Buying a Car on the Internet Sight Unseen

Buying a New Computer... Or Car... on the Internettrade-in (or wholesale), private party and retail.
For over two decades, Dell, Inc. has been wildlyTrade-in is what one would expect to get from a
successful at bypassing the traditional stores anddealer for one's used car - it is the lowest of the
selling computers directly to consumers,three averages, but it's important to know as a
custom-assembled according to a selection ofbaseline. Private party is what one would expect
options. The promise of convenience and savings,to get if one sells a car to another person, and
along with Dell's strong company reputation andretail is what one would pay for that car at a
their backbone of customer service have helpedused car dealership.
ease consumer fears of buying a relativelyThird Party Vehicle History Reports
expensive product sight unseen. Gateway andIn addition to the seller's honest word and
other computer makers have since embraced theavailability of service records our prudent
online medium and are now enjoying a similarinnovators tap into the same third party vehicle
success at a varying degree. It won't be longhistory report providers the rest of the used car
before buying a new car online is not going to bebuyers use. CARFAX and Experian's AutoCheck,
much different than ordering a new computer.initially serving the automotive professionals only,
Some German manufacturers have alreadyhave been available to the general public for a
caught on to this emerging trend. A BMWnumber of years now. For $24.99 CARFAX
enthusiast, for example, could configure and orderoffers 30 days and AutoCheck offers 60 days of
a new M6 months before its official entry into theunlimited vehicle history reports. These provide
US market. He or she could then track itsextensive reporting on the vehicles' recorded
progress through the manufacturing facility onlinehistory: date and type of registration and renewal
similarly to the way one would track the progressevents, as well as checking for recorded incidents,
of one's new Dell. However, buying a new carodometer rollbacks, junk, salvage, rebuilt titles,
online sight unseen is not a very risky proposition.insurance loss, theft, lemon buybacks, etc. Many
One knows what one is getting and there isdealers realize the convincing power of stating the
franchise dealer and a manufacturer standingrecorded facts and now offer free vehicle history
behind it.reports for the cars they sell.
Buying a Used Car on the Internet - a New BreedCar Inspections
of ShoppersIndependent vehicle appraisal/inspection services
What about the used car market online? How canwith online presence have also seen a boost in
consumers quantify the risk they are takingtheir business. For $99.95, CARCHEX offers to
buying a used car sight unseen to make sure it isgive any automobile a 155-point pre-purchase auto
justified by the savings of such purchase?inspection almost anywhere in the USA. Not too
Historically, conventional used car buyers havehigh a price for peace of mind, especially if it can
been able to kick its tires, take it for a spin, andsave one from having to deal with surprise
haggle over the asking price of the car they likerepairs. For half of this amount, one can find a
at their local dealer since the invention of themechanic in the local directory who can check out
automobile. Because of the internet, athe car and even take it for a test drive on one's
considerable number of these "conventional" usedbehalf and then fax a detailed report.
car buyers have found a myriad of ways toNevertheless, some of the more thrifty buyers
harness the power of the ever expanding onlinehave found ways to save themselves the nominal
automotive resources and tools available at theirfees mechanics charge without depriving
disposal to make informed buying decisions.themselves of the peace of mind of a pre-sale
It is from those online savvy buyers that a newinspection. Say, I live in Boston and happened to
breed has emerged - those who buy their usedfind a 1974 BMW 2002tii that I really wanted all
cars online, sight unseen. Although they representthe way in San Diego. Now, I would definitely
a relatively small portion of the used car buyers,want the car inspected prior to buying it. My
these brave souls see an unmatched advantagethrifty side, however, wants to avoid the $150
and find ways to minimize the risks. But what's infee a local company would charge me to inspect
it for them, one might ask? Simple, actually:the vehicle. The solution? I would ask a fellow
selection and price. The internet offers easymember of the BMW enthusiast community who
access to a vast selection of vehicles worldwide -lives in San Diego to take a look at the car for
online car portals, classifieds, conventional dealersme. There are plenty of BMW forum members
with online presence and pure online-only outfits,that would be more than happy to offer their
online used car brokers, to name but a few. Sincetime and expertise to a fellow east coast
most of them are looking for a specific vehicle,bimmerphile in need.
their chance of finding "the one" is far greaterShipping
online compared to the confines of their local area.There is a sea of car shipping companies that
Needless to say, virtually all of them are lookingwould gladly bring our pioneers their newly
for a bargain. Our brave souls take risks, butacquired vehicles home at a reasonable price. One
these are justified, at least in their eyes, becauseexample, Dependable Auto Shippers operate a
of the savings they realize by utilizing the onlinefleet of state-of-the-art, satellite tracked vehicle
channel. How do they do it? They, too, areshipping transporters, which allow one to track
well-armed with the online tools they need toone's car while it's on its way much like one would
make intelligent buying decisions. Here is howtrack a package. Yet, a healthy number of this
these online tools help them through thenew breed of used cars buyers opt for driving
decision-making and buying steps of the process.their new purchase home on their own instead.
Fair Market ValueIt's cheaper, it's faster, and admittedly, it's much
Determining whether a particular car is a bargain ismore exciting. Sellers specializing in online sales of
a function of understanding its fair market valuethis kind have also adapted to accommodate the
given its condition in the context of the currentdemands of this new kind of used car buyer.
supply and demand. For the non-economists, ofAirport pickups for our weary yet eager buyers
course, there are a number of excellent onlineare more or less industry standard, these days.
market valuation sources available. Kelley BlueSellers specializing exclusively in online sales,
Book, NADAGuides, are some of the most widelyproviding a hot meal for their 'guests' at the
used car pricing providers. They all base estimatesfamily table before they depart on their voyage
on a large number of recorded transactions andhome, is not unheard of.
provide appraisal adjustments for the year, make,Although buying a used car online sight unseen is
model, mileage, options, condition and even localnot for the faint of heart, it is a growing
market trends. As their appraisal algorithms differphenomenon, which if executed carefully, could be
slightly from each other, the estimates may vary,a very rewarding experience for all parties
so checking more than one source isinvolved.
recommended. There are three major price levels: