Buying a Car is a Hassle for Women

"Now more than ever, women want a car buying experience that is straightforward and fair," says Donna Wassel, Southwest regional vice president of CarMax. "Finding a car retailer with low, no haggle pricing that offers an easy transaction with integrity can help take away the hassle."

The following are the results of the recent poll that asked women: Thinking about the last time that you bought a car, which of the following was most missing?

Response                         Percent
A quick, effortless transaction  25%
A fair trade-in value            19%
A trustworthy salesperson        15%
Low, fair pricing                13%
A reasonable finance rate        13%
Respect                          2%
I have never bought a car        13%

The survey was conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs on behalf of CarMax. The national sample consisted of more than 500 U.S. women, aged 18 and older who were interviewed online August 17 through August 19, 2009.

CarMax offers the following tips for women car shoppers:

-- Go online to research vehicle types, makes, models, options, features, and prices. Visit websites such as carmax.com to search thousands of cars, see actual prices, view multiple photos, obtain vehicle history reports, read customer reviews and more.

-- Print out fact sheets or information about the vehicles you are interested in, and have them ready when you step onto the lot.

-- If you plan on selling your car, bring key paperwork items with you, including title and registration for your current vehicle, your driver's license, and insurance card.

-- If you have been pre-approved for a car loan, bring the approval letter with you.

-- Find a car retailer and salesperson you like and trust by asking friends and family for referrals.

-- Try a retailer that offers no-haggle prices and a la carte pricing on each part of the car buying transaction -- the vehicle price, the extended service plan, the trade-in, and the financing.

-- Think about selling your car separately from your car purchase. You can bring your car to CarMax for an appraisal -- it's fast, free and convenient.

-- Have confidence in your car shopping abilities. You have done your research and are prepared to make a smart car buying decision.

-- Do not hesitate to ask lots of questions--as many as you need so that you understand exactly what you are paying for.

-- Be prepared to walk away if you are unhappy with your car buying experience.

About CarMax

CarMax, a Fortune 500 company, and one of the Fortune 2009 "100 Best Companies to Work For," is the nation's largest retailer of used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., we currently operate 100 used car superstores in 46 markets. The CarMax consumer offer is structured around four customer benefits: low, no-haggle prices; a broad selection; high quality vehicles; and customer-friendly service. During the twelve months ended February 28, 2009, the company retailed 345,465 used vehicles and sold 194,081 wholesale vehicles at our in-store auctions. For more information, access the CarMax website at http://www.carmax.com.

SOURCE: CarMax, Inc.

CarMax, Inc. 
Media Contacts 
Trina Lee, Director 
Public Relations 
(804) 747-0422, ext. 4197 
or 
Elia Imler 
Assistant Manager, Public Relations 
(804) 747-0422, ext. 4029 
Twitter: @CarMaxInc