MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- The Exchange New Car Sales aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, provides service members the opportunity to have a brand new car waiting for them when they go home.
Through this program, service members can have a car customized with any features available to the vehicle and get it sent wherever they want, whenever they want.
“What we provide here is a benefit, we do not sell cars,” said Michael Livingston, an independent sales representative with Exchange New Car Sales.
Congress started this program in 1961 and it is only available to military members overseas.
Since we have a program that allows you to purchase vehicles directly from the dealership, people think that we’re shady car salesmen, but we’re not, we’re benefit administrators,” said Livingston.
Livingston added that their services are meant to protect people from the devious car salesmen at car dealerships because their goal is to make as much money as possible.
Car dealership salesmen are paid commission for every car they sell, so in the end, if they don’t sell cars they aren’t getting paid.
“At first I thought it was a scam because that’s what everyone told me,” said Cpl. Linnea Privette, a food service specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron. “I went to their office when I first got here and they told me things like, ‘we have all these options and possibilities, there are so many great deals that can benefit you.’ I didn’t believe them at first, but I finally went back six months later and I sat down with them and they explained to me why it’s not a scam and why I should take advantage of it.”
Privette said the thing that made her believe that they weren’t shady salesmen was the way they keep in contact. They kept her up-to-date on how much money she was saving and let her know how much her car payments would be when she got back to the states.
Zero cancellation fee, 100 percent refund, satisfaction guarantee, low annual percentage rate and a seven-year warranty are some of the many benefits that come from this program.
“It would be ridiculous not to take advantage of it,” said Samuel Lynch, regional manager for Exchange New Car Sales.
The New Car Sales provides various cars from Chrysler, Ford, Jeep, Dodge and Harley; and when you receive your vehicle, you receive the newest model available.
Privette said the first thing that caught her interest was the variety of cars she could choose from, but the thing that really sold her was advice Livingston gave her.
“Not only did (Livingston) help me make a good decision and inform me of all the benefits I could take away from this program, but he also gave me some great advice,” said Privette. “After explaining to me the benefit of their seven-year warranty, he added that if some time down the road I decided I wanted a different car, the warranty would transfer over to the new owner so I could sell it for a higher price than I normally would.”
For customers in a hurry, Exchange New Car Sales additionally provides pre-made, already customized vehicles ready to buy.
“It’s never too early or too late to come to us for a vehicle,” said Jeffrey Mowatt, an independent sales representative at Exchange New Car Sales.