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Smart Shopper Carmax - What's Your Experience?
760 messages, Last post on Nov 09, 2009 at 2:13 PM
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Replying to: voicemailking (Apr 15, 2008 6:21 am)  I don't think they will go under either, too many folks just seem in a trance due to their no haggle prices and stuff like the return policy. No matter than folks are paying nearly NEW CAR prices for used cars, they still flock to the stores and hand over the money. You can negotiate the price of your new HDTV - or you should - and explore online purchasing. Ditto to a lesser degree the new 'fridge. Only the foolish should agree to any inflated price on any major purchase if they can do better elsewhere. Some folks love to pay extra for service - look at online stores like Zappos. Free shipping to you and if you don't like it free shipping back. Then you check their prices - in most cases you are REALLY paying through the nose for this level of "service". The only way you save is if you use them to try different items and return them all (for free) and buy elsewhere for less when you decide what you want. The same is true for CarMax's 5 day policy - if you don't do your homework, don't test drive, and/or they sell you a lemon (that fails in the first 5 days) then you can bring it back. Otherwise, you are just overpaying for something you are not going to use. Maybe the trick is to "buy" from CarMax any kind of car you are interested in and just keep returning them all within 5 days until you decide which you like the best - then go elsewhere for a better price? Dennis |
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Replying to: dwynne (Apr 15, 2008 5:56 am) I am from around Richmond though where Carmax started and even down there they always had a reputation of putting crazy money on cars.
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Replying to: british_rover (Apr 15, 2008 10:21 am) It could be different in every area, maybe there is no good auction house they can buy from? I don't know. Since the quote process is free and fairly quick, nothing wrong with running a car by and see what they will offer for it - no matter where you live. It is "interesting" when you see their offer and then look up the same model, year, and mileage cars on their web page and see they get for them. I could offer a 5 day money back if I was making that much per car . Dennis |
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We traded our '07 FJ Cruiser a couple months ago on a 4Runner. I can confirm that Carmax indeed offers wholesale. We were able to "negotiate" with Fitzgerald Auto Mall, a place very similar to Carmax with the 5-day return policy, no-haggle prices, etc. They won't negotiate on price, but they did bump up our trade on the FJ....so same difference. Carmax offered about $800 less on the FJ. I test drove a 4Runner and a Land Cruiser there - the 4Runner was just plain dirty -- I'm talking mud under the seat when you flipped up the back seat! And it smelled really strange. Not what I was expecting at all from Carmax. The salesmen acted like I was crazy when I asked for a full detail and deodorizing process. He said he "might" be able to talk to his manager about getting that done. Fitzgerald had a 4Runner that looked brand new - not a great bargain, but a decent price, low mile, Toyota certified, and they gave us more for the FJ in trade. Overall very easy to work with. So if you live in the D.C. and Baltimore area, Fitzgerald is worth a look. You won't find incredible bargains, but they are decent prices, no hassle, and was a reasonably pleasant buying experience.
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Replying to: bcb1 (Apr 16, 2008 9:39 am) I saw Glencoe (North of Chicago) Carmax had black '06 Scion xA back in the Summer of '06. So I drove down there by myself my (at the time) Silver Streak Mica '06 xA. I think they were asking about 12,700. At the time, I was dead serious about buying second xA cause my xA's payments were below 300.00s and I only had $300's monthly bill debt. I wanted the silver one to be my customized xA while this black one was my Daily Driver. I had Polish background early or mid 50's man as the sales consultant. Who was hard to understand at first but I was able to pick up what he was saying. He let me view inside and outside of this xA. First thing, I noticed was a strong cigarette smell. That was sale killer. Interior looked okay but could use more cleaning cause I noticed the smoke reduce and outside looked brand new. Two things that made me laugh....One, the Sales Consultant allowed me to start the car. I did and the radio was blasting to rap. Second, because I'm early 20's and driving in xA. The S.C. thought I was making minimal wage until I said "I'm putting too many miles on my current cause I work down here in Illinois." Admitted out loud what company I worked for and the company is locally known to pay above minimal wage even entry level. He took me seriously all of sudden. |
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I'd never buy a car there (I walk around and laugh at some of the prices - I have an '08 jeep that cost what an '02 costs there!), but we had to sell a car before a move that needed 30K servicing (500 at stealership) and cosmetic work and they gave us what I think was a decent deal considering the mileage, probably cause the car is 'hot' in high gas price times. Car was not a wreck but not sure I'd call it a creampuff either.  Mechanicals were all ok tho and no accidents or dents. We bought a 2007 Yaris in July 2006 for 11K and decided to sell it off before a cross country move so tried Carmax just to get it over with. We paid 11K for this manual transmission hatchback with no options and it now had 35000 (yes 35 thousand on an '07!) miles, needed 30K service and some cosmetic issues that would run 500, probably new brakes.. They offered 8500, which wasn't too bad after looking through the various online guides. I think 1K more was possible privately but we would have had to spend that much to get it up to snuff for sale. Looking at their sales for similar vehicles, I think they'll put it up for about 10.5 or so (which is hilarious considering I paid 11 and it's got 35K and is two years old), after repairs they'll make some but nothing outrageous (other Yarii, same specs, are up for 11 and change, but they don't have the mileage). Or maybe it will go to auction. They also gave us a good deal buying another car from us a year or so ago (as judged by the real world tradein values forum) but I am guessing that car was also in high demand for some reason.  So if you have a car that they really want, the deals are ok if you aren't using it as a down on another car or don't have time to sell privately. (I was betting they'd offer 6.5-7 on the Yaris!). |
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I am looking at purchasing a 2003 LR Disco II. Im amazined at the conditon this car is in. It has 39,000km and they are asking $18,885 plus taxes etc. Im very excited except evryone and there mother keeps warning me about how expensive it can be to maintain and of course the major increase on gas prices. Can anyone tell me from experience if you think Im setting my self up for problems (maintaince) no matter how low the Km are and the contion of the car. The dealer says it is off of lease and it was 1 woman driver. It apparently was serviced at LR and the dealer says I can certainly take it to LR for a pre purchse inspection for $250. I would just like to hear from those who have owned or own one and how you truly feel about it...thank 
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I bought a VW Beattle from the Carmax in Stockbridge, GA almost a year ago. The sticker price was 12,999.000. In this year my car has failed emissions, has a short in the blinkers (which Carmax "repaired"), had to replace the thermostat, cooling sensor, ignition coil, replace the airbag sensors. They sold me a total LEMON! I tried to take it back to carmax to trade it in and guess what? Now they are willing to give me 6,000 for my car which is more the half less then what they charged me. I have filed a complaint against them with the BBB and the manager there just keeps trying to get me to close it because I have an extended warranty. I am highly ticked off. I wouldn't recommend that my worst enemy buy a car from them. Stay away from Carmax. They are not a good company in my opinion. 
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Replying to: chrisahrendt (May 28, 2008 6:40 pm)
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Replying to: cccompson (May 29, 2008 2:51 am) . Now they did sell them an extended warranty it sounds like, but the buyer would have been a lot better off to buy something of higher quality. They could have saved money by purchasing a car at a lower price from another dealer or private party, but they still would (likely) have had lots of issues if they chose another VW. Dennis |
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