Kids make terrible customers for dealerships: They rarely qualify for financing, tend to get extra cranky in the heat of a negotiation and have trouble reaching the pedals in most vehicles anyway. But many consumers say they look for dealerships that cater to children — with playrooms, movies or other amenities — when deciding where to shop.
About 36 percent of mothers surveyed on behalf of Cars.com said it was very or extremely important for a dealership to be kid-friendly or offer diversions for children so the adults can shop or get their vehicle serviced in peace. An additional 23 percent said it was moderately important.
Cars.com released the survey of 1,100 current and expecting moms in connection with Mother's Day. Respondents also listed some other wishes for the vehicle-shopping process:
- Better information about what plugs, adapters and charging options are available throughout a vehicle, particularly for their kids' electronic devices
- Details about specific safety features to keep young passengers safe, beyond opaque crash-test ratings
- A "kid score" for a vehicle that rates the level of ease for loading and unloading children, especially as it relates to child seats
- The ability to see and read vehicle ratings and reviews written only by other parents.
