I Tried Buying a Car Through Amazon: Here Are the Pros, Cons

[ad_1] Amazon is placing its personal spin on automobile gross sales — and not using a journey to the supplier or perhaps a take a look at drive.

The retail big introduced on Tuesday that consumers may purchase their subsequent automobile via Amazon in the event that they lived in certainly one of 48 main U.S. cities, together with Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and Portland via "Amazon Autos" on Amazon.com.

Amazon is partnering with Hyundai first, with plans so as to add extra producers and cities within the coming 12 months, the corporate mentioned. The automobiles are all new and begin at $22,500 in value. They embody fashions just like the Hyundai Kona, Sonata Hybrid, and Elantra.

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In turning to on-line automobile gross sales, Amazon joins a market already occupied by different on-line automobile retailers like Edmunds, Carvana, Shift, and Vroom, however these websites additionally characteristic used automobiles on the market; in the mean time Amazon solely gives new automobiles.

What would occur if I attempted to purchase a automobile from Amazon? Listed here are the professionals and cons that emerged once I tried out the brand new characteristic.

Professional: Transparency Amazon says that consumers can see clear pricing upfront with Amazon Autos, and I wasn't disenchanted. Clicking right into a automobile, a brand new 2025 Hyundai Elantra SE, I used to be in a position to see an in depth value breakdown, all the way down to the carpeted flooring mats ($210) and the way a lot the supplier charged in comparison with the Producer Counsel Retail Worth (MSRP).

Pricing via Amazon Autos.

I used to be additionally in a position to estimate the month-to-month fee primarily based on the down fee and mortgage time period.

The product web page additionally transparently outlined the situation of the automobile, how a lot mileage it had on it, and the phrases of the producer's guarantee.

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Con: Choice Proper now, Amazon is barely promoting Hyundai automobiles, so automobiles from different automakers are nowhere to be discovered.

This con may quickly disappear: Amazon says it'll add automobiles from different producers in 2025.

Nevertheless, the choice can also be restricted in value, with the most cost effective automobile promoting for $22,510 excluding charges, taxes, and supplier costs. There are not any used automobiles accessible on the market on the time of writing.

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Professional: Acquainted Interface Shopping for a automobile via Amazon Autos felt like buying on Amazon, so I felt proper at residence. There have been classes like value, mannequin 12 months, and trim shade on the left-hand aspect, and there have been merchandise in a listing sorted by value within the middle.

Despite the fact that the automobile product class is new to Amazon, the acquainted interface made the method simple to navigate.

How Amazon Autos seems to be.

Con: No Negotiating Energy Amazon says that it reveals clear pricing, "eliminating the necessity for negotiation." I should purchase a automobile and full my total order, together with securing financing, with out speaking to a human being in regards to the value and attempting to barter it down.

Whereas it may be much less worrying to have the entire course of on-line, additionally it is much less private. And I can not assist questioning if I am getting the perfect deal on-line or if I'd be higher off getting in individual.