CarMax Consumer Reviews - Page 6

My experience at CarMax was great. But the Salesman was really overselling the extended warranty. After getting to know him and developing a nice relationship, I asked: "Why are you really "Selling" the MaxCare warranty so hard"? He laughed and kind of shrugged and looked around to see if no managers were around then told me unless the sales guys sell the warranty they only make $150 on the sale. I almost fainted. I was like "150!? That's all!?" I had put this kid through days of me mulling it over and test driving a half dozen cars. Also the Managers really harp on them if they don't sell it.

All the new Consumer Guides say that Dealers today are making little on the actual sale but making a killing on what they call Backend items like Warranties, Window etching, Undercoating, and False Fees. I didn't know to compensate the new trends in the Auto market that CarMax stuck it to their sales force so hard. $150, I mean come on! And people wonder why it's so hard to find a good salesman in a complex car purchase and then you find out that a NYSE company is giving like minimum wage to its staff... I guess their turnover at CarMax is outrageous.

SOUTHERN CALIF., CALIFORNIA -- I would like to express my complete dissatisfaction with the ‘service' I've encountered at three of the Southern California locations. I've been trying to purchase a preferably black, 2002-04 Z06 Corvette. I thought I'd try Carmax, thinking as your slogan states “The way car buying should be”. This hasn't been my experience. Here is a brief summary;

1. The Irvine location has three times told me or expressed that they had a particular vehicle in stock but they did not. One response was "we sold that several days ago" another was "It's out on demo and won't be back for a while”.

2. The LAX location could never answer a simple question about a vehicle‘s exhaust, tires etc.. "Oh, others have asked me about that". I can see that I was not alone in being ignored.

3. The latest, at the Duarte location. A 2004 Z06 shows up after midnight and is priced at approximately $31,988. I email the location about purchasing. Not more than an hour later, I go back to the site to show a coworker the vehicle, the pictures are removed and the price has been increased by over $1,500 dollars! This is "how car buying should be"? A customer shows interest in a car and the price is jacked up!

Is there a computer program that raises the price of a vehicle when there is interest in it? It appears the ‘hoopla' some have heard concerning Carmax is just Carmax's self-promotion...nothing more. I can only say that if any of my relatives, friends or coworkers mention Carmax when looking for a car, I will relate to them my experiences and do my best to dissuade them from ever setting foot in a Carmax lot.

Purchased a BMW 335i 2008. As with any BMW, the performance requires warranty type issues.

1. To use the warranty at Carmax requires 50 co-payment.
2. To use the warranty out of Carmax is 75.00.
3. The local BMW dealer Momenteum BMW of Houston does not honor warranty.

Like going to dentist to get service on the car. Oh, and make sure you take a look at fine print if finance with Carmax. Interest accrued daily so first 2 years of payments pay all interest and very little principal. Wouldn't suggest using Carmax.

OAK LAWN, ILLINOIS -- I was approved financing for a used 2006 Kia Spectra with 42,000 miles for the price of $9,952.00. I put half of the asking price down and the rest to be financed. With my down payment, the total purchase still came out to be $17,962.00. I was given six long years to pay off. The gentleman who processed me navigated through the computer so fast, I had to ask for an itemized bill as he had no intentions of showing me the final cost of this rip off.

SO. CA, CALIFORNIA -- 1. Twice, have emailed on their website inquiring about specific cars - both times have never heard anything back - ever.

2. Went to the Irvine, CA store once looking to sell my BMW. The price I was offered was so LOW, I told them I would trash it before giving it to them for that price. I was somewhat pressured as to "why" I wouldn't sell it to them". I sold it myself a couple weeks later for a LOT MORE (still talk to the buyers who LOVE the car).

My impression has absolutely not been positive.