Do members-only car-buying programs really save you money?
33 MINUTES FROM KATY.
23 MINUTES IN FROM PEARLAND. 23 MINUTES IN FROM PEARLAND.
DRIVE SAFELY. DRIVE SAFELY.
>> THANK YOU, ERIC. >> THANK YOU, ERIC.
>>> BUYING A CAR MAY BE ONE OF >>> BUYING A CAR MAY BE ONE OF
THE BIGGEST PURCHASES YOU MAKE, THE BIGGEST PURCHASES YOU MAKE,
SECOND ONLY TO YOUR HOME. SECOND ONLY TO YOUR HOME.
>> SO YOU WANT TO SAVE EVERY >> SO YOU WANT TO SAVE EVERY
PENNY YOU CAN. PENNY YOU CAN.
SOME MEMBERS-ONLY CLUBS AND SOME MEMBERS-ONLY CLUBS AND
GROUPS OFFER REDUCED RATES ON GROUPS OFFER REDUCED RATES ON
NEW CARS TO THEIR MEMBERS. NEW CARS TO THEIR MEMBERS.
THIS MORNING, AMY DAVIS IS THIS MORNING, AMY DAVIS IS
CHECKING IN WITH WHAT YOU AUTO CHECKING IN WITH WHAT YOU AUTO
KNOW.
KNOW.
GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING.
YEAH, I WAS CURIOUS BECAUSE YEAH, I WAS CURIOUS BECAUSE
SAM’S CLUB, COSTCO, AAA, ALL OF SAM’S CLUB, COSTCO, AAA, ALL OF
THESE PLACES HAVE BUYING THESE PLACES HAVE BUYING
PROGRAMS FOR CARS. PROGRAMS FOR CARS.
YOU USE YOUR MEMBERSHIP NUMBER YOU USE YOUR MEMBERSHIP NUMBER
AT DEALERSHIPS THAT PARTNER WITH AT DEALERSHIPS THAT PARTNER WITH
THESE CLUBS TO GET EXCLUSIVE THESE CLUBS TO GET EXCLUSIVE
DISCOUNT PRICING. DISCOUNT PRICING.
WE WANTED TO KNOW JUST HOW GOOD WE WANTED TO KNOW JUST HOW GOOD
THE DEALS ARE. THE DEALS ARE.
>> Reporter: COSTCO OFFERS >> Reporter: COSTCO OFFERS
SAVINGS ON ALL KINDS OF SAVINGS ON ALL KINDS OF
PRODUCTS, AND IT CLAIMS CARS ARE PRODUCTS, AND IT CLAIMS CARS ARE
ALSO INCLUDED. ALSO INCLUDED.
THROUGH COSTCO’S AUTO PROGRAM, THROUGH COSTCO’S AUTO PROGRAM,
YOU CAN TYPE IN WHAT KIND OF YOU CAN TYPE IN WHAT KIND OF
VEHICLE YOU WANT TO BUY AND GET VEHICLE YOU WANT TO BUY AND GET
A LIST OF APPROVED DEALERS THAT A LIST OF APPROVED DEALERS THAT
WILL GIVE YOU SPECIAL COSTCO WILL GIVE YOU SPECIAL COSTCO
MEMBER PRICING.
MEMBER PRICING.
WE PICKED A 2020 CHEVROLET WE PICKED A 2020 CHEVROLET
TAHOE. TAHOE.
THE MANUFACTURER’S SUGGESTED THE MANUFACTURER’S SUGGESTED
RETAIL PRICE IS $50,295. RETAIL PRICE IS $50,295.
BUT THROUGH THE COSTCO AUTO BUT THROUGH THE COSTCO AUTO
PROGRAM, WE WOULD PAY $45,254, PROGRAM, WE WOULD PAY $45,254,
ABOUT FIVE GRAND LESS. ABOUT FIVE GRAND LESS.
ON AAA’S CAR BUYING SERVICE, THE ON AAA’S CAR BUYING SERVICE, THE
SAME TAHOE WAS $43,700.
SAME TAHOE WAS $43,700.
SOMETHING ELSE I GOT BESIDES A SOMETHING ELSE I GOT BESIDES A
LITTLE SAVINGS, A SLEW OF PHONE LITTLE SAVINGS, A SLEW OF PHONE
CALLS, TEXT MESSAGE, AND EMAILS. CALLS, TEXT MESSAGE, AND EMAILS.
ALL FROM SALES PEOPLE, EAGER TO ALL FROM SALES PEOPLE, EAGER TO
SELL ME A NEW TAHOE. SELL ME A NEW TAHOE.
THEY CONFIRMED THE MEMBER PRICE THEY CONFIRMED THE MEMBER PRICE
I GOT ONLINE WAS JUST THE I GOT ONLINE WAS JUST THE
STARTING PRICE, AND IF I DROVE STARTING PRICE, AND IF I DROVE
DOWN, THEY COULD DEFINITELY HELP DOWN, THEY COULD DEFINITELY HELP
ME GET A BETTER DEAL. ME GET A BETTER DEAL.
SO PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE AUTO SO PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE AUTO
INDUSTRY SAY CONSUMERS CAN INDUSTRY SAY CONSUMERS CAN
ABSOLUTELY BEAT THE PRICES WE ABSOLUTELY BEAT THE PRICES WE
RECEIVED FROM THE COSTCO AND AAA RECEIVED FROM THE COSTCO AND AAA
PROGRAMS.
PROGRAMS.
THEY SAY THESE MEMBER DEALS ARE THEY SAY THESE MEMBER DEALS ARE
LITTLE MORE THAN LEAD GENERATORS LITTLE MORE THAN LEAD GENERATORS
FOR THOSE DEALERSHIPS, WHICH IS FOR THOSE DEALERSHIPS, WHICH IS
WHY I RECEIVED THREE PHONE WHY I RECEIVED THREE PHONE
CALLS, FIVE EMAILS, THREE TEXT CALLS, FIVE EMAILS, THREE TEXT
MESSAGES AFTER I MADE JUST TWO MESSAGES AFTER I MADE JUST TWO
INQUIRIES. INQUIRIES.
>> WOW. >> WOW.
YOU’RE ON TOP OF IT. YOU’RE ON TOP OF IT.
>> IF YOU DON’T WANT TO BE >> IF YOU DON’T WANT TO BE
HOUNDED, HOLD OFF ON CHECKING.
