CarMax Offers Tips to Help Make the Process Smooth
RICHMOND, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep. 27, 2012--
“Quick” and “effortless” are not words being used by many women when
discussing their last car purchase, according to a recent poll conducted
for CarMax,
Inc. (NYSE: KMX), the nation’s largest retailer of used
cars. Nearly a quarter of the women surveyed said their last car
purchase was a hassle, and many others felt they lacked a fair and
reasonable trade-in value, financing, and purchase price. These results
are similar to responses from women over the past few years.
“Women often commit a lot of time, research and thought into a vehicle
purchase, and want to feel confident in their decision,” says
Donna
Wassel
, Southwest regional vice president of CarMax. “With research
tools, transparency and no-haggle prices offered by CarMax, shoppers can
have a smooth, straightforward purchase they can feel good about.”
The following are the results of the recent poll that asked women:
Thinking about the last time that you bought a car, which of the
following was most missing?
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Response
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Percentage in 2012
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Percentage in 2011
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Percentage in 2009
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A quick, effortless transaction
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24
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26
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25
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A fair trade-in value
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18
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15
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19
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A reasonable finance rate
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17
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13
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13
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Low, fair pricing
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15
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15
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13
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A trustworthy salesperson
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12
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15
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15
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Respect
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2
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3
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2
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All of the surveys were conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs on behalf of
CarMax. Each national sample consisted of more than 500 U.S. women, aged
18 and older who were interviewed online in September 2012, October
2011, and August 2009. In this year’s survey, 11 percent of respondents
had not purchased a vehicle, while 13 percent had not purchased a
vehicle in the 2009 and 2011 surveys.
CarMax offers the following tips for women car shoppers:
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Do research
on websites such as carmax.com to search thousands of vehicles, see
actual prices, view multiple photos, obtain vehicle history reports,
read customer reviews and more.
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Print out information about the vehicles you are interested in, and
have them ready when you step onto the lot.
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If you plan on selling your car, bring
key paperwork items with you, including title and registration for
your current vehicle, your driver’s license, and insurance card.
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If you have been pre-approved for a car loan, bring the approval
letter with you.
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Find a car retailer and salesperson you like and trust by asking
friends and family for referrals.
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Try a retailer like CarMax, that offers no-haggle prices and a la
carte pricing on each part of the car buying transaction – the vehicle
price, the extended service plan, the trade-in, and the financing.
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Consider selling your car separately from your car purchase. CarMax
offers free appraisals.
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Have confidence. You have done your research and are prepared to make
a smart car buying decision.
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Ask as many questions as you need so you understand exactly what you
are paying for.
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Be prepared to walk away if you are unhappy with your car buying
experience.
About CarMax
CarMax, a member of the FORTUNE 500 and the S&P 500, and one of the
FORTUNE 2012 “100 Best Companies to Work For,” is the nation’s largest
retailer of used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently
operates 113 used car superstores in 56 markets. The CarMax consumer
offer is structured around four customer benefits: low, no-haggle
prices; a broad selection; high quality vehicles; and customer-friendly
service. During the twelve months ended February 29, 2012, the company
retailed 408,080 used cars and sold 316,649 wholesale vehicles at our
in-store auctions. For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com.
Source: CarMax, Inc.
Media Contacts
Michelle
Ellwood, CarMax Public Affairs, 804-747-0422, ext. 4139, Twitter: @CarMaxCares
Elia
Imler, CarMax Public Relations, 804-747-0422, ext. 4029, Twitter: @CarMax