understanding that you lost your job, bills piled up while you looked for work and you really are a hard working decent person or . . . . You’re young but have always been beyond responsible, graduated college, made good grades and you’re just really looking for someone to put a little trust in you —- why would someone that doesn’t know all this great stuff about you really take a risk on you? They wouldn’t right? Unless of course they had a hidden agenda, which really isn’t so hidden: WE WANT YOU IN ONE OF OUR CARS. WE NEED SALES. AND WE’RE WILLING TO MAKE YOU OUR GUINEA PIG.

Here’s my suggestion to you if you see the ad above — Bad Credit? No Credit? We Can Help! —-and it happens to speak directly to you.

1. Bad Credit – Give yourself several months, 6 – 12 maybe, some time to rebuild. I know you really need a car, but others have survived without one and maybe you can too. It’s probably well worth it to put yourself in position to buy the car you want, down the road, at a better interest rate, without people judging and taking advantaged of you for a few past mistakes.

2. No Credit – Take some time to build a little credit and let people know that you are trustworthy, can and will pay your bills. Finish school, get a job and start with a small credit card – a gas card, or a card like American Express (where you have to pay the balance at the end of the month). Then buy a car you can purchase with the cash you’ve saved up. Hey, it may not be so pretty, but as they say, don’t despise small beginning. Pay less and fix it up. You’d be amazed at what a paint job and a good detailing can do.

3. We’re Here to Help – Hey, look to your family and friends, those individuals that do know you and really want to help. Ask around and see if anybody has a car for sale. Find out if anybody’s working in or near the area where you are. Have you heard of carpooling? Listen, gas is high! They might be elated to have someone to share the gas expenses.

It’s time for Halloween and there are thousands of kids (and adults) ready to put on scary masks, costumes and makeup, visit haunted houses and go from door to door, yelling, Trick or Treat. Kids love the sweet candy treats they get going from door to door and the scary tricks that hid behind corners in dark rooms filled with ghostly goblins, monsters and witches. And even adults like a good scare every now and then, but not when it comes to car buying.

The idea of buying a shiny new car can quickly go from treat to trick when things go badly at the dealership. Here’s a list of some of the scary things that can happen at the dealership.

Scary List of Auto Dealer Experiences:
1. I ended up with two car notes! Eeek. Talk about scary, but it happened. This scenario played itself out after the dealership supposedly bought the customer’s trade-in. Come to find out they had not. In this case, the customer ended up paying for a new car as well as the one she already had. Ouch! Read more of this story.

2. 56-year-old woman tackled by salesman. Are you kidding me?! It’s true according to a posting on My Dealer Stories. Apparently, the dealership couldn’t figure out whether they wanted to take the customer’s cash or not so when she got up to leave the salesman tackled her. Now that’s scary!

3. Car dealership steals customer’s vehicle. If you haven’t seen this story floating around you absolutely have to check it out. Can you imagine going to bed with your car in your driveway then getting up and finding it gone, by the very people that sold it to you in the first place?! Watch the video:

Car-Buy-Her loves Her Skirt . . . .Skirt!Magazine, that is. The self described magazine is all about women . . . their work, play, families, creativity, style, health and wealth, bodies and souls. Skirt! Is an attitude . . . spirited, independent, outspoken, serious, playful and irreverent, sometimes controversial, always passionate. Ahhh . . . the same quintessential qualities of a Car-Buy-Her, a woman that is informed, in control, and ready to buy. Car-Buy-Her’s are empowered through information and education and Skirt!Magazine is filled with information, articles, and wonderfully feminine messages and editorials each month.

Skirt!Magazine teamed up recently with Car-Buy-Her during our Fall (2nd) Auto Clinic for Women. Ladies attending the auto clinic not only received a wealth of great automotive information but each participant went home with a fun-filled Skirt! Goody Bag including a personalized hanger for Her Skirt!

The ladies packed the room, listened intently and hurled questioned such as: What do you think of auctions? What about auto dealers that remove the haggle from car buying? How do you get your credit score? How often should you get your transmission checked? How often should you service your vehicle? Is it true that car color raises your insurance? These very engaged ladies were participants of Car-Buy-Her’s 1st auto clinic for women What Men Don’t Want You to Know: Auto Buying and Maintenance Clinic for Women, held this month in conjunction with the Car Care Council’s National Car Care Month.

Ladies attending the clinic shared car stories and chocolate; laughter and camaraderie as a panel of female automotive experts provided information and insight on car buying, auto financing, auto insurance, and auto maintenance.

“I had loads of fun and was very enlightened by the knowledge of all of the speakers. I took away great information to share with my policyholders both present and future, says Sheri Robinson of Triple AAA Club South. “This was a great clinic. I have a page full of notes”, stated Pamela Coman.

The three-hour clinic was the first of its kind held by Car-Buy-Her and the first comprehensive clinic for women covering all-things automotive.

“This was our first automotive clinic and it was hugely successful and a confirmation of the need for this service. We are already in talks with women’s groups, Parks & Recreation departments, and credit unions about hosting additional clinics. Educating women is one of our primary goals,” states Sheronde Glover, Car-Buy-Her founder and the coordinator, organizer, and developer of the auto clinic.

All ladies attending the clinic received a certificate of achievement for their participation and recognition as an official, Car-Buy-Her, a woman that is informed, in control, and ready to buy.

For more information on how to request this clinic, attend this group or become a sponsor, visit our website at http://www.car-buy-her.com.

If you’re looking for a great selection and have a couple of hours to spare, you’re heading to the mall. Likewise, if you’re searching for a car and you want to see the best the manufacturers have to offer this year, then you definitely want to head to the auto show, in this case the AJC International Auto Show, being held this week in Atlanta. Walk into the GWCC (Georgia World Congress Center) showroom and you feel as if you’re in the Car Mall as you’re greeted with over 600 shiny, top of the line brand new cars from virtually every manufacturer.

So, what’s a woman to do? Shop, of course!