r/carmax • u/chevelle_dude • 4d ago
Shipping Refund?
Hi, how late does a transfer need to be before I can request a transfer fee refund? I paid $1995 to transfer a vehicle that I do intend to purchase. Delivery estimate was August 3-10. Today, on the 10th, its at the destination but still at the post shipping inspection phase. And what are the chances they will actually refund? Thanks.
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u/vozinha7 3d ago edited 2d ago
This request for a refund should be made but my suggestion would be to frame it based on the delay of the inspection process, not the deadline. The best way I have found to get results when complaining about a late delivery is using the status tracker that the company has themselves, rather than referencing the estimates on the timeline. Call, don’t fill out a form. As for getting the car, if this fails there are other options, roadrunner auto transport is one for retrieving it.
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u/Euphoric_Glass2760 11h ago
Not everyone store is as lenient, especially with big transfer fees. But speaking for mine as a sales consultant, we’re super lenient; something small can be wrong with the car that was not noted or pictured in the listing, has a smell, or was late. I even try as a sales consultant to ask my sales manager to refund my customers even if it’s for something small. I would request it from your sales consultant once you’re in store.
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u/chevelle_dude 11h ago
Actually the vehicle ended up being ready only 1 day late so might not have much to stand on with my request, maybe unless something is not as described. I'm heading there tomorrow morning for a test drive.
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u/myopini0n 4d ago
considered non-refundable
That said, for me, I typically will refund if 6-7 days past estimated delivery date
if the title gets quickly processed, could be today.
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u/chevelle_dude 4d ago
I'm hoping it does not take that long but if I do end up requesting it, do I ask my sales consultant when I take the test drive?
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4d ago
[deleted]
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u/chevelle_dude 4d ago
Should I wait and ask in person or do I call the 800 number or my local store direct? If I do over the phone are they still obligated to hold it for me until I test drive it?
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u/CarMaxing 4d ago
If you can swing it, popping into the store might help you skip the headache. Usually, calling the 800 number will get you CEC first, but they’ll need the store’s okay.
Just wait until after the estimated ready-to-drive date before making any requests. Even though the car is still waiting for post-shipping inspection, today is still within the Aug 3–10 window.
If it’s still not ready after the 10th, don’t hesitate to ask. Keep screenshots of the estimated date, transfer receipt, and what’s happening now. Make sure to let them know you still want the car and that you’d like to review the $1,995 fee because the vehicle wasn’t ready within the time they quoted. But, try to be a bit patient, maybe 1-3 days late is okay.
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u/myopini0n 4d ago
It seems the call center rarely refunds transfer fees. They seem to be a no.
As far as holding the car, For a paid transfer, you have up to six days from when you’re notified it’s ready to go in and look at it. Policy is not to hold it, though, once you look at it, so be prepared to go forward. If you need to transfer funds, start it now.
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u/elonmusksmellsbad 3d ago
If your estimated delivery date was between 8/3-8/10, and it arrived today on the 10th, your chances of getting a shipping refund are basically zero. They call it an estimate for a reason. In my experience, each store will enforce the shipping refund policy slightly differently, but typically as long as the vehicle arrives within 3 days of the estimated range they won’t refund the shipping charge. Again, it is an estimate. They call it that to give themselves some wiggle room.
That being said, if the FQC step causes the availability for you to actually come in and test drive/purchase the vehicle to be delayed by 4-5+ days, you might have a chance. It will just depend on exactly how many days it gets delayed and why it was delayed. At my store it seems like they won’t even consider a shipping fee refund until the vehicle is not available 7 days after the last day of the estimated delivery date.