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Mark McDonald on Muck Rack

Mark McDonald

Hong Kong
As seen in: The New York Times, MSN, MSN Canada, Financial Times, MSN South Africa, USA Today, Aol, Flipboard, Inc., Philadelphia Business Journal, Puget Sound Business Journal and
Foreign correspondent, lapsed sportswriter and chief Asia blogger for Rendezvous, a new venture by the International Herald Tribune on nytimes.com.
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Articles

Top Mistakes Car Dealerships Make That Hurt Customers and Sales Original

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By Mark McDonald
| MotorTrend Verified
A veteran salesperson reveals why buying a car can still feel stuck in the past. Mark McDonaldWriterGetty ImagesPhotographerRyan LugoIllustration BySep 08, 2026 Everybody in car sales gripes about customers. But dealerships aren’t run by angels. Far from it. We know we have a terrible reputation—one that’s been earned over many decades of bad business practices. Those practices need to change. Here are just a few of them. Lack of Training I was lucky when I started out in car sales.
Open in Who Shared View Duplicates (2) Issue with article?

Car Leasing vs. Financing: Which Is the Best Way to Buy a New Car? Original

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By Mark McDonald
| MotorTrend Verified
A longtime car salesperson explains why avoiding negative equity may matter more than owning outright. Mark McDonaldWriterRyan LugoIllustration ByGetty ImagesPhotographerSep 01, 2026 In the 20 years I’ve been selling cars (yikes), I’ve found there are two things that kill more car deals than anything else. Bad credit and negative equity. I think everybody understands bad credit, but what exactly is negative equity? Negative equity is when you owe more for a car than it’s worth.
Open in Who Shared View Duplicates (2) Issue with article?

Dealer Add-Ons Explained: Which Extras Are Worth Buying and Which to Skip

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By Mark McDonald
| MotorTrend Verified
Believe it or not, some salespeople will tell you that the mats in the plastic bags in the trunk didn’t come with the car but were added by the dealership. Then they’ll try to charge you for them. If you suspect that’s what’s happening, check the window sticker. If mats are listed on the sticker, their price is already included in the MSRP—and the dealer is trying to rip you off. Nitrogen in Tires Nitrogen in tires used to be a big thing 10 to 15 years ago.
Open in Who Shared View Duplicates (2) Issue with article?
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