Free Guides
Everything you need to navigate your next car deal with confidence.
The Free Guide Toolkit
The Dealership Visit Checklist is live — a typeset 5-page field manual (14 steps + 4 red flags) from a 30-year dealership GM. Read it on the page or download the printable PDF. Three more guides coming next: Negative Equity Calculator, Car Buying Timeline, and Finance Terms Glossary.
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5 Rules of the Dealership
Never share your monthly payment target. Focus on the total out-the-door price of the vehicle.
Get pre-approved for financing from a credit union or bank before you ever visit the dealer.
Research the actual invoice price and current market value, not just the sticker MSRP.
Check your credit score yourself before applying. Know your tier.
Keep the transaction separate: Negotiate the price first, trade-in second, and financing last — especially if you’re carrying negative equity on the trade.
External Tools We Open First
Tools we use before any deal.
Edmunds
edmunds.com
Fair market pricing, True Market Value (TMV), and in-depth vehicle reviews.
TrueCar
truecar.com
See what others actually paid in your area. Strips the noise.
Kelley Blue Book
kbb.com
Industry-standard valuations and instant cash offers for trades.
LeaseHackr
leasehackr.com
The community that understands lease math. Calculator + real deals.
VisorVin
visorvin.com
VIN decoder + vehicle history checker. Confirm what you're actually getting.
When to buy matters — if they're close to hitting their Factory Objective number.
End-of-month and end-of-year can be great times to buy — but only if the dealer is close to hitting their target. If they've already hit it, or aren't close, the timing doesn't matter.
John Schibi
30-Year Automotive Industry Veteran · Former Dealership General Manager
John spent three decades as a dealership GM building the systems dealers use to maximize profit. Now he uses that same insider playbook to protect car buyers from negative equity, hidden markups, and pressure tactics.
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