| Going shopping for used cars is a process I have | | | | necessity in getting a website because everyone |
| always abhorred. There is nothing worse than | | | | else has one. However, they don't take the time |
| going to a ton of lots and traipsing through rows | | | | to create an online store that will work similarly to |
| of vehicles, unsure which ones actually run and | | | | the offline store. By not taking the Internet |
| which ones are lemons. Of course you can never | | | | seriously, they "about-face" a lot of customers |
| tell because dealers work so hard to doll up the | | | | who are used to convenience and in turn lose |
| exterior - and interior. Then they throw on what | | | | business to their competition. It seems CarMax |
| seems to be a great sticker price and talk, talk, | | | | has done a better job of taking the Internet |
| talk until they convince you THIS is the car for | | | | seriously, and this may be a major contributing |
| you. I used to go to different lots and listen to | | | | factor in why people enjoying using them, thus |
| someone in my ear telling me nonsense for hours. | | | | creating the majority of the market share of |
| But then I wised up and began going on Sundays | | | | online car buying. |
| when they weren't open - until they started | | | | Other Online Buying Perks |
| opening on Sundays (rats!). Then I heard about a | | | | Transfer Cars, Know what you're paying - Say |
| place called CarMax that lets you shop right on | | | | you have searched all over town for a specific |
| their website. I decided to check them out to see | | | | used car that no one seems to have. You run |
| what they offered. Want to know what I found? | | | | into plenty of dealers who make the promise that |
| Read on! | | | | they can find it and have it sent to them, but it |
| Things to compare about CarMax | | | | will take some time to do so. This can be |
| When looking for a online car dealer it can be said | | | | frustrating because, in addition to not knowing |
| that CarMax is the United States' largest used car | | | | whether they'll actually deliver, you have no idea |
| retailer - something I didn't know! It is apparently | | | | of how much this vehicle will cost OR how much |
| a great retailer and great employer also. | | | | they will charge you to have it sent to their |
| According to stats, it retails hundreds of | | | | location. But on the CarMax website you find that |
| thousands of used cars every year and is on | | | | with every description is not only the price of the |
| track to continue breaking records in the industry. | | | | vehicle, but also the cost to have it transferred to |
| Though it is the leader there are others in the | | | | a location near you. This way, you find the car on |
| market as well. | | | | your own and there are no hidden fees to worry |
| Believe it or not, CarMax was developed by the | | | | about. |
| executives at Circuit City. They wanted to devise | | | | Payment Calculator - On their site, they have a |
| a plan to sell vehicles at a superstore size; so | | | | handy payment calculator that lets you estimate |
| most of their lots are pretty large (around 60,000 | | | | from the sticker price of the vehicle, how much |
| square feet) and they keep them full. The | | | | you are likely to pay monthly. To figure it out, |
| purpose of their business was to sell used cars, | | | | you have to determine the down payment you |
| however they did begin supplying new ones as | | | | are willing to put down, the APR, and the number |
| well purchasing everything from Toyotas and | | | | of months you plan to extend the contract. Once |
| Mitsubishis to BMWs and Mercedes. It rose above | | | | you enter those facts, the calculator will |
| the others in the internet marketing by heavy | | | | determine what you're monthly payment is likely |
| advertising and word of mouth. | | | | to be. Keep in mind when doing this though that |
| Additionally, on their website, they say they spend | | | | you're credit plays a large role in the interest |
| "an average of 12 hours inspecting and | | | | rates they will give you, so make sure you find |
| reconditioning every used vehicle." Also, they have | | | | out your credit score and then determine your |
| a 5-day money-back guarantee, clean title | | | | likely interest rates based on that score. |
| guarantee, and extended service plans available. | | | | The Search |
| This is one reason they have separated | | | | You can search for used cars pretty easily I |
| themselves from others in the online car buying | | | | found by using their search engine. I just clicked |
| world. | | | | on the "used cars" tab at the top of their website. |
| Why Do People Use Online Car Stores? | | | | Once I got there, I found a section that allows |
| It seems that many people are enchanted by | | | | you to conduct a refined search for vehicles by |
| Online Car Dealers like Carmax because they | | | | choosing the make, type, model, and price range |
| have so much "freedom-of-search" online. Many | | | | of the car you're trying to find. Once you choose |
| times you have to choose the way you want to | | | | your options and click "search" you're taken to |
| find a vehicle: either online or off. You can find a | | | | the next page which asks for your zip code. You |
| car on eBay but really don't have the same | | | | enter the zip code, click search again, and they will |
| options in validating the true value of the car. Or, | | | | list all of the CarMax locations in your area that |
| of course, you can go to the lots and have some | | | | have the car you're looking for. Some other |
| dealer in your ear telling you how "great this van | | | | websites may not have that important feature, |
| will be for your kids" then you have to cut him | | | | but check around. |
| off and tell him "Man, I have no kids! Get outta | | | | Searching for used cars can be an arduous task, |
| here and don't come back until I call you!" | | | | but Online shopping sites like CarMax want to |
| By looking over the Online Car buying website, I | | | | make the process a little easier for you. So when |
| could see that what they are doing is bringing in | | | | you have a chance, browse through the site and |
| their used cars, taking a full inventory of them, | | | | or a competitor and see if you like it. If not, you |
| taking a picture and then putting them online for | | | | can always get back on the daily grind of going |
| your convenience. It looks like their business is | | | | from lotto lot, traipsing through cars, and having |
| just as much online as it is off. I make it a point | | | | that pesky dealer whisper sweet nothings - and I |
| to mention this because it is a hard and true fact | | | | do mean nothings - in your ear. |
| that many businesses that start offline find the | | | | |