The Washington herald., 1916-04-16

the prices for produce have been the best.
These facts, combined with the con-
stantly increasing miles of good roads
In Maryland and Virginia, have argued
well for1the sale of automobiles. Deal
ers In the outlying territory who last
year did not sell half a dozen ma
chimes have already sold that many
this season and their selling period
is Just commencing. In manufacturing
centers, times are better today than
they have ever been. War stocks
have put the automobile within the
reach OF many.
There is one thing peculiar about the
prospective buyer of an automobile Once
he has made up his mind that he wants
a car he is not going to Be satisfied until
ne has q machine. Perhaps he cannot
get the car he wants but he Is going to
buy somethfng Just the same.
With the trade ffnding 1t hard to sup
ply the demand for new cars, ii naturally
has tendency TO increase the demand
for used cars. The few <earm days of
the past week demonstrated this. Pros
pective buyers, when they found that
they could not buy new car and get I'M
mediate delivery on what they wanted,
began looking around for a good used
car. Having found something in this line
that would meet their requirements. It
did not take them long TO close the trans
action. Prices asked for used cars are
not beyond the reach of many and, IN
some instances, arrangements can be
made whereby a part of the purchase
price can be paid down and the remainder
on convenient terms.
Ask Lower Prices Here.
Dealers who have compared the prices
asked for used cars in Washington to
those asked In other cities. find the prices
here are below the level of those asked
in other cities.
Nevertheless, the used car here is not
sold on the "As Is basis that obtains
elsewhere. In some cities the car is TAX
en- as Il stands and is sold that way. the
dealer stepping out from under any re-
sponsibility for its performance IN the
new owners hands.
For the most part. and particularly
with reliable and established firms. the
used car is sold under conditions of con.
tract that bear much relation to the
agreements entering into the sale of any
new Car. The dealer cannot, of course
assume service obligation quite sc
I broad as the one put on the new car, bu;
he does make specific arrangements In
| most cases to care for the used car buyer
exactly as he would for the purchaser oi
a new one.
The car taken in trade usually Is care.
fully examined and put into nrst-class
| condition and then the prospective buyer
of II Is told exactly what IL Is and whai
1t can be expected to do. The buyer
usually viii find, then, that he has beer
given a square deal and that his buy will
give him fun value for the money in.
vested.
The ordinary used-car buyer. overiooks
one factor when he goes ''shsrking" for
a used-car investment That Is that
any family that acquires a used car be
comes potential possibility for a new
car at some time in the future. ~
| The dealer who sells the car Is not In
business for today only, and the cumula.
tive effect In selling motor cars Is pre-
cisely what the cumulative effect Is In
any other business.
Used Cars Great Value.
In other words, the motor car dealer
who has sold, say, 1000 used cars to 100
well-satisfied customers Is in consider.