Carmax appraisals

[windstar]

Are CarMax appraisals to purchase pretty much the same car lot to car lot or is there a variance city to city. San Antonio is better airfare to Guad so it might be better than Houston for us. Are there other car buyers anyone could suggest??

[RickS]

Are CarMax appraisals to purchase pretty much the same car lot to car lot or is there a variance city to city. San Antonio is better airfare to Guad so it might be better than Houston for us. Are there other car buyers anyone could suggest??

From the CarMax website I see this:

Will I get different offers at different CarMax locations?

Your written offer will remain the same at any CarMax location and is good for seven days. If you'd like to get your car re-appraised after the seven-day period, you can take it to any CarMax location.

I do have a couple of suggestions if you decide to 'go north' and sell:

1) Unless your car is in pristine condition, take your car to Fernando (just west of the Casa de Waffle on the carretera) and have him detail the inside and under the hood and wax/polish the exterior and polish the headlights. Cost should be less than $100 and it will help the sale. Clean off the bugs before you take it into CarMax.

2) Consider putting an ad on the San Antonio craigslist for the car several days prior to leaving. State that the car will be available for viewing on (date certain). Who knows, you may get a good offer.... better than the one CarMax gave you with a 7-day guarantee.

3) I suspect that a Honda dealer there won't even look at your car but there is no harm in trying.

4) Don't assume that, just because you saw an identical car advertised on CarMax somewhere at a great price, you will get offered anywhere close to that figure (but it wouldn't hurt to show them that ad and say you hope yours will also bring a good price!).

5) Explain to them that the bulk of the miles on the car are highway miles and give them any/all maintenance receipts that will show you have taken care of the car.

6) I personally would not mention to them that you live in Mexico and that you drove up because you have to sell your car. That's your little secret.

Good luck with your sale!

[FHBOY]

Having just had the experience of a San Antonio Carmax transaction, here is the story.

This was my second Carmax selling experience. I sold my first car at a Carmax in Baltimore and got about $2-3K above what I expected from the KBB estimate.

I took my second car to the Carmax on I-35 in the northeast suburb of San Antonio. I ended up with about $2-3K less than what I expected from the KBB estimate.

When I was presented with the "non-negotiable" offer I was told that they go by the wholesale value of the vehicle that they could buy it at auction and was challenged by the sales rep with the phrease, "Did you look at the auction value of your vehicle?" Snotty little s--t. Naturally you can never really find that number out as wholesale auctions do not have neat little portals for non-car professionals to get the information.

Needless to say I was disappointed, but then what can you do? The Craigslist option is not viable as you don't know who or where or if there is actually a legit buyer and you can't wander around a strange city looking for another dealer to buy the car. If you choose Carmax, they've got you by the short ones if you are from out of town: 1) once your car is in the database, every Carmax has access to the info, so it does not change from Carmax to Carmax and 2) even if, like us, you say you've been transferred from your home in another part of the USA to San Antonio (and are not from Mexico), they know you won't be shopping it around.

That's the Carmax story in San Antonio.

PS: As to detailing it, as a former car salesman, don't waste the money, just wash it, and vacuum it out if you want. Carmax appraisers aren't that easily fooled. As to highway/city mileage, Carmax doesn't care, miles are miles. You also can't misrepresent any accidents/repairs - they have Carfax in the USA and Carmax appraisers are trained to look for repaints, non-matching VIN's on replacement parts. Remember: they are professionals at cars, you are an amateur, unless you are a professional.

[chapalafan]

We went to Carmax in San Antonio. We washed and vacuumed the car in Chapala before making the trip. We answered the questions honestly, they checked out the car, and we received 2,000 dollars more than we expected and hoped for. We could not have been happier.

[Ajijic]

On a side note CarMax based on my very recent experience in San Antonio sells much of what they buy at auctions. Their goal is in and out in a week. Knowing that the likelihood of KBB is very low.

At the store I was at they had 400 vehicles meaning they have no shortage of inventory.

[windstar]

Many thanks for all your suggestions

[lakeside101]

fernando will be much more than 100USD if any body work is involved. my estimate was 3100p.

[chapalafan]

Our car needed a new bumper and scratches painted as well as two wheel covers. It did have new tires though because we were afraid to risk the drive on the old ones. Our deal was last month so I guess everyone has a different experience. We had a great one!!