Bay Area Hand Picked Cars HomeView CarsWorking with a BrokerAbout UsRequest InfoResources

 

 

About Bay Area Hand Picked Cars

Bay Area Hand Picked Cars is owned and operated by Ioanna Stergiades, a scientist  (BS, 1997, University of South Carolina, Chemistry and Marine Science; MS, 2000, University of Hawai`i, Organic Synthesis) and car lover with a genuine entrepreneurial spirit. Ioanna decided to enter the auto broker business after losing her all-time favorite car in a traumatic accident in 2003. She needed to find a car, and quickly – her beloved Accord was totaled, and the BART/Muni commute just wasn’t cutting it.

As Ioanna shopped for another vehicle, it struck her that the process of buying a used car was grueling, stressful and tedious – especially for women. In addition, she found that at every dealer she visited, her knowledge of automobiles was superior to the sales staff available to answer questions. The whole process was terribly frustrating, and she starting thinking – owning and driving a car is exciting and fun, so why should the buying process be such a nightmare?

Ioanna has always been a car junkie; in fact, there’s nothing she enjoys more than doing tune-ups and brake jobs in her spare time. So she decided to make the process better. By becoming a professional auto broker, she can offer a personalized shopping experience for each customer in a comfortable, low-pressure environment. She hopes to elevate the entire shopping process by providing an unparalleled level of customer service. At Bay Area Hand Picked Cars, we’ll make sure that shopping for your car is as much fun as owning and driving it.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10. 11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.

Why should I buy my next car through Bay Area Hand Picked Cars?
You keep talking about great customer service. What does that mean?
But isn’t a broker really a dealer? What’s the difference?
Does Bay Area Hand Picked Cars offer any guarantees?
Can Bay Area Hand Picked Cars take my current vehicle as a trade-in?
Does Bay Area Hand Picked Cars purchase new or used vehicles?
What kind of cars can you find at dealer-only auctions?
The word auction scares me – are these really good and reliable cars?
Will anyone be able to examine the car before it is purchased?
What if I want my personal mechanic to look at the car?
How do you evaluate the vehicles at the auction site?
Do you specialize in any particular make of car?
So, with access to all kinds of cars, what do you choose to drive?
How much will
I pay if I buy my car through Bay Area Hand Picked Cars?
Why do you collect a deposit? How much do I have to put down?
What payment methods do you accept?
Can you help me get financing for my vehicle?
One last thing...

Why should I buy my next car through Bay Area Hand Picked Cars?

BAHPC can find you the exact used car you want at wholesale prices, while offering you service that is unmatched by any traditional dealership. We purchase our used cars at dealer-only auctions – which is exactly where dealerships purchase their used-car inventory. However, BAHPC has none of the high overhead costs associated with the fancy showrooms and huge inventories at traditional dealerships. That means that we can offer you the same car that you would find at a dealership – but for a lot less money. Finally, we will meet with you as often as necessary to determine the best car for your current situation, and we won’t pressure you to buy the make or model we need to move this month.
Back to list of questions

You keep talking about great customer service. What does that mean?

At Bay Area Hand Picked Cars, we pride ourselves on taking the process of buying a car to the next level. Here are some of the little touches that make shopping with us so special:

  • Comfortable office with great resources for car shoppers
  • Professional, friendly, low pressure service
  • All smogging and DMV paperwork completed for you
  • Complete inspection of all cars by a professional mechanic
  • Professional detail job on each vehicle
  • A free full tank of gas and a free Car Care Package with each car
  • Our unprecedented 3 day/250 mile money-back guarantee

Back to list of questions

But isn’t a broker really a dealer? What’s the difference?

That’s absolutely correct. Anyone calling themselves an autobroker must, by law, carry a dealer license in the state of California. The difference is really in the structure of the business. Because brokers choose to cater directly to consumers instead of carrying the high overhead costs of inventory, we can offer much lower prices. In addition, the low-pressure environment and personalized service makes for a much more pleasant and enjoyable car buying experience.
Back to list of questions

Does Bay Area Hand Picked Cars offer any guarantees?

Yes. Bay Area Hand Picked Cars offers a three day/250 miles, no questions asked money-back guarantee. We want to make sure that you are completely satisfied with your vehicle purchase – so if you don’t like your new car for any reason, we’re happy to take it back.
Back to list of questions

Can Bay Area Hand Picked Cars take my current vehicle as a trade-in?

Bay Area Hand Picked Cars will take select vehicles as trade-ins. We are happy to evaluate and price any vehicle you have, and discuss your options for selling or trading in your car.
Back to list of questions

…about the Cars

Does Bay Area Hand Picked Cars purchase new or used vehicles?

We have access to both new and used cars. We broker new vehicle sales through various dealerships around the Bay Area, and we attend dealer-only auctions to purchase used vehicles – the same venues where traditional dealerships obtain the used cars they sell.
Back to list of questions

What kind of cars can you find at dealer-only auctions?

Dealer-only auctions feature used cars from a variety of sources – but most of the cars we buy are two to three year old vehicles that are coming off a lease. These are high quality vehicles with low mileage and clean titles (which we verify with a CarFax or DMV report). In fact, many of the vehicles will have some portion of the original factory warranty left (this depends on the age and mileage of the car). We specifically look for this feature, because we love offering our clients the built-in added protection of a factory warranty.

Most dealer-only auctions offer a large variety of cars, including all major manufacturers. BAHPC has access to over 3,000-5,000 cars per week at the major dealer-only auctions in the Bay Area. We can also search and buy nationally for hard-to-find vehicles and special cars.
Back to list of questions

The word auction scares me – are these really good and reliable cars?

Many people run when they hear the words “car auction,” but the key is recognizing the very real difference between public auto auctions and dealer-only wholesale auctions. In order to get a great deal and avoid buying a lemon at a public auction, buyers must be incredibly car-savvy. Wholesale dealer-only auctions are much different. These auctions are the major source of used car inventory for all dealerships, from the huge franchise dealerships to the small auto broker businesses. All the information, including DMV records, is available to dealers, and any mechanic problems are described in the vehicle inspection reports that accompany each car. Furthermore, most auction houses offer a guarantee to their dealers – if any car is found to have mechanical problems not described in the report, the dealer may return it to the auction house for a refund.
Back to list of questions

Will anyone be able to examine the car before it is purchased?

Unfortunately, you will not be able to see the car before we purchase it. However, BAHPC may have access to inspection sheets and pictures before the sale; please contact us for more details. In addition, we will have the opportunity to view both the interior and exterior of the vehicle at length before purchase. We can also start the car and inspect all aspects of the engine and undercarriage.

Back to list of questions

What if I want my personal mechanic to look at the car?

Great! Most auction houses offer a short-term guarantee on the vehicles they are selling. This means if something is wrong with the car and it has not been addressed in the inspection reports, they will take the car back and return our money. In order to ensure our purchases are sound, we have all our cars inspected within 24 hours of purchase. We will first ask you if you have a preferred mechanic to perform the inspection - we are glad to use any ASE certified mechanic of your choice. If you have no preference, we will use an independent third-party professional mechanic of our choice.
Back to list of questions

How do you evaluate the vehicles at the auction site?

In addition to reviewing the inspection reports from the auction houses, we also carry out our own detailed inspection of each vehicle before purchase. Our rigorous 128-point inspection, modeled after the CPO (Certified Pre-Owned) inspections performed at franchise dealerships, includes everything from VIN check and paint thickness to fluid condition and levels – and everything in between!
Back to list of questions

Do you specialize in any particular make of car?

Bay Area Hand Picked Cars can buy and sell any major brand of automobiles. While we have our specific preferences on makes and models based principally on our experience and on consumer reliability reports, we prefer not to push these preferences on our customers. Instead, we offer unbiased information and advice based on published consumer data and mechanics reports. That’s not to say you won’t hear us use the word “Honda” more than once in a positive light. .
.Back to list of questions

So, with access to all kinds of cars, what do you choose to drive?

When my 1996 Honda Accord Coupe (Kai) was totaled in an accident in 2003, I was torn on what car I should buy next. It took me three months to decide to buy a new car (I was an avid used-car buyer, often giving spontaneous lectures on the financial advantages of buying used), but I finally settled on a 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid sedan (Jaime). Now, I typically get 42 MPG, which includes driving the steep hills of San Francisco with a CVT (continuously variable transmission). I’m a big fan of hybrid cars, and really enjoy the fuel economy and decreased emissions my car offers – and, she drives great!
Back to list of questions

…About Financial Issues

How much will I pay if I buy my car through Bay Area Hand Picked Cars?

Here is a breakdown of the costs you will encounter purchasing through BAHPC:

 
Vehicle Cost:
Wholesale price at auction
 
Auction Buyer’s Fee:
$250 - $600, depending on price
 
Taxes:
8.5-10.5%, depending on your county of residence
 
Licensing and Registration:
$15 to 2% of vehicle price, depending on individual registration requirement; some penalty fees may apply
 
Document Prep Fee:
$55
 
Smogging:
$50
 
Transportation from auction:
$150
 
BAHPC broker fee:
10% of the wholesale cost, with a minimum of $1000.

Since the wholesale prices at dealer-only auctions are so much less than the retail price at a dealership, you will save thousands of dollars on your next car.
Back to list of questions

Why do you collect a deposit? How much do I have to put down?

Once you decide on the specific car you would like to purchase, we require a $500 deposit before we can begin locating the vehicle. We ask for this deposit to make sure that you understand the financial commitment of working with BAHPC – and to separate the casual shopper from the serious car buyer. When we agree on the car you want, we will devote our time and energy to finding the perfect match. The deposit guarantees that you understand this, too. If we cannot find a vehicle to match your specifications within the agreed upon timeframe, we will return 100% of your deposit. If we complete a vehicle purchase, the deposit is applied to the costs of the purchase.
Back to list of questions

What payment methods do you accept?

We accept cash and cashier’s checks.
Back to list of questions

Can you help me get financing for my vehicle?

We can offer you help getting financing for your purchase, but the interest rates are generally not as low as what you can get on your own. Check out our resources page for a list of lenders willing to finance new and used car purchases at great interest rates.
Back to list of questions

One last thing. . . . did you know handpicked is really one word?

Alas, after years of wondering why some businesses don’t use proper grammar. . . we started using “handpicked,” but after hearing the name read as “handicapped” on multiple occasions we decided to separate the words for clarity. We hope this settles any confusion!
Back to list of questions