What's the Difference Between Buying a Car from an Auto Trade Market and a 4S Store?
2 Answers
There are the following differences between buying a car from an auto trade market and a 4S store: 1. Source of vehicles: Since 4S stores of major brands are established by manufacturers' investments, the cars in 4S stores are directly provided by the manufacturers, hence 4S stores are also referred to as primary dealers. Auto trade markets, on the other hand, are established by private investments, so their sizes vary, and theoretically, their car sources come from 4S stores, but there might also be some vehicles with unclear origins. 2. Scale: The scale of a 4S store is generally much larger than that of a single-brand store in an auto trade market, as 4S stores require a very large showroom along with an after-sales service workshop. Auto trade markets are different, usually featuring only a small showroom and a few staff members, as they basically do not provide after-sales services and thus have no workshops. 3. Price: The same car model is sold at a lower price in an auto trade market than in a 4S store, which is a key factor for the survival of auto trade markets. The main reason auto trade markets can sell cars at lower prices is their smaller scale, which means they don't need to maintain too many unnecessary staff or pay high rental fees for large premises. Additionally, they sell cars in a nearly bare configuration without bundling various services, allowing them to offer lower prices.
I've helped friends with car purchases many times and found significant differences between auto traders and 4S stores. Auto traders typically offer prices several thousand to over ten thousand yuan lower than 4S stores because they don't have large showrooms or high operational costs like 4S stores. However, auto traders' vehicles may be sourced from out-of-town 4S stores and could have longer inventory times. When picking up the car, it's crucial to carefully inspect the paint and tire wear, as some transport-damaged vehicles might be refurbished. The most noticeable difference is in after-sales service: 4S stores have their own workshops with fully networked maintenance records, while the small repair shops partnered with auto traders might lack specialized equipment. Last time, a friend bought a niche model from an auto trader and had to wait half a month for parts during maintenance. If you want peace of mind, go with a 4S store; if you're after affordability, look for a reputable local auto trader.
