How is CarFirst surviving in automobile market?

[sundaze]

I sold my car some months ago and somehow a CarFirst agent called me and offered a 25% lower price than the market offer. I didn't sell my car to them but I was curious and checked online that they apparently buy used cars from end consumers and then sell those cars to registered dealers or corporate clients at a higher price.

I don't know how they are making it because most consumers want every penny of the car and they would not sell their car for 25% lower than what they get on OLX or Pakwheels. So what the hell are these CarFirst guys doing?

[khuram2703]

Same thing like open market dealers.

[sundaze]

Something doesn't add up. They have 70+ purchase centers and from what I have heard that most people don't even sell them their cars because of anti-middlemen perception. Cost vs Benefit of this model doesn't make sense.

[qwertypoiu]

Lichar seller hangs onto his vehicle for 2 months haggles over price and sells.
On the other hand sell to car first instantly and walk away with money in few hrs.
Its more of a personal decision.

For corolla civic like cars it’s usually 50-100k difference and consider hassle free sale its pretty noce

[Massive_One]

I don't know how they are making it because most consumers want every penny of the car and they would not sell their car for 25% lower than what they get on OLX or Pakwheels. So what the hell are these CarFirst guys doing?

maybe for some ppl their time is more important than their money : ) CarFirst is for them !

[umairjamil6]

Exactly there are people with no interest and knowledge about cars.
A friends friend bought a zero meter picanto and disnt even know that there is water in the radiator 🤷‍♂️

[dwb1986]

Saving time is understandable but selling at dirt cheap price is not. Maybe those approaching carfisrt are in dire need of money.

[syed.arslan]

A friend bought an 06 Liana for 4,80K, sold to Carfirst after using it for 6 months, for 5 lakhs. How is that not a good deal?

[sundaze]

your friend got the deal because of inflation and devaluation of PAK Rupee. Prices for all cars, used and new, are increased. They sell these cars to dealers after buying from end consumers so they always offer lower than the market fair value.

[Massive_One]

A friend bought an 06 Liana for 4,80K, sold to Carfirst after using it for 6 months, for 5 lakhs. How is that not a good deal?

maybe he could have sell it to an individual for 5.50 to 6 , but then again .. if one is satisfied with the deal, that's the deal then. Hassle free!

[ashbal]

Well in my case i have noticed they offer higher money then the market price,where noone was offering more than 1650 for my car,personal buyer was not even ready to buy the car due to condition,dealers were only willing and the max offer i got was 1650 where as car first purchased it for 1890k

Also a friend sold his karachi number belta for 10 lakh to car first whose highest offer he got was 1920

[elxlr]

Time is money. There is a similar company in dubai. He has made billions of dollar now since 2011 he came to dubai with a backpack only. I remember i was not getting the price i wanted to sell my bike in china on internet. Second last day before leaving city. I printed the buying price and pastwd on bike went to city. Sold that day. But a bit lower price than internet.

[sundaze]

They buy cars from end consumers, deliver them to their registered dealers and they sell them again to end consumers for higher price. I don't know how they can offer much higher than the market price because at the end they will sell that car in the market again.

[dms664]

They buy from people and store the car in their warehouse. they then upload car details on their portal where dealers are registered and dealers bid on the car. the lowest price is the one on which carfirst bought it. in bidding it earns them well. try opening carfirst and try to register on their site and they will not register you unless you prove them that you are a dealer or investor with so n so funds in hands.
dealers bids on carfirst like crazy because carfirst check the cars thoroughly before buying.
one of my friends used to buy sell cars and he had a friend in carfirst so instead of using carsure or any other service, he used to take the car to carfirst for checking stating that he wants to sell it to carfirst. carfirst would offer money to the seller after checking and he would then offer 10 to 20k more than carfirst price and buy the car.
once it backfired on him when the cars got expensive and user was selling it on low price but carfirst offered him more price than my friend budget hence that car was bought by carfirst. and the 2nd day it was bought by a dealer in bidding.
hope now you got how it works. this all narration is based on first hand info.

[abid110]

i was shopping at Metro Safari park Karachi one sunday and found there was a carfirst's used car gala there with a good number of cars parked. the cars were open for inspection and i closely observed 3 cars - one was a Civic 2005 which was brutally used in whole of its life, the engine compartment was full of jungle of tapped wiring, interior was too scratched and car was repainted - asking was 650k. the other two cars were a Cultus of 2009/10 model and they demanded around 7lacs for them which was totally insane as per Karachi market scene. the condition of both Cultuses was as if they are retired now from rent-a-car or Uber/Careem. so what i understood was that if a person is having a car which he really wants to dispose off at whatever the nearest price he is getting, then its a good idea to sell it to them.

[sundaze]

It makes sense now that what they are doing.

[homayoon]

Inspected a few cars in their gala at Metro kot lakhpat in Lahore. The cars seemed to be Uber / careem type with excessive use however there were better cars as well which were a little over priced but were readily bought but I don’t know whether there was any negotiation etc or not

[khuram2703]

A very very exceptional case..... Car first offered a friend of mine having a very neat 1.3 Man City 2013 total geniune in 2018 @ 1368k where as he managed to sale that car @ 1425k

[sundaze]

Yes and the reason is people only sell them those cars that they cannot easily sell otherwise. Damaged Cars or Cars that need excessive repairing. If you have a car in good condition then you are better off without them.

[mgalaxy3]

Who cares even if a car is somewhat less than 'awaam' price?

Time is much more valuable. And a hassle-free selling experience even more so. It is a lot of khwari dealing with calls from olx PW etc. A lot of non-serious people too just want chaska.

If someone can sell the car hassle free, it is a much better deal.