Dealerships get creative to keep selling vehicles

By The Numbers for Week 8 of the Prep Football Season
October 28, 2015
Lafourche, Terrebone Halloweens moved to Friday
October 28, 2015
By The Numbers for Week 8 of the Prep Football Season
October 28, 2015
Lafourche, Terrebone Halloweens moved to Friday
October 28, 2015

As long as the price of oil is closer to $50 a barrel than it is to $100 a barrel, the local economy will struggle.


But to help push inventory and keep business moving along as smoothly as possible, local car dealerships are doing their part to create fair deals for their customers.

Dealerships in the Houma-Thibodaux area said this week that business is about as good as can be expected, given the current downturn in our area’s economy – a lull that has lasted for several months as the price of oil remains in flux.

Through increased trade-ins and other programs, the push locally remains to keep monthly premiums as low as possible for customers.


“We really strive at helping all types of buyers,” said Maurice Guidry, the owner of Golden Motors in Cut Off, the largest dealership in southern Lafourche Parish. “Golden has programs available for all types of buyers.”

“We’re doing all sorts of things,” added Terrebonne Ford car dealer Anfernee Poindexter. “We want everyone’s payment to be as low and as affordable as possible. We know the economy is messed up right now. We don’t want that to discourage anyone. We want them to still feel comfortable coming in and shopping for a car. We’re here to give our support. We’re here to keep things affordable.”

One way that dealerships are doing exactly that is through aggressively pursuing trade-ins with buyers. Poindexter said since the economic downturn, trade-in prices have been better than ever – sometimes even better than the Kelley Blue Book price tag for a particular make and model.


At Terrebonne Ford, Poindexter, who specializes in the sale of used cars, said that trade-ins have become more and more popular, because they can often serve as a nice down payment on a vehicle. This, of course, lowers one’s monthly note once the sale is complete.

Poindexter also touted Terrebonne Ford’s annual Red-Tag Sale throughout the month of October, which placed several makes and models on the market at prices far lower than they’d otherwise be.

“We’re giving more for people’s trades than normal,” Poindexter said. “It’s just about getting awareness and taking advantage of that. Some customers are taking advantage of that and some are not.”


Guidry said trade-ins are also a big part of his business at Golden. He, too, said that the prices offered back on trade-ins is larger than it’s been in the past – something strategically done in an effort to close sales and keep business moving along.

“We currently have a huge inventory of used cars,” Guidry said. “Customers are trading more now than ever before.”

Some are just buying used cars right off the bat.


Because of the area’s job situation, local dealerships said they’ve sold “far more” used cars than they have in the past.

At Terrebonne Ford, Poindexter said that’s the market that is one of the hottest right now.

“People are constantly coming in here looking to buy a used vehicle,” he said. “We stay busy because a lot of the times, that’s what the people want.”


At Golden Motors, it’s the same. Guidry said his dealership sells the same amount of used cars as it does new.

“It’s a 1-to-1 ratio,” he said.

At Southland Dodge, a spokesman who asked not to be named said the same – that used cars are becoming more popular.


“Absolutely,” the spokesman said. “That’s definitely something that is a trend we’re seeing.”

But even with all that’s available to ease the process, are buyers comfortable with the market?

The answer is that it’s a bit of a mixed bag.


In addition to the local dealerships, The Times also called a few people in the Houma-Thibodaux area who said they’re either in need of a new car or will be in need of one in the next six months.

Some showed no hesitation toward making a purchase – even in the difficult economy. But others weren’t quite as at ease in signing a long-term lease.

“It’s bad now, but it’s always going to go back up,” Houma native Jeff Smith said. “It wouldn’t stop me. When it’s time, I’m still going to go to the lot and pick out the one that catches my eye.”


“My family is going to shop cheaper than we did in the past,” Raceland native Kendra Brown added. “Until the jobs get better, we’re not going to splurge and put ourselves in a bad situation.”

And it’s that same dilemma that’s making life difficult for dealerships who both want to turn a profit and stay successful, but also want to push inventory to stay busy.

Poindexter said things have been OK, but that there are times when the economic struggles creep into his mind.


“We’re doing all right,” he said. “I think everyone around here is. But there are days when it feels like you’re settling into quick sand. There are days when the job isn’t as easy as it used to be.”

Creative salesFILE