WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. -

According to a recent online survey from J.D. Power and Associates,  Canadian shoppers in the market for a new ride expect to go through four steps during the purchase-process and apparently, they have a very definitive timeframe in mind for each dealership interaction. And 15 minutes might be the magic ticket.

The survey conducted in Canada revealed, “buyers have clearly defined timelines in mind, and satisfaction suffers when expectations are not met," wrote Doris Harrison — senior research supervisor for Canadian research operations at J.D. Power — in the latest  Automotive Analyst Note.

“In fact, dealer staff would be wise to set the stopwatch at 15 minutes, as overall sales satisfaction with most dealership activities drops significantly after that point,” she explained further.

And what are the four steps shoppers expect to go through while buying a new car?

According to the study, shoppers expect the following, Harrsion said: “browsing inventory at a dealership without the interference of a salesperson; taking a test drive; discussing the price and final delivery of their new vehicle.”

Breaking down the numbers from the survey, 66 percent of responders to the online survey said they would like to be given 15 minutes to browse through the showroom “without the guidance of a salesperson,” when entering a dealership.

“This is likely due to the overwhelming majority of shoppers who build and price their vehicle online before arriving at a dealership,” Harrison noted.

According to the survey, 63 percent of shoppers say they knew the exact vehicle they wanted (including color and options) before they even went to the showroom.

But “once the test drive is complete —an activity shoppers say is less time-sensitive, but add that they’d rather experience it without the presence of a salesperson— the dealership team is well and truly on the clock,” she cautioned.

Over half of the survey responders said they would like to wrap-up the price negotiation in 15 minutes or less.

“Ensuring internal dealership processes / systems are fluid and efficient is critical. After a deal is in place, buyers expect to have the final paperwork in front of them quickly. Again, overall satisfaction declines if they’re kept waiting for more than 15 minutes,” Harrison explained.

Lastly, vehicle delivery is, of course, an exception to the “15-minute rule.”

Harrison noted that vehicle delivery is less time-sensitive and more “client focused.”

According to the online survey, “customers expect this to be an opportunity to fully understand the features and functionality of their new vehicle,” she concluded.