Presidents Day at the dealership

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - A lot of people enjoyed a day off on this Presidents Day federal holiday, but not if you work at a car dealership.

All across the Pioneer Valley Monday people celebrated our American presidents by taking home a present of their own: a new set of wheels. It's a tough opportunity to pass up, when the dealers slash their prices and manufacturers boost their rebates and incentives.

“If perhaps the best rate before this weekend was 2.9 percent for 60 months maybe they'll drop it to 1.9 or .9 or 0,” said Mike Balise of Balise Auto Group.

The tradition of Presidents' Day car shopping hasn't changed over the years. But because of technology, the way they shop has.

“It's much more of a transparent market in the age of computers. Customers can get all the information on the cars and the rebates and everything by themselves. They don't need the dealers to do it,” said Balise.

A lot of bargain hunters carefully plan for the big purchase over the holiday weekend. Others take advantage of the deals a little more spontaneously.

“I've been thinking for about two hours. I woke up and my truck was dead. We always come to Balise, they always take care of us. It was a no brainer. Just happened to be today,” said Jason Robare of Easthampton.

22News asked if the incentives are as appealing as they've been in years past. Mike Balise said with such a battle for market share in North America, dealers and manufacturers are doing everything they can to compete to send you home with a new ride.