In the event you’ve been dreaming of including a mid-sized SUV to your cart alongside a bulk pack of granola bars and a brand new air fryer—properly, we’re not fairly there but. However that day is getting nearer: Amazon has formally rolled out its car-buying program.
However earlier than you put together your driveway to make room for a two-ton Prime supply, you need to know that purchasing a automotive on Amazon isn’t precisely like shopping for a Kindle. Right here’s the lowdown on the way it works, who it’s for, and why you positively can’t return a Hyundai to Entire Meals.
What’s on the market
Proper now, your choices are restricted. The principle accomplice for brand spanking new automobiles is Hyundai. In the event you’re available in the market for a Santa Fe, a Tucson, or an Ioniq, you’re in luck. However in the event you’re searching for a model new Toyota or Ford, you’re nonetheless gonna should do issues the old style method for now.
For used vehicles, the choice’s a bit wider. Amazon’s opened the doorways to licensed pre-owned stock from different manufacturers and even some fleet automobiles.
The way it truly works
Amazon’s basically constructed a really slick, very acquainted pores and skin over the normal dealership stock system.
Right here’s the method:
- Search: You go to the Amazon Autos section and filter by mannequin, trim, colour, and your zip code.
- Stock: You’re taking a look at actual vehicles sitting on actual native vendor tons.
- Buying: That is the cool half. You possibly can see the precise value, run a credit score test, apply for financing, and put down a deposit instantly via Amazon. No sitting in a glass workplace for 3 hours whereas a salesman repeatedly “checks with the supervisor.”
- Handover: As soon as the digital paperwork’s carried out, you schedule a pickup or supply.
- Returns: In case your dealership participates in Hyundai’s “Shopper Assurance” program, you’ll have three days or as much as 300 miles to resolve if you wish to maintain the automotive or not. You possibly can test in case your dealership participates here.
The catch(es)
This isn’t “Prime” Supply. Don’t anticipate a navy-blue van to drop off your Elantra.
You’re truly shopping for this automotive from an area dealership, not Amazon. Amazon’s simply the matchmaker. You’ll both drive to the dealership to select it up or, in the event you’re fortunate, the vendor will drive it to you. The closest one to me solely affords pickup and the automotive wouldn’t be prepared for a number of days.
And the paperwork isn’t 100% digital but. Relying in your state’s legal guidelines, you may nonetheless should signal a “moist” signature (actual ink, actual paper) while you take possession of the automotive. We’re residing sooner or later, however the DMV’s nonetheless residing within the twentieth century.
You won’t have a ton of dealerships collaborating in your space, both. The place I dwell, close to Boston, the closest dealership is 17 miles away which, given the completely atrocious visitors round right here throughout regular enterprise hours, may as properly be on the opposite aspect of the planet.
The underside line
Is that this the revolution we have been promised? Sure and no.
In the event you hate negotiating and wish to see clear pricing with out leaving your sofa, shopping for a automotive via Amazon is an enormous improve. It forces sellers to show actual costs and cuts out the haggling.
Nevertheless, in the event you have been hoping to bypass the dealership mannequin totally, we’re not there but. You’re nonetheless shopping for from a vendor; you’re simply utilizing Amazon as a buffer to maintain the gross sales strain at bay.
For now, it’s a fairly great way to purchase a Hyundai with out spending your whole Saturday on the dealership.
