CarMax Set to Open in Urbandale

CarMax, the large, national, no-haggle, used-car retailer, is set to open tomorrow, Wednesday, in Urbandale.

The new 44,000-square-foot store "officially" opens on Saturday, but is welcoming customers beginning tomorrow for a "soft opening."

"People can definitely come tomorrow," said spokeswoman Elia Imler, from CarMax's headquarters in Virginia. "Tomorrow is kind of a quiet opening before our grand opening, but we'll be open and ready for business."

The newest location, at 10315 Hickman Road, is CarMax's first store in Iowa, and will have about 300 cars of varying makes and models on the lot.

At CarMax, prices on vehicles are set, with no negotiating. The price you see is the price you pay. The stores also buy used cars, regardless of whether you purchase one of theirs.

"We offer a transparent process for buying a used car," Imler said.

During the 12 months ended in February, the company said it retailed 408,080 used cars and sold 316,649 wholesale vehicles at its in-store auctions.

The company, headquartered in Richmond, VA, operates 112 used car superstores in 56 markets.