CarMax.com Site Puts Consumers in Control
14 March 2000
CarMax.com Site Puts Consumers in Control
RICHMOND, Va.--March 14, 2000--Most Productive Online Auto Sites
CarMax announced today that it has added new features and functionality to its CarMax.com site, offering consumers the best possible information for making an online car-buying decision.
In making the announcement, CarMax President Austin Ligon said, "The new CarMax.com gives consumers total control of their Web car-buying experience by providing actual inventory with actual firm prices 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Consumers no longer need to wait for a quote, worry about vehicle availability or limit vehicle searches to their local area."
What The New CarMax.com Offers Consumers
-- Complete Price Information - Consumers can retrieve actual new-and used-car prices on more than 10,000 vehicles, including invoice, Manufacturer Suggested Retail and Kelley Blue Book price comparisons. No confidential information, such as telephone numbers, street or e-mail addresses are required. It also is not necessary to contact a salesperson.
-- Direct-Purchase Savings - Consumers logging onto CarMax.com at www.carmax.com can purchase their vehicle directly from a CarMax location, eliminating middleman costs associated with most online buying services.
-- Actual Inventory - Shoppers have direct access to CarMax's actual 10,000-car, new-and used-car inventory with approximately 2,500 new and used vehicles added each week.
-- Unlimited National Search - The site offers consumers an easy, automatic search of CarMax vehicles at locations across the country. The CarMax inventory also includes an automatic national search of hard-to-find specialty vehicle brands, such as Mercedes Benz, BMW, Saab, Volvo and Lexus.
-- Fast Search and Sort Capability - CarMax.com allows shoppers to quickly and easily find the vehicle that best suits their needs using the site's vehicle comparison function. The unique function offers highly detailed side-by-side comparisons between any combination of new, used and ValuMax cars.
-- Kelley Blue Book(TM) Trade-in Estimator - Vehicle trade-in estimates can be easily determined by clicking on to CarMax.com's link to the Kelley Blue Book trade-estimator.
-- Site Payment Calculator - The site also offers a payment calculator that provides monthly payment estimates, including the vehicle price, optional extended warranty, down payment, financing terms and a "What Can You Afford?" feature.
CarMax.com Already One Of Nation's Most Productive Auto Sites
CarMax.com is already becoming one of the nation's most productive direct-purchase sites. The site is generating more than 10 percent of company new-car sales. This is nearly four times the national average according to a recent J.D. Power & Associates study. The study reported that only 2.7 percent of new vehicles were sold via the nation's car websites in 1999.
"Reaching this milestone is particularly significant at a time when many consumers are dissatisfied with their Web shopping experience," said Ligon. "It confirms CarMax.com's growing popularity among consumers in search of a superior direct buying experience."
Consumers Thrilled With Car-Buying Experience At CarMax.com
Consumers throughout America have overwhelmingly expressed satisfaction with their online buying experience at CarMax.com. Victoria Markey of Houston, Texas said, "I looked up the CarMax website. I found the car I wanted and bought it the next day! The web site is fabulous." Ms. Markey added, "This is the first place where I wasn't treated inferior or ignorant because I'm a woman. Believe me, this is important!"
John Hester of Reno, Nevada, reinforced Ms. Markey's enthusiasm. "We located the car we purchased on the Internet, did the transaction over the phone. The salesperson was great!"
Finally, Charmain Helsler of Orland Park, Illinois had this to say, "I loved that I found my car on your website. I walked in and said 'show me this car' - I saw it, loved it and bought it! It was so easy!"
CarMax.com Offers Great New Cars
CarMax offers consumers a wide-ranging assortment of new domestic and import vehicles online at www.carmax.com. Shoppers can browse CarMax's entire 10,000-car, new-and used-car inventory. The online inventory includes a description of each car, the actual price and vehicle location. CarMax new-car franchise markets and brands include:
Atlanta - Chrysler, Jeep, Mitsubishi and Plymouth
Chicago/Milwaukee - BMW, Chevrolet, Ford, Jeep, Mitsubishi, Nissan and Toyota
Dallas/Ft. Worth - Chrysler, Jeep and Plymouth
Greenville, S.C. - Nissan
Los Angeles - Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Mitsubishi and Plymouth
Orlando - Chrysler, Jeep and Plymouth
Washington, D.C./Baltimore - Mitsubishi, Nissan and Toyota
CarMax, a subsidiary of Circuit City Stores, Inc. , is the pioneer of the auto superstore concept and has been revolutionizing the way consumers think about automobile purchases since opening its first store in Richmond, Va., in 1993. CarMax operates 40 locations, including 20 new-car franchises and 34 used-car superstores. For more information, access the CarMax web site at www.carmax.com(SM).