CarMax review: not a good place to shop 37

My husband and I bought a 2017 Mitsubishi Galant yesterday - between the time we inspected, test drove and then signed the papers the tires on it were changed from Bridgestone to a no name brand. They told us it was being cleaned for us, 30-40 minutes later they give us our car. Because it had started to rain outside we immediately got in and drove home not thinking we should inspect it again. After the storm we realized the tires on it were not the ones we saw on the car in the lot. We still have 4 days to decide and have put a call into the salesman but you have to wonder what else did they change? Anybody have this happen or heard of anything like this?

The 2017 Pontiac G6 we just purchased from Carmax a week ago also came with no name tires; unfortunately we didn't notice the tires before. The co-owner of my car has been saying he thinks they took the tires that came on it so they could sell them and gave us the crappy ones. Maybe he was on to something...

My husband wanted a newer car. I drive a junkie old car that runs great! He went to Carmax alone because I got sick of listening to him complain about our ugly but reliable cars. The next day we tried to drive to Palm Springs which is about 100 miles away from our home and both back tires went flat on the freeway while he's going 65 and we were lucky we were not in an accident because he had to struggle to control the car while exiting and then we were treated to waiting for a tow truck in a remote area where we could've been robbed. We had the car towed back to Carmax in Duarte CA. I too felt the tires were no name brand and after what happened I wanted them replaced (Their mechanic told me the valve stems were on wrong). They basically put me off all day until I told them to tell me if they were going to replace the tires by days end or I would return the car. About 3pm they call and say they will not replace the tires so I said I wouldn't keep it. About an hour later they call and state they are in the process of putting another no name brand of tire on the car even though I told them not to put anything on the car until I ok it. This made me so mad the I didn't want to deal with them after that and we returned the car. We drove home in our 90 Chevy Lumina because we didn't trade it in because they only offered my husband $50 for it (yes fifty). I could sell this Lumina for about $800 in front of my house. We ended up buying a Toyota from Longo Toyota in El Monte CA. I complained to the State and Carmax told them I ok'd the tires! Yeah, and monkeys might fly out of my butt! The motto is drive an junky old workhorse like my Chevy (just kidding!) and save yourself from the likes of Carmax!

I totaled a vehicle back in 06 and am stuck paying the remaining payments since my insurance didn't cover it all... I want to be able to pay it off and have been calling to find out the remaining payoff amount so I can do so, but nobody returns my calls. Don't they want my money? Or are they going to make more money off of me by leaving me in the dust and not paying it? I do not understand.

This was a brand new fully loaded truck with every option available. It was driven straight from the dealer to CarMax. They refused to look at the sticker, which showed $49, 000 and options that could not be seen by just looking at the truck. They said, "We don't list cars that way". However, if you look at new cars on their web site they show MSRP and their "reduced" price.

Don't expect to get "fair market value" for your vehicle if you go there. They had similar trucks for sale for $42, 000. They wanted to make $19, 000 clear profit with their offer of $23, 000. The only cost for them would have been advertising on a web site that they already pay for. Essentially no cost.

Buyer/seller beware... It's a rip off!

I purchased a car from carmax after the 30 days you are stuck. They have tried over two years to fix and re-fix oil leaks and many other problems so I have decided to turn the junk into bank repo. It’s better to file than to pay for junk. I have heard of many others purchasing bad cars from this company stay away from this used car dealer. It’s better to purchase unseen than to purchase from these rip off guys. I have allowed them over and over to try fixing the oil leak but they cannot fix it.

no crap no one wants pickups w/ gas at 4.00 a gallon!

How is this a rip off? Why didn't you ask your dealership to buy the car back from you? Sounds like you got an offer that you didn't like, so what, walk away. Did car max take any money from you? Please explain where the rip off is? Please please please!

When I purchased the vehicle they refused to let me test drive it on the highway. After purchasing the vehicle it had major problems when driven on the highway. It felt like the front tire would fall off.

It took from the end of July until the end of September to get this problem fixed. It will never be completely fixed because the GM dealer that finally did the work said that it was completely irreparable. Each time I got it back from CARMAX they assured me it was fixed.

This was due to a major defect in the driveshaft. This is something they claim to inspect and make sure it is right before they sell it. Bull ###!

I did some research and found this car was previously in an accident. CARMAX got pissed off at me when I found this out. They refused to take back the vehicle, only to fix it.

They were not even able to do this. So much for their policy on the fact that they will never sell a wrecked vehicle with frame damage.

When I purchased my vehicle it had EXTREME water spots on it. I was assured that they would wash off. Bull ###!

They had to have one of their detailers buff the windows. They left them looking like ###. I complained. Mind you I had looked at the windows in detail and the spots were the only thing on them.

When I took it back and pointed this out I was assured they would take care of it right. They took care of it all right. They scratched the ### out of them. Mind you these are not little scratches, they are deep and go through the factory tint.

I brought this to their attention. I was told 'so what, this is a used vehicle and these scratches meet our standards. We are not going to do anything about it'.

I had to take it back yet again the next day and I pointed out the mess they left from cleaning them. They promised to take care of it.

Guess what? I got it back the next day with even more scratches, and deeper ones. This time there was one 5-6', through the tint, on the drivers side of the windsheild. They told me they were not doing anything about it.

I contacted my insurance company. The inspector asked me 'who the h**l keyed the s**t out of your windows?'. They authorized full replacement of ALL the windows. They would attempt to get my deductible from CARMAX.

I spoke with CARMAX corporate. What a joke! They had me meet with the store manager.

She looked at the vehicle with several other people. The others were shaking their heads in disgust at the way the windows looked. She looked at me and said, 'we'll replace only the windsheild and the 2 front side windows'.

I would not accept this. She informed me that my vehicle was a value vehicle so they would do no more than that.

I asked her to just pay the deductible on my car insurance and let me get it fixed right. She got real defensive and refused telling to take her offer or leave it. I refused her lame offer to fix damage they caused. She just then walked away.

Nothing has been done about my windows. Nothing. Even after I got the car back the last time they never called to make sure it was right.

CARMAX SUCKS! THEY WILL RIP YOU OFF - GUARANTEED!

Just a brief report of my experiences with these scam artists. They lure people in thinking that they are a different, safer way to buy and sell cars. But they basically prey on those who don't have a clue what they are doing. As bad as car dealers are, at least with car dealers you can negotiate buying and selling prices.

My experience today with trying to sell my car, was an eye opening experience. After getting an appraisal, I was offered a comically low price for my 2017 Camry, Thank God I did my homework. I can imagine the multitude of saps that believe these guys. While I waited for my appraisal I looked at a 2017 Corolla with 64K on it that they had priced at a non negotiable $9500.

The offer they gave me for my 2017 Camry with 39K miles, in perfect condition (as per their appraisal)- $10000! I laughed in his face. Check out some of their prices at their stores that sell both used and new cars. The new car price is often LOWER than an identical used car from them! DO YOUR HOMEWORK AND SHOP AROUND.

GAP insurance (a one time fee ranging from $270 at my credit union...or $399 offerred thru Carmax) covers those leftover payments you are responsible after you total a car.

You did the right things. Do you homework and be prepared to walk away from a bad situation. Bravo!

I am lucky to be spared all this. My sister has been with GM for 25 years so we always buy on the employee plan. I never had to agrue or tolerate a salesperson. The price was set and that was that. I usually got about 10K off sticker so I always bought new GM. I got my new Z71 for a steal last Fall.

CarMax Memphis location service staffed with incompetents and management hard to contact. Fine print on "no hassle" return is that you return the car with no loaner and wait minimum of 5-6 days for check. Initial inspection is a farce. Test drive limited to drive around the block-not enough to catch defects (squeak from engine on cold start and tires vibrate at interstate speed.) Stay away from CarMax. Fancy showroom and service bays are facades - focus is on profit not quality and customer satisfaction. Will buy certified used car from new car dealer next, not from a sleazy used car chain store.

Here is the latest score folks:

Carmax: 19, 000

Dealer you bought the truck from: " We can't just buy it back "

You need to write a book on how to flip cars!

You should have sold your Monte Carlo to that online company for $1, 500-$3, 500. I mean, their great right, they don't look at your car and they make you an offer within 10 minutes. Click on that button that says "PRINT CHECK". Oops, you were dreaming. Welcome back to earth.

The salepeople will lie to get you to buy the exteneded warranty telling you if you don't use it (in the time that it's purchased for) they will refund the full amount. I purchased 3 years of warranty and in a few days it will be 3 years so I call the dealership to ask how do they go about refunding the money. I go through 3 different people before someone finally offers to transfer me to the manager. I have to listen to his explanations on how it works and how you can cancel at any time and get a prorated amount back. I specifically asked the right questions about the warrenty because I knew how it worked at another dealership and was told, yes this is how it works. I am not some stupid woman and know which questions to ask and if I am happy with the answers then I go forward. So, it was purchased because I was happy with what I heard. Now I find out I was flat out lied to by the salesman who's his business cards says he is in their presidnt's club. They must give the titles to their people by how many cars they sell with lies tied to them. I planned on buying another car from them at the beginning of next year, but not after this. The manager didn't even seem surprised about my complaint. I will never buy another car from there again and hope anyone reading this will reconsider the same.

ok, so the sales man lied, shame on him... but im sure you are a grown woman and should know that nothing (tangable or intangable asset) is free... so shame on you!

Yes, yes - allowing a repo to appear in your credit history is really showing Carmax who's boss!

Fair market value does not equal private party value, or even retail market value. Carmax appraises cars based upon wholesale values. Basically, if their buyers can attend an auction and see a particular make and model go for a set price range all day long, they will only offer you that price. What makes your vehicle that much more special that you would expect more?

As far as buyer/seller beware - guess you weren't too happy with your truck if you took it to get appraised so soon after purchasing. Whups!

No one seems to understand wholesale values because KBB is so ingrained in their vocabulary they are unfamiliar with valuation sources actually used by those in the industry. Dealers don't even use NADA (that's more of a banking/finance tool) - try to get your hands on a copy of the Black Book and I guarantee you'll find it near impossible unless you know someone who works at a dealership.

Additionally, the emotional attachment the MC owner had for his car is just that - his personal attachment. You don't see too many used car dealerships offering deals on their 1980 MCs because they're "classics", unless you have a mullet...

Guy can't figure out how to call his finance company (contact info in your Retail Installment Contract - the long form), but can do a quick search to find some place to complain. Priceless.

Selective hearing and selective memory - if you're not a stupid woman, you would have read the details of your paperwork either before signing (smartest), or within the 5 day return period (still smart) to verify any oral claims. But...you didn't, so are you as smart as you think?

Smart people would know better than to think you can pay for a service and get a full refund years later, but that clearly isn't the case here. Sorry, dummy!

Checks and balances abound in any business, and one of the forms I used to fill out was a repair request (I forget the exact name of the form) which listed items the customer would like to have addressed. Sometimes, we would see things which could be fixed immedately and handled them before the customer took delivery. Just because a tire is name brand does not preclude it from suffering the effects of wear and tear. More than likely, your tires were replaced because someone noticed problems with them, and you got a set of new tires to replace bad ones.

As far as taking tires to sell - [censor]ed assumption. Had you elected to go on the facility tour (usually given while awaiting the results of your credit application), your SC would have taken you through the service department and you might have seen a construction sized dumpster full of nothing but tires that had been pulled off vehicles. I offered this tour to every customer I had (it helped to explain the value of the ESP), but there were more than a few who elected not to go because they couldn't be bothered. I don't understand why people would make a large financial transaction and decline the opportunity to see how and where the vehicle would be serviced and perhaps purchase a service plan to CYA when TSHTF.

hi i worked for carmax and this is the worse place to buy a car, ther lie about every thing these cars suck

I purchased my 2017 Lincoln Zephyr approximately June 2017 at Carmax in Laurel, MD. I can not recall the exact mileage but the vehicle ran fine up until January 2017 when I noticed the transmission slipping and the car would'nt accelerate past about 25mph. This happened numerous times while I was driving on the highway. I took my vehicle on February 12, 2017 to Shell get a transmission flush done which cost about $350. Needless to say the car is again having the same issues with the transmission slipping and it is only October 2017. I will be taking my vehicle this week back to Carmax and hopefully they will do the right thing, however, if not this will be a continuous battle because I will report this to the BBB and the Attorney General's office.

I bought my second car from CarMax (a volkswagon passat.) They have had it in the shop more then I have had it home. It went in again same transmission problems. They said they couldn't fix it this time and sent it to a volkswagon dealership. Next I hear CarMax is calling saying they have to have $7000 because repairs weren't covered by factory warranty. They also said I authorized the $7000 which never happened. A Volkswagon mechanic told me they voided the warranty by trying to fix it themselves. Then when I asked for a statement from the repair shop-nothing-they said they have to work with carmax alot. So I have a car sitting at carmax and they won't return any calls-went to their website which guarantees to answer you within 24 hours-no answer. I am a widow with a limited income-so I am walking-hitching rides to work and not sleeping.

I purchased a used car from carmax that was a total nightmare. I'm not kidding. On the first day I brought it to work the battery died. Within the first year of purchase, the car needed two gas pumps and several other repairs. Carmax struggled to diagnose some of the repairs and was not rotating my tires even when paid to do so. Over the four miserable years that I had the car it needed: five serpentine chains, bearings, shocks and wiring about three times, front and back brakes and a right bore whcih turned the wheel (a $500 repair). The engine blew out and they have offered no help. I will have a repo on my credit after 4 yrs of paying on time.

I took my 2017 Ford Ranger to CarMax to get an appraisal. I was shocked and more than a little disappointed when I was only offered about half of the Kelly blue book trade in value, I had bought the truck new and aside from the 22, 000 miles, it is in perfect condition with all routine maintenance records. The only reason for selling is a need for a larger truck. The Ford dealer had at least offered the low end of book value in trade on a new truck. I will never waste my time on these folks again.

I would sue carmax. I hope you have all the pictures before and after they did the damage. Also the fact that it was in a wrect is negligence.

Well they didnt sell me a wrecked car, they did one better. Took my car to knoxville tn location to sell them my car. They took it out for a test drive. 45 Minutes later was brought back on a roll back as the driver crashed it into a curb bending the front left tire all the way back against the fender. Went to scene with the police (carmax refused to call police), could see 40 foot skid mark starting where he turned off the straight road and started aright around the circle and then another 100 foot skid mark after hit the curb. The skid marks were not from locking brakes but where front left tire outer edge was actually going sideways (could see it very clearly on the concrete right before hit curb). He was never on the brakes and was trying to drive through it. I have a 2017 mazdaspeed 3 that has very sticky tires and can take corner at high speeds. But the was circle and once leave straight road going on to circle was down hill. How fast was he going? If they do not buy it for full value i am going to have mazda pull the computer record which will show speed, which gear, if brakes were applied everything.

I went to carmax to look at a Jeep Wrangler. The sales girl knew nothing about the vehicle she was trying to "sell". She is looking on the key ring for the remote. There wasn't one. She opened the door with the key then tried to look for the door unlock. It didnt have power doors. If she did her homework on this vehicle before we arrived she would not look like the idiot she was.
Ok..appraisal time. More ###s. Ok so my vehicle had 130k miles on it. The auto check report was completely different than the one I had from car fax. No report from odometer change, no reposession report. $2500.00? are you kidding? I told him that was low ball and showed him the 2 values from Kelly and Autotrader which were $2017.00 higher. This ### laughed and said "these are garbage and we don't use them". These are on their website to value your trade. I said these are used by carmax to sell your vehicles. He freaking laughed. Needless to say we walked out. ###. DON'T BUY FROM CARMAX!

CircusMax as i have come to call it, has given me the biggest run around since my dating years a helluva long time ago, in general trying to purchase a vehicle through this company for myself was just amazing, the different people i was past off to, and re-iterating about the vehicle i was interested in, my frustration level was 10. the numerous telephone calls i made, with no return call from dealership, or a perso in sales, which most are part--time and have no idea what their doing.Well i finally gave up after 2 weeks of frustration, hopefully i am finished with this CircusMax Auto company.

Yes because Carmax is the only place to buy a car in the UK. I know the UK is a smaller country than the U.S. but I am willing to bet there is more than one car dealership.

I soooooo agree with this comment. Worked there myself and they treat their employees like crap and sell even crappier cars!

I also worked for CarMax and wasted a year of my life there... I watched them low ball appraisals of cars stating that there were many defects that would be costly to repair and then do nothing to the vehicle but wash it and retail it for 5 to 8 thousand dollar mark ups. The management is a joke, from the beginning of my employment they start to build a file of "action plan" reviews so they can terminate or threaten to terminate you at anytime. The store I worked for had 40+ sales consultants and reduced the lot inventory from 380 to 160 cars and then demanded that every sales consultant sell no less than 10 cars each or termination. 3 out of every 5 cars I sold had to have a work order written up and signed off my a manger to repair something that was broken.. like the AC or rough idle or major paint defects. their commission scale sucks and you will make more money working at McDonalds... don't waste your life for high blood pressure and low or no pay. and definitely check the tires on the car you buy.. the DOT dates are usually around 2017 or 2017 manufacture date.

Just looking around because I was planning on buying a car from CarMax but I really have to study my options now.