Need a used set of wheels? Name your price
EVERETT, Wash. -- Too many used cars are too pricey, but not if you know where to shop.
Jim Brown - the Rev. Jim Brown, that is - runs the Vehicle Donation Program for the Volunteers of America.
The VOA lot in Everett isn't fancy, but the vehicles are priced to move. And the shoppers know it.
I found Ila Hall with her son and daughter-in-law.
"So we come down here and I tell the lady, 'We only got $1,500 and we need two cars. These kids have jobs and no way to get there.' So she says, 'OK, fine. We'll make it work,'" she said.
Hall's son, Steve Millard, said his first car came from the VOA lot.
"It was $500, and it ran for three whole years without too many problems," he said.
Some of the cars have cosmetic damage, and some need minor repairs. The VOA salespeople tell you that.
Even though the cars are sold as-is, Brown promises to be there after the sale.
"If one or our good running cars goes down the street and breaks down, we take care of it," he said.
The Northwest Center runs a similar used car lot in Auburn. When people donate cars to the center, they wind up at the lot, which is run by Glen Yadon.
"We have a '51 Chevy flatbed that we got. Last week we had a Lexus in here. So we get quite a variety," he said.
Some cars must be scrapped. The ones that are in good shape are given a mechanical check, fixed if necessary and all cleaned up before the price tag goes on the windshield.
"Our main goal is to be pretty much less than most everybody else out there," said Yadon. "The money helps the charity. Selling the car for less money helps the customer buy a car they might not be able to afford otherwise."
And get this: Yadon says he's willing to negotiate.
More Information:
VOA Used Cars
NW Center Used Vehicles
Jim Brown - the Rev. Jim Brown, that is - runs the Vehicle Donation Program for the Volunteers of America.
The VOA lot in Everett isn't fancy, but the vehicles are priced to move. And the shoppers know it.
I found Ila Hall with her son and daughter-in-law.
"So we come down here and I tell the lady, 'We only got $1,500 and we need two cars. These kids have jobs and no way to get there.' So she says, 'OK, fine. We'll make it work,'" she said.
Hall's son, Steve Millard, said his first car came from the VOA lot.
"It was $500, and it ran for three whole years without too many problems," he said.
Some of the cars have cosmetic damage, and some need minor repairs. The VOA salespeople tell you that.
Even though the cars are sold as-is, Brown promises to be there after the sale.
"If one or our good running cars goes down the street and breaks down, we take care of it," he said.
The Northwest Center runs a similar used car lot in Auburn. When people donate cars to the center, they wind up at the lot, which is run by Glen Yadon.
"We have a '51 Chevy flatbed that we got. Last week we had a Lexus in here. So we get quite a variety," he said.
Some cars must be scrapped. The ones that are in good shape are given a mechanical check, fixed if necessary and all cleaned up before the price tag goes on the windshield.
"Our main goal is to be pretty much less than most everybody else out there," said Yadon. "The money helps the charity. Selling the car for less money helps the customer buy a car they might not be able to afford otherwise."
And get this: Yadon says he's willing to negotiate.
More Information:
VOA Used Cars
NW Center Used Vehicles