The carmax and carfax fight (will update regularly)

Davey · 11-06-2015, 12:58 PM

Honestly, I'm not sure why anyone buys from them. What's the appeal?

BamBamZ · 11-06-2015, 02:26 PM

I asked for an update this morning and got

Quote:

Hey Alan, thanks for reaching back today on your concerns. I was in touch with the team in Modesto on this morning. I know Francis worked with you as well on this, but upon inspection we found a cracked impact bar, which is actually not an indicator of frame damage. While we never want any customer to receive negative information on a vehicle at any time, we cannot guarantee that a vehicle has not been in an accident. It does appear that an accident was listed on the CarFax report in October of 2015, however we stand by our guarantee of no frame or flood damage. With that said, we still want to ensure your satisfaction and will gladly cover any cost associated with the parts of the impact bar in question. We would also be happy to connect with a body shop of your choice to look into those repairs if you wish. Regarding your appraisal offer you mentioned, the accident listed on the CarFax did not influence the amount we delivered on your offer, but rather there were several other factors which contributed to the amount we presented. If I can assist with any other questions or concerns, please feel free to let me know. – Curt, Your Customer Care Team

I responded with

Quote:

So its okay I was told specifically at time of buying a car for $28k that it had never been in an accident, and it later having been in one. That I have to take the depreciated value now because your 125+ point inspection failed to see all the signs?. That makes the inspection pointless and a bold face lie and buying from you guys a gamble like any private party... If the inspection was done correctly it would of been caught. It took a body shop and your techs no more than 10 minutes to see it was wrecked, but your sales staff told me it wasn't when I bought the car.

I sent links to here and yelp and

Quote:

i was hoping I could end the ongoing story with "a mistake was made, but they owned up to it and made it right"

And just got

Quote:

Alan, upon completing my research on the vehicle, we completed a certified quality inspection prior to the sale, which guarantees that there was no frame or flood damage. We stand by that guarantee and want to ensure that your concerns here are addressed. That is why we offered to cover the parts associated with the repair. Additionally, we feel the offer made is the most competitive available on the vehicle, and none of the CarFax information you mention was factored into that offer. We appreciate you giving us the chance to look into it and if either myself or our Modesto team can serve any further assistance, please feel free to let us know. - Curt

I'll update with my response.

BamBamZ · 11-06-2015, 02:39 PM

My responses

Quote:

If a cracked support is CQC quality and all the receipts I have for the missing chunk in the headlight and bumper brackets that I was told by Shauna there wasn't in "CQC spec" and was later repaired by carmax (still have receipt) was in spec at time of inspection then it is obvious it was not done properly and a lot of things were over looked. There's still the fact I was lead to believing by the sales lady at the Fairfield carmax that the car had no previous accidents... If I would of known of it I wouldn't be paying $28k for the car that to anywhere else now is worthless.

Quote:

And those "factored" appraisal issues... Francis said the guy who did the appraisal mentioned something with the RPM. I didn't touch anything but wheel spacers (comes right off) and short shifter... The short shifter does nothing to the RPMs. He's talking about the S-Mode (synchro rev match) that all sports packaged 370Z's have... It blips the RPMs to the right number every time you down shift so its smooth and precise shifting. Its factory and has a button to turn it off...

Zipper 104 · 11-06-2015, 03:25 PM

IMO, not that you're asking, is you need to decide right now whether you're going to use a lawyer or not. Now.
The first thing a lawyer would do is tell you to stop talking to them and let them do their thing. You've done too much of the 'trying to resolve this on your own' thing already. It's pretty clear at this point they're now just starting to dog you. This will continue until you give up in frustration. They'll simply out wait you. Either get a lawyer or get serious with your plans on turning up the heat using the media.

I hate hearing these kinds of stories and I really wish you the best of luck resolving this one to your satisfaction. I really do. This would eat me to the point of impacting my health.

104

Davey · 11-06-2015, 03:32 PM

$17000 is actually a pretty fair price for your car.

<- Shill for CarMax

Davey · 11-06-2015, 03:33 PM

Why not just take the $17000 trade-in for the car?

How much more than that do you think it's worth?

BamBamZ · 11-06-2015, 04:05 PM

They said

Quote:

I can certainly understand that frustration and your hesitation with that, Alan. That is precisely why we want to take the opportunity to address the repairs and complete the service so that we can prove that we stand by our vehicles. - Curt

I said

Quote:

That doesn't fix the Carfax and that your staff lied to me when I bought the car.

They said

Quote:

We take great pride in being completely transparent to our customers with all the information we possess on the vehicle. We did that with the AutoCheck report and guarantee the no frame or flood damage like I mentioned. I cannot speak to what may or may not have been present on the CarFax, but I feel great about the efforts our Modesto team made to address this situation properly in recognizing and trying to resolve your concerns. - Curt

I said

Quote:

I can tell we won't see eye to eye on this and I'm not giving up so easily. Have a good day.

they said

Quote:

Thanks, Alan, I hope you do the same. I'm disappointed that we weren't able to bring you the resolution you hoped for. Hope that you have a nice weekend. - Curt

I've reached out to Fox40 news and sent a transcript of events to a few attorneys that were referred to me...

One of which having a neat little video.

http://gwpconnectvideos.com/?rid=73&uid=664

I'll probably stop updating this with thorough details as to what goes on now as I'm sure the lawyer would tell me to stop...

And Davey, For that amount I was just going to keep the car... Until I found it had a screwed up carfax. I paid full price for a non wrecked car and got a wrecked car after all.

Davey · 11-06-2015, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BamBamZ

And Davey, For that amount I was just going to keep the car... Until I found it had a screwed up carfax. I paid full price for a non wrecked car and got a wrecked car after all.

OK but first of all, based on my quick check, $17K is what the car is worth, according to KBB and NADA, on average. I put in a 2009 Sport+touring with every option and 50K miles and even Excellent condition is only $900 more than they offered, and they NEVER will give you "Excellent." "Very good" is roughly $17,000. Is your car exceptionally low mileage or something? If so, it could be worth another $1000to $1500 more, roughly. So we're not talking about thousands and thousands of dollars you are out here, right?

Second, never have any faith in the dealer's inspection process. I learned that the hard way. I bought a "certified used" car and I had the same experience you did - it was wrecked, didn't show up on the Carfax, but once I thoroughly looked the car over, I could see it. I returned the car and was offered every dime I paid for it in trade on a different car, taxes included. I was happy with that, because I was not out any money.

They do not invest any time, effort, or money into the "inspection" beyond if it has some life left in the brake pads and the tires are not bald/no holes in the block. It's a joke. And the guys who do them do 10+ a day and they're not any kind of experts in anything.

So, next time, have a mechanic look at the car.

I wish you the best of luck in getting whatever diminished value you are out, but given the age of the car, I don't think you'll get a whole lot.

GSS138 · 11-06-2015, 05:38 PM

Ya know, even if it the A-hole manager would have said something like"Man dude we ****** up, how can we reimburse you? What's your price?" Would have been better than the snive little corporate "I'm a ******* know-it-all-***-fucker" attitude in his emails.

BamBamZ · 11-06-2015, 05:57 PM

Legally now, I can't say what I would settle for although its already been said, but now its going to cost them a bit more and legal fees.

BamBamZ · 11-06-2015, 08:29 PM

I'm not going for diminished value... I'm going for them to buy the car back from me for what I bought it for from them just 8 months/13K miles ago (37K now). Which is $28,871.63 and then some because now I have to go the legal route and will reach for every penny the attorney says I can probably get back (totaling $32,050.73 for what I have receipts for)

Davey · 11-07-2015, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BamBamZ

I'm not going for diminished value... I'm going for them to buy the car back from me for what I bought it for from them just 8 months/13K miles ago (37K now). Which is $28,871.63 and then some because now I have to go the legal route and will reach for every penny the attorney says I can probably get back (totaling $32,050.73 for what I have receipts for)

Oh, I thought you bought the car in 2009, since that's what you posted...

Quote:

Originally Posted by BamBamZ

-February 2009, I purchased the 2009 370Z Sport/Touring/Nav 6spd for $25K ($29K after everything was said and done, but put a $11K down payment)

... and since the price you paid made sense for a 2009 purchase. That wasn't a very good deal for last year. Also 2 CSC's in one year? On your dime? I also assumed that was over 5 years or so, but man, I guess you can't catch a break with this car, that sucks.

Anyway, you made the mistake of believing the 125 point inspection BS guaranteed you a car with no accident damage, now I hope you're not making the same mistake with the lawyer, because I think it's a stretch to say you'll get the full purchase price plus your maintenance expenses, etc. especially considering you did actually use the car for 13,000 miles. Remember, people selling you stuff lie. It's 100% guaranteed in life... I hope he's working on contingency.

BamBamZ · 11-07-2015, 06:38 PM

whoops... fixed that mistake. I've had it less than a year... And no it wasn't a very good deal to begin with. I have a warranty so I paid the $300 deductible the first time and the shop warranties the 2nd time so it didn't cost me.

I did make the mistake believing their "125+ point inspection". I'll take whatever I can get pretty much, It'll if anything settle out of court.

loiro370z · 11-07-2015, 07:01 PM

Get in touch with jalopnik.com.

LA370z · 11-07-2015, 07:53 PM

Even though they are not giving/offering you what you're expecting right now, they are attempting to work with so far. Most wouldn't even deal with it until it made it to court.

11-06-2015, 03:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
Zipper 104 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Canada's Wet Coast Posts: 480 Drives: '13 PW/Frost/Spt/AT Rep Power: 11	No lawyer IMO, not that you're asking, is you need to decide right now whether you're going to use a lawyer or not. Now. The first thing a lawyer would do is tell you to stop talking to them and let them do their thing. You've done too much of the 'trying to resolve this on your own' thing already. It's pretty clear at this point they're now just starting to dog you. This will continue until you give up in frustration. They'll simply out wait you. Either get a lawyer or get serious with your plans on turning up the heat using the media. I hate hearing these kinds of stories and I really wish you the best of luck resolving this one to your satisfaction. I really do. This would eat me to the point of impacting my health. 104

11-06-2015, 05:38 PM	#9 (permalink)
GSS138 Track Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Mission Viejo, CA Posts: 769 Drives: '12 370Z 6M Sport Rep Power: 14	Ya know, even if it the A-hole manager would have said something like"Man dude we **** up, how can we reimburse you? What's your price?" Would have been better than the snive little corporate "I'm a *** know-it-all-*-fucker" attitude in his emails. __________________ Current Mods: Vorpal Weapon +5.

11-07-2015, 07:01 PM	#14 (permalink)
loiro370z Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Miami Beach/Sao Paulo Posts: 409 Drives: 11 nissan 370z Rep Power: 23509	Get in touch with jalopnik.com. ViCiouS likes this.

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11-06-2015, 12:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
Davey A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Indiana Posts: 3,766 Drives: '15 NISMO 6MT Rep Power: 117172	Honestly, I'm not sure why anyone buys from them. What's the appeal?

11-06-2015, 03:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
Davey A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Indiana Posts: 3,766 Drives: '15 NISMO 6MT Rep Power: 117172	$17000 is actually a pretty fair price for your car. <- Shill for CarMax

11-06-2015, 03:33 PM	#6 (permalink)
Davey A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Indiana Posts: 3,766 Drives: '15 NISMO 6MT Rep Power: 117172	Why not just take the $17000 trade-in for the car? How much more than that do you think it's worth?

11-06-2015, 05:57 PM	#10 (permalink)
BamBamZ Base Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Mountain House, CA Posts: 95 Drives: Touring/Sport/6spd Rep Power: 11	Legally now, I can't say what I would settle for although its already been said, but now its going to cost them a bit more and legal fees.

11-06-2015, 08:29 PM	#11 (permalink)
BamBamZ Base Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Mountain House, CA Posts: 95 Drives: Touring/Sport/6spd Rep Power: 11	I'm not going for diminished value... I'm going for them to buy the car back from me for what I bought it for from them just 8 months/13K miles ago (37K now). Which is $28,871.63 and then some because now I have to go the legal route and will reach for every penny the attorney says I can probably get back (totaling $32,050.73 for what I have receipts for)

11-07-2015, 06:38 PM	#13 (permalink)
BamBamZ Base Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Mountain House, CA Posts: 95 Drives: Touring/Sport/6spd Rep Power: 11	whoops... fixed that mistake. I've had it less than a year... And no it wasn't a very good deal to begin with. I have a warranty so I paid the $300 deductible the first time and the shop warranties the 2nd time so it didn't cost me. I did make the mistake believing their "125+ point inspection". I'll take whatever I can get pretty much, It'll if anything settle out of court.

11-07-2015, 07:53 PM	#15 (permalink)
LA370z Base Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Louisiana Posts: 192 Drives: 2014 Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 10	Even though they are not giving/offering you what you're expecting right now, they are attempting to work with so far. Most wouldn't even deal with it until it made it to court.