Carbuffs

Carbuffs, operating as Carbuffs Inc, is a consignment-focused classic car dealer in Concord, California, in the East Bay area of Northern California. The business says it was created in 2002 to blend a love of cars with a strong customer service background. Its site describes the owner as the son of a "car buff" father with a Midwestern upbringing and nine years of experience with the Ritz Carlton Hotel Company, and says it relies heavily on past and present customers for referrals. Note that this is a different business from the similarly named Carbuffs in Wausau, Wisconsin.

How the business works

Carbuffs describes itself as a place to buy, sell, trade and consign special interest vehicles, and its home page positions it as a consignment dealer for classic cars, exotics and luxury cars. A good share of what it sells is therefore owned by someone else. Its ClassicCars.com dealer page says it offers consignment vehicles and private party sales and notes that not every consigned car is kept on site, so it is worth asking where a particular car is located before planning a visit. The company also offers a vehicle locator service for buyers looking for a specific model, and says it works with out-of-state buyers.

What Carbuffs sells

The company's consignment page covers sports cars, luxury cars, hot rods, muscle cars, classics and other historically significant vehicles. The inventory is broad rather than narrowly themed. Listings on its ClassicCars.com page, where it is a Priority Seller, have recently included a 1966 Plymouth Satellite, a 1973 Dodge Challenger, a 2007 Ford Shelby GT500, a 2000 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra and a 1998 Chevrolet Corvette, which shows a mix of vintage muscle and later performance cars. Stock turns over, so check the current inventory instead of relying on any list.

Buying from Carbuffs

The company's site includes a financing application and a service scheduling page, and it states that it can arrange shipping for the vehicles it handles. It does not publish deposit terms, so ask for the full purchase process in writing. As with any dealer purchase, check the title, request a detailed walk-around video if you cannot visit, and arrange an independent inspection before you send money. If you are comparing options in the state, you can also look at California classic cars for sale.

Selling through Carbuffs

Consignment is the heart of the business. According to the company's consignment page, Carbuffs photographs each car with as many pictures as are needed for distant buyers to feel confident, builds a specialized marketing plan for each vehicle, and handles customer communications, inspections and shipping arrangements, including the paperwork. Vehicles are stored in what it calls a secure warehouse and are typically shown by appointment only. The company does not publish its commission or contract terms, and a "Sell Your Car" form on the site starts the conversation. Before you sign anything, read about selling a classic on consignment so you know how fees, minimum prices and contract length usually work.

Reputation

Carbuffs shows an average of about 4.7 stars from 37 reviews on Yelp and 4.4 stars from 51 reviews on Birdeye, as seen at the time of research. We did not find a Better Business Bureau profile for it. Review averages are a snapshot, and a consignment dealer is best judged on written terms and references from recent consignors.

Visiting Carbuffs

The business is at 2281-A Via De Mercados, Concord, California 94520, and its phone number is (925) 671-2010. Its website lists Sunday as closed but gives no set hours for the rest of the week, and asks customers to call to schedule appointments. No public email address is posted, so contact is by phone or the website's form.