ok, so a couple weeks back (not even) i had posted asking some questions about carmax. got some good feedback, and figured i'd let y'all know how it went.
the night before we were leaving FL for CA, i wanted to sell our old 1999 dodge ram conversion van to the carmax in Jax. Circumstances led to this being done last minute, and I knew I was pretty much screwed. We were moving across country in 14 hours, and I'd have to take whatever they would give me. The van had a few dings and the carpet inside was stained beyond belief (carry around 2 kids and see how much juice actually makes it into the kid from the juice box vs onto the floor...). I was hoping for $2k...but realized I'd have to settle for $500 if that's what they offered. We show up and they take the car to do their analysis. There's a nice play area for the kids so the wife and I hang out in there while the kids burn off some energy. About 45 minutes later Carmax guy calls me over and tells me they're done. They'll be selling the vehicle at auction, due to its age and condition. Not a good sign, I think. He goes over some bullet points (mileage was ok based on age, wear and tear was consistent with age...body damage...)..i'm preparing for the worst. then he shows me the offer. $3500. about 1/2 hour later we're driving off in a rental car with a $3500 check. could not have been any smoother of a process. This was thursday night. Friday we're set to arrive in CA and pick up a rental car...then to Carmax on Sat to pick up the Sienna. Well, I got to thinking (it happens sometimes) and I called the Ontario, CA carmax and asked if the had shuttle service, and could they pick us up at the airport on Friday. They said they did and they would. Saves a couple of bucks on the rental car, and an extra trip from Redlands (where we moved) out to Ontario on Sat to pick up the car. So we arrive at the Ontario airport on Friday. I call the dealer and she says they're not going to send the shuttle...they're actually going to have someone come out with the minivan that we're looking to buy. This way we only have to put the kid's car seats in one vehicle...not first in the shuttle van, then take them out and put them in the Sienna. Wouldn't have been a big deal...but thoughtful. Driver shows up in the Sienna, we all pile in, and head off to Carmax. Sign some papers (add an extended warranty), and 45 minutes later we were driving off to the new place in the new vehicle. Oh, I should also mention that during the signing, I was supposed to have proof of residency (which I would not yet have because i hadn't gotten to our new place and signed the rental agreement). They agreed to let us purchase the car anyway, and just asked that when we got to the new place, I fax a copy of the signed rental agreement to them. So overall, on both the buying and selling fronts, I have to say that I am -extremely- impressed with the Carmax experience. Like Adam C. said in the previous thread, it might not have been the absolute rock bottom price that I might have gotten at another dealership after spending hours haggling...but I'm very happy with the price and EXTREMELY happy with the service and thrilled that I didn't have to play "the game". I have no reservations in saying that the next time we're in the market for a car, we'll likely be buying from Carmax. -- Charlie Griefer ================================================ "...All the world shall be your enemy, Prince with a Thousand Enemies, and whenever they catch you, they will kill you. But first they must catch you, digger, listener, runner, prince with a swift warning. Be cunning and full of tricks and your people shall never be destroyed." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Introducing the Fusion Authority Quarterly Update. 80 pages of hard-hitting, up-to-date ColdFusion information by your peers, delivered to your door four times a year. http://www.fusionauthority.com/quarterly Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/CF-Community/message.cfm/messageid:215061 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/CF-Community/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5
