High Tech
Dallas car buyers get their very own quirky car vending machine
A gimmicky new car sales company aiming to make the task of buying a used car more fun has opened an outlet in Frisco. Carvana is an eCommerce platform that sells used cars from a vending machine.
The Frisco Car Vending Machine stands eight stories tall, contains four delivery bays, and holds up to 30 cars. Customers do the purchase process online, then pick up their vehicle from the vending machine; if they don't want to drive to Frisco, which is completely understandable, they can also get the car delivered, as long as they are within 100 miles of the Dallas metropolitan area.
Frisco is the fifth Carvana and the fourth in Texas, following Austin, Houston, and San Antonio. Not trying to be competitive here, but Austin's Carvana has only five stories, compared to Frisco's eight stories. Just sayin'.
Carvana launched its delivery service in Dallas in May 2015, but the automated car vending machine just opened, says Ernie Garcia, Carvana's founder and CEO.
Carvana was founded in 2012 and is based in Phoenix. Its mission is to change the way people buy cars by removing the traditional dealership infrastructure and replacing it with technology and exceptional customer service.
Its online inventory boasts 7,300-plus vehicles. Customers can buy, finance, and trade in a car online from their computer, tablet, or mobile phone in as little as 10 minutes. That's what you want with a car purchase — something you can do in 10 minutes.
When the customer arrives at the Vending Machine he or she will receive an oversized Carvana coin to drop into the coin slot and activate the vending process. The oversized coin really makes the process.
All vehicles are certified through Carvana's 150-point inspection and feature a 100-day/4,189-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. Carvana also offers a seven-day return policy that allows customers to return their vehicle for any reason and receive a refund.
The Frisco Vending Machine is located at 5252 State Hwy 121. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday, from 9 am-7 pm. Vehicle pickup at any of Carvana's vending machines is free for all Carvana customers.
Customers who live outside of the Dallas metropolitan delivery area who still want to pick up their car at the vending machine get a $200 airfare subsidy and "white-glove transportation" from the airport.
