Are your relationships your currency?
Has this ever happened to you ?
I recently made a significant purchase—a car! ??
For me, buying a car is a rare occasion, and next to buying a property, it’s a substantial investment that comes with a lot of considerations.
Now, despite my name, I wouldn’t call myself a “car person.” You know the type—the ones who can rattle off all the specs, tech features, and fancy gadgets available these days.
So, with that in mind, I found the car-buying experience has evolved.??
In the past, I purchased my vehicles from a family-run dealership I trusted. The process was simple and stress-free, even including the delivery of my new car right to my door.
I had complete faith the car would be in excellent condition, and if there were any issues, they would handle them without hesitation.
Fast forward to today, I was on the hunt for something different, but my go-to dealership was under new management. I prepared myself to explore new options.
After doing my research (which took a bit of time), I found myself drawn to a modern dealership outside my province. They were very responsive via phone and email—an excellent start! They offered to hold a vehicle for me until I could arrive for a viewing and test drive.?
While the original car I planned to see didn’t meet my expectations, another one on-site caught my eye, and I unexpectedly fell in love with it. ??
This is where things got a bit more complicated. ??
Despite the pleasant demeanour of the sales associate, I was faced with a mountain of paperwork in French!??
In moments like this, I truly appreciated the relationship I had with my previous dealership, where they took care of all the paperwork for me. I was a known entity, and trust was already established on both sides.
In this new scenario, I felt like I had no “relationship leverage,” and neither did the dealership.
I read the reviews before making my decision, and while most were positive, there were a few concerning comments as well.
(Quick tip: If you read reviews, make sure to leave one when you have a remarkable experience!) ??????????
This buying experience underscored the importance of relationships in any transaction. They provide confidence and assurance.
Being known or introduced is a great place to start. Asking for referrals from your valued network can help break the ice and build trust.
So, what kind of “relationship currency” does your business have?
For 10 tips to build relationships in business, read our November Blog.