Gary Hoffman

Correspondent, AOL Autos

Gary Hoffman has written about the auto industry for most of the last 30 years, primarily specializing in the purchasing and sales processes within dealerships. He has been …editor of a magazine, Chevy PRO, for Chevrolet dealerships and the Ford employee newspaper, Ford World, and has written on automotive subjects for the French news agency, Agence France-Presse, the Detroit News and numerous other publications. Fluent in French and German, he has worked as a translator for major international news organizations, primarily on automotive subjects. He is also an adjunct journalism instructor at Wayne State University in Detroit, teaching investigative reporting, news management and publishing on the Internet.

Automakers Say "Thank You" To Service Men and Women with Rebates

Published Apr 15, 2011 By Gary Hoffman

If you haven't had time to thank a member of the U.S. military lately, you can at least be assured that automakers have. They are saluting the men and women of the U.S. military with hundreds of dollars in extra discounts again this month as a token of their appreciation. ...

Would You Buy A Car From A Wacky Car Dealer?

Published Apr 07, 2011 By Gary Hoffman

Some enterprising car dealerships are setting a new standard for wackiness with their promotions – and the craziest part of all is that they mostly work to draw consumers in to the showroom, the stores say. ...

How Dealers are Making Customers Happier These Days: Are You One of Them?

Published Mar 23, 2011 By Gary Hoffman

It's Spring. Time to buy a new car. You pull up to the dealership driving your trade-in on a Saturday morning. You are met by an anxious, eager sales person whom you know is trained to try and close the sale that day. But you, the consumer, want to shop around, and take your time. The more you resist an immediate deal, though, the deeper the salesperson digs into their toolbar to "close you." ...

Secrets Of How Car Salesmen Talk To You On The Phone

Published Mar 04, 2011 By Gary Hoffman

When you start calling dealerships about your next new car, consider this: The salesperson at the other end of the line could be a veritable ninja in the use of the phone as a sales tool. Jerry Thibeau, a Rochester, N.Y.-based sales trainer, ought to know. In late 2009, he started a company, Phone-Up Ninjas, to build up the telephone skills of dealership staffs. ...

When Gremlins Strike, Car Breakdown Insurance Is Ready

Published Feb 22, 2011 By Gary Hoffman

At one time or another, everyone has lived this nightmare: You are driving along and suddenly a disturbingly loud sound rises up from deep inside your car. ...

Shopping For A New Car? Don't Take It On The "Back-End"

Published Jan 31, 2011 By Gary Hoffman

If the U.S. car market hits the 13.5 million units in sales that some analysts expect in 2011, the auto industry and its workers won't be the only ones seeing dollar signs. At that level, state governments will bring in hundreds of millions of dollars more than last year, thanks mostly to sales taxes and the dealership "back-end" offices that process them. ...