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This post is going to explain (for all of you whiners out there) how the CarMax appraisal offer works. I know most of you out there have super short attention spans so I'll make only valid points and stick to facts. First, the basics. CarMax will give you a written offer, valid for 7 days, free of charge. They will not force you to take the offer, it is free, if you do not like the offer then it is your right not to take it. So please remember... IT'S FREE!

You cannot, I repeat, you cannot "do research" on the value of your car. Carmax does not look at Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds, or NADA. For the simple reason they do not write checks for vehicles. It's that simple. So if KBB says your vehicle is worth $25,000 dollars, they will not write you a check for 25K. Sorry, any business person will tell you there is a difference between an estimate and a real written offer. For a real life example of an estimate vs an offer watch the show pawn stars on History Channel.

Now we'll check out what can effect your offer.

The wholesale market: The offer they give you is a wholesale offer(which your consultant will tell you), this means they will check auctions, black book, etc. What it boils down to is your offer won't be retail. So be realistic.

Condition: What did you look at on the last car you bought? Well Carmax buyers will do the same. They look for stains, tears, rips, cracks, dents, dings, scratches, oxidation, frame damage, water damage, smoke odors, pet odors, bad tires. NO ONES used car is perfect. So please don't say your ride is "excellent" condition, because believe me... it's not. REPAINTING HURTS OFFERS as well, because whoever painted it sucks. They can't beat the robot at the factory. So sorry Chip Foose, you just devalued my car.

Market Conditions: This covers a lot. If you drive an F-350 with a V10 gas motor, guess what... at $3.75 a gallon there isn't a huge demand for your truck! But, supply... is endless. Supply and demand, if Carmax has 300 Ford Mustangs with a V6, they don't need yours! So your offer will reflect that, if they don't need your car then the value goes down. Also, your car can go one of two places, Retail or wholesale. Retail cars can be viewed by the public, on the carmax.com website, so how many people have internet access? 200 million? Wholesale cars are viewed by the dealers that come to auction, how many is that? 90 to 100 maybe? So if you have a vehicle they can market to hundreds of millions then its prob worth more.

Vehicle History: Accidents? Devalued. Lemon? Devalued. Odometer rollback? Devalued. Repainted? Devalued. Nuff said. BMW, Land rover, Mercedes, Audi = Expensive parts and repairs, if it's higher mileage... DEVALUED. Next time buy American.

Mechanical: Busted *** engine? That's $3,000 knocked off right there. why? Because a new engine costs... get this, $3,000. Transmission won't shift right? That's prob 2K right there. Rear diff issues? $1,500.00

Look, a vehicle is a depreciating asset. For you tards out there that means your car or truck loses money daily. It's a free offer, if you don't like it, don't take it. But don't come on here and *** because a free offer is a "scam", "ripoff", "stealing your car" or "unfair". Try selling it on your own for more money, just don't forget, to clean it inside and out, insurance payments, advertising costs, mechanical upkeep, notary fees, bill of sale, contracts and haggling.

Hope this helps everyone.

Location: Edmond, Oklahoma

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Guest

Helloooooo BINGBONG! hahahaha

Guest

People are such ignorant *** holes...its a business not a nonprofit. Youre right, shaaaaame on them for wanting to make money.

Shame! *sigh*, you idiots.

Guest

Plain and simple ... you want more money for your vehicle?

... Sell it privately.

CarMax is no different than any other dealership, but they WILL mark up your vehicle 35%-40% from their "appraisal/offer" .. they are about as ethical as a loan shark...

Frankie S Ync

FREE? I will tell you about FREE you S.O.B!

How about when the sales associate works 15 hours a week in the e-office answering telephones and web mails foe FREE? How about when the sales associates have to attend meetings 1 hour BEFORE the store opens (commission only pay) for FREE? How about when the sales associate has to lock up the vehicles at night for FREE?

How about when the sales associate takes a trade-in and secures the vehicle for FREE? Dont you dare talk about a FREE APPRAISAL you mudderfuker!

Frankie S Ync

FYI Educatingmorons, The offer is free BECAUSE THEY DONT PAY THE SALES PEOPLE FOR THE APPRAISAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Your mom should have had you aborted!

Guest

Then how come Carmax offered me $11,000 for my truck as a trade in and i went across the street to the mom and pop car lot and got $16,500?

Frankie S Ync

Those of you who defend carmax about appraisals are barking up the wrong tree. You need to write to Kelly Blue Book and explain to them, that they are off base with a vehicles worth. Stop wasting your breath on telling us whiners and go to the source.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Frankie S Ync

This is a great point ringleader. I do have access to auction wholesale software (MMR) and for a fact KBB values most of the time is way lower than actual value.

believe it or not on some cars KBB RETAIL is even less than Auction wholesale. the most accurate book that is available to the public is NADA their trade in values are very close to MMR and Blackbook

Frankie S Ync

What about the sales consultants time? You sit through appraisals all day, only to be pissed on! carmax uses employees and does not pay them for their time, and then the managers have the nerve to judge you!

Frankie S Ync

People on this site that read these posts, are not "tards" you ruthless filthy animal! If this is your attitude, and it looks like you have very little patience with people, why are you working in customer service?

Please explain why so many customers have trouble with their vehicles after they purchase from carmax? Is it because carmax does not fix what is suppose to be fixed?

So they lowball on appraisals, but dont want to put any money into a vehicle before they sell it! They are ripping people off and people know that.

Guest

Hello? Hello?

Mr Educatingmorons? Are you still at CarMax?

You still feel the same way? Or on you gone forever?fzkpcrb

Guest

This post is kind of old. I'm wondering if the buyers assistant that wrote it still works at CarMax?

I've been reading these posts for over a year now.

I'm wondering if the t.ards I see that defend this horrible company still feel the same way. I'll bet some of them don't

Guest

educatingmorons thank you for wasting your time educating everyone, but you are way too sarcastic for anyone to believe you! Now go buy some cars I said!

Guest

Tards? Whiners?

Another perfect example of carmax mentality! You seem very angry trying to defend the appraisal process. First lie, IT'S FREE! Right off the bat, you lied.

What business does something for free? So your saying if carmax happens to have 300 Mustangs with a V6, then it's ok to offer someone selling thiers for a ridiculous low offer? Now THATS ALL ABOUT THE CUSTOMER! This looks to me like it's ALL ABOUT CARMAX PROFITS!

HELLO, BINGBONG! I think your post actually hurt carmax, instead of helping.

Guest

I have more knowledge this topic then anyone posting (Sr Buyer for CarMax for 8 years) and some of you are correct but none of you completely. My advice would be have CarMax appraise the vehicle and sell it yourself.

As for the offer being free that's not technically true the post regarding ACR (Appraisal Cost Recovery) is correct they deduct as much as $2500 from every appraisal to offset the cost of offering this "free" service. Caveat Emptor

Johnny J Zaf

I understand its all about making money. Carmax is a dealership.

It's not Target. Its not Lowes. It's not taco Bell or any other corporate entity like it tries to be.

They make up their own rules and once you have to lie to people to get them in the front door, its wrong. Just like pumpkin pie says.

Guest

It boils down to this. Carmax and every other car buying company are in business to make money!

Of course they are not going to offer you KBB or anything close to it. They are buying your car to resale and make money. Simple. If you don't like the offer, sell it yourself.

Be aware, selling it yourself is not always a fun or "fair" adventure either.

Bottom line, any company who buys your car is offering liquidity. That service cost money.

Johnny J Zaf

Iรขโ‚ฌโ„ขll bet youรขโ‚ฌโ„ขre the pride & joy of your purchasing department.

First lie, CarMax gives you a fair offer free of charge. Appraisal cost recovery? Those 200+ dollars you knock off of every car you buy? That covers your time while you appraise everyoneรขโ‚ฌโ„ขs car even those who donรขโ‚ฌโ„ขt agree to sell. So if I decide to go through with your *** offer, you charge for it AND every other appraisal on a monthly average. FREE? No Mr. F.AG thatรขโ‚ฌโ„ขs not free.

Second lie. FAIR. This is my favorite. Go look at EVERY CARMAX CAR ON THEIR FRONT LOT. Right underneath the outrageous price, you will see the phrase รขโ‚ฌล“Thatรขโ‚ฌโ„ขs $150.00 less than Kellys Blue Book value.รขโ‚ฌย Thatรขโ‚ฌโ„ขs awesome, isnรขโ‚ฌโ„ขt it? I buy a car from CarMax, I go by KBB. When CarMax buys one from me? No. Itรขโ‚ฌโ„ขs a wholesale offer. BlackBook. Nowhere even close to the trade-in value. No Mr. F.AG thatรขโ‚ฌโ„ขs not fair.

Lastly you write your rant like everyone is supposed to know this. 90% of people out there have absolutely no clue how the auto business works. Thatรขโ‚ฌโ„ขs why they go to CarMax in the first place. They believe your advertising. Every commercial you see on TV or hear on the radio, itรขโ‚ฌโ„ขs all the same. Get a fair & written offerรขโ‚ฌยฆ We only sell high quality cars. Typical used car salesman. Youรขโ‚ฌโ„ขre a lying piece of s.hit. Iรขโ‚ฌโ„ขm very educated in the CarMax ways.. They say one thing & then turn around & do another. It isnรขโ‚ฌโ„ขt until they get what they want out of you before you see their true colors. Like this F.AG

Guest

CarMax SUCKS. They lowball you and these tools who agree with the lonely fu-k who wrote this are likely Car/ScamMax employees.

Everyone who reads this should stay clear of that dump of a business.

Guest

CarMax actually appraises your car for as much as $500 - $2500 more than what you see on your appraisal. So when you receive your "written cash offer" and you thought your car was worth more, you were right. You just won't receive that much.It's impressive that a car dealership can make that much profit just for buying your vehicle.

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