[December 12, 2006, Arlington, VA] – With most auto manufacturers offering end of year deals many consumers are being tempted to consider a bigger than usual holiday purchase this season. While rebates and incentives are packaged to help companies move out 2006 models to make room for the 2007 inventory, they also present consumers with a unique opportunity for a happy holiday experience. According to Automotive News, in December 2004 and again in 2005, nearly 1.5 million new vehicles found their way into U.S. garages and driveways, as consumers wrapped up deals during the holiday season.
While incentives are tempting and can lead to impulse buying, the Better Business Bureau suggests consumers take the time during the busy holiday season to thoroughly check out a vehicle before making a purchase – just as they would at any other time of the year. Auto shoppers can review BBB tips for buying a new vehicle and review reliability reports on auto dealers through the BBB Web site: www.bbb.org.
Once purchase decisions are made and the holiday season has passed, the BBB can again help consumers who may experience problems with their new vehicle.
"The competition for customers in the automotive industry continues to drive improvements in the quality of vehicles and creates pressure on every manufacturer to satisfy and retain each customer, but occasionally problems do arise," said Steve Cole, president and CEO of the Council of Better Business Bureaus. "If you’re having trouble with your new car, and are not satisfied with the dealership response, you should contact the manufacturer or warrantor of your vehicle."
Consumers can obtain the 800 number for manufacturers and research lemon law provisions on the BBB Web site at www.lemonlaw.bbb.org. Recognizing the importance of vehicles to our lives, every state and the District of Columbia has enacted a lemon law to protect consumers when they purchase or lease a defective product. The lemon laws establish a standard for when vehicles should be repurchased or replaced by the manufacturer.
If manufacturers are not able to resolve buyer concerns, dispute resolution may be an option to consider. Given that the BBB provides mediation and arbitration service for the vast majority of the automotive industry, each year the BBB receives nearly 40,000 requests for assistance with auto warranty issues.
The arbitration process provided by the BBB is not binding on the consumer, but if they accept the arbitrator’s award, the manufacturer/warrantor is legally bound to abide by the arbitrator’s decision. Car owners can determine if BBB dispute resolution is an option through the BBB Web site or by calling the BBB AUTO LINE Program at 1-800-955-5100.
For all purchases this holiday season, but especially for major expenditures like new car buying, the BBB encourages consumers to take their time, resist impulse buying based upon sales promotions, and check out companies’ reliability reports with the BBB before finalizing deals.
