Rich T Zab

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Deer Park, New York

Bait and Switch tactics

stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full

Carmax lures you in with a very high online appraisal of your vehicle and then once you are there in person they keep you strung out for hours to wear you down and then finally they hit me with a price that was 25% lower than their original offer.

View full review

User's recommendation: Seller beware! Dont be fooled by the high online appraisal.

4 comments
Guest

It sounds like you lied on the current condition of your trade in. You don't know what bait and switch means.

Rich T Zab
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-2022496

Sounds like you work for Carmax and are trying to put a false spin on it in a foolish effort at damage control. Your statement is untrue!

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Rich T Zab

No. It sounds true by your response to deflect that I'm an employee.

This is a 3rd party review site. So when lying Karen's like yourself try to pull a fast one, people are allowed to call you on your bs.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-2022836

Oh Right, so you are just some passing stranger with nothing better to do in their life than to scroll through random reviews and comment even though you have absolutely no knowledge of the situation that actually transpired?? You expect anyone to believe that? Go back and tell your bosses at CarMax that this is a terrible way to do damage control.

View more comments (3)
brigelle j

Price change on vehicle

stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full
Contacted car max several times about a cadillac cts 2014 2 door and was informed the first time, that the car was on hold, later called and was informed that the car was sold. Assessed the internet today and found out that the car has been transfered from Cleveland East to Florida. This car had the same miles, same vin number and stock number as the one that I was trying to purchase yesterday, even though I was informed that this was a different car, in which it wasn't. I really was hurt, because I wanted to pay cash for it. that the car has went up $3,000 more.
View full review

Preferred solution: Let the company propose a solution

User's recommendation: Questionable, please assess fully...

Kelly S Rzq

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Oak Lawn, Illinois

Complaint

stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full
Oak Lawn, Il. This review reflects my overall experience. The sales people are gems. Deanne was very knowledgeable and helpful. The service repairs department is where this place is lacking. I was given a broken car. The front axle was broken, the suspension was off, and the trunk didn't work. I brought the car back, and wanted another. (That car showed up back on the sales floor 2 days later. The problems I returned it with couldn't have been fixed in such a time. Good luck to those that bought it.) My new car was dirty as all get out. Who is running this circus? The thing is, no one apologized. No one admitted fault. No one called me, or even reached out. I just bought something for $15K, and no one batted an eye. For the premium prices, the customer service is lacking. I had the new car for about a month now, and repairs were already needed. My mechanic suggested new brakes and rotors, on top on an oil change. So much for the fine toothed comb Carmax brags about. This is my 4th Carmax car. If I'm in the market for a 5th, I would choose another location. I feel bad for the sales people having to mop up for this mess.
View full review
Cons:
  • Very deceptive
  • Poor vehicle inspection

Preferred solution: Apology

Anonymous
map-marker San Diego, California

I just need someone to answer phone

stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full
You need to teach people to answer the phone 666666****666666****666666****666666****666666****666666****666666****666666****666666****666666****666666****666666****666666****666666****666666****666666****666666****666666****666666****666666****666666****666666****666666****666666****666666****666666****666666****666666****666666****666666****666666****66666
View full review
Pros:
  • Was very sad and nobody in company helped me
Cons:
  • Fact i spent 20k on a bad car

Preferred solution: Full refund

jennifer l Fxy

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Orlando, Florida

Horrible Service Department

stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full
I have bought 2 cars from Carmax. The sales part is great, but the service department has always and still is the poorest excuse for a service department I have ever seen. I grew up in dealerships, so I know how good service is supposed to be. They have had my car for over 2 weeks, and I have had to deal with 4 different staff, but can't get a manager to call me back. I keep getting the run around because they don't know how to fix the car, and had to send it to the chevy dealership across the street. The Service manager, Steve, is either never there, and he clearly doesn't know how to return a call, so it isn't surprising that the service center is so poorly run, no accountability. Also, the hours at this service department are very rigid, as they are not open on weekend. Truly, if it wasn't for the warranty, I wouldn't use this dealership for service as the it is a joke!
View full review
Pros:
  • Selection of cars
Cons:
  • Service department inexperienced
  • Not honest

Preferred solution: Let the company propose a solution

User's recommendation: Do not use this dealership

Kenneth K Eyc

How long it has taken to get the car I want.

stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full
Been here since 11am ..when they did the appraisal on my old car they had the wrong name on the Appraisal....The amount of my old car was ridiculously low and I mean really low...The person who typed it up was new and that is why it was messed up .. The sales person was good overall... but overall, I will not come back here !!
View full review
Loss:
$30000

Preferred solution: Let the company propose a solution

User's recommendation: Just make sure they do it right. ..

eddie g Jai

This review is from a real person who provided valid contact information and hasn't been caught misusing, spamming or abusing our website. Check our FAQ

Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Pleasant Grove, Alabama

Sold me a car that had bad brakes and tires

stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full
Took my car in because of slight vibration. They said the brake pads and rotors were bad, also tires were cupped. The tires look good so how am I to know they are cupped when I purchased the car. As for the brakes why are they not part of the point check? They charge me 54 dollars to tell me what was wrong and wanted over $500 to fix it. Why would you sell me a car in this condition???
View full review

User's recommendation: No recommendation

Larry W Nhp
map-marker Loveland, Colorado

Don't trust doing the pre qualify

stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full

I was shopping for a car at Carmax website in Loveland , CO. and I had found one I liked so I did a pre qualify on there website entering the information they asked for.

For the income amount I entered the annual amount that I get because from previous applications I have done because that's what they wanted instead of the net income. So I submitted it and got an email back saying I was pre approved great so I went to the dealer to get my trade in appraised and go from there. So I took the next step to start the financing and submit my info to finance companies to get offers. 3 offers came back and one of them was just the terms I was looking for so the salesman took my proof of income and bank statement to his manager for approval which I thought was odd since I was already pre approved and the finance company had already had my info and made there offer.

So the manager comes over and says my income was a little lower than what I had entered because I had entered my annual amount instead of the net amount. I knew it was but I thought I was suppose to enter the annual amount and he said that wasn't right , he said we have put the amount that we can actually prove and I said well there it is on my Social Security in black and white the amounts that I get. So after them resubmitting the lesser amount I make the offer comes back from the finance company withe a higher payment which I had to walk away from getting my car after spending about 8 hours at the dealer and all the driving I did and almost a tank of gas.

I don't think it was right the way they did things after I entered the amount of income I believed to be the right way to do it. So needless to say I was not happy when I left there and will never buy another car from Carmax.

View full review
Pros:
  • Selection of cars
Cons:
  • Financing and there car appraisels are low
Reason of review:
Poor customer service
DeAmbreus J

RUDE!

stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full
I would like to inform you all of the horrible customer service I received from the business manager at the Tallahassee location. I spoke with the office there to cancel my warranty. He was ok, but seemed unsure of the knowledge he was giving me, as if he were very new to the job. I then asked to speak to his manager so that I can just be sure that the information was indeed correct. The manager then get on the phone and immediately was irritated as if i interrupted his day. I asked him to verify the information that i had been given from the previous person and he gave me some very different info. He was very passive aggressive, condescending, rude and abrasive. He informed me that I will need to drive down to the office (after I told him several times that I live in GA not FL and it's a 4hr drive) and fill out the paperwork. I said thats was not be possible for me to do and he then said "well that's the only way we do it and there nothing I can do for you, soooo." I insisted that there must be a way around that since I live in another state. He Then became even more obnoxiously rude while stating "well that is the only way, we cant help" (several times, each time more rude than the last). I then simply asked him for his name, he said "Cliff". I asked for his last name, he said "I dont have to give you my last name" (with a nasty tone to say the very least). The I said well, ok, may I have you last initial, he said "no, I dont have to give you anything". Then I said well with you being the business office manager you should be able to provide me with your office contact number. At that point he said "LOOK, Im not giving you any of my information, thats too personal, you no getting anything outta me!". I was beyond hurt and horribly offended by this. I felt he was the most unprofessional person I had encounter in my life and I have not even met him in person. I simply informed him that he would hear about this later and he hung up on me. He even then sent an e-mail to me with a picture of a written note (so that I could not get his information in the signature of the email) I will attach a picture of that in this email or a separate one. This was a very petty and childish move on his part and he is failing this team and Carmax as a whole with his actions. There in no telling the numbers of people he treats so poorly. I truly feel sorry for any one who has to work with this person and a customer, employee or co-worker. There needs to be corrective action immediately. I had such a great experience with Carmax until this very moment. I have friends and family in the Tallahassee area who are looking to purchase and I definitely would not recommend them or even a stranger too that place. I will also be leaving a complaint on the BBB, Google and everywhere else I can to warn people about that "Cliff" person and to be ware of dealing with him. I am so sad to even have to take time out of my work day and type this long e-mail. But this is how upset I cam and I will go out of my way to make sure this does not happen to any other customer.
View full review
Reason of review:
Poor customer service

Preferred solution: price recudtion or termination of employment of Business manager

Evan S Bkc
map-marker West Adams, Colorado

MarCax

stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full
With cash we purchased a 2008 Rav4 from CarMax in Federal Heights, CO. Their so-called 125 Point Inspection is a total joke. After taking our Rav4 to our mechanic (who is one of Carmax's RepairPal partners) for a pre-sale inspection, our mechanic informed us that the car would require $2700 worth of parts and labor to restore the vehicle to safety standards!!! Shocks and Struts needed replacement and the Transfer Case leaked badly. These problems should have been easily detected by a very simple inspection -- just hoist the vehicle and look underneath. This was not done by CarMax. Plus, the dashboard and steering wheel was filthy with grime, the rear storage bin was full of leafy debris and there was large smudge of road tar on the undercarriage. You don't notice these details from a mere test drive, so how were we supposed to observe all the intricacies? We were counting on CarMax and their promises. The car's interior wasn't even cleaned. To top it off while we were in the business office completing the paperwork the car was supposed to be detailed inside and out, but it wasn't. From the office we saw our salesman out there trying to do the cleaning himself. All he did was remove the road tar and polish the windows a bit. It wasn't his job to detail the car. After the pre-sale inspection we took the car to the CarMax Service Dept and they scheduled a diagnostic for us -- only three weeks away!!! Obviously, the 7-day refund policy would have expired. Very Convenient!!! So, after going around and around, we just said forget it and asked for a full refund. CarMax agreed to the full refund -- "just wait for 10 business days to receive your refund check." !!!!!! It's obvious that CarMax can't get to your diagnostic right away because they are backed-up with outside service orders. That's one way they make extra money. If they utilized their service department for their own inventory they could do the diagnostic within a few days, or maybe even fix the car in the first place. How novel !!! But NO, they are too busy to get to you. They already got your money !!!! The CarMax 7-Day Refund Policy is bogus and their 125 Point Inspection is pure horse hockie. These people are worse than leisure-suited "used car salesman" with the white belt and shoes and pencil-thin mustache as depicted in movies and on TV. CarMax makes it look like they've simplified the used car buying process, but they are dishonest. Besides their crap inspection and crappier refund policy they misrepresent everything. Take the price, for example, CarMax charged us $4500 over Dealer Retail according to KBB, Edmunds and J.D. Power. No haggle they say. No, they dictate. You comply. Zeig heil !!!
View full review
Loss:
$17900
Reason of review:
Damaged or defective

Preferred solution: Full refund

edward l Wlg
map-marker Conway East, South Carolina

Not the best

stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full
Bought a 2016 honda and in less than a couple of weeks had trouble with the steering.Brought it back to carmax and was told that the service people couldnt duplicate the problem.I asked if they put it on a lift to check the front end they said no.Was told that Im just not used to the steering.They sent me to check the alignment and it was ok.Soon after I felt the steering wandering again .I told them about it they said that they didnt feel it.I took the car to Honda dealer and right away the mechanic felt the problem and told me that the steering rack needs to be replaced .Luckily the car is still under mfg. warranty since the repair will cost over 2000.00.So much for the big inspection carmax says it does.Be careful if you buy a car from these people.The service dept here is not the best either. Sad Sad
View full review
Pros:
  • Selection
Cons:
  • Customer service after the sale
Reason of review:
Damaged or defective

Preferred solution: Let the company propose a solution

Anonymous

Temporary Fix

stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full
I purchased a 2007 VW Jetta from CarMax in July 2016. It had 88K and seemed to be in good condition. I specifically told the salesperson that I was looking for a car because the A/C went out in mine and the car was really old and I didn't want to dump money into it for a new one or to repair it. He said the Jetta was the one for me...ice cold air and so on. Two weeks later I noticed condensation collecting above the A/C area where the radio is. Soin the entire face if the radio display was blurred from moisture and the A/C stopped working conpletely. CarMax refused to do anything as the car was sold as used/as is. Also, my credit is great but they gave me a horrible interest rate. Will never do business with them again. Horrible business practices.
View full review
1 comment
Abbe Pci

Sorry this happened to you but Jetta's tend to have those problems and not to mention you purchased an 2007 with 88k miles, that's quite a lot. luxury car engines are known to last up to 300k miles or more but a jetta is questionable. Good Luck.

Anonymous

Overpriced an unreliable car

stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full
I bought a VW Jetta from Carmax in Sanford. I have nearly perfect credit but was still ripped off on financing. The A/C went out after 3 months. The sakespeople act like it's an assembly line, no peopke skills. Overpriced and unreliablw vehicle was sold to me under the guise that it's in "great condition" and at market value. Both untrue. Will never do business with them again.
View full review
Willamina Npe

SHORT HANDED

stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full
Two months ago I opted to buy a car fro the Gastonia NC dealership and what a mistake that was. This company sold me a $499.99 dollar remote starter to be installed at Freeman's Stereo. When I got to the store I wanted to compare different brands and prices. I found one with better features for 139.00 less. We called the manager of Carmax and not only did he approve the install of the upgraded unit but told me that within six weeks I would get a check for the difference. Well it hasn't come and I guess they are pissed for me telling the public that they sold me a cart that had been wrecked as nobody returns my phone calls. DON'T BUY A CAR FROM THIS COMPANY!
View full review
Loss:
$139
Cons:
  • Anyone or thing about this company
Reason of review:
Poor customer service

Preferred solution: Full refund

Jeffrey H Keg
map-marker Kennesaw, Georgia

Car paid off, now being reported as late

stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full
CarMax - Car paid off, now being reported as late
Purchased a car from CarMax in 2017; in November 2018, received "date stamped" correspondence from CarMax load "paid in full". Now receiving notices from three credit bureaus that Car Max is reporting that I am (3) three months behind and owe them $1100.00
View full review
Pros:
  • Efficient car buying process
  • Process seemed very straightforward and efficient
Cons:
  • Problems with finance department
  • Problems now experiencing with finance department
Reason of review:
People not properly doing their jobs
1 comment
Guest

Paid off my car and it's been 2 months and I still have not received the title to my car. Plus, they still owe me an over payment.

I will no longer buy a car from CarMax. Never again.