Frequently Asked Questions

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ARE YOUR PRICES COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER DEALERS?

Yes. We can generally offer you the best overall value by combining a very market competitive price with top level quality. To accomplish this, we keep our operating costs low by paying cash for all our cars thus avoiding expensive flooring costs, operate in property we own thus reducing rental costs, do not maintain an expensive retail lot but work by appointments and advertise via the internet to reduce marketing costs. In addition, by having established relationships with repair facilities and parts suppliers, we keep all reconditioning costs low. All warranty work on our vehicles is done by the franchise dealers. Thus we are able to pass on the savings to you, our client, and earn a modest profit. You get a car that exceeds the quality and condition of a large franchise dealer without having to pay for their high overhead.

WHY DO YOU CARRY A SMALL INVENTORY?

Our focus is a combination of acquiring cars on order for our clients under our concierge program and carrying a limited inventory of vehicles we feel represents the very best value.  This gives us a chance to demonstrate our exacting standards, test our quality model and have the opportunity to enhance our knowledge of the product, before we recommend it to our clients.

WHAT TYPES OF VEHICLES DO YOU OFFER?

All of us are passionate about cars and motorcycles and strive to buy and sell cars that we find fun and exciting to drive and own and offer the best value. Therefore, our focus is primarily on luxury and performance vehicles ranging from an original MSRP of $40000 to $350000. While we have bought and sold most brands, the vast majority of our cars tend to be BMW, Corvette, Cadillac, Land Rover, Mercedes and Porsche. For exotic brands we tend to focus on Bentley, Ferrari and Rolls Royce products. For motorcycles, our focus is on BMW, Ducati and Harley Davidson products (and love Moto Guzzi). We are always researching the market and listening to our clients to expand our range, while staying true to our business model.
 
HOW DO YOUR CARS COMPARE WITH THE CERTIFIED CARS OFFERED BY FRANCHISE DEALERS?

By utilizing our stringent acquisition, inspection and reconditioning process, our cars are prepared to be in a “like new” condition. For example, we do not buy cars that have had any aftermarket body paintwork. While the paintwork may have been for a scratch or small ding or a bad accident, since we don’t know why the paintwork was done, we simply don’t want to take any chances with the quality of the vehicle. In the rare instance, If we have a bumper or body panel painted for scratches, we have the work done to factory standards and will show you the before / after pictures. Thus, we feel, the combination of our quality standards for purchase, meticulous reconditioning and total disclosure allow us to sell a product that exceeds the certified cars sold by franchise dealers. Many manufacturers will allow cars with upto 3 body panels painted and even an accident history to be certified. NOT all certified programs are the same.

While each car leaving factory today is built to high standards, each used vehicle is unique given the way it was driven and maintained. Thus, the need for careful scrutiny from several data points to insure one has a full picture of its history and current condition. No one source or simply stating it is “certified” is sufficient.

We have set very precise standards for evaluating our vehicles and have a rating scale ranging from -10 to +10. A zero rating means everything is super on the car. Anything higher means the car is above our base standards and should be considered a premium quality car.

What is important to you? What are your standards? Please ask us and all other sellers’ direct questions and obtain precise answers and hard PROOF so you can make an informed, safe and wise buying decision.

Due diligence is very important when considering a used vehicle. We do our part carefully and implore you do the same with us and all other sellers.

DO YOU OFFER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY? (Service Contracts)

Most of the vehicles we sell have the original manufacturer warranty in effect. We also offer competitively priced comprehensive extended warranty. This service contract is offered by top rated insurance companies and essentially is the same as the certified warranty offered by the manufacturer. Currently we have 5 different plans from 3 different companies. Each company tends to focus on certain makes and models. By having a diverse selection, we able to tailor contracts for our clients that provides effective coverage at very competitive rates by taking into account their particular vehicle, driving habits and ownership timeframe. Having a warranty in place at time of selling the car can add significantly to the marketability of the car by demanding a higher price and selling faster. Properly structured the cost of the extended service contract can pay for itself. In addition, our contracts have cancellation and refund clauses built in.

DO YOU HAVE TITLE TO YOUR VEHICLES?

YES. We will always have a CLEAN title, with NO liens, to all vehicles we have in inventory and will gladly show it to you. As all our cars are paid for, we hold all titles thus avoiding any delays in processing the DMV paperwork and eliminating any problems for you, our client. By avoiding outside financing and flooring, we can keep costs low and insure a fast transfer of ownership. We do not buy/sell lemon law, gray market, salvage vehicles. We strongly recommend you have anyone selling you a vehicle show you a clean title with NO liens.

HOW RELIABLE IS A CARFAX OR AUTOCHECK REPORT?

These are excellent sources for verifying ownership and title history. They may also include maintenance information and accident history. Do understand that both of these providers buy their data from a variety of sources and are working hard to provide valuable data to their subscribers. However, just because the report does NOT show an accident it means the car has NOT been in an accident. In addition, if the report DOES show an accident does NOT mean it is to be rejected immediately. Many accidents do not get reported to insurance companies or to the police. If this is the case, the accident will probably not show up on the report. On the other hand, even if it is a minor bumper damage and a police report is filed, the car will show an accident report.

We always run one or both reports on all vehicles we have for sale and recommend no vehicle be purchased without a careful review of these reports. Just be aware that is simply one source of information and not be relied upon solely in making a buying decision.

DO YOU SHIP OUT OF STATE/COUNTRY?

Yes. We have experience shipping vehicles out of state and out of country and will gladly work with your transporter or help you obtain one. We do recommend only shipping in a closed carrier to avoid transportation damage. In our opinion, costs a bit more but is well worth it as it can damage during transportation.  Our vehicles can be delivered anywhere in the world.

AM I RESPONSIBLE FOR TAXES AND/OR FEES?

Yes. The asking price does not include any applicable taxes and fees. If you are a California resident and will be driving/registering the vehicle in California, we will collect sales tax and any registration fees from you and remit same amounts to the appropriate state agency. If we will ship out of state, and after obtaining suitable paperwork, you will be responsible for all taxes and fees that may be applicable in your area.

If I AM OUTSIDE CALIFORNIA AND WISH TO BUY AND DRIVE BACK DO I HAVE TO PAY CALIFORNIA TAXES AND FEES?

This issue comes up frequently as we have a lot of out of state buyers. Given California sales tax and DMV regulations, IF you wish to take possession in California we MUST charge Sales Tax and Registration for California. To avoid this, car must be transported out of state and be supported by suitable documentation. We follow all regulations precisely. No exceptions.

DO YOU PROVIDE FINANCING?

We do not provide any direct financing. We can provide referrals to major lenders who will gladly work with you directly and provide the best possible terms they have available relative to your credit rating. In this way, your privacy is protected and you get the best rate without adding in any dealer markup. It also allows to focus on what we do best---buying and selling the best used vehicles available today.

IS YOUR PRICING FIRM?

NO. We welcome all serious offers. But, please do understand that this is a low margin business and we have to earn a reasonable profit and we only offer top quality merchandise. In establishing our prices, we carefully check asking prices by all other dealers, check Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds, NADA and Blackbook values and set a price that we feel, we would be willing to pay if we were buying the vehicle. Our asking prices do not have a built-in negotiating factor. To date, 92% of our cars have sold for the asking price. On the other hand, everyone wants to get the best  deal and we respect that. So please check out all our competition and let us know if are not priced competitively and we will work with you. If we are both reasonable and we have the vehicle you want, we can work out a price that is fair and mutually agreeable.  It is very rare for us to lose a deal over price.

WHERE DO YOU BUY YOUR INVENTORY?

Our inventory is acquired from closed dealer auctions, other dealers, trade-ins and past clients. At dealer auctions we primarily focus on buying vehicles directly from the manufacturers and their finance companies. In addition, there are national closed dealer online sources where dealers and manufacturers post their inventory for sale. This allows us to access literally thousands of vehicles on any given day. This list also changes regularly. Regardless of where we get a vehicle, it MUST meet our exacting standards.

HOW DO I KNOW YOU ARE A LEGITIMATE DEALERSHIP?

While we are an independent small dealer, in order to do business in California we have to meet strict requirements set by the Department of Motor Vehicles. They inspect us every 6 months to insure we comply with their standards, which includes condition of the premises, display area, signage, insurance and bonding requirements. Getting and retaining the license is a challenging process and we will not do anything to jeopardize it. You can also visit the California DMV website and look up our license status. License # is 89540. In addition, the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (sales tax dept.) regularly audits us to insure we are operating under their rules. Our insurance provider also conducts regular inspections. Our dealership bond provider checks our credit annually. We are proud to say we have the lowest bond costs as we have the best possible credit rating, have always achieved a 100% rating on all DMV inspections and Board of Equalization audits. Lastly, we invite you to ask any question you feel is important to you and demand a satisfactory answer. We believe in providing direct answers and solid proof.

WHY SHOULD I BUY FROM YOU VERSUS A LARGE FRANCHISE DEALER?

Franchise dealers carry a lot of inventory and have beautiful facilities for sales, service and parts. If you feel more comfortable doing business with a large dealer then you should not buy from us or any independent dealer. However, nothing is free. If you compare facts and carefully examine the product being sold and corresponding price, I believe, you will find we will offer you a better deal in all aspects. By eliminating a retail lot and using office facilities and not maintaining an expensive sales department, we remove a lot of the overhead that is built into the price at large dealers. We have very good relationships with franchise dealer service facilities as they have the proper tools and trained personnel and get reduced pricing. We buy all OEM parts either from dealer parts departments at wholesale prices or from other industry OEM sources. All factory warranty work and servicing is done by franchise dealer service facilities. We carry a small inventory that has been very carefully sourced and prepared at the lowest possible cost. Therefore, by taking the best of all options in the supply chain we are able to deliver the best value.

WILL I GET A BETTER DEAL FROM A PRIVATE PARTY?

How do you define a good deal? Is the lowest price the best deal? You may be able to get a lower price and an exceptional car from a private party. But please be careful and do your homework. Many curbstoners and shady dealers pretend to be private party sellers. Private party sales are NOT subject to inspection and any minimum safety criteria for selling their vehicles. We, as licensed dealers, have to meet minimum safety criteria for all vehicles we sell and carry insurance and maintain a performance bond for the protection of our clients.  In addition, the DMV is in place to protect consumer interests and they pursue complaints aggressively.

DO YOU TAKE TRADE-IN’S?

We welcome trades of almost all cars and motorcycles whether or not it is paid off. In fairness, we must tell you that you can usually get more for your vehicle by selling it yourself. We can only pay wholesale prices and factor in any reconditioning that may be necessary to sell the vehicle as we have to sell the traded in vehicle. The process for taking in a trade is similar to our buying process. We will carefully inspect the vehicle and supporting records, render an evaluation and provide you with a fair $$ value. Everything we come up with is shared with you. Over the years we have also setup custom trade in plans. The trade in vehicle is handled independent of the vehicle you would purchase. For us the two are separate transactions. Our clients who trade in their vehicles enjoy the ease and straightforwardness of the process and avoid the challenge of selling it themselves. They show up in their vehicle and drive away in their “new” one.

WHEN CAN I SEE THE VEHICLE I AM INTERESTED IN?

We keep our vehicles in a secure off site location and show only by appointment. This allows us to spend time with you and answer all your questions. Our office hours are Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm and evening and weekend appointments available. It is recommended that you inspect during daylight hours. We ask you respect the appointment, show up on time and call us, well in advance, if you need to reschedule or cancel. During your visit, we will answer all your questions, provide you with complete documentation and discuss all financial details. There is no pressure from our side to buy. We endeavor to provide an environment where you can make a decision that is best for you.

CAN YOU GET ME A PARTICULAR VEHICLE?

Yes. We have an active fee based buying service. As we have national access to available inventory, we can find specific vehicles. Do note, we will not deviate from our quality and condition standards. The fee is based upon the type of vehicle and delivery criteria.  There is a small amount due at the time you decide to retain our services. Balance of the fee is due at time of delivery. Payment for the price of the vehicle is arranged on a case by case basis.

This is a concierge type of service where you tell us what you want and we get it for you without any hassle or time on your part. The vehicle can be delivered to you anywhere of your choosing, fully serviced, detailed and ready to drive and generally at a cost lower than you could obtain on your own.

DO YOU BUY CARS FROM PRIVATE SOURCES? (Our Services)

Yes. We welcome inquiries from anyone who wishes to sell us their vehicle whether or not it is paid off. We would follow the same process for this as we would for a vehicle that would be traded in to us.

DO YOU HANDLE CONSIGNMENTS

Yes. This has become an active part of our business model. Please visit the Consignment page under Services for more info and best we talk to discuss details. 
https://www.inflowtechmotors.com/consignment

DO YOU SELL ACCESSORIES and RECONDITIONING SERVICES?

Yes. We have wholesale relationships with tire and wheel suppliers, local dealerships and trade only parts suppliers. We also can provide a full complement of reconditioning and maintenance services through our network of providers. This would include wheel curbrash repair, paintless dent removal, small paint touch up, full bodywork service, regular maintenance, tire mounting, balancing, alignment..just to name a few. This allows us to offer our clients, before-during-after the sale a full range of products that they may need.

WHICH VEHICLES DO YOU RECOMMEND?


This is a question that is often asked of us and glad to share our thoughts. Yes, we are very passionate about cars and see them from the perspective of cars that represent the best value. While vast majority of vehicles are very well made, there are those that lead in a particular category. Also, while major manufacturers make several models to satisfy the different models desired by buyers, each company tends to excel in only a few. Also, this list is regularly reviewed and updated. Do note, this list is simply our opinion and often challenged by our respected clients--your input is most welcome.

Small luxury sports sedan: Mercedes C class and Audi A series
Midsize luxury sedan: Mercedes E Class
Full size luxury sedan: Mercedes S Class
Performance SUV: Porsche Cayenne
Full Size Luxury 5 person SUV: Range Rover Supercharged/RR Cullinan/Mercedes G Class
Full Size Luxury 7 person SUV: Mercedes GLS Class
Full Size best value/Luxury SUV: GM Tahoe/Yukon/Denali/Escalade
Entry level Sports Car: Porsche Boxster
Sports Car regardless of price: Porsche 911, particularly the Turbo models
Sports Car value oriented: Corvette
Grand Touring: Mercedes SL/Aston Martin DB class
Full Size Pickup Truck: GM/Chevy crew cab models
Best Motorcycles: Harley Davidson Touring Models and BMW Adventure models for long distance cruising (starting to really like product from Indian)
Exotic Luxury Coupe/Sedan: Bentley Flying Spur/Continental GT


For all of these models, some years of mfg. are better than others. As you can tell we tend to favor products from Mercedes and Porsche as they represent exceptional  engineering and good overall value.

If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.