It’s a clear, crisp Saturday morning in Glenorchy, Tasmania and Aimie Haywood, the head of easyauto123 Hobart, is performing a final check of the pristine car yard. Nestled in the foothills of Mount Wellington, the dealership exudes a welcoming and well-organised atmosphere.
Aimie and her team take immense pride in creating a positive first impression, especially since buying a car can feel daunting to many.
“We get a lot of families, older retirees, and people new to the country,” Aimie explains.
“What I find with customers is they’ve already researched the car they want to purchase. And they’ll ask our opinion for reassurance. They’ll say, ‘I’ve been looking at this Hyundai; what do you think?’ The biggest thing they're looking for is reassurance.”
Like any industry, selling cars has its challenges, but Aimie also finds it deeply rewarding.
“No day is ever the same; you get to think on your feet. The biggest thing for me is (being) part of quite a young business that is constantly evolving and growing,” she adds.
Prior to joining easyauto123, Aimie performed managerial roles in England with companies like Sainsbury's supermarket and Officeworks. Her career change initially raised a few eyebrows.
Aimie laughs, “Sometimes people say, 'You’re just a dodgy car salesperson!' I say, ‘No, I’m a really reputable car sales leader. I lead a team, and we sell and buy cars.’”
In fact, Aimie encourages young people to consider a career in the car industry. “It’s a great opportunity, and I highly recommend it.”
Customers don’t like surprises
In Brisbane, Queensland, used car sales consultant Sharna couldn’t agree more: “I think it’s a fantastic career.”
She thrives on the fast past at easyauto123 in Hendra, a megastore with 200-300 vehicles for sale.
As a member of Hendra’s sales team, Sharna is well-versed in helping buyers find their perfect car. “We know that customers don’t like surprises, so we are upfront and honest from the get-go,” she says.
As with Aimie, Sharna (pictured above) says that most car buyers have already done price research before walking into the dealership. They already know the car they want and are comfortable with the easyauto123 no-haggle pricing policy.
“Nine times out of 10 it’s perfect; not many people have an issue with that,” she says. “Once I've explained how we operate and that we have a Best Car Price Guarantee, customers usually respond well.”
The Hendra superstore is located close to Brisbane airport and attracts people from all walks of life.
One challenge Sharna faces is people's preconceptions of who they are going to meet in a car dealership. Sometimes customers mistakenly think she's the receptionist, but she doesn't let that deter her from doing her job: “It’s just a matter of growing a thicker skin and believing in what you do,” she says.
Instead, Sharna keeps her focus on helping customers find their ideal car, which, thanks to modern technology, is a streamlined process. Gone are the days of showy price banners; now, vehicles feature QR codes. A quick scan, and voila! Buyers can instantly access the live price of their chosen vehicle on the easyauto123 website.
There are also apps for the sales contract, the finance application, and more, making the purchase process flow smoothly for everyone, including international clientele and new arrivals to Australia.
“I’ve had customers who don’t speak a word of English whip out the translator (on their phone) and we’ll both talk to the translator—that’s how we do the deal,” Sharna explains. “We're very technology-based here.”
If you like it, put a bow on it
Delivering a shiny car to its new owner is always exciting. Jamie’s role as Delivery Coordinator for easyauto123 Cannington, Western Australia, is to make a final check of the paperwork before handing over the keys.
Jamie delivers over 8-10 vehicles daily, including a very fancy Porsche on one memorable occasion!
“I go through all the paperwork—the contract of purchase, the transfer papers, any warranties they might have purchased for the vehicle, as well as any aftercare products they have chosen,” she explains.
She then takes the customer for a walk around their car to ensure they're satisfied, before taking a quick photo to commemorate the moment. It’s an opportunity to ensure the customer is totally happy with their purchase, and Jamie makes the most of it.
“We’re always doing our best to make sure the customer had a good experience with our team,” she says. “There’s definitely a lot of positive feedback.”
If you're in the market to buy or sell a used car, then why not start your search on the easyauto123 website? Better still, why not drop in and enjoy the full experience in the hands of one of the friendly easayauto123 sales experts?
