In keeping an eye on the ISF market on Carmax, I happened to see today that they have a 2014 ISF with 43k miles for $46k and a 2015 RCF with 36k miles for $44k...🤔

 

Same location?

 

TN for the ISF, Austin for the RCF.

 

yeah Carmax has been low balling the RCF for awhile. They are offering $5K or more below Manheim Auction for it if you get one of their "we will buy it from you" appraisals. I even pointed that out to the Carmax rep as I have Manheim Auction access, the response attitude was take it or leave it.

 

FYI Carmax, buys the large majority of their cars from Manheim auctions across the country.... Carmax's response is always take it or leave it.Buying and selling. Its a rare occasion they budge on anything, buying or selling. They buy inventory and price it to sell quickly at a low profit margin...

FYI Carmax also bought the 14 IS-F at a Manheim auction. There are many variables to take into consideration in regard to Manheim Auction values, which is why is used by dealers, not the public.

Not to mention you're talking about a 14 ISF and a 15 RCF, they aren't that different in terms of value. With similar MSRPs when new, RCF right now is heavily incentivized, they wont be that much different in value. Given that the ISF is much more rare, and production has been done for 3-4 years, its not surprising at all.

Carmax knows the values on used cars, what they can sell them for long before they buy it. Thats how they determine their pricing. Its not ***** nilly. They buy a car knowing exactly how much they'll need to pay in recon, fees, maintenance to get it ready for retail, its a big operation that is very streamlined. They dont typically miss by much when valuing a car.

 

Careful with Texas cars, remember the massive floods.

 

What the Fs have over their competition is its reliability. And sometimes those who want reliability, want practicality, i.e. 4 doors. Also a rare final MY or one of the first in the run?

 

When it boils down to it, CarMax doesn't really know anything. The fact of the matter is that you will always gain value by purchasing through a private seller.

Would you rather buy a rare Pokemon card from a kid or a card shop vendor?

#qft quote for truth

This is my 2 cents and I don't care what anybody else thinks. come at me bros

 

If you want to get ripped off, buy from Carmax. Otherwise, be patient, and you will find a person that is transitioning to their next step in life. Then, you will win. Both of you will win.

 

CarMax maxcare warranty is one of the best in the biz. Really the only reason to buy from them is assuming you need the warranty.

The transfers are nice I guess.

Also not surprising that the less than sought after RCF is so cheap.

 

Carmax dealerships are franchises just like all other dealerships. they may have some centrally run system, but they are franchises.. when I had my RCF "appraised" they offered me $41K 8 months ago while having 3 RCFs on their lot for $52K or higher, and I got 2 different offers from 2 different Carmax Dealerships 3 weeks apart and there was a difference of $3K in the offers (and not to my benefit) whilst Manheim was at $47K at the time. They are currently offering $31K for the RCF but selling them at $44K?

Carmax is a dealership, therefore they are a rip off like any other dealerships in terms of trade value.. and personally I would never buy a vehicle from them, but then again I seldom buy used (only twice in 30 years), I personally have issue with dealing with vehicles other people have misused or abused.

 

Dont misinterpret my post for support and vouching for Carmax as the place to buy your car, I'm not saying that, I'm not saying you can't get a better deal elsewhere, I'm not saying you should or shouldn't buy from there. What I'm saying is the systems and processes they've built and use are very sophisticated, and give them all the tools they need to be able to buy a large amount of cars and sell the vast majority of them for profit. Im not saying you can't find a car cheaper, or more expensive. My point was they know what they're doing, and they have a method to the madness. Albeit sometimes to the casual retail buyer it doesn't make sense, or doesn't seem like it, they know what they're doing, and they do it well. Thats all, I have no support or ill will towards carman. I've never bought or sold a car with them, i just work for a company that does a lot of business with them. Case and point, you've only sold 2 used cars in 30 years.... they bought probably 3-400,000 last year alone. So while i dont', nor should anyone else always agree with how they do business, theyre successful at what theyre doing. So the post wondering why the RCF is cheaper then the older ISF, thats the reason. Because they know thats the correct money to buy and sell those cars at (generally speaking)

And to make one correction, Carmax's are not franchises, they are all owned by the publicly held corporation. It is an independent car dealership model, saying they are franchises would imply they are separately owned by individuals that pay carmax for their name, business model, marketing, etc... which they do not. They're all 100% corporate locations.

Cheers