Carfax Ignores Used Car Dealers Concerns over New Feature

May 4, 2010 - PRLog -- Since April 27, 2010 Car dealers from across the country have been clamoring to DealerRefresh.com, a car dealer internet sales site to get answers regarding Carfax new History Impact feature. The Carfax History Impact feature, now a part of the Carfax used car history report shows the consumer what the value of a vehicle is based on its history.  Carfax claims “the Carfax History Impact reflects the amount consumers have adjusted a vehicle’s retail book value based on the information in Carfax Vehicle History Reports”.  

Dealers have repeatedly asked Carfax to tell them which “book value” they are using to either add or subtract value to a car, and have gotten no response. We tested the new feature on several vehicles and found that there was no consistency in the History Impact results. A one owner 2007 Infiniti with low mileage and no history of an accident was given a -$200 deduction, while a 2000 Dodge Intrepid with high mileage was given a +$150 value.  DealerRefresh.com contributor Alex Snyder says “I just wish Carfax would say where these values are coming from.”

Dealers are overwhelmingly feeling blindsided by Carfax, a long time partner in the used car industry. In most cases the new feature was stumbled upon by dealers while reviewing their used car inventory and word quickly spread throughout automotive internet communities.

Some feel that Carfax has added the feature simply to enhance an otherwise aging tool. Most would agree that Carfax role in the used car industry should steer clear of “Pricing” vehicles and simply do what dealers are paying them for, show their inventories actual history.