I am sincerely sorry for those individuals that have had a bad or terrible experience with Carmax.

I myself had a great experience with the Carmax where I purchased my 04 Corvette in Las Vegas, Nevada. It had only 13,000 miles on it. I researched this vehicles for months prior to contacting Carmax. The car I purchased was anywhere between 3,000-6,000 less
than not only any dealership in the country, but also private sale.

I was able to get a good loan with a local credit union based on the price of the car and the fact that it was undervalued.

I have seen on here where individuals have wanted to trade in their vehicles and got lowballed. That's probably how they are able to turn around and sell it for much less than most if not all dealerships and private sale.

Im assuming the profit motive of CarMax in wanting to make double on the cars is probably due to the risk in buying the used cars in the first place. They anticipate problems that need to be paid for. Furthermore, they are a public company and are responsible to the pressures of big institutional stock holders.

My salesperson was non-pressure and wanted me to make a sound decision. Rare in a car dealership.

I purchased the MaxCare warranty which I have used once before for a center console lock and
driver side window which was almost $800 worth or work for $50 bucks. I figured that with a
used car, even a Vette, you need a warranty. It wasn't cheap, but I went for it.

Not to sound like an expert at all, but the problems with some of these vehicles could truly lay on
the lap of those that buy these vehicles due to a lack of proper inspection and problem identification.

CarMax is the worst company to buy a car from. If you are thinking of buying a car, please run the other way, DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT get a car from them. Yes they seem very nice when you first go in, because of course they want to sell you a car. But after you get the car, forget about ever getting your calls answered back. I purchased an X5 from them, within the first 2 weeks of having it, it stalled on me. I took it in and yes they fixed it but not without trying to charge me, which of course I refused to do, during that time I also asked them to inspect the brakes and tires because they were too squeaky. They said, "no don't worry everything is fine, we cleaned them out for you and you should be ok". 1 month later the brakes were still squeaky, so again I took it in and again the same story. I took it in 3 more times (3 months in a row) for the same thing and they gave me the same answer. Then my electrical window couldn't go up any more, my central lock button was not working and my door handle wasn't functioning either, so again I took it in, and guess what? I need new brakes according to the tech. Are you kidding me? I have taken my car in 5 times to get my brakes checked and each time they tell me they are just fine then all of a sudden I need new brakes? Of course they didn't want to cover it because at 6 months it is considered wear and tear. By that time I had my car for 6 months and it had been in the shop every single month since I purchased it, one of the reps in the repairs tells me, "well you know, when you buy a car, you should plan on spending an extra $1000 to have the car fully inspected and serviced". Now wait a minute, isn't that their job? They are supposed to fully inspect and service your car before selling it to you, his response is, "well you should never fully trust that". So now even the rep knows his company if full of Sh*t when they say they sell you quality cars. Now Im stuck with the car, its been about 3 years and it has spent more time in the shop then I have driven it. Problems starting from, windows, doors, tires, transmission, electrical, door locks, alarm, steering wheel and each has not happened just once, they are a continuing factor which leads me to believe that they have really sold me a lemon. I wrote a bad review on the survey sheet and finally got a "manager" to call me back saying that he would like to help me, I thought to myself, "finally a decent person". Well in this particular situation they were not able to fix my car so they sent me to BMW dealer to get it repaired and he promised to split the cost. I paid the entire bill out of my pocket and then submitted the papers to the manager so I can get reimbursed, well it has been 7 months since this has happened and i still have not received a check or a call back. I call on a daily baisis with no success and has gotten to the point where i have to drive all the way to the dealer which is about 1 hour away form me just to speak to someone, and still have not resolved anything.
If anyone knows of where I can report these people so i can get my money back please let me know. But what ever you do, DO NOT, DO NOT get a car from them.

My experience with Carmax in Irvine, CA has been very, very negative, and I'm beginning to realize the place is a sham. As for their "thorough inspection" - bullsh*t. I took my car to an independent mechanic and right away they found several problems. Sure, you have a 30 day warranty, but the bottom line is Carmax lies when they say they're selling you a quality car and boasting that they guarantee them. In my situation, I brought back the car right away so they could fix the alignment and balancing of the weeks and a rear brake light. First of all, the service department didn't return my messages and I had to stay on top of them to abide by their warranty. When I got the car back, I then realized the spare tire in the truck was totally punk/defective. HELLO!! If I had changed a flat tire on the freeway and unknowingly replaced it with that tire, I could have been KILLED!! When I left a message with the service department again (they obviously don't answer the phone), I never heard back. At this point - irate - I left a message with my salesman (who, to this day, has never called me back) and kept calling the service department until I got someone. As they require that you drive to Carmax to prove each and every issue, I brought it back to show them the defective spare. I was told I would hear from them that day or the next. The next day, a manager called me (I don't know if they received my very dissatisfied customer survey or the service employees mentioned I was pissed) apologizing and saying all the right things - it's unacceptable they hadn't called me back, he doesn't know where they went wrong, they pride themselves on customer service (A WHOLE LOAD OF BS). He said they had had to order a tire from the East Coast, that it would take a week and that he would personally be on top of it the next week to let me know asap when it arrived. Well, "one week" would have been 3 DAYS AGO. I still have not heard from the manager, service department . . anyone.

Dealing with Carmax is a huge headache and I find them flaky and totally dishonest. If you're looking for a used car, look elsewhere!! The "convenience" and "customer service" supposedly offered at Carmax isn't there, and you're better off trying to find someone or someplace else you can trust.

Do not trust the 125 point inspection. Research your make and model to ensure there are no factory issues. I bought a 2006 Nissan 350Z roadster and was unaware that this particular model has a history of excessive oil consumption (1 qt every 500 miles). By the time we diagnosed the problem the CARMAX 30 day warranty had expired. Luckily the Nissan dealer took the car and conducted an oil consumption test confirming a major engine problem. Nissan replaced my engine at no charge! Either CARMAX new the problem and just passed it on to me or their inspection program is a farce. - BUYER BEWARE.

How CarMax could even get 1 star is beyond me. I have already spent more than half the cost of my vehicle and its only been 2 years!! Every time i have an issue, trying to get the warrenty to cover is a true FIGHT!! If you need any seriouse work they send these "3rd party inspectors" to take a look at the car to "Varify" the issue. OK, i can understand why you they would do something like that completely understandable. However, when you have a car that sitting still, driving in the parking lot or even on your way to work and you put the car into gear and it grinds... you need a transmission. This guy says that "I took the car on the high way with the tech and at 80 mph dropped gears from 6th to 5th" trying to show what was wrong with the car. I dropped my car off last SUNDAY!!! there wasnt anyone to take a test drive!!!! Then the warrenty comp changed the story to "i was complaining that when i drop gears at that speed it grinds" nor did i ever say this and my complaint is in writing! Today i made them send the "inspector" back out, he gets there gets in the car and through it into 5th at a dead stop and it grinds. Guess what, im still waiting to find out if theyll cover it. Oh yeah, wanna know how he test the vehicle the first inspection????? He sat in the passenger seat, ya listening?? and makes the tech drive, you know push the cluch, steer that kind of stuff while he sat in the passenger seat and shifted!he wouldnt let the tech shift!!! how the hell can he test a car like that??? If i woulda know this i would have never wasted my time with these crooks!! trust me there so many other things i could get into i could fill this entire page, i just dont feel like getting into it. DO YOURSELF A FAVOR... STAY AWAY FROM CARMAX

People let me tell you i work for carmax and the stuff we do to cut corners you probably would want to slap these idiot managers and sales consultants. We do things like sell waterdamaged vehicles and of course we dont fix everything on the car so we can keep you guys coming back to pay out your pockect or to buy the extended warranty. Trust me it is better to buy used cars from other high quality dealerships and im not just saying because I'm angry but it really makes sick the way we lie to a customer. I work for a company were stupidity is reward and employees get trated like bullshit but its safer to be an average associate then a manager or superviser. CARMAX IS BULLSHIT.

Three years ago I made my first car purchase of a 2000 Camaro from CarMax, and here's the issue I have with the company. First of all, their repair service is awful. When I initially got my car the passenger side seat belt guide and catalytic converter were broken. This was fixed at no cost to me, but how did this car go through their claimed 125 point inspection without these very glaring and simple problems not being fixed? I later ran in to an issue with the fuel pump and had to take my car in TWICE . The second time I took it in the car had been in the shop for nearly two weeks, and all that was done was an oil change; this was completely unacceptable. I blew up on the service manager and left CarMax without the issue being resolved. I now take my car to certified Chevy dealerships since they will also work with the extended warranty. On that note, the extended warranty service is also a double edged sword. Financially it was worth buying in my case, but I've had times were I've had them try and screw me out of hundreds of dollars claiming "that's not covered" despite the fact that it is. In summary, treat CarMax like a federal prison and just stay away from it.

1 stars
Memphis Tn service dept. staffed with incompetents with primitive customer service skills. Caution read the fine print - 5 day "no hassle" return policy requires that you return car and wait days for check with no loaner. Price was a little cheaper but I will buy
certified used car from local new car dealer next. CarMax inspection is a farce - car had squeak in engine when started cold (sales guy had it warm for test drive) and tires were out of balance. Stay away from CarMax - looks is decieving; they are just a high volume used car dealer focused on profit not quality or customer service.
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From a female perpective I feel sorry for the women working there wearing those beige pants when they're on the rag! I'm very careful not to have accidents, but dark pants help!

IN A PERFECT WORLD WOULDN'T WE ALL BUY A NEW CAR! CARMAX SELLS USED CARS. I TYPE IN CAPS BECAUSE OF A VISION PROBLEM. BEAMER SENT A MESSAGE TO ME SAYING I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT A NEW CAR. A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD A NEW CAR! I GUESS THAT MEANS IT'S MY FAULT WE HAD TWO FLAT TIRES ON THE FREEWAY! BEAMER ALSO SAID I SHOULD DELETE MY POST. MAYBE BEAMER SHOULD DELETE THEIRS! HERE IS WHAT WAS SAID CUT AND PASTE



Beamer (0)
03/30/2008
Sounds like you should have bought a NEW car

Beamer (0)
03/30/2008
You should probably have this one deleted also I SEE NO EVIDENCE THAT BEAMER HAS ACTUALLY DEALT WITH CARMAX!  I JUST CUT AND PASTE MY OLD REVIEW BECAUSE SOMEHOW MY NEW COMMENT DELETED IT LAST TIME. I MADE A COMPLAINT TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA ABOUT CARMAX AND IT GOES IN THEIR PERMANENT RECORD AND ANYONE CAN SEE IT. THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CARMAX ACTUALLY TOLD THE STATE THAT I TOLD THEM TO PUT TIRES ON THE CAR. THEY ALSO TOLD THE STATE THE TIRES WEREN'T CHEAP. BY MY STANDARDS THEY WERE CHEAP. I TOLD THEM TO TALK TO ME FIRST AND TELL ME WHAT TIRES THEY ARE PUTTING ON AND THEN PUT THEM ON. I DID NOT AUTHORIZE THEM TO PUT ANY TIRES ON . THEY CALLED ME UP AND I WAS TOLD THEY WERE IN THE PROCESS OF PUTTING TIRES ON. I ASKED WHAT KIND. I HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE BRAND AND DIDN'T WANT THEM AND TOLD THEM NO AND RETURNED THE CAR. WE DID SO WITHIN THEIR GRACE PERIOD AND I REFUSED TO PAY ANYTHING! I ALSO WROTE TO THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU SAID CARMAX COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHO I'AM WITHOUT THE VIN NUMBER OF THE CAR! THEY CAN'T LOOK UP MY NAME AND ADDRESS ON THEIR OWN COMPUTERS? I ALSO HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION. HOW IN THE HELL DO YOU GET THEIR CARMAX LOGO OFF YOUR CAR AND WHY IS IT THERE TO BEGIN WITH? HOW ARROGANT IT IS THAT THEY PUT IT THERE! IT'S PROBABLY PAINTED ON SO IT WON'T COME OFF! I SOMEHOW DELETED MY ORIGINAL POST THAT BROUGHT ME HERE BUT MY STORY IS MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING THE CAR WE BOUGHT AND THE DAY AFTER AND BOTH BACK TIRES WENT FLAT ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH. I DEMANDED NEW TIRES UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND WAS TOLD THE TIRES WERE FINE AND IT WAS JUST THE VALVE STEMS. THEY FINALLY BROKE DOWN AND OFFERED ME OTHER EQUALLY CHEAP TIRES AND I REFUSED AND WE RETURNED THE CAR THE NEXT DAY AND I REFUSED TO PAY THEM A PENNY!THEY OFFERED US ONLY $50 (YES 50) FOR A 90 LUMINA WHICH STILL RUNS PRETTY GOOD AND HAD ABOUT 120,000 MILES.  WE DIDN'T TRADE OUR "$50" 90 LUMINA WHICH I COULD SELL FOR $1,000 ON MY OWN SO WE WEREN'T DESPARATE FOR A CAR. WE ENDED UP BUYING ANOTHER CAR AT A REPUTABLE DEALER. I'M GLAD TO SEE EMPLOYEES OF CARMAX ARE READING THIS. THAT SAYS SOMETHING AND WHY WOULD SOMEONE COME TO A SITE LIKE THIS TO JUST RAVE ABOUT THEM? I CAME TO THIS SITE BECAUSE MY HUSBAND AND I COULD'VE BEEN KILLED ON THE FREEWAY AND I THINK THE PUBLIC SHOULD KNOW ABOUT IT. I'M CONCERNED SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED BECAUSE OF THE CONDITION OF THEIR CARS AND WHEN I READ ABOUT SOMEONE WITH THEIR CHILD BREAKING DOWN IN THE CAR I'M DIGUSTED. IT SCARES ME TO THINK WHAT COULD'VE HAPPENED TO US ON THE FREEWAY WITH TWO BACK TIRES FLAT AND I'M GLAD MY 15 YEAR OLD AUTISTIC DAUGHTER WASN'T IN THE CAR THAT DAY. WE HAD TO EXIT THE FREEWAY IN A REMOTE AREA WHERE WE COULD'VE BEEN ROBBED!

I bought a car from here about just over a year. I have brought this car in 10 times so far. Thank god I got a warranty so it only cost me $50, but I feel 10 times in one year and they stand behind there cars, I basically feel i was sold a lemon. As I type this my cars been in the shop for 5 days. Granted I called and complain and they paid the deductible 3 seperate times, but I feel everytime i get my car back a new problem occur or the problem aint fix. I am so over this situation.

I came to carmax because everyone told me how great it was. Dont get me wrong they are very friendly here at the tampa location but its like there cars are so over priced and this is what i get?... Crappy maintenece. Everytime I am without my car I use the rental but its lik I am constantly wasting money. I called a few months ago and complained, the man said he would refund me some of my dedcutibles and I still yet to recieve that check. I know next time when i get another car from them I will never buy it from Carmax. I am better off goignt o a mom and pop and buying a car for 5000 and dont see as many problems as I seen in a year.
I even got my mom involved and they told her I know shes bought it up here so many times that they told her we will still be here to fix the car and unfortuantley there are no lemon laws so we cant take it a step futher

Our experience at the CarMax in San Antonio on I-35 was absolutely wonderful. I called on Friday to inquire about a BMW at the Austin location. Lee, my salesman, had the car transferred and at the San Antonio location the very next day. I was approved for a loan (over the phone), took in the necessary paper work, signed a few papers while my new car was being detailed, and was out the door in 2 hours.

EASY AND EFFORTLESS. Everyone at this location smiled and was friendly, very pleasant!

We will recommend CarMax to everyone and will ALWAYS deal with CarMax in the future!

My experience has been pretty good with CarMax specially their MAX Car extended warranty. I bought a few cars from them, but had bad luck with Fords unfortunately, had to lose $900 trading it in because a month had past, wish they made an exception but the problem I had I just wasn't comfortable with. Got a second vehicle 04 model and it still had the same problem. It was a very weird problem with cruise control, if you tried to use coast on an even or more of a downhill road the engine would shut off. Wasn't imagining it and it couldn't have been my fault, I even test drove another ford 04 model and it did the same thing. Anyway luckily I was within 1 month guarantee I got a 04 Chrysler Pacifica and couldn't be happier with it.

I had a few problems with it at the start like needing new engine mounts needing a new bulb and a few other things but because it was all shortly after I got the car it was all fixed free of charge.

Here is where the Max Care comes in which made me love Car Max, I moved to NJ and sadly no carmax around. Was a bit scared specially if I had any problems but thankfully, the process wasn't that bad. One day my car stopped, apparently some anti freeze leaked onto my timing belt and they had to fix the timing on it and replace a few parts. Had to even go to 2 mechanics and they paid almost $1000 on both places, they prefer the dealer deal with complicated situations. Later on I had to get my PTU and my left accel replaced. Also had a DVD changer that stopped working and the Max Care is taking care of everything. Sure I would have liked having a CarMax here because honestly they do work with you from my experience with the in Kennesaw Georgia. They might have even taken are of the problem that I have had for a long time with paint pealing on my front bumper, was very badly painted.

All in all they might be a bit more expensive but the experience with them after that has always been a plus for me. ++

I went to the carmax in Houston to sell my car thinking it will be hazzle free. But I had to spend a total of 5 hours there. Aftrer my appraisal, I was made to wait four hours. Basically they were letting all the 'buyers' go first and making the 'sellers' wait. SO if you are just selling never do it at the car max. Taek their offer walk into another place and sell it...

I just bought a car from CarMax. I liked the fact that they have such a large selection of cars, and will transfer cars for you. I didnt care for the first salesman who helped me, he got very nasty, very quick when I decided I did not want the car that I had originally intended to buy (for good reasons). The second man was better, however he was still really trying to get a sale quickly. Maybe because it was the end of the month.
I knew the car I wanted, and was 100% going to get one, as soon as one came around in my price range and miles range. He did not seem like he could wait and did everything he possibly could to have me buy one right then and there. I wouldnt have purchased something I didnt want, so I did get what I wanted.
I do love my car, the price was right, and I like the fact that they do your license plates right there before you leave. There is a fee but anything is worth avoiding the Maryland MVA in my opinion. Carmax has its positives and negatives. I think you should go there knowing what you want, how much you want to spend, and everything like that. There is no such thing as a really Nice car salesman, so dont expect that, as I kind of hoped I would get.
The website is great to look at, very easy to use.

Wow I just saw my exact car on carmax.com for 22,000, they offered me 11,000 for mine at good condition, they even said "nice car, sell or trade today" WTF !? over 10,000 in profit off of me?? NO thanks, i will take to a real dealership.

this is carmax in irving, tx. beware.....

I went to Carmax to have my car appraised as I had heard they were good.
Well, let me tell you..........they offered $2500 Less than the dealership did for my trade.
To add insult to injury, they were selling the same year and model of my car for $12,000 over what they offered for my car even though my car was rated good in all areas..no, that's not a typo--twelve thousand dollars more!
The sales guy couldn't have cared less.
I wish I would have read this site before I wasted my time!
Never again

I went to carmax 08/21/2009 in the Winston Salem north Carolina location. I already was aproved for an auto loan through my bank with a very low interest rate. I went to carmax and found a vehicle I liked so I told Landon the car salesmen to write me a bill of sale on said vehicle so my loan officer can Review it and cut me a check for the vehicle. Sounds pretty easy right? Instead of doing what I asked he went on and on about wanting to run my credit after I told him no many time. He said since your bank is closed(after 5pm) take a loan from one of our banks then just refinance it through your bank. I said no for the forth time then he went to get his manager who then tried to get me to use one of their 24% interest rate banks. I already was aproved for a 5% interest rate loan why won't these people just write me a bill of sale. Then they went on about that they could not hold the car till the very next day for my bank to open. I said that's fiNe just write me the bill of sale. After 45 mins I got it.

The next day the bank advised me that carmax overpriced the vehicle by $3,000.00 so I looked online at every dealership who sold this car and my bank was right on the money.

Carmax tried to get me to take their loan then told me to just refinance it at my bank. If I would have taken that high interest loan I would have never been able to refinance a vehicle $3,000.00 overpriced. I have never wrote a review about anything until now. Do not buy anything from carmax. They overprice their cars putting you upside down loan vs value. They have overpriced warnties and try to put a ton of pressure on you. You have be warned.

I just want to point out that my experience did involve a salesman who WAS pushy and wanted to rush things. Everything happened within an hour or so. I would have closed the deal, trusting in the reputation of this car dealer, but I needed to have some bank clearing done or to bring in a check. I had to leave the store, and in the mean time, I talked with friends and the car I chose was not recommended for the price.

I don't think I'll buy from Carmax because the prices are somewhat high, and from this website I realize that you do not necessarily "get what you pay for". I was willing to pay a little more, given the fact that the car acquisition was urgent. However, better be safe than sorry... I won't rush.

We had a wonderful experience buying 2006 Mazda one year ago. When daughter's boyfriend totaled that car, we returned today to buy another Mazda from Boynton Beach, Florida store. Salesman Fred couldn't have been any more customer service friendly. He accomodated us with only a phone call yesterday requesting he relocate car we saw online to this closer location, by personally picking up vehicle. No pressure what so ever to buy it or any other car. Took all the time to explain everything. Even wasted his time with younger daughter checking this car & that car - knowing she isn't ready to purchase for 5 more months. A year ago we had small service issues that were handled completely within the 30 day period.

Found a few small items on this recent purchase - i.e. interior dome lightbulb burned out, one speaker rattles a little. We will definately be back for service this week. We expect the exact excellent service we received in the past. We didn't buy the extended service contract either time. Keeping fingers crossed that they checked out this car as throughly as last years purchase. We fully expect to go back in 5 months to purchase 3rd vehicle for youngest child. We do not finance, never had any delay in receiving title or tag registration. This shop seems to be extremely professional. Purchasing a car from any dealer has always ranked up there with a root canal, but Carmax has changed the buying experience. These salesmen seem a lot less slimey. Based on the negative reviews - I would stay clear of CA stores & VW's & Saabs. Come to South Fla. to make your purchases.

My wife and I bought a 06 VW passat on 05/20/09 everything was fine until 7/28/09 when the battery dies. We haven't even put three housand miles on yet so I take the car to carmax in Naperville Il and explain the problem. They tell me that its only covered for 30days, I respond with we purchased the extended warranty, they tell me that's not covered I said ok but you guys claim that you stand behind you cars etc etc etc.. They service man the tells me that my wife or I must have drained the battery. Now I am pissted off because you never accuse the customer never, so i look and look and look for a replacement battery the entire day no aftermarket battery is made for the 2006 VW passat 2.0t only interstate for 308.00. Now I am extremely pisst off I call the carmax again and do alittle venting so the guy tells me that he can met me half way on the battery because if I the customer can't get the battery they couldn't either. ( CAN YOU BELEIVE THEY ARE IN BUSINESS!!!) So I finally break done and call a VW dealership to order the battery to my disbelief it was only $117 with tax, when has the dealer ever been cheaper then aftermarket. So after buying the battery and installing it myself I immediately take the receipt to carmax to get my reimbursement of half. Well once i get there they tell me it will take 7-10 days by check in the mail, I said for just less then $60 you guys are going to make the customer wait?? thats the policy sir. So it's been almost three weeks and nothing in the mail,I called today and they told me no it takes 6-8 weeks sir - I almost lost my mind - I hate carmax i wish my wife would have listened to me and we else where.. PLEASE DO NOT SHOP AT CARMAX ITS A RIP OFF

My rating is based on the CarMax service department in Ontario, CA.

I had a great experience until I had to deal with the service department. The sales person and finance people were awesome. Absolutely no pressure to buy, no hidden fees and a great buying experience.

We did find a few minor things wrong with the vehicle before we purchased it and we were told the process to bring it back and they would fix it. After a week of having the vehicle we made an appointment and brought the car in to have it fixed. Well, it's been a week and we are still without our car. It feels like if we do not call them we will never receive a call or update. They always seem to be undermanned and 9 times out of 10 I get a voice message to leave a message and when you leave a message good luck on getting a returned call.

All we want to do is enjoy our new (used) car, but this experience is making us feel like a low priority. Maybe because we already gave them our money or maybe they just never focused on the "after" customer service. Who knows?

Some may say it takes a long time sometimes to get these things fixed, but we were told that the vehicle was finished at the dealer but there was no one at CarMax service department to pick it up so it just sat there at the dealer for a day or two.

To sum it up (in my opinion)....Great buying experience, but the service department is horrible at best at least at the Ontaio location.

Sorry that all of you have had a BAD experience...I purched a 2008 Ford Explorer from San Diego Car Max. The next day as I was on the freeway the "low tire Pressure " light came on. I took it back to Carmax and they fixed the valve stem and were pretty nice about it.. I had a little language problem with the service attendant but other than a communication prob, all turned out well..The buying experience was pretty painless, except the girl in the finance dept where you sign your life away talked WAY too fast...But the whole experience was quick and painless... I was VERY apprehensive about buying a "used car" and have always bought new. After the two vehicle reports I received and the condition of the vehicle I was convinced to purchase. The salesman was a delight, not pushy at all. My suggestion is buy as new as you can and buy something reputable. The car is almost one month old and in supreme condition....Either I got lucky or I bought sensible...You get what you pay for....Can't give it 5 stars because cars are way too expensive and it's not fair..

hello to everyone who wrote good and bad about carmax.Sorry to hear the bad but lets face it a veh is the second major purchase we buy in life(for most people),and we don't expect it to break down or run bad when it does it is an inconvience,we have to arrange rides and adjust our schedules.The first instinct is to get mad but what does this solve!At carmax they sell cars they don't engineer them them,build them,design them.They simply take something that is used and fix the the things that appear to be wrong and shine them up and resell them.You the public pick the veh and buy it!Carmax does not have a crystal ball to predict the future of the veh or see it's past!Remember these veh's go through pretty strick polices to make it to the front sells area.Also a human being is doing the work and sometimes things happen(the employees are not perfect)!So next time you are in the market for a used do your research on the veh,some veh's have known problems don't always buy off of looks(you cannot polish a turd)!Carmax still offers a far superior veh then other dealers and used car lots!And if you are tring to break the bank on trade in's or selling your veh then come on we are in a depressed economy,and the best way to get the most is take care of your veh.Carmax does alot of research on each veh to know the values and foreseable problems!Remember take your time on veh purchases(research ask questions),and most important service,regular oil changes(3,000 miles) and all routine maintance and 6 month inspections!Carmax stands behind there vehicles.And I will keep posting!NO DEALER IS REALLY GIVING YOU MORE MONEY ON TRADE JUST LOOKS LIKE IT ON PAPER,AND EVERYONE ALWAYS SAYS VEHICLE BEING TRADE IN IS IN GREAT SHAPE,BUT TRUELY THEY KNOW IT NEEDS MORE WORK THE WASH AND WAX AND POSSIBLE TIRES!COME ON PEPOLE USE YOR HEADS IT'S A BUSINESS,IF YOU CAN GET MORE MONEY SELL IT YOURSELF!

I bought my 2005 vw passat on july 25 and it is july 27 and my car is already in the shop. The west sahara store here in las vegas is a nightmare....No one can give me an anwser at how long the COMPUTER problem would take..when i call the store no one will give me the name or the extension of the manager..i also called corporate and after i explained what happened the lady had the nerve to ask me what the complaint was!!!!! I am trying to get my old car back...DON'T GO TO CAR MAX!!! They are snakes in the grasss...You should be ashamed of yourselves....i want to rate it NO STARS..but they won't let me

CarMax is a major consumer nightmare! Carmax preys on customers with low/poor credit or are in urgent need to sell or buy a car. Carmax consistently undervalues the worth of any trade-in thereby guaranteeing themselve a large profit when they later sell the same car at "retail" price.

Many of the cars on the CarMax lot are in poor mechanical and cosmetic condition. Forget about any customer service or maintenance after you purchase a car from CarMax. It just does not exist!

CarMax is just another "used car dealership" - it works with volume so the individual customer means very little to the corporation.

Buyer beware!

CarMax is a major disappointment. The seem to prey on consumers with low/poor credit or who are in urgent need to sell or buy a car.

One common practice by CarMax is to undervalue the trade-in value of cars. CarMax may offer as little as 50% of the car's actual worth. (Always research your vehicles trade-in value online before going to any car dealership!) You will then find that car, and similar cars, on the CarMax lot with full retail prices.

A recent consumer who brought his 2004 VW to CarMax was offered $7000 as a trade-in. This consumer had already done his research and knew that the VW was worth $9900 to $11000 in trade, $10000 to $12000 in private sale and $11000 to $14000 in retail sale. CarMax was clearly undercutting the value of the car! As an added insult to the consumer, this customer was shown a "used" car with stains on the seats and scratches all over the interior, with a CarMax price of $14000. This consumer, like many other knowledgeable consumers, walked away from CarMax!

CarMax is nothing more than "another used car dealership". They work in volume.

Do your research before you deal with CarMax!

I went to CarMax yesterday (07/2009) to get an estimate on the trade-in value of my VW. Before I went to CarMax, I thoroughly researched my vehicle on the internet, learning the trade-in, private sale and retail value of my car. In fact, to be extra careful, I downgraded the condition of my vehicle. I consistently came up with a trade-in value of $9900.00 or higher. I then went to a couple of dealerships where I was looking at new cars and let them inspect my car. The dealers consistently offered in the $9000's or higher.

CarMax offered me $7000.00 for my VW!!! This was more than $2900.00 below any offer I received from dealers or from research on the internet. When I pointed this out the CarMax person, they just shrugged their shoulders and told me that dealers inflate the trade-in value of the car and make it up in the price of the new vehicle. (Since I also researched the price of all new cars I looked at, I know exactly how much any dealer added to the car price or would make on the sale.)

CarMax had the nerve to contact me again and ask me if I had reconsidered selling the VW to them... I have 7 days to reconsider their offer! Are they crazy??? The retail price on my VW is between $13000 and $14000 so CarMax would be making a very nice profit on my car! Buyers beware! I expect CarMax is taking advantage of destitute people who need to sell their cars. That is not me. CarMax will never get any business from me!

Thanks.

Roommate bought a Saab from CarMax, Houston, TX six months ago. Has been in the repair shop twice since then. Brake rotors are completely deteriorated, which isn't covered on the "MaxCare" warranty (read the fine print). When asked what their standards were for their 125-point inspection, they said they have minimum standards when inspecting brakes: new brake pads are 12 inches, they require 4 inches of pad to pass their inspection. This is a sham and basically will get your car past the initial return phase and then lead to a sequence of expensive repairs.

Also, their service department will tell you that they do not diagnose problems. You basically have to already know what's wrong with your vehicle before you take it in. Then they probably won't fix it correctly. I feel horrible for anyone who buys from them - it's clearly a sham.

I have purchased two vehicles in as many years from carmax. The first one, a Pacifica, was good, until I took it to the service department. The second was not so good. The sales experience is great but the service department sucks. I had to take my F150 back several times before it was fixed right. Recently I took my pacifica in for service and other issues and it runs worse than it did before. I took it back and I was insulted by the Service manager. He told me to take it somewhere else. I called the store manager and he had the service manager take it back. They tried to have me pay more money to fix it, I said no, and he offered to give my money back for what I spent before and I said fine. Apparently there is a blown head gasket. I don't know what to do now. I WILL NEVER GO TO CARMAX AGAIN!

there service department does not give good service,there service manager often says its the customers fault never just a malfunction,they will put your car offf for days until they look at it,they wont even provide you with transportation,when you call they will even say the person taking care of you is busy or away from desk,i wouldnt suggest anyone to purcahase a car from carmax,especially from the charlotte location on indepenence ave.

2000 BMW x5. Cost of repairs on extended warranty are nearing 20K. Average time to get car back form carmax - 3 weeks.

Two weeks ago I purchased a 2004 Lexus LS430 from Carmax (Nashville, TN). The vehicle i chose was actually located on the west coast, so i paid the transfer fee because it had all the options i wanted and was exactly what i was looking for. The car arrived 7 days after the transfer was initiated, which was sooner than Carmax indicated. I was able to electronically ask the west coast dealer several questions about the visible condition, and all answers came back to my satisfaction that i should expect a flawless looking vehicle inside and out.

When the car arrived I inspected it visually at great length and found two locations on the front bumper that had been touched up poorly, one was the size of two dimes laid side by side and the other was about 2" x 1/2" and there were 3 deep chips in the hood that had been poorly covered with a paint pen. other than that the car was as described and to my satisfaction...I pointed out the flaws and the initial response was "this IS a used car, small rock chips on the hood is common"...I of course was not satisfied with this and informed them that the car was described as flawless and it is not, and i paid a $650 transfer fee on the basis of a visually flawless car. I asked that they rectify this either via an adjustment to the price or correcting the issue. The sales person brought out a manager who inspected the bumper and hood and agreed it should be repaired and that he would have the bumper and hood repainted.

I was leary of allowing them to do this, because i had read so many horror stories on this website, but i hadn't yet purchased (though i was in for the transfer fee, which I could have gotten back if I chose since the car did not meet what was described) so i told them that i wanted the car if the bumper and hood were painted...I made sure the manager understood i had no interest in having them do a sloppy job or mismatched paint, that I'd rather pay out of my own pocket to ensure quality work.

He took the car back to the service area to take a closer look at the paint and draw up a service order...when he returned he let me know that he found a rock chip in the front windshield and that they would have it replaced as well (I was surprised i missed it, but it was small and not in the direct line of sight of general driving)...anyway, the zero dollar service order was given to me and i purchased the vehicle that day.

I took the car to my local service shop for an inspection the next day (Carmax assured me I could return the car for any reason within five days)...the car came back with an excellent report, and Lexus gave me a service history by simply calling them with the VIN number and dropping by to pick it up), so I returned the car two days later for the agreed upon repairs.

Carmax expected the job to take 3 days, and they phoned me every day with status. On the third day they told me the paint work was finished but the windshield came in late, so they wanted to wait another day before allowing the window crew to even get near the paint. The next day the car was ready, i inspected the paint in the sun and shade along with the windshield...the paint, which is a pearl white, was flawless and indistinguishable from the original paint.

I came away from the experience thoroughly satisfied. I would buy from Carmax again but my advice on ANY used car purchase is as follows:

Inspect the vehicle with a fine tooth comb. By that i mean ensure every electrical device/system functions, test them all. Visually inspect the entire exterior of the car, and do it closely if you are concerned with acquiring a flawless looking automobile. Even though i spent 20 mins walking around the vehicle, checking even under the trunk carpet to ensure everything was present, looking for overspray from previous crash/damage repair, etc, i missed the chip in the windshield...take your time on that...the Carmax sales guy had no problem with me doing this, my wife, however, was getting bored with it...it's only a few minutes, take the time.

Get it professionally inspected by a trusted independent mechanic.

Get everything that is verbally agreed to put in writing if you expect it to be fulfilled. It is difficult to argue what was agreed to and signed...you will generally end up satisifed if you get your expectations listed in writing.

Take the car on an extended test drive. The carmax salesman directed me on a set 5 minute route...I immediatly informed him that if Carmax wanted to sell me the car then we were going to go on a test drive as long as I needed to determine if this was the car for me...he said he just needed to let his manager know and he called him, that was that.

Contact your local BBB and if dealing with a corporation like Carmax, check out the corporate BBB info...Carmax has a good record with them as of my research two weeks ago...especially when you consider their sales volume...but dont trust me, check it out yourself.

Buying an automobile is quite a large outlay, do it on your terms and state what you want/expect, get it in writing, and dont put up with individuals who impede your process.

Now, i have to say this, the salesman was very friendly at all times and not at all pushy, but also not the most motivated either, but it was almost refreshing after talking with the stereotypical used car salesmen. And Carmax is in the business of selling used cars, and they sell hundreds of thousands per year from what i have read, so I expect there will be some dissatisfied customers...used cars (heck, even new cars) have flaws, there is always a small gamble on the buyers part, but it is up to you, not Carmax to manage that risk by taking the steps to evaluate and inspect the car to ensure your personal satisfaction...they are there to sell you the car you decide to buy.

I have no idea if their 125 point inspection is worth anything, i count on my own inspection and my local mechanic. I also change oil and tranny fluid as soon as I purchase a used car regardless of the visible condition of the fluids.

If you go to carmax or any other used car lot, they are there to sell a car at a profit, it is your job to do everything in your means to reduce your risk of getting a lemon/unreliable automobile.

I specifically came back to this site to post because there were so many negative reviews, and my experience was very good, but i wasn't walking into this expecting them to truely be out for my best interest...they are running a business to turn a profit. Dont expect them to offer you a great price on your trade-in...it's a trade-in, they know you dont want it anymore and they have to turn a profit on it either on their lot or more likely at a local auction...to make a profit at auction they have to buy below what they expect the auction price to be. I didn't trade with them and didn't even ask.

I cannot comment on their warranty service, I did not buy a warranty (mine had a portion of the manufactuer warranty intact, though Carmax couldn't transfer it, Lexus was happy to do so very easily)...even some manufactuers new car warranties can be total hassles at the dealerships...warranties are a whole other thread of discussion.

I really got excited today about buying a Honda CRV from Car Max Ft Worth/Arlington.
Since I know a lot about cars....taught at a college and also went through the auto
program....worked in a major auto house garage on the line....I have really researched
Hondas and toyotas. Was ready to go look at Car Max until I looked at the reviews on this
web sit. On page #1-62.5%,page 2-75% and page 3=61% of the reviewers rated Car
Max 1 star. You cannot ignore those figures; if you must buy from Car MAx DO NOT trade
a car in and YOU MUST take it to an independent mechanic and pray he gets it right because
one of the biggest complaints in these reviews is trade in values and the failure of their
inspection of the cars.

NEVER DEAL WITH CARMAX AGAIN!
Took my 2005 BMW 530i Black on Black Fully Loaded with Navigation and all the options, low miles, clean as can be inside out, clean carfax report, all services done at BMW dealership. Guess what they offered me, mind you the blue book for even a fair condition is $22k, they offered me $12,000.
WTF! What is extremely hilarious is that they had an identical white color on the lot for sale for $28,900. That is definitely some great business they are in, buy it for $12k sell it for $29k, make a $17k profit plus interest. They kiss your ass from the moment you step foot in the lot to sucker you in and then give a you a third of the price of the car. Bunch of crooks! STAY AWAY and deal private. Oh, this is the Burbank location in Southern CA.

When I went in to buy a car I was in a time crunch. My car had been totaled by another driver and I needed transportation. You would think Carmax would do all that they could to make my sale happen. They knew I was a guarantee sale. Nope! I had a car sent from another dealership in the area. I was told it would take a day and a half tops! Wrong! The car got to my local Carmax at the end of the second day. We then had to wait for a state inspection. The salesman again said it would be ready the next day. Wrong again! The Carmax I was at did not have an inspection licence yet so they had to take the car offsite and then clean it up so I could come see it. Shouldn’t it already be clean...it was ready on another lot? In the end I’m glad I took my business elsewhere! The 1 year old car was having problems with the emissions computer. I went to Dulles Motor Cars in Leesburg, VA! They were awesome. No pressure and they took care of the minor scratches within a few hours of me test driving the car. Stay away from Carmax! Shop local!

we got a suv with only 35000 miles on it 2.5 months ago. We 1st took it in under the 30 day warrenty for the radio not working nor the outlets. They claimed they fixed it but now 2 months later none of the dash board works and the it won't even start. I called them up to see what can be done and all they can do is charge $99 an hour to have someone look at it. This place is a rip off and the whole company is a rip off. A friend of mine got a truck from Carmax and 2 months later it is costing her $8000.00 to have the engine replaced and carmax would not do anything. she even bought the extended warrenty and then was told that her car did not come with one and they would refund the money back but would not honor the warrenty she bought with the used car from carmax.. do not go there unless you want to waste money. Even while i was getting my car 1st worked on.... people were there complaining about the car not working after a few months. DO NOT GO THERE!!!!!!!!!!!

the warranty is a joke. took our van there to get it fixed. they broke a part while fixing it. charging my husband for that piece and overpriced shitty labor costs. van still not fixed and we owe $500. when we brought it in we were told that we would owe $75. Crooks, liars and criminals. Dont buy at carmax dont get their warranty. Shop elsewhere or you'll be sorry.

I bought a used 2007 BMW X5 3.0 from the Miami Carmax on 4/29/09. It had 17,000 miles. They had to transfer the car from Virginia for $349. The transfer took only 4 days to complete. The car was in almost new condition. No scratches, dents, etc. It had two extra options which were not listed on their website. The only part missing was the rear cargo compartment cover. They promised to replace it free of charge.

After a week of waiting, they told me that none were available in the United States and BMW had to order the part from Germany. I called a BMW dealer and was told that there were 5 available and they could have it in 2 days. After speaking to Jason Hardy (service manager at the Miami Carmax), I was told to buy the part and send them a fax with the invoice for a refund (total cost $640). After several calls and about 2 weeks, I received a check directly from Carmax’s corporate office.

At the same time, I traded-in my 2002 BMW X5 3.0 for $9,000. That car had some dings and 91,000 miles. I probably could have gotten an extra $1,000 - $1,500 more if I sold it myself but decided that with tax savings the extra amount I would get would not be worth the time I would need to spend trying to sell it myself. Not to mention, possibility of getting scammed.

Overall, I’m very satisfied. I saved a lot of time by shopping and comparing vehicles online. They have a large inventory and I was able to set up email alerts to let me know if a particular car with options I want becomes available. Sales staff was not as experienced as your usual used car dealer but also less pushy. They get paid much less per car sold. The no-haggle price was decent. I also bought an extended warranty for 75,000 miles and 6 years for $1,700 which can be used at Carmax or any BMW dealer.

Here's my carmax experience. Recently purchased a 2006 f150 with only 22000 miles on it. Ran into some problems with the alternator took it in two times before it was fixed. I've been hearing a funny grinding noise, took it in the first time to fresno carmax, and they laughed at me and said its just the front tire. I took it into a ford dealership and they stated there was def. something wrong with teh tranny. So here i am after having taken it into another carmax and having the entire transmission having to be taken out, cause it took a competent mechanic to figure out a no brainer. What is the end all lesson, if one doesn't do it for you, don't give up, just try another carmax, don't give up cause there are competent carmax dealerships out there just gotta put in the time....time which i don't have much of, but hopefully it'll get dealt with this time out

NEVER buy a car from the Carmax in Nashville, TN!!! That store has the worst customer service I have ever experienced. I recently bought a car from there, within 3 weeks the check engine light came on. No big deal, I brought it in and had them look at it. (I also purchased the warranty from Carmax) I dropped it off around 7:30 AM, and tried calling throughout the day to check up on it and no one could tell me the status until around 4:00. I get off work at 3:00 PM and did not have a way home and let them know this. Finally when I called the last time, they informed me they had no idea why the light had come on and a technician needed to drive it home to see how it drove and if the light would come back on. Reluctantly I agreed and had to arrange for someone to pick me up from work and bring me back to work the following morning. (Carmax would NOT give me a rental car because even though the warranty you buy says you will get one, they said that without a diagnosis they could not issue me one. Wouldn't the diagnosis be that they didn't know how to fix it and until they found out what is wrong with my car I can't drive it? So I would need an alternate way to work?) In the end, they ended up tripping the sensor and telling me they couldn't find anything wrong with it.
About 1 1/2 weeks later the light came on again. This time my car would violently shake when I came to a complete stop at lights or signs. I brought it in that same day around 11:00 AM on my lunch break and let them know my problem. The guy told me I could not get my car in that afternoon because the techs were on lunch and they liked to have the cars come in in the morning so the techs had all day to figure out the problem. So I left and drove it for a couple more days until I had a chance to bring it back by...all the while scared I would break down. When I dropped it off I called later on that day to check on it and the same guy told me they could not work on cars that were still under a factory warranty?!!! I had to correct him and let him know I had purchased a warranty through carmax and my car was not on a factory warranty and that they had ALREADY seen my car a week ago!! SOO needless to say it has been three days and after shipping it to Chrysler to see if a tech there could fix the problem because their service techs had NO CLUE what they were doing, my car is still not fixed. They also forgot to change my oil and informed me that it would be $160 to change it because they did not have the kind of oil my car needed and they would have to order it!? Since Carmax has yet to come up with a "diagnosis" I have NOT been given a rental car and have had to find co workers who are nice enough to come and get me and take me home. It has just been a HUGE inconvenience since I work in a hospital and work odd hours and hate to ask someone to pick me up at 5:00 AM for three days straight 45 minutes from where I work.
I will never never never recommend Carmax to anyone and I will let everyone I know and work with that it is horrible. I trusted them to "take care of me as a customer" and so far every employee there has been rude to me even the service manager. Buying a "new" used car should be an exciting time in everyone's life not a huge hassle. PLEASE take my advice and many others on this site, don't trust them!!!

My sister Is looking to purchase a used vehicle for her business. Since I have been a mechanic for over thirty years, she drug me with her to check out the cars. Carmax was her dealer of choice mainly because of the way they have their website set up.
You are able to look at all the vehicles online, see which options they have, compare vehicles. This is a huge time saving convienence and I give CarMax props for this. I also give Carmax props for having some very nice vehicles on the lot.....But.
The first vehicle she looked at was at another location so she paid the $149.00 to have it shipped. It was shipped from a location within our state but still took eleven days to transport. It arrived with body trim missing, dents, missing bolts and allot of overspray. Obviously it had been wrecked more than once and very recently since the dents and missing trim were not evident in the pictures posted on their website. They refunded the $149.00.
The second vehicle was shipped from another location only 125 miles away. It took three days longer than it should have to transport but arrived sparkling clean every where except the bottom of the drive train. Major oil leak. The rear main seal was leaking bad, laymans terms, a very expensive repair that requires the engine and transmission to be seperated in order to replace this seal. The usual cause of this seal leaking is an engine that has been driven low on oil for a while, or age. Since this vehilce was only a few years old and had less than 50,000 miles on it I am guessing it was driven quite a while low on oil. It is very likely that during an oil change the engine wasn't topped off with oil and this could do a great deal of harm to the entire engine.
The third vehicle was very nice, ran great, smooth ride. Only problem was that the brake pedal went almost to the floor. You could hear the air being pushed through the brake lines. Laymans terms, there is supposed to be brake fluid going through those lines, not air lol.
I'm not going to go into all of the normal used car salesman B.S. that was pitched about the problems I found, it is common with any dealership. And of course these are used vehicles, some of them are bound to have problems.
What gets me though is the 125 point inspection. That has to be pure 125% B.S.
I would recomend anyone buying from Carmax to have the vehicle checked by a mechanic. Don't be misled by there promise of the vehicles being mechanicly sound. They are no different than any other used car lot. All they care about is turning a profit just like all the rest of them. No matter how much it shines, if you find a problem with the vehicle, just walk away from it and look at another. They don't turn a profit from fixxing the vehicle, they just want to unload it on you.
CarMax = Just another used car dealership.

Okay...where do I start. The Carmax in Boynton Beach, Florida. They sold me a piece of crap Toyota 4Runner. I took the vehicle home and noticed overspray all over the bottom of the truck, so it had some serious paint work done to it. Also dents on the roof which lead me to believe it had been rolled. When I went to leave for work it WOULD NOT start! I had only had the truck for 4 hours. I called the salesperson...she didn't call me back. I called the sales manager and told him I was returning the truck NOW under their 5 day return policy. I had it towed there at my expense. They offered to fix the truck at no charge, I told them no. However, they did fill out a return slip and I was out of there in less than 30 minutes. So...they only good experience was the process of returning the truck. The saleperson was kinda pushy, but not too bad for a used car saleperson. Seems to me they are putting junk on the lot just to make sales. Their whole philosophy on not selling "unmaxworthy" vehicles is B.S. I went to another dealer and got a much nicer "certified" vehicle at a lower interest rate and one year newer. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND them to my friends and family. Please have a mechanic you trust check out any preowned vehicle you are interested in. Will be the best $20.00 you ever spend. And DO NOT deal at Carmax of Boynton Beach.

I went back and forth with Carmax in Waukesha WI about a vehicle and finally was approved for a loan. The sales woman and account manager promised they would get back to me regarding a question that the bank had and I kept after him to do so. Finally after giving up because no one would call me back, I came into a lot of money, went to another dealership and paid CASH for a new vehicle! Their loss - BIG TIME $$$$

Carmax sold me a car with dry rotted tires. My neighbor ended up with one with a rusted out floorboard! When I asked my sales guy about it he showed it to a service guy who said, get this, that it met Carmax standards. It was after my five day return window so not only was I stuck with the car I had to immediately buy new tires. My neighbor wished I would have talked to her before going there. I do too.

On February 22, 2009, after 3 hours at the Dulles dealership in Virginia, I purchased what was marked on the window sticker as a 2005 Pontiac G6 GT. It drove considerably better than the 2006 base G6 which I drove just previously. Both cars had similar mileage but the vehicle which was sold to me as a GT was more desirable despite the fact that the price was exactly the same. Both of my teenager children were happy they would have a late model used car to use as their first vehicle.

On February 28, 2009, I realized that, in fact, this car was also a base G6! I immediately called the salesman and stated my issue. After looking up the inventory number and asking me to FAX the window sticker to them, they confirmed my suspicions. I promptly explained the situation and was told that it was up to me to confirm which vehicle I purchased and if I had read the fine print I would clearly have seen their disclaimer.
After some discussion, the sales manager asked what it was that I wanted. I replied that I would like to have a partial refund of $500 on the purchase price of $11,000 for the vehicle. The answer was a flat “no”. However, he would take a FAX of my receipt for the inspection and take it up with the store manager to refund that to me. I immediately exclaimed my displeasure that I would have to haggle with the sales manager and go back and forth with him over such a small refund. I turned down the offer to proceed with this proposal.

Although satisfied with the Pontiac and perhaps the price I paid, it was not quite the bargain I was expecting. The thought of getting behind the wheel of a vehicle day after day which was misrepresented did not sit well with me. On February 29, I called the manager and asked that I return this vehicle for a full refund along with the MD state inspection which was done at my cost of $135. The manager agreed and the vehicle was returned within 2 hours.

The cost of $135 for the MD inspection paid for 3 hours with the salesman and the rest of the business office on the date of the purchase, several phone calls to go back and forth on the confirmation of the exact model of the vehicle, several discussions with the sales manager and then the actual process of the paperwork to return the vehicle. One would never think that all the employees at CarMax were worth so little! Oh, and let’s not forget the effort it will take to recondition this vehicle for selling it to your next customer and the process for confirming the clearance of my check in order you refund my payment.

This sale was nullified over $365 and the stubbornness of your managers to admit and make good on a mistake which was clearly on your part! Imagine the goodwill you would have created with a measly investment of $365. Instead, you have lost a customer for life and someone who will speak of their bad experience every time someone utters the thought of purchasing a vehicle from you. I have very little expectation to hear from you, but I thought you would like to know of my experience.

CarMax was great with my buying needs. I didn't sell a car to them but I was sure to realize it was a used car dealership, not a new car spot. Keeping that in mind, they made me extremely happy and treated me like a new car customer.

I was smart and bought the extended warranty up front, just in case, because I realize that CarMax is not in the business of fixing cars that have issues after you purchase, they are just there to try to make you happy with the purchase! It's not called CarFix :)

Every vehicle out there will have it's issues...I have had new cars with far more issues than my 2003 Ford Mustang from CarMax. I had one problem and they fixed it immediately w/o a charge. If anything else goes wrong, I pay a $50 deductible and it gets fixed.

Think ahead and think smart when buying a used car from ANYONE. Don't assume you're going to have the world handed to you. All the bad attitudes here are disconcerting but I guess you cannot please everyone. CarMax has certainly tried, though! We have purchased 4 cars through them over the period of 6 years (trucks for my father's business) and all were great prices with no trouble financing.

I wouldn't expect if I walked in with bad credit to get treated like someone with stellar credit. And, selling a vehicle to an interested buyer w/o the backing of a large company is always more profitable, but for your convenience, you can sell yours to them to get a little (they do hope to make a profit from your trade-in, you know...) help on your down payment.

Expect to be treated as a human, by humans, anywhere you go.

Thanks, CarMax, for making me a happy customer. Sorry, CarMax, that many expect things to be handed to them on silver platters in life w/o working for it.

Sorry, to anyone that reads this and takes it personal. Just my opinion!

Just purchased a 2008 Chevrolet 3500 with less than 1400 miles on it from Carmax. I'd been looking online (several sites, not just theirs) for a specific truck and found it at Carmax in CA.....I'm in TX. Even after paying the transfer fee (which I feel should be credited to you upon purchase of the vehicle,) I still saved over $5k for a truck that is almost brand new compared to all the other trucks I had seen! Trust me, I did my homework on this one. I was hoping to find a reason why the truck was so much cheaper than anything else I had come across and I am happy to say it was prefect....still smells like new! I also consulted several friends in the auto trade and they all said it was an incredible deal.

FYI, you can also take the VIN# from the vehicle you're interested in and call a local new car dealer of the same make and ask for the service dept. to do a history maintenance check for you. The dealership is not obligated to do that, but most will be willing to assist. It's a good way to see if there has been any service issues...worked for me.

Carmax offered me the same amount on my trade in that dealers were offering and since I didn't want to deal with the hassle of selling it myself, I just traded it in with them. They have every right to make money off of me since that is what people are in business for!! Just treat me fairly!

Carmax offered me a interest rate of 8.25% which is way too high for my credit. Their policy of allowing you 3 business days to find other financing options with no penalty is a great way for them to secure your business (i.e. buy the car on the spot) and still allow the consumer to seek out a better deal on their own. I rec''d a loan through Chase for 5.09% the next morning.

My Carmax experience was fabulous...but I did buy a virtually brand new truck. I can see how a car with many miles on it could be more of a gamble.

Good luck!!!!!!!

Never do business with carmax. They operate illegally. Stay away from car max. They try to tell you how and when to pay your car and force you to use their method. They force you to pay cash and are refusing credit card payments until after the due date; completely illegal. They are in bad shape and taking it out on their customers.
NEVER DO BUSINESS WITH CARMAX. YOU WILL REGRET IT. THEY RIP PEOPLE OFF. STAY AWAY FROM CARMAX.

I have only one bit of knowledge about CarMax. I have a low opinion of car dealers (used and new) generally, but the one experience I had with CarMax impressed the heck out of me.

I saw a car I liked, but it was in Maryland. I ordered it and had them place the shipping charge on my credit card so they could begin the process. A couple of days later my wife showed me an ad for a new Sebring convertible that was cheaper and that I liked better than the used Miata. So I bought the Sebring locally.

I notified CarMax that I would not be buying the Miata after all, and to cancel the sale. I thought that would be the end of it (hoping they wouldn't try to make me buy it anyhow), but the salesman told me he was going to see if the car had actually been shipped yet and maybe get the credit charge reversed. And glory be he did reverse the charge!

Dont be mad at the sales consultants. They are treated terrible. If you ask them how they like working there... they will never tell you an honest answer. because what the tell you a) determines their paycheck (100% commission). And b) they are under obligation to say NOTHING about the company. If you ask how many cars they sell... they cannot answer it. They will probably say something like... "we sell a ton of cars" or something stupid. Its all a round about way. The sales consultant has nothing to do with the quality of the cars, they have nothing to do with your approvals, they have nothing to do with your appraisal... its all company regulated. Its horrible for the associates. and the top 100 places to work is a scam as well. They are treated poorly, intimidated by nimwits called managers. Most of their managers are "recruited" from less than exciting jobs, like target, and Kohls, Best Buy, and any other discount retail or dead end job they can find someone with a decent smile and the gift of gab. They know less than Yogi bear when it comes to cars. They have no respect for what youre looking for as the consumer. They care about making "budget" by the end of the night. And if you get there after they have already made budget for the day. They will do anything to prevent you from buying the car that night... and save it until tomorrow so they can hope to make budget the next day. Sometimes leaving the customer stuck...and often selling or transfering the car out because they have a no holds policy. Which also is a scam. Certain sales consultants can hold cars im told, and the mgrs think if they tell you they wont hold it...you will buy it right then. Carmax is a terrible place for the associates who work there. They havnt had a raise in 10+ years i am told. Now...we all know the cost of living has gone up and being 100% commission... in an economy where no one is buying... You do the math. If you have a sales consultant who you really enjoyed, make sure you fill out that survey, because that could make or break them having a job. Dont go to carmax if you can avoid it. They sell decent cars... I bought a car and truly believe the 125 point inspection is ... what you can find wrong in the first 30 days (as thats their FREE warranty)