Before the advent of the internet and e-commerce, business was primarily conducted through face-to-face communication between two or more people. And while some old-fashioned types may rail against what the internet and the information age has done to detract from our ability to establish and maintain meaningful interpersonal relationships, there’s no arguing that it has streamlined and simplified our ability to both communicate and conduct business in a timely manner.
With Uber, instead of calling a cab or begging a friend or family member for a ride, individuals needing a quick ride to the airport or a safe lift home after a night out on the town have an affordable and efficient transportation option they can easily access from their phone. With Netflix, trips to the video store are now obsolete, as members can pay a monthly subscription fee to enjoy access to thousands of movies and TV shows without having to leave home. With Amazon, the need for running multiple errands around town has been reduced significantly, as people can buy everything from household cleaning supplies, to books, to big screen TVs on the go with delivery available within a matter of hours.
Look at virtually any industry, and you can point to at least one example of how technology has greatly improved both the experience for consumers and the profitability for businesses. However, there is one notable industry that, until recently, has avoided being swept up in the tidal wave of the e-commerce revolution. Extending well into the current Internet Age, the automotive retail industry has been largely unaffected by technological innovations taking place over the past several decades.
For many people, the idea of going to the dealership – no matter how time-consuming and uncomfortable a ritual – has been engrained over generations as the only way to make a legitimate purchase of vehicle. A common argument made by supporters of the dealership experience is that a person would be foolhardy to purchase such a big ticket item without having the opportunity to see it, feel it, and experience it before committing yourself to the purchase. Another argument is that consumers are cheating themselves of scoring a deal on their next vehicle by opting out of the standard negotiating that takes place with a car salesperson.
At Carvana, car buying customers can search our inventory of thousands of vehicles that have no reported accidents and have each passed a 150-point inspection conducted by an ASE Certified mechanic. From the comfort of their living room, car buyers can also virtually tour the vehicle they have their eye on thanks to our 360-degree photo technology, which allows individuals to carefully inspect the car inside and out with major imperfections being called out so you know exactly what you’re purchasing before you buy it.
Once you find the car you like, you can personalize financing terms for your vehicle that fit your lifestyle before ultimately deciding whether you want to enjoy the convenience of free, as-soon-as next-day delivery to your driveway, or take advantage of the one-of-a-kind experience of picking up your purchase from one of our proprietary Car Vending Machines. Worried about buyer’s remorse upon receiving your vehicle? We get it, which is why every purchase comes with a 7-day Money Back Guarantee that provides you seven days to drive your car around town and even get it inspected by a mechanic of your choice. If the car doesn’t suit you for any reason whatsoever within those seven days, let us know, and we’ll come retrieve the vehicle with a refund of your purchase. No hassle, no fine print. And with no physical dealership locations or commissioned salespeople on staff, we also have lower costs per car in expenses; savings that we pass on to you.
While there’s certainly something to be said for the old way of doing things, history has proven that technology and innovation has always served to improve upon industries and processes that have eroded and marginalized customer experience over time. Like streaming a movie in hi-def from your home or hitching a ride to the airport from your phone, buying a car online is the next newfangled concept that will prove to be just as commonplace for consumers.
