Buying services revisited

[powayroger]

I looked at the USAA and Costco buying services. This was for the Hyundai, Honda, Chevy and Toyota makes. The USAA service, if you qualify, was at least $400 cheaper. I don’t know if these prices are common throughout the USA, but in San Diego it was.

What was nice about USAA service is that they sent you an email with the price that the dealer would charge. With Costco, you had to go into the dealership and look at their book with the pricing. None of the dealerships would give their Costco price over the phone or email.

 

[HTSS_TR]

I didn't know that. I thought that with many more members Costco should be able to negotiate better price than USAA or other entities.

 

[powayroger]

I did too. I was somewhat shocked.

 

[RamFan]

I actually had the opposite experience. USAA s about $800 more than Costco price for the CX-5. Hassle free process, agreed on a price before even stepping foot on the lot.

 

[Eddie]

I wonder if the comparison was between the same year, model and accessories powayroger?

 

[HerrStig]

The goal of these "services" is to get you into the stealership so they can go to work on you.

 

[RamFan]

Originally Posted By: HerrStig
The goal of these "services" is to get you into the stealership so they can go to work on you.


As is every "service" and "sale". It's our responsibility as consumers to know what a real value is.

 

[powayroger]

Originally Posted By: Eddie
I wonder if the comparison was between the same year, model and accessories powayroger?


Yes it was. I also tried different zipcodes to get different dealers. All I can say that in San Diego County, USAA is the cheapest buying service between the two.

 

[raytseng]

Originally Posted By: RamFan
Originally Posted By: HerrStig
The goal of these "services" is to get you into the stealership so they can go to work on you.


As is every "service" and "sale". It's our responsibility as consumers to know what a real value is.


Yea but realize the OP got exactly what they paid for, which is nothing. So this service has infinite value because it's zero cost; but perhaps ultimately zero valuation because it's not useful.


There is a whole range of "auto buying services" where if you actually shell out some money to an agent, then they will go out and do work for that payment. If you're not a great negotiator, they will find you the deal as well as arrange delivery so you don't have to say a single word to the dealer at all, and just sign papers with them and take your vehicle home.

There are also ones which they guarantee to be no cost to you.
You give them the best deal you currently have, and if they can find a better deal, they'll split the savings with you, so they will just give you money back on what you were going to do anyway.