As you begin researching where to buy your next used car, you may be tempted to try an out-of-the-box online dealership like Carvana. While their main advantage—that the entire sales process can be completed online—entices younger shoppers, there are a great many disadvantages that should give you pause. Here are 5 big reasons why the car dealership is still a better place to buy a used vehicle.
Car Dealers vs. Carvana: The Cons of Buying Online
1. Limited Locations
Let’s say you wanted to buy a used Genesis in Fort Lauderdale. You’d search for “Genesis G80 for sale near me” in Google—seems reasonable, right? Your results would present a couple of options, the most practical of which are visiting your closest Genesis dealership or buying online through stores like Carvana.
However, because Carvana doesn’t have traditional storefronts—they have “Vending Machines” instead—you’re limited to delivery, which can produce issues in and of itself, or lucking out and having a Carvana pick-up location near you. Their Vending Machines aren’t spread throughout all major cities, so finding one can be difficult. For instance, there’s just one Carvana Vending Machine in Miami; the next closest pick-up spot would be Tampa, nearly 200 miles away.
On the other hand, finding a used Genesis G80 near Ft. Lauderdale is much simpler and easier if you choose a local dealership. Sure, you’ll have to talk to people, but that’s part of the fun!
2. Unusual Delivery Delays & Problems
As previously mentioned, having your vehicle delivered by Carvana can sometimes be problematic. Numerous past shoppers have expressed concerns with Carvana’s delivery process; these concerns include poor communication related to delivery delays, third-party delivery drivers causing vehicle damage, and a lengthy repair and return procedure that’s left purchasers without a vehicle for weeks or months.
You don’t have to worry about delivery issues when buying a car at a used dealership. Simply sign some documents, grab the keys, and off you go.
3. Bye-bye, Traditional Test Drive
The only way shoppers can test out a Carvana car is to buy it first – the exact opposite of what a normal shopping experience should be like. From there, buyers have 7 days to try the car out before returning it to Carvana, which can be a hassle (see point 2 above). Additionally, returning the vehicle isn’t possible if you’ve driven more than 400 miles or the vehicle isn’t in the same condition as it was when sold. And if you must return more than two vehicles due to problems, you void your 7-day return policy on all subsequent cars.
With a car dealer, you can test drive to your heart’s content. One, five, twenty—however many cars you want to check out, you’re free to do so, and at any number of car dealers near you.
4. No New Vehicles or Specials
Carvana can’t legally sell new cars online, which means you don’t get the benefit of buying new or taking advantage of lease specials or manufacturer finance deals. Essentially, the price you see is the price you get with Carvana, with the only payment option being paying in cash or financing.
You can buy or lease new, of course, and even haggle your out-the-door price at a dealership. Best of all, negotiating those costs is in addition to any car specials!
5. They Can Pay Way Below Market Value for Trade-Ins
For whatever reason, Carvana is known to give insulting offers when buying vehicles as unofficial trade-ins. Take this experience, for example: A seller requested an offer for a 2015 Genesis 5.0 Ultimate with about 70,000 miles on it. The estimated market value of a ’15 Genesis 5.0, as of November 2020, is between $15,000 and $18,000. Carvana, after deductions and pre-set “mechanical defect” fees, offered a whopping $108.00—a price that wasn’t even worth filling out Carvana’s offer form.
When you sell your vehicle to a dealer, you can expect a fair, if not above-market, exchange value estimate. The shopper in the example above could have submitted our trade-in value form to get a better price, no matter their location.
As you begin shopping for a used car online, don’t be fooled by the “convenient” buying process offered by places like Carvana. In the grand scheme of things, you’re paying extra for that convenience—both in money and, ironically, your own post-purchase convenience should you experience any issues with the vehicle.
Dealerships like ours offer that same simple buying experience without any sacrifice needed on your end. For instance, at Braman Genesis, we give our customers the Curbside Concierge treatment, enabling them to start the entire buying process from the comfort of home! To learn more about your options, give our Miami Genesis dealership a call at (786) 574-3093.
