What is the difference between an auto trading company and a 4S store?
2 Answers
Here are the specific differences between auto trading companies and 4S stores: 1. Authorization: 4S stores are authorized to sell cars, while auto trading companies are not. A 4S store is an officially authorized dealer of a car brand manufacturer, typically selling only one brand's models, whereas an auto trading company can sell vehicles from multiple brands. 2. Business scope: Auto trading companies generally only handle car sales, insurance, and vehicle loans; 4S stores offer a wide range of services including car sales, repairs, parts, maintenance, and test drive appointments. 3. After-sales service: 4S stores integrate car sales, repairs, after-sales service, and parts sales into one comprehensive service, while auto trading companies do not provide after-sales service and lack sufficient after-sales guarantees.
As someone who often helps friends with car purchases, I've noticed significant differences between auto trading companies and 4S dealerships. 4S dealerships are like brand flagship stores, directly authorized by manufacturers, offering comprehensive services: sales, maintenance, spare parts, and after-sales service all in one. Buying from a 4S dealership feels more formal, with sales consultants wearing uniforms, spacious showrooms, and standardized purchasing procedures. Auto trading companies are more like car counters in supermarkets, selling various brands with smaller showrooms and usually lower prices. However, many cars at auto trading companies are cross-region transfers, like buying a car shipped from Shanghai in Beijing, which can complicate warranty issues. Last time I accompanied a friend to pick up a car from an auto trading company, we had to verify all the vehicle documents ourselves, whereas 4S dealerships proactively organize all the paperwork for you.
