Automotive

Walmart brings first-of-its-kind auto insurance comparison service to its customers in partnership with AutoInsurance.com

Published

9 years ago

April 30, 2014

Site brings quick and easy access to the auto insurance shopping experience by allowing customers to compare and buy real policies all in one place

BENTONVILLE, Ark., 2014-4-30 — /EPR Retail News/ — Attention drivers! Online comparison shopping for auto insurance just got much easier. To help answer the question, “How do I know I’m getting a great deal on auto insurance?” Walmart is working with AutoInsurance.com to bring customers a first-of-its-kind auto insurance comparison service that helps drivers quickly buy and save significantly on policies.

AutoInsurance.com provides customers with multiple quotes from many of the leading national insurance carriers, including Progressive, Esurance, Safeco, The General and others within minutes. The service is available immediately in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas, with plans to be offered nationwide in the coming months.

The launch of this service stems from a successful pilot that took place in Pennsylvania last year, in which customers who purchased policies from AutoInsurance.com and reported their savings reduced their annual insurance costs by $1,168 on average.

“Our business is driven by a commitment to taking products and services that are complex and pricey and making them easy and affordable,” said Daniel Eckert, senior vice president of services for Walmart U.S. “Our customers too often have to settle for auto insurance policies that aren’t the best fit and cost more than they want to spend. With AutoInsurance.com, we’re helping our customers save money on one of their largest household expenses in a new, quick and easy way.”

“Today, nearly 90 percent of people comparison shop online for products and services like airline tickets, but our survey data shows that only one in five comparison shop for auto insurance,” said Joshua Kazam, founder of AutoInsurance.com. “We want to make comparison shopping for auto insurance much simpler and faster for everyone who wants to save money on their premiums. We believe strongly in the power of comparing. It’s how you know you got a great deal on auto insurance.”

One-Stop Shopping for Auto Insurance

Unlike a lead generator, AutoInsurance.com brings quick and easy access to the auto insurance shopping experience by allowing customers to compare and buy real policies all in one place. Here’s how it works:

When customers log on to the website, all they have to do is provide their name, address, date of birth and contact information.
They can then opt-in to have the site retrieve their current auto insurance policy. This allows AutoInsurance.com to automatically fill in most of the necessary coverage information and provide a direct apples-to-apples comparison.
In just minutes, the customer is provided multiple quotes from leading carriers. They can customize their coverage, including deductibles, and see those choices immediately reflected in the quotes.
They can choose to either purchase the policy online immediately, speak with a licensed agent at 800-700-7500, or save their information and make the purchase later. There is absolutely no cost or commitment to use the service.
Customers will only be contacted in the future by AutoInsurance.com or the carrier of the policy they purchase.

“Providing our customers with access to a broad assortment – from groceries to tires – at low prices and in one location is what we’re known for. We’re bringing the same one-stop shopping mentality to the insurance industry with AutoInsurance.com,” added Eckert.

How it Started

AutoInsurance.com, which is operated by a licensed property and casualty insurance agency, was created after Walmart had the idea that there needed to be a better way for customers to compare, buy and save on auto insurance. As the exclusive retailer and marketing partner of AutoInsurance.com, Walmart customers will be able to access the service directly from its website at www.walmart.com/autoinsurance.

Existing Barriers and Savings Opportunities for Younger Consumers

According to a national survey commissioned for AutoInsurance.com, which polled over 5,000 drivers, nearly half of respondents felt that they overpay for insurance – including health and auto – more than any other recurring monthly expense.

The same survey also uncovered that auto insurance premiums take a particularly big toll on the finances of millennials who use the internet effortlessly and account for a large portion of online shoppers.

One in five millennials – compared to only one in eight baby boomers – spends 10 percent or more of their monthly income on auto insurance.
Millennials especially face hurdles to shopping for a new policy. The survey found that 42 percent of millennials say they lack confidence in making their auto insurance purchasing decision compared to 81 percent of baby boomers who do feel confident.

And when it comes to the time it takes to shop around, more than half of respondents don’t feel the savings would justify the effort.

“Every consumer deserves the opportunity to be able to save money on their auto insurance,” said Kazam. “What we’re doing is bringing transparency and simplicity to the shopping process and experience.”

For more information about AutoInsurance.com, please visit http://blog.walmart.com, http://news.walmart.com/autoinsurance and http://www.autoinsurance.com.

EDITOR’S NOTE:

The $1,168 savings is an average based on customers in place in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who purchased policies from AutoInsurance.com and reported their savings during the time period from April 2013 to March 2014.
The survey was conducted by a national research firm for AutoInsurance.com in February 2014. The sample consisted of 5,228 male and female consumers over the age of 18 who own or lease a vehicle.

About Walmart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better – anytime and anywhere – in retail stores, online and through their mobile devices. Each week, more than 245 million customers and members visit our 10,955 stores under 69 banners in 27 countries and ecommerce websites in 10 countries. With fiscal year 2013 sales of approximately $466 billion, Walmart employs more than 2 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting http://corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at http://facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/walmart. Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com and http://www.samsclub.com.

About AutoInsurance.com

AutoInsurance.com is a first-of-its-kind service that helps customers compare, buy and save on auto insurance policies from multiple national insurance carriers online or by phone. Tranzutary Insurance Solutions LLC, which does business as AutoInsurance.com currently in 40 states, is a licensed property and casualty insurance agency. The company is based in Fort Lee, New Jersey with licensed agents in all 50 states operating out of a call center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Automotive

CarMax opens its 4th store location in the Denver area, located at the city of Golden

Published

5 years ago

February 27, 2018

EPR Retail News Editors

RICHMOND, Virginia, 2018-Feb-27 — /EPR Retail News/ — CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX), the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, today celebrated the grand opening of its 4^th store location in the Denver area, located at 16500 W. Colfax Avenue in Golden. The Golden location has the capacity to stock approximately 200 used vehicles of nearly every make and model and CarMax customers can also request transfers of almost any vehicle to this store from other CarMax locations throughout the country.

In celebration of the Golden store opening, CarMax and The CarMax Foundation awarded $7,500 in donations and grants to the Jefferson County Boys & Girls Club. The donation for this organization came at the recommendation of the Golden CarMax associates.

“CarMax associates know the importance of being a good neighbor and make it a priority to give back to the communities where we live and work,” said Michael Bean, location general manager at the Golden CarMax. “We are continuing to grow and serve more customers in the Denver area and are excited to announce the opening of our newest store in the city of Golden.”

CarMax disrupted the industry more than 20 years ago by offering a high integrity car-buying experience customers want that’s transparent and stress-free. Since that time, CarMax has continued to revolutionize the experience through customer-focused technology innovations. Approximately 90% of CarMax purchasers start on CarMax.com or the CarMax mobile app. Customers can browse CarMax’s nationwide inventory of nearly 50,000 vehicles, hold a vehicle for a test drive, schedule an appraisal, and even get pre-qualified for financing before visiting the store. CarMax stands behind their vehicles with a 5-Day Money-Back Guarantee and a 30-Day Limited Warranty (60-Day in CT, MN & RI, 90-Day in MA, NY and NJ).

About CarMax
CarMax is the nation’s largest retailer of used cars and operates more than 185 stores in 41 states nationwide. CarMax revolutionized the auto industry by delivering the honest, transparent and high-integrity car buying experience customers want and deserve. For nearly 25 years, CarMax has made car buying more ethical, fair and stress-free by offering a no-haggle, no-hassle experience and an incredible selection of vehicles. CarMax makes selling your car easy too, by offering no-obligation appraisals good for seven days. At CarMax, we’ll buy your car even if you don’t buy ours®. CarMax has nearly 25,000 associates nationwide and for 14 consecutive years has been named as one of the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For®. During the 12 months ending February 28, 2017, the company retailed 671,294 used cars and sold 391,686 wholesale vehicles at its in-store auctions. For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com.

Media Contact
Lindsey Duke, CarMax Public Relations, (855) 887-2915
pr@carmax.com ● @CarMax ● facebook.com/CarMax

SOURCE: CarMax

Automotive

CarMax to provide one-time bonus to associates as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017

Published

5 years ago

February 23, 2018

Retail News Editor

Richmond, Va., 2018-Feb-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — CarMax, Inc. (NYSE:KMX), the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, announced plans to provide one-time bonuses to most hourly and commissioned full-time and part-time associates as a result of the recently passed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Bonus amounts will vary from $200 up to $1,500 based on length of service with the company.

“Our success as a company is due to the hard work and dedication of our talented Associates,” said Bill Nash, CarMax President and CEO. “We are always looking for ways we can support them, and I’m pleased to have this opportunity to thank associates for all that they do every day for our customers and for each other.” About 80 percent of associates will receive the bonus, which will be distributed in March 2018.*

CarMax regularly evaluates research salary data to ensure we are offering competitive compensation and benefits to our associates. The company also is carefully considering opportunities to use these new tax savings in ways that are in the best interests of our business, our associates, our customers and our shareholders.

Contact:

pr@carmax.com
(855) 887-2915

Source: CarMax, Inc.

Automotive

CarMax ranks No. 34 in FORTUNE magazine’s 2018 100 Best Companies to Work For®

Published

5 years ago

February 19, 2018

EPR Retail News Editors

Company Now Offering Enhanced Benefits Including Paid Parental Leave

RICHMOND, Va., 2018-Feb-19 — /EPR Retail News/ — For 14 consecutive years, CarMax, Inc. (NYSE: KMX), the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, has been named by FORTUNE magazine as one of its 100 Best Companies to Work For®. CarMax ranks No. 34 for 2018.

“This award recognition is a direct result of the culture created by our associates,” said Bill Nash, CarMax CEO. “Their commitment to delivering an exceptional customer experience, transforming the communities around us, and caring and supporting one another is what makes CarMax a great place to work.”

The 2018 FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For® list is based on survey responses from more than 310,000 employees rating their workplace culture on 50-plus elements of the workplace such as fairness, camaraderie, development and trust in leadership.

“Our associates are our number one focus, and we want to have their backs during life’s moments that matter most,” said Diane Cafritz, chief human resources officer at CarMax. “That is why we are launching newly enhanced benefits this year that are a direct result of associate feedback on what benefits are most meaningful to them.”

CarMax is now offering four weeks of paid parental leave for hourly and salaried full-time associates following the birth or adoption of a child. This parental leave applies to both non-birth and birth parents. Birth mothers are eligible to add the four weeks of paid parental leave at the end of their approved six to eight weeks of paid medical leave.

Additionally, CarMax associates will enjoy the enhanced benefit of additional vacation time based on length of service. The company will continue to look for opportunities to provide pay and benefits for associates in the areas that are important to them.

CarMax employs nearly 25,000 people nationwide and continues to grow and hire for new positions. The company is opening a total of 15 new stores in 2018, including the company’s first locations in the states of Maine and New Hampshire. Some of the areas with a large number of job openings include: Baltimore, MD; Boston, MA; Dallas, TX; Denver, CO; Houston, TX; Los Angeles, CA; and San Francisco, CA.

The majority of open full and part-time job positions among CarMax stores are in sales and service (including detailers and experienced technicians). The company is also hiring for several customer service positions at CarMax Auto Finance in Atlanta, GA and for digital and technology positions at the CarMax Home Office and CarMax Shockoe locations in Richmond, Virginia.

In addition to being recognized for 14 consecutive years as one of FORTUNE magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For®, FORTUNE has also recognized CarMax as one of the 20 Best Workplaces in Retail and 100 Best Workplaces for Millennials in 2017. CarMax is also one of TRAINING Magazine’s “Training Top 125” companies in America.

CarMax is committed to hiring people with strong values of integrity, transparency, and respect. Job seekers are encouraged to apply for open positions online at jobs.carmax.com.

About CarMax

CarMax is the nation’s largest retailer of used cars and operates more than 185 stores in 41 states nationwide. CarMax revolutionized the auto industry by delivering the honest, transparent and high-integrity car buying experience customers want and deserve. For nearly 25 years, CarMax has made car buying more ethical, fair and stress-free by offering a no-haggle, no-hassle experience and an incredible selection of vehicles. CarMax makes selling your car easy too, by offering no-obligation appraisals good for seven days. At CarMax, we’ll buy your car even if you don’t buy ours®. CarMax has nearly 25,000 associates nationwide and for 14 consecutive years has been named as one of the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For®. During the 12 months ending February 28, 2017, the company retailed 671,294 used cars and sold 391,686 wholesale vehicles at its in-store auctions. For more information, access the CarMax website at www.carmax.com.

Source: CarMax, Inc.

Media Contact

Lindsey Duke, CarMax Public Relations, 855-887-2915

pr@carmax.com • @CarMax • facebook.com/CarMax