Carmax prices

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clarkflower

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I was looking at Carmax online and could not believe how high their prices were.

And for what? I car faxed some and saw 2 and 3 accidents with paint work. (I did not see salvage)


Many of the cars I saw that go through our auction (the biggest) for 3-4-5 thousand are on Carmax for 9 thousand.

We have a local guy with a big lot who carries only cars that have never had paint work and he only marks up 1500.

Who goes there? Why go?
 
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Carmax tends to have a large selection and their prices are typically above market. Some may say their target audience is the low information car buyer who needs to buy a car that Saturday. Here is a very good site to check VIN's and prices: https://www.iseecars.com/vin
 
Originally Posted by Egg_Head
Carmax tends to have a large selection and their prices are typically above market. Some may say their target audience is the low information car buyer who needs to buy a car that Saturday. Here is a very good site to check VIN's and prices: https://www.iseecars.com/vin



I agree and it seemed from my visit, low credit score buyers.
I'm just sort of mad. If you pay top dollar, I expect you should be assured you are not getting a car that has been in 3 accidents.

These are the people who can least afford for this to be done to them. They go to trade, they see paint work all over and get lowballed when already underwater because of paying top dollar.
 
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Factors to consider:
* Carmax takes cars back * Carmax has 30 day warranty on vehicle
* Carmax is on the stock market
* No pressure as sales commission fixed
* Stable ownership
* Cheap lots tend to have terrible financing terms or banks behind them
 
I think some/many buy and pay extra for the "perceived" peace of mind, generally large selection and no haggle pricing CM provides. My thought on the CarMax sales philosophy can be summed up this way, 'We're CarMax, Take it or Leave it.' My .02
 
When I bought my C-Max Energi, Carmax was approximately $5K lower than all the other used car dealers in the area and the vehicle was in much better condition. The dealers in the area didn't want to budge what-so-ever and I swear that they thought that they had a car made of gold because it is a plug-in hybrid. With Carmax, I was able to find the exact vehicle that I wanted with the option package that I wanted, they shipped it to my local Carmax location from approximately 300 miles away (for free), and I got to check it out with zero pressure from the salesman. I enjoyed how transparent and streamlined the whole process was; I knew what car was going to be there (you can reserve the car for a few days and it can't be sold out from under you), I knew what price I was going to pay, they put the car up on their alignment rack for me so I could go under it to examine it, and I had several days to return with the car if I found any issues. I would use Carmax again as long as the price is right.
 
Originally Posted by clarkflower
I was looking at Carmax online and could not believe how high their prices were.

And for what? I car faxed some and saw 2 and 3 accidents with paint work. (I did not see salvage)


Many of the cars I saw that go through our auction (the biggest) for 3-4-5 thousand are on Carmax for 9 thousand.

We have a local guy with a big lot who carries only cars that have never had paint work and he only marks up 1500.

Who goes there? Why go?



One word: Warranty
 
I had a car totaled. Had to have a replacement asap. Payed more, but drove it off the lot in 4 hrs. Refinanced later. Sometime you have to move fast....
 
Originally Posted by clarkflower
Many of the cars I saw that go through our auction (the biggest) for 3-4-5 thousand are on Carmax for 9 thousand.

What auction is this, and is the public allowed in?
 
In the early years Carmax paid the most for your cars.
I got $2k more from my Ford dealer because of what they offered...
Of course that was in 2011
 
Originally Posted by supton
Originally Posted by clarkflower
Many of the cars I saw that go through our auction (the biggest) for 3-4-5 thousand are on Carmax for 9 thousand.

What auction is this, and is the public allowed in?



Its the biggest dealer only with more than 100 locations (I don't like to use the name)
 
No haggle.
Large brand selection.
Huge nationwide inventory.
Reasonable return/warranty terms.
Easy to do business with.
Decent internal finance terms.

These may not be the reasons the OP wants to do business with CarMax.
These are a few of the reasons a significant portion of the buying public wants to do business with CarMax.
 
Originally Posted by clarkflower
Originally Posted by supton
Originally Posted by clarkflower
Many of the cars I saw that go through our auction (the biggest) for 3-4-5 thousand are on Carmax for 9 thousand.

What auction is this, and is the public allowed in?



Its the biggest dealer only with more than 100 locations (I don't like to use the name)

Well the public can't get those deals then. Best they can hope for is for a dealer with lower profit margins, which may or may not have as good as a warranty (not sure what Carmax offers, haven't shopped there).
 
How is CarMax in terms of adding on fees at the end, like doc fees, etc? Do they push extended warranties?
 
The nice thing about a CarMax warranty is that it's their own warranty through them and NOT some third party company that might go under. Many times they can fix the car at the dealership or if it's something really technical on a high end car they will send it out to the dealer to get fixed. The warranty can get rolled into the financing. Their financing is also done in house as well.

As far as selling your car to them, they are competitive if they are going to keep the car and sell it on one of their lots. But if it's something they will auction off because of age or miles then you will get the trade-in value minus about $500. My friend was offered $9500 for a loaded mint condition V6 Accord. She and her husband negotiated that up to $12k. It was then posted online for $18,900. Which someone probably paid.
 
I imagine that Carvana is similar...(high priced for those who won't haggle.....their 'business model' is buy low sell high of course).
I think it's CarMax that runs the commercial where the 'dopey' guy looks foolish as his (so smart) wife finds the car quickly on Carmax....typical. That commercial alone would steer me away.
 
Originally Posted by Imp4
No haggle.
Large brand selection.
Huge nationwide inventory.
Reasonable return/warranty terms.
Easy to do business with.
Decent internal finance terms.

These may not be the reasons the OP wants to do business with CarMax.
These are a few of the reasons a significant portion of the buying public wants to do business with CarMax.


I don't mind paying full retail but if I do I expect to get top quality, not a car with 3 prior accidents. And I should not have to find out by doing my own car fax.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted by clarkflower
Originally Posted by supton
Originally Posted by clarkflower
Many of the cars I saw that go through our auction (the biggest) for 3-4-5 thousand are on Carmax for 9 thousand.

What auction is this, and is the public allowed in?



Its the biggest dealer only with more than 100 locations (I don't like to use the name)


Manheim is my guess.
 
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