Car Buying Service?

[FredtheDuck]

Has anyone here used a car buying service (like the ones offered by Costco, AmEx, AAA, etc.)? What was your experience, and would you use them again?

 

[here757]

I have!!
The one at Costco made me put in my contact info.. I hate that with passion.
There was one offered through Usaa. It’s powered by trucar.. do not have to be a member I don’t think. I contacted them when I found car. Little better for me. I hate sales calls.
Anyhow used it twice and 1 time car was not as advertised. So my husband walked
Last time I used . I sent email in afternoon, they emailed me to come by.i get there find out car was picked up by another sister dealer . sOLD!
The car vans site scared me. They deliver the car! Site unseen. Takes 3 days?!
I basically went to the big dealers websites.. searched and called.

 

[Klayfish]

Haven't used them, but know plenty about them (cars are my life).

You won't get the best deal, but it'll save you some legwork and hassle with dealers.

 

[tvguy]

With only one exception, I have heard positive things.
A co-worker got a quote from Costco on a 2018 Honda HR-V, a good price. But the lone Honda dealer in the area not affiliated with Costco was $250 lower.

 

[here757]

I went head to head Costco and usaa.. generally usaa was cheaper.

 

[DLgal]

USAA beat out Costco by a large amount last year when we purchased a Honda. We got an amazing deal. The dealership BEGGED us to use their financing because they were literally not making a profit on the sale of the car. They matched the financing offer we had through USAA so we let them have it. Seriously, the price we paid was thousands less than other local dealers "best offers."

 

[MillauFr]

So much easier dealing with Costco or the person at the dealership who handles internet sales. Last time I went to buy I car I talked to the regular salesperson. When I asked what they would sell me the car for he pointed to the sticker price and I walked away and said no thanks. I have little tolerance for BS. He followed me back to my car but I was going to have none of that.

 

[tasha99]

I attempted to use the Costco service when I bought my Corolla, but it turned out the dealer had a cheaper deal. He said Costco was great on the more expensive cars, but not as good for their lower end cars, which often have promotional deals anyway.

 

[Judique]

Twice with my family.
Youngest daughter's car - we saw the Costco deal but I wasn't satisfied with it so we negotiated down from there to get a deal that felt right.

Older daughter did her own deal on a used car. She went with the Costco price and the dealer wouldn't honor it and wanted $3K more. Back to Costco and eventually the dealer sold the car at the Costco price.