Are you currently in the market for a used car? Do you find yourself looking into options such as Carvana for your new vehicle? If so, then you might want to rethink that option.
While Carvana offers you the opportunity to buy online, that accessibility comes at a price. A price that most customers aren’t willing to sacrifice. In fact, many customers have reported their unhappiness with Carvana’s business model as of late.
Be sure to read below for an in-depth guide that highlights reasons why you should stay away from Carvana (and other services like it), and opt to buy from a car dealership instead.
The Drawbacks of Carvana
Too many times we’ve had our clients come to us after experiencing difficulties with sites/services like Carvana. So much so that we decided to make a blog article about it.
While Carvana tries to flaunt its vast car selection, the service’s attention to detail falls flat. See below for several drawbacks of using Carvana to purchase a used car.
1. No Negotiations
One of the best parts about the used car buying process is getting the chance to negotiate with the seller. It’s the part where both the buyer and seller can work out a price that makes sense for both sides.
Unfortunately, that opportunity goes by the wayside when you decide to shop through Carvana.
What’s even more frustrating for clients is that Carvana doesn’t communicate that to its interested buyers. It’s almost as if they try to hide their “no-haggle” philosophy. Many buyers get to the point of purchase before being told that they don’t negotiate.
They try to say this is convenient for you, but it’s not. It gives them all the control when it comes to price. You have zero leverage in your corner.
Instead, opt to shop at a car dealership. We at Prieto Automotive take great pride in working out deals that meet our client’s needs, unlike Carvana, Carmax, and the like.
2. Shocking Delivery Costs
Carvana tries to act as if they’re a national convenience for any American, but really, they play heavy favorites to their hometown of Atlanta, Georgia.
If you don’t live within a 75-mile radius of Atlanta, Carvana’s headquarters, then you have to pay for delivery. Believe us, that cost will add up quickly. Depending on where you live, it can be up to $1,000. That’s hardly feasible.
What’s more inconvenient is that the car doesn’t get shipped to you, it gets shipped to the nearest Carvana “vending machine”. Depending on where you live, that could still be quite a ways away.
Imagine the horror of finding a car that you think fits your budget, then being told there’s an additional delivery fee. Make no mistake about it, Carvana will hold off telling you there’s a delivery fee for as long as possible.
3. Prices Are Higher
If a car seller were to tell you that they had a no-haggle policy, you might assume it’s because they’re already giving you a competitive price, right? Not in Carvana’s case.
We’ve seen it many times. Carvana spikes up the cost of all cars in their inventory to make sure you’re the one covering the costs of their business model.
We guarantee you, you’re much more likely to find great deals on used cars at one of our car dealerships under Prieto Automotive. We’re willing to work with you to find a car and a price that fits your needs.
If you don’t believe that Carvana spikes the price on their cars, then do a little research of your own. Look into the average resale price for the make, model, and year of the car you’re looking into. We can almost guarantee Carvana’s price is higher.
Why You Should Go to a Car Dealership Instead
Now that you’ve seen several reasons that customers are frustrated with Carvana, be sure to avoid that pain by going to a car dealership instead. Why? We’re glad you asked!
First, going to a used car dealership allows you the freedom to test drive any car that you want.
Carvana has a weird test driving policy where they allow a certain number of “test-drive miles”, then add a $1 fee for every mile that you exceed. That’s hardly a way to do business. We allow you to test drive as much as you’d like to get a feel for the car.
Second, a car dealership has a knowledgeable staff to help you out. They can help you learn about any car on their lot and why it’s a great fit for your needs.
Unlike Carvana, the representatives at Prieto Automotive dealerships keep an open ear. They listen to your biggest needs, then point you in the direction of cars that will answer your pain points.
Lastly, and we’ve mentioned this before, we encourage open negotiations. We want to make sure that the price of the car makes sense for your situation.
Unlike Carvana, we aren’t in it to fill our own pockets. Our goal is to set you up with a car price that’s perfect for your budget so that you can enjoy it for the long haul.
Skip Carvana: Visit a Prieto Dealership Instead
Now that you have seen all of the different reasons to visit a car dealership instead of using Carvana, be sure to use this information to your advantage.
Start by reading this article for more info on the best car dealerships in Fresno that you should visit.
For more inquiries, please be sure to reach out via our contact us page and we will be happy to assist you further.
