A car-buying experience that met my specific MG needs

I bought a car last week, and that’s not even the best part.

My sales rep is the star of this show.

I’d been looking at trading in my 2018 Dodge Grand Caravan for a few months. I loved that van for what it was. It helped us make the trek from Maine to Wisconsin. But it was time for something different. As with mobility aids, needs can change over time.

I started looking at a local dealership in November. After filling out a survey to figure out what I could get as a trade-in value for the van, I was entered into the dealership’s marketing system. They called. I didn’t answer. Then they sent a text message.

My sales rep was on the other end of that text message. I explained that I have myasthenia gravis, that it affects my vocal cords and ability to speak sometimes, and that I don’t talk on the phone so I can save my voice for in-person interactions. For the following three months, I didn’t receive another call. My sales rep texted me to check in and get updates.

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Then came the day to visit the dealership and buy my new car. I had a couple of nonnegotiables and must-haves that my salesperson was aware of.

My new car had to have “butt warmers” to help ease the constant pain in my lower back and hips. It had to have a remote start so I could better control the climate of the vehicle — its heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer. It had to easily accommodate my wheelchair. And it needed to get better fuel efficiency than my van because of all my travel to medical appointments.

When plans have good results

One vehicle met all those requirements. My sales rep had it ready to go when I arrived at the dealership. But that wasn’t the best part.

He remembered the little details of all our past conversations. The one that especially impressed me was when he acknowledged that he’d love to sit and chat but didn’t want to wear out my voice.

He made a difference in my car-buying process. So if you’re in sales and reading this, here are a few tips so you can be like my car sales rep:

Keep your customers needs and wants in the front of your mind. It may seem frivolous or silly to you, but trust me when I say that your disabled customers have valid reasons for requesting those features.

Acknowledge their disability. It’s an integral part of how they live life and what they need. Let them be the guide when it comes to what they want or need from you. Rather than sit in an office, for example, I was allowed to sit at a bar-height table and chair set to do most of the paperwork because I could get into and out of it more easily. My sales rep and his manager came to me.

Don’t push, dismiss, or hustle. My salesperson never pressured me into any decision. Neither did his manager or the finance guy. Everyone was transparent about every step of the process and continuously checked in with me to make sure I was good with where we were in the process. I didn’t have my husband with me and never once felt taken advantage of in the whole car-buying process.

So be like this sales rep and see your customer satisfaction soar. He now has another loyal customer, ensuring that I’ll always go to him for any of my vehicle needs.

Note: Myasthenia Gravis News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Myasthenia Gravis News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to myasthenia gravis.