Comments on: Using Costco to Buy a Car http://addictedtocostco.com/2008/06/27/using-costco-to-buy-a-car/ Just a few of the reasons why I love Costco Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:32:03 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.3 hourly 1 By: Kimberly http://addictedtocostco.com/2008/06/27/using-costco-to-buy-a-car/#comment-8875 Kimberly Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:13:54 +0000 http://addictedtocostco.com/2008/06/27/using-costco-to-buy-a-car/#comment-8875 Here's the reply that I got via Costco.com's Customer Support form: "There should not be an additional $750.00 fee in order to use the Costco Auto Program. For further information, please contact our Costco Auto Program directly at 800-755-2519." So, pretty much as I'm sure we all expected, the car dealer was being something far less than honest. Ernesto, I really do hope that you report this specific dealership and salesperson to the folks at the Costco Auto Program before he tries this trick on someone else that isn't smart enough to walk away from such a lousy situation. Here’s the reply that I got via Costco.com’s Customer Support form:

“There should not be an additional $750.00 fee in order to use the Costco Auto Program. For further information, please contact our Costco Auto Program directly at 800-755-2519.”

So, pretty much as I’m sure we all expected, the car dealer was being something far less than honest.

Ernesto, I really do hope that you report this specific dealership and salesperson to the folks at the Costco Auto Program before he tries this trick on someone else that isn’t smart enough to walk away from such a lousy situation.

]]> By: Kimberly http://addictedtocostco.com/2008/06/27/using-costco-to-buy-a-car/#comment-8860 Kimberly Thu, 04 Mar 2010 07:04:48 +0000 http://addictedtocostco.com/2008/06/27/using-costco-to-buy-a-car/#comment-8860 I have not received a response from customer support through Costco.com yet. However, I went specifically to the auto program webpages and submitted my question there. If you would like to do the same (and I think you really, really should) you can find them here: <a href="https://www.costcoauto.com/talktous2/" rel="nofollow">https://www.costcoauto.com/talktous2/</a> They also list an 800 number that you can call for questions or assitance (800.755.2519) And for anyone else that is looking for some information about this Costco Auto Program, they have a great video detailing how it works here: <a href="http://www.costcoauto.com/media/howitworks/default.aspx" rel="nofollow">http://www.costcoauto.com/media/howitworks/default.aspx</a> I have not received a response from customer support through Costco.com yet. However, I went specifically to the auto program webpages and submitted my question there. If you would like to do the same (and I think you really, really should) you can find them here: https://www.costcoauto.com/talktous2/
They also list an 800 number that you can call for questions or assitance (800.755.2519)

And for anyone else that is looking for some information about this Costco Auto Program, they have a great video detailing how it works here: http://www.costcoauto.com/media/howitworks/default.aspx

]]> By: Kimberly http://addictedtocostco.com/2008/06/27/using-costco-to-buy-a-car/#comment-8846 Kimberly Wed, 03 Mar 2010 08:19:51 +0000 http://addictedtocostco.com/2008/06/27/using-costco-to-buy-a-car/#comment-8846 That's pretty similar to the tactic that I use too. Unfortunately, the Austin dealers don't always have the most up to date websites and don't always put their inventory on their sites. The real problem is that they apparently think they've got a very closed market but of the two cars we've bought since we've been in Austin, neither of them has actually been from an Austin dealer. We found a great credit union for financing. If you're a member, or can be a member, you should really check them out because they almost always have the best rates for auto financing. Yes, here's to hoping for a long life for your car! :-) That’s pretty similar to the tactic that I use too. Unfortunately, the Austin dealers don’t always have the most up to date websites and don’t always put their inventory on their sites. The real problem is that they apparently think they’ve got a very closed market but of the two cars we’ve bought since we’ve been in Austin, neither of them has actually been from an Austin dealer.

We found a great credit union for financing. If you’re a member, or can be a member, you should really check them out because they almost always have the best rates for auto financing.

Yes, here’s to hoping for a long life for your car! :-)

]]> By: ernesto http://addictedtocostco.com/2008/06/27/using-costco-to-buy-a-car/#comment-8845 ernesto Wed, 03 Mar 2010 08:16:42 +0000 http://addictedtocostco.com/2008/06/27/using-costco-to-buy-a-car/#comment-8845 the "bad" experience was on sunday afternoon...sunday night, i did my online research and got emails and calls monday morning. by doing most of this online, you can search inventories on specific dealer website, get the VIN, and go from there. This is what I did..I found the specific color combo online, did the deals over phone/email, and just applied for financing at the dealership. no hassles, no stress, and the dealership didnt seem dishonest at all...unlike the previous one. hopefully, both of us don't have to buy cars soon.... the “bad” experience was on sunday afternoon…sunday night, i did my online research and got emails and calls monday morning. by doing most of this online, you can search inventories on specific dealer website, get the VIN, and go from there.

This is what I did..I found the specific color combo online, did the deals over phone/email, and just applied for financing at the dealership. no hassles, no stress, and the dealership didnt seem dishonest at all…unlike the previous one.

hopefully, both of us don’t have to buy cars soon….

]]> By: Kimberly http://addictedtocostco.com/2008/06/27/using-costco-to-buy-a-car/#comment-8844 Kimberly Wed, 03 Mar 2010 08:06:24 +0000 http://addictedtocostco.com/2008/06/27/using-costco-to-buy-a-car/#comment-8844 I wonder how they do the car search. Like, do they actually do it themselves or do it through a dealer. I know it's going to sound like I have a car buying story for everything but... When I bought my last car the Austin dealer told me there was no way that they could find me the car that I wanted, no one had it in stock in all of the southern US. However, when I called a dealer in Houston they had the exact car that I was looking for - color, options, everything - and I bought it the next day. It's all this kind of hassle and dishonesty that makes me HATE buying a car. I wonder how they do the car search. Like, do they actually do it themselves or do it through a dealer. I know it’s going to sound like I have a car buying story for everything but… When I bought my last car the Austin dealer told me there was no way that they could find me the car that I wanted, no one had it in stock in all of the southern US. However, when I called a dealer in Houston they had the exact car that I was looking for – color, options, everything – and I bought it the next day.

It’s all this kind of hassle and dishonesty that makes me HATE buying a car.

]]> By: ernesto http://addictedtocostco.com/2008/06/27/using-costco-to-buy-a-car/#comment-8843 ernesto Wed, 03 Mar 2010 08:02:13 +0000 http://addictedtocostco.com/2008/06/27/using-costco-to-buy-a-car/#comment-8843 thanks for the feedback. I did contact them through costco.com but still waiting for response. reading a lot online about what people are saying about the program. seems like mixed results. the customer service was pretty poor. they weren't willing to find me a particular car with my specifications. they said they tried to look but couldnt find one in all of southern california. ...then of course they said they located one but it had all this extra stuff on it that they would sell to me at cost plus $200 to get it from the other dealer. i'm not going to cancel my membership at all cause the positives with costco are still many...just disappointed with this program as it didn't turn out as i was hoping. pls let me know what you find out. thanks for sharing your story also. thanks for the feedback.
I did contact them through costco.com but still waiting for response.

reading a lot online about what people are saying about the program. seems like mixed results.

the customer service was pretty poor. they weren’t willing to find me a particular car with my specifications. they said they tried to look but couldnt find one in all of southern california. …then of course they said they located one but it had all this extra stuff on it that they would sell to me at cost plus $200 to get it from the other dealer.

i’m not going to cancel my membership at all cause the positives with costco are still many…just disappointed with this program as it didn’t turn out as i was hoping.

pls let me know what you find out. thanks for sharing your story also.

]]> By: Kimberly http://addictedtocostco.com/2008/06/27/using-costco-to-buy-a-car/#comment-8842 Kimberly Wed, 03 Mar 2010 07:41:55 +0000 http://addictedtocostco.com/2008/06/27/using-costco-to-buy-a-car/#comment-8842 I'm going to write to the customer support people at Costco and ask them about this because I think it is so ridiculous. I'll post back anything I find out. I’m going to write to the customer support people at Costco and ask them about this because I think it is so ridiculous. I’ll post back anything I find out.

]]> By: Kimberly http://addictedtocostco.com/2008/06/27/using-costco-to-buy-a-car/#comment-8841 Kimberly Wed, 03 Mar 2010 07:39:32 +0000 http://addictedtocostco.com/2008/06/27/using-costco-to-buy-a-car/#comment-8841 I'm going to guess that the particular dealer was trying to make his bit on the top and thought you would go for it. My husband and I had a similar situation when buying an Infinity. We were supposed to be able to get a certain price through the Nissan partner discount program, but the dealer just lied and said it was going to have to be more; think he had reasons but none were believable. We ended up going to a different dealer, in Dallas, and got the correct price. Funny thing is that they actually ended up selling us the car from the Austin dealership. In any case, my point is that car dealers don't always have a level of honesty with regards to pricing and these programs. I would definitely report the dealer to Costco because I'm positive that he was totally making things up about there being a fee. Much like you I have to believe that it wouldn't be worth it for people to use the program if there was such an enormous fee. I’m going to guess that the particular dealer was trying to make his bit on the top and thought you would go for it. My husband and I had a similar situation when buying an Infinity. We were supposed to be able to get a certain price through the Nissan partner discount program, but the dealer just lied and said it was going to have to be more; think he had reasons but none were believable. We ended up going to a different dealer, in Dallas, and got the correct price. Funny thing is that they actually ended up selling us the car from the Austin dealership. In any case, my point is that car dealers don’t always have a level of honesty with regards to pricing and these programs.

I would definitely report the dealer to Costco because I’m positive that he was totally making things up about there being a fee. Much like you I have to believe that it wouldn’t be worth it for people to use the program if there was such an enormous fee.

]]> By: ernesto http://addictedtocostco.com/2008/06/27/using-costco-to-buy-a-car/#comment-8840 ernesto Wed, 03 Mar 2010 07:31:08 +0000 http://addictedtocostco.com/2008/06/27/using-costco-to-buy-a-car/#comment-8840 I tried it but it didnt work out for me. The dealer said that using that program there is an $750 fee. They tried to charge me that when I was there. I'm planning on giving feedback about it costco. I didnt think there was any associated fee like that...otherwise why would people go through it. Instead, i did my own research online through edmunds.com and cars direct, got different dealers to contact me and i got a 2010 acura tsx for 26998 (including destination charges). The invoice price on costcos website is $26959. plus 1.9% APR for 3 years. I tried it but it didnt work out for me. The dealer said that using that program there is an $750 fee. They tried to charge me that when I was there. I’m planning on giving feedback about it costco. I didnt think there was any associated fee like that…otherwise why would people go through it.

Instead, i did my own research online through edmunds.com and cars direct, got different dealers to contact me and i got a 2010 acura tsx for 26998 (including destination charges). The invoice price on costcos website is $26959. plus 1.9% APR for 3 years.

]]> By: umbriago http://addictedtocostco.com/2008/06/27/using-costco-to-buy-a-car/#comment-355 umbriago Wed, 02 Jul 2008 03:13:19 +0000 http://addictedtocostco.com/2008/06/27/using-costco-to-buy-a-car/#comment-355 Hey, I did, too! Two years ago. I am not much of a haggler, but I am much of a cheapskate, so I decided to give it a try. Basically, it worked this way: I chose the car I wanted, submitted my info, and in a day or so I got a call from the designated Costco dealer. I went in, picked out a car from available stock (I'm also not choosy), and they said "this is the price," and it was about $1,500 off MSRP. This was during GM's 0% financing offer, almost two years ago to the day, and when you combine the Costco price with 0% financing, it was a no-brainer. (I got a Pontiac Vibe, which gets about 35 MPG, so I could not be happier today.) Hey, I did, too! Two years ago. I am not much of a haggler, but I am much of a cheapskate, so I decided to give it a try. Basically, it worked this way: I chose the car I wanted, submitted my info, and in a day or so I got a call from the designated Costco dealer. I went in, picked out a car from available stock (I’m also not choosy), and they said “this is the price,” and it was about $1,500 off MSRP. This was during GM’s 0% financing offer, almost two years ago to the day, and when you combine the Costco price with 0% financing, it was a no-brainer. (I got a Pontiac Vibe, which gets about 35 MPG, so I could not be happier today.)

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