About the Founder
Brian Alexander, Founder of Zen Car Buying
My Journey
I grew up loving cars. This theme followed me my entire life starting with washing the family cars with my dad to subscribing to Car and Driver before I could even drive. At 14, I learned how to drive stick on my dad's Mercedes Benz 230 SL on Sunday mornings. I loved collecting brochures while walking the floor of the LA Auto Show and of course I hung posters of the Lamborghini Countach and Porsche 959 in my bedroom. At the same time, I had a lemonade stand at a young age and did odd jobs which ultimately led me to start a car detailing business in high school. I didn't realize it then, but I loved being an entrepreneur.
I was fortunate to build a career at the intersection of the automotive industry and advertising technology. After graduating college, I began selling cars at the world-famous Volkswagen Santa Monica. From there, I went on to lead digital advertising initiatives for Toyota, including helping launch their paid search programs in the early 2000s. By 2014, I was pioneering Connected TV advertising for brands like Nissan, Infiniti, and Toyota.
Most recently, I had the opportunity to work closely with the marketing teams at Toyota, Kia, Jaguar, and Subaru, supporting their consumer focused digital messaging initiatives. Walking the halls of their corporate offices was a dream come true for a lifelong "car guy" like me.
1968 Mercedes 230 SL — similar to the one I learned how to drive on.
Throughout my career, one thing did not change — I remained the go-to person for friends and family when it came to buying cars. Time and time again, I was frustrated with the dealership experience. I remember vividly when the Toyota dealer sold my 90 year old grandmother a new Camry while she was at the dealership servicing her car. When I went to the dealership to discuss with the manager, I asked how would you feel if this happened to your grandmother and he said he wouldn't let his grandmother go to a dealership alone (she wasn't). I was furious. I started thinking about all the time people spent sitting in the salesperson's "office" under bright showroom lights and the "if I can get you that price, will you buy today" pressure tactic. Even after you bought, the anxiety didn't stop - the question remained about whether or not you actually got a good deal. So I experimented with new purchasing methods. In 2014 I leased a Chevy Volt entirely over text, voice and email without ever setting foot in a dealership. The car was delivered to my driveway where I signed the contract. This was eye opening for me.
An early model Subaru BRAT, modified with a custom wooden camper top, on display at Subaru of America's headquarters in Camden, NJ.
By 2018, I bought my first car sight unseen from a thousand miles away with the papers wet signed and sent back via FedEx. Since that first long-distance purchase I've bought several more used cars for myself from across the country. It's a mix of art and science to get it right and I feel like I've perfected it.
Through it all one thing has never changed, my willingness to help people buy cars. By combining my car buying knowledge with these new practices, I discovered that buying a car doesn't have to be stressful when done outside of the dealership. This way, the buyer can be in control in a process that's transparent and even enjoyable. This should be exciting right? A couple of summers ago, I helped my brother's friend in California buy a car in Texas. His friend offered to pay me. Immediately the light went off in my head, people will pay me to do something I enjoyed. That long lost entrepreneurial muscle immediately returned.
Zen Car Buying's very first client — the one who started it all.
That belief inspired me to launch Zen Car Buying on the foundation of this modern approach to car buying. Today, we bring our clients personalized guidance, data-driven insights, expert strategies and negotiation tactics resulting in a streamlined experience designed to save time and money while finding the perfect car.
You too can Experience the Joy of Compassionate Car Buying.
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