Q. When Carsala was first announced in July 2009, the press release said, "The company's extensive vetting process, which includes CARFAX reports, as well as its employees' own insights based on more than one hundred years of auto industry experience, works to ensure that the customer is buying a reliable vehicle." Yet, the disclaimer on your sample premium report says, "We cannot guarantee … that the cars are of any particular quality." Which is the more accurate statement?
A. They are both true. We help our customers with quality control, but we cannot guarantee the quality of a car we don't own and for which the customer does not want an inspection for example. Ultimately, despite our assistance, it is the buyer's responsibility just as with any other used car purchase. (Editor's note: Amen to that.)
In the past, we reviewed the CARFAX report for every car we negotiated for (as noted in that early press release). Since then, Carfax has increased its prices and some customers have indicated they don't value Carfax reports. As a result, we no longer do that as part of our standard process. Vehicle history reports and inspections are add-on services (for which we do not charge to coordinate). If the customer wants vehicle history reports (and wants to pay for them), we will run the reports for her and supply the reports with our negotiation results. If she wants a mechanic inspection (and wants to pay for it), we will arrange the inspection.
In all cases, our negotiators are listening for any hint that there is a problem and they explicitly ask the dealers about the quality of the car. In virtually all cases, our customers want to kick the tires themselves before buying.
Q. Explain a little more about your car inspection process that consumers can take advantage of. How does it work? How much does it cost? And, do the inspectors follow a set checklist? Are all of the inspectors experienced mechanics with an understanding of auto body work?
A. Carsala does not conduct inspections directly. If a customer wants an inspection, we will arrange it (for free) with well-established inspection companies. These companies employ ASE certified mechanics, use rigorous checklists, and generally charge $49-$129 (which is not included in Carsala's fee). Our goal is help the buyer get the best at every turn - trade-in, purchase, financing, inspection, etc. Our expertise is purchasing and we help the buyer get the best of the rest.
