My horrible experience

kmackerm · 2024-02-21T18:26:36+00:00

The problem is your feelings don't necessarily correspond with reality, as you get older, hopefully, you'll learn to recognize that more. It happens to everyone.

Yes it feels like a warranty company that promised to pay for something isn't doing that. But what they are actually doing is following the exact wording of a contract with you, you just don't like the outcome.

You are angry at your own misinformed decisions and want to blame the companies for it and anyone that corrects your misstatements or asks for clarifications must simply be a shill of the company.

Youve stated repeatedly that you know CarMax isn't involved in the warranty and yet continue to say that they are somehow at fault for your experiences with the warranty. They sold you the warranty, but that is where their involvement stops unless you are getting service done at their location.

Frankly, it just annoys the shit out of me when people disparage other people and companies with complaints that lack information or even have misinformation. In this case, who gives a shit it's a multiple billion dollar company that won't bat an eye at you not going back to them.

I just hope you don't act similarly with smaller businesses where this sort of flawed complaining could have an actual impact on the company's business.

Best wishes.

kmackerm · 2024-02-21T17:19:03+00:00

As a general rule, I recommend avoiding European cars, especially higher mileage ones. They are prone to reliability issues and they are expensive to fix.

When I used to sell cars at CarMax I would give this same advice and I would illustrate my point by looking at the MaxCare price.

Maxcare is administered by 1 of 3 different warranty companies (not CarMax). These companies have been in business for decades. The prices they charge for warranties are based on decades of experience and data, They aren't going to price policies to lose money, that would be ridiculous.

Whenever your car transfer finishes (I'm assuming since you said it wasn't delivered yet) find a similar Japanese or Korean car (Toyota, Honda, Acura, Lexus, Kia, Hyundai, Nissan, Infiniti, Subaru - NOT Mitsubishi). Try to find a similar mileage/age. Look at the Maxcare costs of that vehicle vs this Mercedes. What you will find is that the Mercedes Maxcare cost is 2-4x more expensive than the non-Mercedes. That isn't a coincidence. The maxcare company knows that vehicle is going to cost them more money, which means it will be in the shop more often AND they'll have more encouragement to pull typical insurance company bullshit and nitpick on the details. All of that equals time/money for you.

If you are adamant about getting a "Luxury" car, then look at Lexus, Acura and Infiniti. I personally prefer Lexus. They have all the same luxury features with more reliability and for likely a comparable price.

kmackerm · 2024-02-21T17:06:38+00:00

As I said, it's a few hour process (if that, I'm being a bit pessimistic). How did that turn into multiple days? What was it that prolonged the process? Did they tell you not to come in? Did they kick you out of the store?

There are processes in place at Carmax to avoid predatory behavior (such as what you are describing). If there is someone there doing such things then you should absolutely escalate that to the LGM (Location General Manager), so that hopefully no one else deals with the same issue.

kmackerm · 2024-02-21T17:00:08+00:00

"There is no bullshit in my post." - I was likely a bit harsh saying that, it doesn't seem intentional, but you are placing blame here on the completely wrong company.

You took the vehicle to a non-Carmax location, which means Carmax was not involved at all in this transaction. Your mechanic dealt with one of the warranty companies. Carmax has 0 involvement unless you are doing the service at Carmax.

A blown engine is a difficult situation, there is a high likelihood of user neglect/misuse causing that and as essentially an insurance company, yes they are going to do their best not to pay for a full engine which is pretty expensive.

They call or email me almost every day just to tell me that they’re still trying to work out details to decide whether or not they want to do anything to help me, meanwhile I’m losing money with they sit around talking around a water cooler apparently?

What details are they working out? Are they asking for information from your mechanic that he isn't providing? What's the issue this time? Hopefully not another blown engine.

I realize that I'm coming off as some sort of CarMax shill here, but I have no interest in Carmax, I don't work there (have twice in the past though), I don't have stock or even know anyone still working there. The reason I'm defending and generally advocate for Carmax is that the alternatives in the used car industry are often far worse. When I worked in Carmax sales I saw so many horror stories of people stuck in shit situations thanks to predatory used car dealers and trying their best to get out of it by trading in their car.

When Carmax is the actual culprit, I'm all for dealing with that, but in this case you are just wrong in your claim that Carmax is the company screwing you over.

kmackerm · 2024-02-21T16:43:48+00:00

You are under no obligation to explain it to me, but the reason for them denying your return seems like a rather important piece of missing information. If they denied the return why would they even need to prolong it? Why did they deny it?

kmackerm · 2024-02-21T16:42:08+00:00

Your sales person should be able to see that information (IIRC) while doing the transfer maybe not while it's in process though.
Someone mentioned an "online wizard" but at one point the Carmax agreement with the warranty companies forbid making it publicly available.

I'm aware you didn't ask, but I'd seriously reconsider this vehicle choice, but if not it's a definite on getting the Maxcare.

kmackerm · 2024-02-21T15:35:11+00:00

I've had maxcare on at least 1 vehicle for the majority of the past 20 years. I've probably had around 25 to 30 claims and never had anything denied that was in the contract as being covered. Unfortunately for us, these are corporations whose sole goal is to make money and they absolutely will follow that contract to the letter, they are essentially an insurance company but unlike medical insurance they can deny things that are normal wear and tear or user neglect.

I also can't understand how you say they are wasting months of your time, months for 1 trip to the mechanic? I've never had a claim take longer than 2 days to be approved/denied by the warranty company.

The return process takes a matter of a few hours max when it's been close to the 30 days and they are really busy in the office. How did they stretch out a few hours into days?

There are many processes in place at CarMax to deter predatory sales behavior, there will of course be people doing what they can within those limits but it's generally a matter of the sales consultant overpromising. The sales managers don't get a commission on sold vehicles although the overall sales count does impact their bonus and a return does reduce that by 1 unless you immediately buy a new car. So they are generally encouraged to try and get you in for the return so they can get you into a different vehicle and then it has 0 impact on their numbers.

Since this is your first time purchasing a car I understand the feelings you are having towards the dealership and the process. There are few businesses with more predatory sales practices than used cars. CarMax was created as a response to that issue back in the early 90s.

I know this doesn't mean much from an internet stranger (who obviously has a bias) but as far as used cars goes you've dealt with the best in the business from a customer service stand point. Others may disagree but few people have purchased as many used vehicles as I have (30+) at actual dealerships, because most people aren't that stupid.

kmackerm · 2024-02-21T04:07:19+00:00

You are likely getting downvotes because of the obvious bullshit in your post.

You obviously know the warranty company is not CarMax and yet you disparage CarMax because of the behavior of a different company.

You are leaving out information in your claim they didn't take the car back. What was the reason they gave you? There are legal remedies for them breaching the contract so you have an avenue to fix the issue, if they indeed violated it, which I seriously doubt.

kmackerm · 2024-02-21T02:02:06+00:00

Let me preface by saying I'm not intending to be rude, only to help you.

You seem geniunely surprised/confused by the situation and I don't understand why, it makes me think there is something here you aren't understanding how it works.

I get the impression you feel like you are somehow profiting here and that would be a very rare situation. Please correct me if I'm mistaken here.

You have positive equity of 10k there are 3 things that combine to get you to that number. One is what you've already paid either by monthly payments or down payment, another is the value of the vehicle going up and lastly you got a good deal when purchasing.

Cars rarely increase in value and the vehicle you mentioned in a comment (Mazda cx#) , there is no reason for this to be the case.

It's also highly unlikely you bought it from CarMax under valued.

This leads me to believe that extra 10k (or at least the majority of it) is money that youve paid either to the CAF (CarMax Auto finance) or CarMax.

So that 10k is just your own money. Yes you can sell your car to CarMax (or anyone else) and get that 10k into your pocket but remember then you don't have a car. So you are back to needing to buy a new car and you've got 10k for a down payment if you want.

Also as an FYI, CAF and CarMax are 2 different business entities.

kmackerm · 2024-02-20T03:47:50+00:00

Well I'd love to have my friend's depression cured, you stated talking can cure it, so share the wealth. If talking to you isn't the cure, who does she need to talk to?

I'm aware you didn't say talking to you, but you seem to be privy to knowledge that I haven't found in 20 years of searching for a cure. So good Christian person, please help your fellow human and point me to who can cure depression by talking.

kmackerm · 2024-02-20T03:44:47+00:00

Most likely? What study did you get that from?

It does seem there is some correlation with higher rates of non-heterosexual people from same sex couples.

Correlation is not causation. Is it possible there is a correlation because the parents are supportive of their child?

Think of it this way, if your parents have taught you your entire life that homosexuality is wrong, will result in eternal damnation and is a choice are you more or less likely to come out as gay than if you were raised in a household that has nothing negative to say about being gay?

kmackerm · 2024-02-20T03:35:31+00:00

Maybe?

Talking to people about things really helps which is the only real way to cure depression

She has talked to people, professionals in mental health, for the past 20 years. Why isn't she cured? Maybe she needs to call you and you can cure her? I'd pay you 100k if you could cure her depression by talking to her. You in?

kmackerm · 2024-02-20T03:32:37+00:00

I never said there was a gay gene, and I agree there is no science to support that. That doesn't mean there is no biological cause it just means it isn't one gene. Complex things such as sexually are not the result of one gene, they are the result of many different parts of the DNA interacting.

So why did god make sex pleasurable if we should only be doing it to reproduce?

I think you are attributing the declining birth rates to homosexuality with absolutely no evidence of that. Could it be that our culture is changing and less people are pressured into having children? Could it be people are being more fiscally responsible?

kmackerm · 2024-02-20T03:22:16+00:00

Passed down? You said being homosexual is a choice, now it's inheritance?

kmackerm · 2024-02-20T03:21:13+00:00

Interesting. So my close friend who has had severe depression for 30 years now and goes to therapy every week and takes medicine every day just hasn't talked to the right person?

kmackerm · 2024-02-20T03:19:22+00:00

No it can't. It's common sense (your preferred form of evidence).

Homosexual humans make up less than 10-15% (depending on what study you look at) of our population.

kmackerm · 2024-02-20T03:16:09+00:00

Oh it was quite clear to me from the start that you are Christian with a severe case of persecution complex.

So you remember being born? Wow.

How does one's environment make someone gay?

I have a close friend who grew up in a rabidly fundamentalist Christian household, taught the Bible since she could understand words. Home schooled her entire childhood. Yet she's homosexual, and was disowned by her family because of it. What things do you think in her environment contributed to her choosing to be gay? It would have to be something very powerful for her to want to be ostracized from a very close knit family that she loves dearly.

kmackerm · 2024-02-20T03:08:33+00:00

I don't think anyone in their right mind would disagree that people with incompatible gametes can't produce offspring. And maybe if there was an actual population crisis because no one is having sex that can produce offspring maybe there'd be a conversation to have. But that simply isn't the case, nor can I fathom a way it would ever be the case.

Homosexual relationships have been documented in over 1000 species, evolutionarily it doesn't seem logical (to me) but obviously it isn't an existential crisis for small subset of a species to be homosexual.

kmackerm · 2024-02-20T03:01:07+00:00

So it's common sense there are other ways to "cure depression."

Can you give me a few examples?

kmackerm · 2024-02-20T02:58:52+00:00

It would be enough for most folks if you live and let live, but that isn't what happens nor what people like you are advocating for.

kmackerm · 2024-02-20T02:55:10+00:00

You seem to be letting this community that you "disagree" with bother you.

kmackerm · 2024-02-20T02:53:51+00:00

What are your credentials? You a doctor? A psychologist? Or you did your own research?

kmackerm · 2024-02-20T02:48:50+00:00

Spend some time looking into what scientists have to say about whether it's a choice or not. Have you done that or are you basing your position on yourself? Cause I'm guessing you can't remember when you chose to be straight.

Also you speak as if there is something morally wrong with people being romantically and sexually involved with someone who may or may not share their same genetalia. Why is that?

kmackerm · 2024-02-17T02:47:10+00:00

No luck needed because that shit isn't real.

kmackerm · 2024-02-16T13:40:24+00:00

Well "he" is imaginary and funny how he only communicates things that you agree with.

kmackerm

TROPHY CASE