80% Of Buyers Want Option To Return Car Purchases.

A recent CarMax, Inc. poll of more than 28,000 car shoppers on carmax.com showed that 78 percent of car purchasers have, at one time or another, wished they could return a car within the first few days of buying it. Just 22 percent of respondents had never experienced buyer's remorse. When asked the question, "Have you ever wished you could return a car within the first few days of buying it?" visitors to http://www.carmax.com/ answered:

Answer Number of Respondents Percentage of Respondents

Yes 21,882 78 percent

No 6,172 22 percent

"An easy way to prevent buyer's remorse is to check the seller's policy on returns or exchanges before the purchase, much like you do when shopping for other merchandise," said Joe Kunkel, senior vice president of marketing and strategy for CarMax. "CarMax offers a five-day, money-back guarantee. This is just another aspect of the car-buying process when it pays to be fully informed before signing a contract."

"Consumers should also be wary of retailers offering an exchange policy rather than a return option," Kunkel said. "Even if they offer to exchange the vehicle later, you may not be able to find the exact vehicle that you want
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Agent004 - 9/27/2006 12:23:17 PM

+1 Boost

Or, dealerships should have some sort of program where you pay 1 months worth of the car and you get the car for 1 week of use. This way you get 7 days to try it out and see if you like it day to day. Make sure the seat doesn't cause any back trouble or what not.

Chip-

bubbahotep - 9/27/2006 2:13:47 PM

+1 Boost

Agreed. No harm, no foul...You can't get the full try out from a 'test drive' with a salesman clammering in your ear. Plus there are some features you just won't get to or find out about until you have had the car for at least a week.

mstangpny07 - 9/27/2006 4:41:38 PM

+1 Boost

Dosen't Chrysler have a limited time 30-day return policy right now?

Loki - 9/27/2006 5:03:57 PM

+1 Boost

Why not just invest time and energy in educating yourself by getting familiar with your target vehicle purchase. A car is a big ticket item and therefore you should take more time with your research before purchasing. The 78% of consumers didn't do the above obviously...or they bought a GM vehicle.

bigslick83 - 9/27/2006 6:48:55 PM

+1 Boost

their is the lemon law, and a 30 day return policy for new chrysler vehicles at my dealership. however i have never seen one returned (new or used) because of our exstinsive delivery presentations. we also do things like loaner cars for service appointments in the first year; 48hr, 7 day, and 30 day follow ups; and trade in promising (write up the deal w/o trade-in if you think the offer is unfair. then if you cant sell your car for your price in 30 days, we will still give you what we promised we would in the deal) however we dont let you drive a car off the lot that we own w/o a salesman, and we dont sell the car on the test drive, it sells itslef. we just answer questions if they come up. can you move into a house just for a week or a month and then decide you dont want it? i think not

matt635 - 9/27/2006 7:13:42 PM

+1 Boost

So if you've specced up your brand new car exactley the way you want it, then decide it's actually not what you wanted... the dealer should take it back and give you a refund?

why the hell would they want to do that, the car would then go into an 'approved used car scheme' adn teh dealer would have to sell it for substantially less than list. Where exactley is the dealers incentive to help retarted buyers change their mind after the purchase has been made.

The only way it should happen is for a 7 day return in exchange for a partial refund.

bigslick83 - 9/27/2006 8:06:58 PM

+1 Boost

they sometimes charge a "re-stocking" fee to cover some of the losses if the car has had miles put on it. if it stays less than 100 (a day or so of driving) they can still say it is new. it really has to do with if the vehicle was titled yet already.

JaguarXKR1 - 9/27/2006 9:36:28 PM

+1 Boost

You know, I have been involved in trading in a car for a different one within 2 months at carmax. I have to agree with LOKI, but when you are compelled to purchasing a unit from a pre-owned car lot you risk someone else buying it from under you. At the time you find the car, price, color, etc. - You find yourself somewhat in duress to hold on to your ideal vehicle. My return was not due to problems, it was because the Mercedes Benz I purchased did not hold up to the ride I was expecting. CARMAX was great to deal with and I plan to continue business with them. Remember, a test drive does not equate to driving the vehicle after the excitement wears off. CARMAX does have a 5 day return policy as well.

bubbahotep - 9/28/2006 9:06:29 AM

+1 Boost

It doesn't matter how much research you do on a vehicle. The only way to know if you really like a vehilce is to have it for at least a week...period. I see nothing wrong with a restocking fee though. I researched my vehile for months. Test drove for the usual 10-20 minutes... Later dicovered that the sunroof lets in rediculous amounts of wind noise if opened on the highway. There is no way I would have known this when I bought because it was November and raining that day... I also 'drag' the bottom of my driveway because the car sits so low...something else I didn't know until I brought it home..

bigslick83 - 9/28/2006 10:15:07 AM

+1 Boost

i think if you call around you could get alot of cars for a rental, a lot of people who come in to purchase a new vehicle from me already love the car because they rented one on buisness, vacation etc. it would be better if every1 did this, and maybe got a discount if they had a deal with the dealership, like you can rent this car for 1 week, if you like it you can buy it from xyz dealership and they will re-imburse you for the rental car. now that would be kickass