Women Say Car Buying Remains a Hassle, According to Survey

How to (Really) Buy a Car - Get Smart Not Screwed
Find Your Perfect New Car Match

RICHMOND, Va November 18, 2011; Buying a car remains a hassle for women, according to a recent poll conducted for CarMax, Inc. , the nation's largest retailer of used cars. When asked about their last car buying experience, more than a quarter of women felt they were not getting an effortless and quick transaction. A fair trade-in value and trustworthy salespeople were also cited as the other missing factors when buying a vehicle. These results changed very little from a survey conducted two years ago.

"Women have busy, demanding lives. The CarMax experience was designed to save time even when making a purchase as important as your next vehicle” says Donna Wassel, Southwest regional vice president of CarMax. “Because our process is transparent, easy and fast we take the hassle out of buying a car."

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		Percentage in 2011		Percentage in 2009
A quick, effortless transaction		26		25
A fair trade-in value		15		19
A trustworthy salesperson		15		15
Low, fair pricing		15		13
A reasonable finance rate		13		13
Respect		3		2

Both surveys were 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 October 4-11, 2011 and August 17-19, 2009. In both surveys, 13 percent of respondents had not purchased a vehicle.

CarMax offers the following tips for women car shoppers:

1. Go online to research, compare vehicle specs, types, makes, models, options, features, and original prices at sites like New and Used Car Buyers Guide. Visit consumer friendly websites such as The Auto Channel and carmax.com to search thousands of cars, see actual prices, view multiple photos, obtain vehicle history reports, read customer reviews and more.

   Editors Note: BEWARE of sites that profess that they have "true" selling prices, or spout that their blue, red, orange or black "book" can accuratly tell you what your car is worth. We think going to a Carmax location and getting a firm real price is the only way to know what your used car is worth and what you should honestly pay for a used car. Remember the used car you are considering is the only one exactly like it in the world, and no book or web site can tell you exacly what you should really pay or sell it for.

2. Print out fact sheets or information about the vehicles you are interested in, and have them ready when you step onto the lot.
3. 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.
4. If you have been pre-approved for a car loan, bring the approval letter with you.
5. Find a car retailer and salesperson you like and trust by asking friends and family for referrals.
6. Try a retailer like CarMax, 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.
7. 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.
8. Have confidence in your car shopping abilities. You have done your research and are prepared to make a smart car buying decision.
9. Do not hesitate to ask lots of questions; as many as you need so that you understand exactly what you are paying for.
10. Be prepared to walk away if you are unhappy with your car buying experience.

About CarMax

CarMax, a member of the FORTUNE 500 and the S&P 500, and one of the FORTUNE 2011 100 Best Companies to Work For, is the nation's largest retailer of used cars. Headquartered in Richmond, Va., CarMax currently operates 107 used car superstores in 52 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, 2011, the company retailed 396,181 used cars and sold 263,061 wholesale vehicles at our in-store auctions.