4050 US Hwy 431 Albertville, AL 35950 256-878-5000

Latest News, Tips & More | Wholesalecars.com

Interview with the Owner of Wholesalecars.com

Have you been curious as to the typical process when purchasing a vehicle with us? Paul Claborn, the owner of Wholesalecars.com, wanted to answer some of the questions most used car dealers get asked.

Interviewer: When someone is looking to buy a used car, what are some things they need to consider? What is most important?

Paul, Wholesalecars.com: The most important thing to consider when buying a used car is number one, the mileage; number two, the vehicle history report. How many owners has it had? How many times has it been serviced, and are there service records? Does the vehicle have a warranty? Those are the most important items. At WholeSaleCars.com we pretty well cover all those. Sometimes customers want a car that’s red and has 100,000 miles, and skip over another one that has half the miles because they liked the red car better. People need to consider that instant gratification isn’t a good thing when they want a reliable car that will last a long time.

Interviewer: How does a potential customer get that background information on a vehicle?

Paul, Wholesalecars.com: We offer Carfax to disclose all information about the vehicle someone is interested in. Our salespeople will even read it to the potential buyer over the phone in case there is something in it they don’t like. I tell my salespeople not to waste anyone’s time and read it to them if they’re coming in from 20 minutes or more away. All of our cars have lower miles and a warranty. And once a year we have a customer appreciation event where one customer is randomly chosen to get their vehicle paid off up to $10,000. It’s a no-brainer to me – why wouldn’t anybody choose to get their vehicle from us? (laughs)

Interviewer: A lot of people think the car buying process is too long and something they have to do when they’ve set aside an entire day for it. Is there a way to shorten the process?

Paul, Wholesalecars.com: A lot of times it's self-inflicted by the customers. It's how long they take to make a selection, and they don’t always bring all the information we need. But we're trying to streamline the process and get most of it done online now. We require 10 references, which the customer has to fill out their names, phone numbers and their addresses. At other places they need to secure insurance typically, but we already offer Collateral Protection Insurance so securing that is not a problem.

Interviewer: So WholeSaleCars offers online applications too? Can they get started and make it faster that way?

Paul, Wholesalecars.com: Yes. And we offer off site deliveries to where they never have to come to the dealership. Customers fill out an online application, a short five-liner. Once that five-liner makes it through and they’re approved,  we show them three to five cars that they’re approved for. And we do an express checkout, which is more than a five-line credit application. Now they really got to get in depth and give us their job time, their job references and employment records. We pull their credit and then determine how much money down they will need. They never have to come to the store, and we deliver to them.

Interviewer: What if they don’t like the car that they've chosen after they drive it? Can they try another one?

Paul, Wholesalecars.com: Yes. They can bring it in or contact us and say, “I don't really like this car. It's not what I thought it was.” We'll pick it up with no problems, give them their money back, or they can swap it out for another car.

Interviewer: What's the process to get somebody in a vehicle?

Paul, Wholesalecars.com: Typically customers come by way of the internet, or they contact us by phone, or one of my sales team members contacts them by phone and tries to set an appointment to get them to come in. The time process for coming in is typically two to three hours if they have everything we need. But if they do it online, they can be in and out in five minutes.

Affordability

Merriam-Webster defines “affordability” as “able to be afforded/having a cost that is not too high.”

At Wholesalecars.com, we pride ourselves on many things—customer service, warranty, quality, selection, and AFFORDABILITY. You can’t put a price tag on having a safe, reliable vehicle that will last years; however, we can provide ALL of those things for you AND make it affordable. Talk about a win/win, right? We have several low-mileage options! Feel free to browse our inventory and speak with an Auto Specialist to see what AFFORDABLE vehicle we can get for you! Everyone is approved with us and every car has a warranty.

Tax Advantage Program

We can do your taxes for LESS money out of YOUR pocket! Our Tax Advantage Deal is set up to help you with a down payment on your next vehicle.  If you’re a current customer and want to get ahead/caught up on payments, this is a PERFECT way to do that.  You could even qualify for a cash advance up to $6000!!

Ready to get started?

Things to bring:

  • 1.       Driver license

  • 2 Social Security Cards for yourself, spouse, and dependents (if filing with spouse/dependents)

  • 3.       All income (W2’s, 1099’s, Social Security, unemployment, interest statements, etc)

  • 4.       All deductions (mortgage statements, student loan interest, daycare, business expenses, etc)

  • 5.       Miscellaneous forms (1098-T, IRA, healthcare, etc)

 

Let us show you why Wholesalecars.com is the OBVIOUS CHOICE! 

Cars Get Cold Too

How To Check Your Antifreeze

It may not cross most people's minds, but checking your car's antifreeze protection level is an important part of regular maintenance. Anti-freeze helps protect your car from damage caused by cold weather, and keeping it at the proper level could save you from costly repairs down the road. In this article, we will show you how to check your car's antifreeze protection level and what to do if it needs to be adjusted.

What You Need

Before you begin, there are a few items you need for the job:

  • An anti-freeze tester: These are usually sold for just a few dollars at any auto parts store.

  • Paper towel or rag: This will help keep the anti-freeze off of surfaces like paint that could get damaged.

  • Ziplock bag: This will help keep dirt out of your anti-freeze tester while you’re not using it.


Step 1: Locate The Reservoir

The first step is to locate the reservoir where your car’s anti-freeze is stored. This is usually in the engine compartment, and it looks like a plastic container with a lid on top (as seen in Figure 1). There should also be a warning label telling you not to open the lid while the fluid is hot – so always make sure that your car has been sitting idle for at least two hours before proceeding! 

Step 2: Testing The Anti-Freeze

Now that you have located the reservoir, insert the end of your tester into the fluid (you may have to use a straw attached to the bottom of the tester). Then pump up and down until about half of the fluid has been drawn up into the glass chamber on top (Figure 2). Now look at how many “balls” are floating on top of the fluid; this number tells you how well protected your car is against extreme cold temperatures (see Table 1 below). Once done testing, pour any remaining liquid into its original container, then wipe off any residue with paper towel or rag. 


Step 3: Storing The Tester

After testing, take a ziplock bag and store your anti-freeze tester in it until its next use. This will help keep dust and dirt off of it when it’s not in use! And don't forget - always remember that antifreeze is poisonous so make sure none gets on any surfaces outside of its original container!   


Checking your car's antifreeze protection level doesn't have to be difficult or complicated; with these simple steps anyone can do it themselves! With regular testing every few months, you'll know exactly how well protected against extreme cold temperatures your vehicle really is - potentially saving yourself hundreds or thousands of dollars in repairs down the line!


Fall Safety Tip

Here is another Fall driving safety tip! Remember that Fall is an active breeding time for deer, so travel slowly and if you see a deer cross the roadway, expect others to follow. They rarely travel alone. Stay safe out there!

Wholesalecars.com where everyone is approved any every car has a warranty!

https://www.wholesalecars.com/preapproval

Located at 4050 US Hwy 431, Albertville AL 35950. Call or text us: 256-878-5000

What is Buy Here Pay Here

For those who aren’t familiar with buy here, pay here, it’s a means of acquiring an automobile for folks who have no credit or bad credit. They can't go to a conventional bank or credit union because those financial institutions do not provide auto loans to people with poor or no credit. Basically, you buy the car here and then pay for the car here.

Bureaucrats in Washington, DC would have you believe that there's no need for buy here pay here dealers. But if there's no mass transportation in an area like ours, then there is no transportation. People would not be able to get to work because they would not have a vehicle.

Most lenders just won't take the risk on this kind of credit history. Why do we do it, then? I was raised in a single parent home with a mother who worked two jobs. It was tough to make ends meet. I just love to see people graduate from here. We report on-time payments to the credit bureau -- many buy here, pay here dealers don't report to the credit bureau. And from time to time, I get to explain to my customers why they don't report payments; and they can't believe that. It's not fair. 

I don’t think it’s fair either, but I get a great deal of satisfaction when we have somebody graduate who leaves us to go to a traditional bank or credit union because we've reported their credit over the last three years. They are able to buy a car at three or four percent interest rate because they’ve proved themselves over a period of three years with us. It starts with our easy online application process.

Our Mission Statement is: “We believe our goal is to get our customers -- and our employees -- to a better place.” There's a great deal of satisfaction that comes with doing what we do at WholeSaleCars.com. A great deal.

We Love our Community

As a member of the community and owner of WholeSaleCars.com, I’m involved with a program called Junior Achievement here in Albertville, Alabama. In a nutshell, I go into a middle school for eight weeks and I hold a class for 45 minutes to teach financial literacy.

I do this because in my business, I see what not having financial literacy causes. And I love to see the light bulb go on for those seventh grade and eighth grade students. We talk about insurance, finances, how to apply for a job, and even how to quit a job -- all those things. I'm a big supporter of Junior Achievement.

I'm also involved in a worldwide prison ministry called Kairos. We go into a maximum-security prison twice a year. I just have a heart for the downtrodden, and I think it has a lot to do with the way I was raised. I was raised without a dad in a single parent home. Until I reached about 30, I had no concept of what my mother went through to raise three kids. I have a soft spot in my heart for single moms, too.

We also hold customer appreciation events once a year, every September and at that time our 1000 plus customers get a chance to have have their car paid off. We throw a big party and feed everybody. It’s a great opportunity for people to meet our staff and mingle.

We usually have about 700 or 800 people attend and give away prizes like flat screen TVs, camping equipment, free car washes for a year, bicycles, and things like that. We have a local radio station here, too. We also pay up to $10,000 off the customer's car note – but they have to be there for that. We typically draw six or seven names before the person's here.

You know, some people may think all the things we do is a gimmick, but we are the real deal. We really care about our community and the people in it. Anyone who is a current or past customer knows that, and we look forward to proving it to everyone.

We Are the Obvious Choice

WholeSaleCars.com has been here in the Albertville, Alabama community since 1981. While most buy here, pay here dealers start with a very high mileage car to sell without a warranty, we start with a lower mileage car with a warranty.

We try to educate our customers on the fact that some of our cars have had previous damage which is disclosed and repaired properly and safely. But these same cars have lower mileage than what our competitors have available. These same cars come with a warranty for as long as you have it financed here. A 2014 Nissan Maxima with 130,000 or a 2014 Maxima with properly repaired disclosed damage with a warranty with 70,000 miles….a fairly easy decision! We’re the obvious choice.

Along with our warranty, we have 15 courtesy cars. If a customer’s car is in for repair, they get a courtesy car free to drive so long as their payments and insurance are current.

We do that because we understand that if our customers can't get to work, they can't make their payments to us. So if we’re working on the car, we extend that courtesy for the customer to use a vehicle for however many days it takes us to do the repair and also for the warranty to be valid. As long as their insurance and their payments are up to date and current, they have a warranty with us.

Check Your Tire Pressure Regularly

Here is another safety tip from Wholesalecars.com. The temperatures will be dropping soon so remember to check your tire pressure regularly. Changes in temperature will cause your tires to expand and contract, which may lead to a loss of tire pressure. Stay safe out there!

Wholesalecars.com where everyone is approved any every car has a warranty!

https://www.wholesalecars.com/preapproval

Located at 4050 US Hwy 431, Albertville AL 35950. Call or text us: 256-878-5000

6 Tips to Plan Your Summer Road Trip

With summer now upon us, knowing how to drive a car will enable you to enjoy one of the most memorable vacation experiences: the road trip. The road trip is a general phrase that describes a long trek made in a vehicle for pleasure. Road trips take a little planning. Here are a few tips that will help make your first road trip a success. 
1 Decide on a destination. It is a good idea to choose a destination that is not too far away for your first road trip. A road trip can span only one day. For example, choose a city a couple of hours away for your first road trip. You will enjoy a nice drive to your destination, spend some time in a new place, and drive back home all in one day. 
2 Choose a route. Many people who take road trips like to take the scenic route to their chosen destination. You can use a map or the internet to plan a route. Some drivers prefer to take a back roads rather than interstate highways when they go on road trips. Although it may take longer to reach your destination on these roads, the views will be much more interesting. The Turquoise Trail in New Mexico is one of thousands scenic roads you can take in the U.S. 
3 Consider your vehicle. Some vehicles simply are not made for long trips. Cars that are especially suited to road trips are convertibles, sports cars, cars that get great gas mileage, and small crossover SUVs. SUVs and minivans are also good road trip vehicles if you are traveling with several people or your family. Vehicles that might not be great choices for road trips are large trucks, large SUVs, and vans. Make sure that you will have plenty of room for your passengers since you will be spending several hours inside the vehicle. Also try to choose a vehicle that gets great gas mileage to reduce the cost of your trip. 
4 Get a tune up. If you are planning on driving your car over a long distance for several days, it is a great idea to let a mechanic check for problems before you depart. Get your oil changed, refill your windshield wiper fluid, and make sure all lights are in working order. These steps will reduce the chance of becoming stranded or experiencing mechanical issues during your road trip. Working car lights ensure that other drivers see you, even in reduced visibility. This is crucial to avoid accidents 
5 Plan for stops. It is reasonable to estimate that you will need to take a break from travelling every two or three hours. If there is an interesting city, park, store, or restaurant that you would like to see on your road trip, schedule stops accordingly. It is all part of the road trip experience. To enjoy the stop, make sure you lock your car and don’t leave valuables in visibility 
6 Bring entertainment. Of course, the driver needs to focus his or her attention on the road. The passengers, however, might want some entertainment along the way. Portable DVD players with headphones, MP3 players, books, crossword puzzles, magazines, and travel journals are some excellent ideas for passing the time on a road trip. 

It is important to remember that the drive is the most important part of a road trip. Don’t be in a rush. If there is something interesting you would like to stop and see, do so. It is all part of the experience. The next time that you plan a vacation for you and your family or a quick getaway for your friends, consider driving instead of flying. You might find that hitting the open road is your preferred means of transportation. (Source: https://driving-tests.org/beginner-drivers/how-to-plan-a-road-trip/)
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