Are you a member of the Costco Wholesale Club? Did you know that they have a program called Costco Auto that allows their members to get great deals on cars? This program has been helping customers buy cars since 1989. Although Costco doesn’t sell cars, it does connect people with more than 3,000 dealerships across the country. This network has enabled the company to become one of the top three auto dealers in the United States. As a member, you’ll have access to new and used vehicles from many dealerships.
what is costco auto all about?
If you choose to use costco auto to shop for your next vehicle, you’ll be connected to participating dealers who offer discounts on new cars, trucks, SUVs and vans. costco vets all dealerships and the sellers they partner with to ensure members feel confident in their vehicle purchases. the wholesaler does not want anyone to feel cheated or blamed for doing a bad deal. All dealerships must allow their employees to be trained to properly interact with referred Costco customers.
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Once trained, these employees are considered authorized dealer contacts. They are expected to treat all referred customers with respect and abide by the Costco pricing agreement. These employees, Business Insider says, must have worked at their respective dealerships for at least six months and will be regularly evaluated based on customer satisfaction scores. costco employees sometimes disguise themselves as hidden shoppers to ensure distributors are representing costco properly. if not, they can be released from the program.
buying a car through costco auto
To find the perfect vehicle, start by browsing inventory on the Costco Auto Program website. Even if you ultimately buy the car through a dealer, you want to stop by Costco for additional savings that are only available to their members. Additional features you can take advantage of through the program include a “build a vehicle” feature and research tools that allow you to:
- compare vehicles
- read reviews and view test drive results
- view security information
- use a financial calculator
- see available discounts and incentives
- compare leasing vs. buying
- agreed price
- Savings
- refunds
- costs incurred
- cars
- SUVs
- trucks
- vans
- rvs
- ATVs
- utvs
- jet skis
- Is becoming a costco member worth the savings?
- don’t like haggling over the price of a vehicle?
- Are you confident that the discounts offered through the program are good enough to avoid doing your own research?
one of the best parts about buying through costco auto is that you don’t need to haggle over the price. prices are already negotiated for you. you cannot see the final price on the costco website; However, once you’ve made your decision, you can view Costco’s members-only price sheet for the vehicle you want. will break down:
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If you go through all the steps to buy a car through costco auto and find you’re not happy with the deal, you can always walk away. If you don’t want to shop for a car online, you can call the Costco call center and speak to a representative who will walk you through the process over the phone. then you’ll receive the dealer’s contact information so you can schedule an appointment.
be sure to complete the member satisfaction survey. this will save you 50 percent on things like parts, accessories, and service at the dealer where you buy the car.
benefits of using costco auto
One of the biggest benefits of shopping through costco auto, reveals autolist, is the variety of options available to you. you can buy:
These vehicles are from major brands such as Honda and Ford. Plus, you can get used vehicles that have gone through checkups and repairs. This includes both factory certified and select pre-owned vehicles, which typically come with an extended warranty and other buyer benefits. You may also be eligible for discounts on accessories for your vehicle, as well as services like oil changes.
Other savings opportunities, such as incentives and special offers, are another advantage of using this program. Retailers and auto manufacturers sometimes team up to offer you limited-time specials, and Costco does this whenever possible to help its customers get the best deals. According to Clark, these deals are available for about 60 days and can save you thousands of dollars.
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Another way this program helps you save is through manufacturer incentives. these savings will be tied to the specific vehicle you wish to purchase. An example of this type of incentive is an offer in which the BMW 3 Series was offered at a discount of $1,000 to anyone who had graduated within the last year or who is graduating soon. other examples of incentives include those for special lease terms along with other discounts.
other questions and concerns about costco auto
if you are considering taking advantage of costco’s automatic program, there are a few things to think about:
typically, a costco membership is around $60. This is a small price compared to the cost of a new or even used vehicle. If you feel like you’re too busy or inexperienced to haggle over the price of your vehicle, the Costco Auto Program is perfect for you. Dealers pay Costco a monthly fee to gain access to their large customer base, so Costco is not loyal to any particular dealer. the loyalty of the company lies in finding you a good offer.
A member advocacy group is available to answer your questions and help you get the best deal by offering periodic coupons or other sales events. Investopedia tells us you can turn to this group if you feel you’ve been treated unfairly by the dealer or sellers.
To help you decide if the costco auto program is right for you, try reading some reviews about other members’ experiences. You can also consult with the member advocacy group to ask questions or share your concerns.
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