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NEW YORK — A recent survey asked a demographic called Millennials — individuals who are ages 18 to 29 — about making a choice between negotiating at a dealership or going to the dentist.

Interestingly, the majority of responders preferred a visit to have their teeth checked rather than talk with a dealer about a vehicle purchase.

The survey, commissioned by Microsoft and conducted by Wakefield Research, sought to provide some clarity as to how this generation of potential buyers are approaching the process and what kinds of vehicles they might want. Besides apprehension about going to a dealership, technology issues came up repeatedly. 

Looking a bit more closely at the particular question about the dentist or the dealership, officials discovered that 56 percent of respondents picked the dentist trip. Poll participants offered several reasons for their strong apprehension about a vehicle purchase.

The top justification was that Millennials are apparently not comfortable relying on salespeople to show them a particular vehicle or answer their questions. They are also alarmed about what comes up on a dealer's computer screen that they aren't seeing, and uncomfortable that they are not privy to conversations between a salesperson and a manager.

The survey indicated Millennials are looking to establish a "real relationship with the dealer." A vast majority of participants — 84 percent, in fact — believe this task can be accomplished by Internet access being readily available at all times throughout the buying process.

So why is Internet access so important? Millennials want the ability to retrieve previous research information, in addition to having the opportunity to chat with friends and family via instant messages. Some even say they want to include friends or family in a video conference during the negotiation process.

"Offering access to special services will also motivate visitation," according to the officials behind the survey.

"Millennials are willing to seek out a specific dealership if certain services such as online access and self-touch devices that lead them through the buying process are available at a specific dealer," they continued.

If a dealer offers these services, 75 percent of respondents said they would travel farther from their home to reach that store to do business.

"Millennials are frustrated with the sales process — particularly the secrecy and lack of access to information once they get into the dealership," survey officials asserted.

"Providing access to information makes this process easier for them. Offering special services, such as a computer to get research online while in the dealership, will motivate Millennials to seek out specific locations," they added.

The discussion about technology wasn't just limited to what might be available at a dealership. The survey also revealed how much this demographic wants top technology in their vehicles, as well.

When asked whether their vehicle should be most like a typewriter, a 1980s desktop computer or a smartphone, 71 percent of survey participants chose the last option. They want vehicles to be equipped with technological features such as a GPS system, a port to plug in a digital music player, software to track fuel consumption and Bluetooth capability.

Millennials who were questioned also believe they'll return to a dealership often to have the software and hardware associated with all of these technologies upgraded for free if the perks are in the vehicles at the time of purchase. A total of 81 percent indicated they would make such a commitment.

"Leverage the love Millennials have for technology and draw them back into dealerships more regularly by offering free software updates for their car's technology such as GPS upgrades," officials advised. "The majority will go back for an additional visit if this software is offered."

Other applications that can heighten the vehicle's technological performance were high on participants' radar. The survey revealed that one-third of respondents were prepared to pay up front for unlimited access to app upgrades and choices. While another third of participants were willing to pay for more applications, but on case-by-case basis.

Officials from Microsoft and Wakefield Research explained the process for compiling the survey data. The companies conducted 1,149 online interviews with individuals ages 18 to 29 on April 6 through 12, adding a confidence level of 95 percent in the report conclusions.

For more information on the study or other results, visit www.wakefieldresearch.com.