Big Valley Auto Auction vs Manheim: An Honest Review

Batman vs Superman. McDonalds vs Burger King. Coke vs. Pepsi. People all throughout history have debated over the quality of one thing to another. What’s better, Item A or Item B? This debate also applies to auto auctions.

Big Valley Auto Auction has occupied Donna, Texas for nearly 2 decades and throughout the years, we’ve gone head-to-head with multiple competitors, both in-state and out-of-state. We know that dealers want the best when it comes to buying or selling inventory, which is why we’re going to put our experience to the test by comparing ourselves to our fellow Texas competitor, Manheim Texas Hobby, located in Houston, Texas.

In this article, we’re going to break down how our services compare to Manheim Texas Hobby, to help you decide which Texas auction suits your needs. We know this article may seem one-sided, as we can’t speak for Manheim. However, we are going to be open and honest on how Big Valley Auto Auction measures up to Manheim Texas Hobby.

We’ll be comparing the following 4 features:

• Reconditioning services

• Inspection services

• Website accessibility

• Floorplan options

However, before highlighting those 4 differences, let’s dive into a few things offered at both auto auctions.

What Do Big Valley Auto Auction and Manheim Have in Common?

While Big Valley and Manheim are competitors, we both follow NAAA rules and regulations. This makes it a little bit easier to understand a few processes that are the same.

AuctionACCESS 

Before choosing either of the following 2 auto auctions, you’ll first have to register with AuctionACCESS, as a membership is required in order to attend both Manheim and Big Valley auctions. Registering with AuctionACCESS allows you to attend all NAAA auto auctions, and reduces the time it takes to sign in.

Arbitration Process

Arbitration is the dispute between a buyer and seller over undisclosed issues with a vehicle. If a dealer buys a vehicle with damage that was not announced, they can file an arbitration.

Both Manheim Texas Hobby and Big Valley Auto Auction follow the same NAAA standards for their arbitration policy. Based on NAAA’s light system, a vehicle running under a green light is ready to drive off the lot. Yellow light vehicles have slight damage, and red light vehicles are inoperable or only good for parts. 

If a vehicle is sold under a green or yellow light, and has at least $800 worth of damage to a single item, the dealer can file an arbitration.

Both Manheim Texas Hobby and Big Valley Auto Auction know that not everyone can attend auction day in person. Due to this, both offer the benefit of an online simulcast, which gives dealers the chance to bid in real time from the comfort of their home or office.

Below is a photo of Manheim Texas Hobby’s online simulcast screen. It displays footage of the vehicle running, the light color it’s being run under, bidding area, announcement area, condition report area, and a list of other vehicles on the lane.

Below is a photo of Big Valley Auto Auction’s online simulcast screen, which displays similar sections like the lanes the vehicles running are located, where you can message the block clerk, the section that contains the vehicle’s condition report, the light it’s being run under, and bidding area, and other vehicles on the lane.

Now that we’ve walked through the similar benefits provided by both auto auctions, let’s dive into the differences in services that make Manheim Texas Hobby and Big Valley Auto Auction their own distinct business, so you know which will be the best fit for you.

Auto Auction Reconditioning Services Compared

Both auto auctions want your vehicle to look its best, which is why they both offer a set of reconditioning services. However, each of these auto auctions’ services cover different aspects of a vehicle.

Manheim Reconditioning Services

Manheim has 3 tiers for their detailing options, which are Good, Better, and Best. The good tier removes trash and vacuums the interior. The better tier removes trash, vacuums the interior, cleans hard surfaces, and shampoos carpets, seats, and floor mats. Finally, the best tier covers everything mentioned above, as well as fabric protection, leather conditioner, and fragrance.

The 3 tier system also provides detail options for the exterior of a vehicle.

The good tier only offers a vehicle wash. The better tier provides a wash and de-greases the tires. The best tier washes and de-greases the vehicle, brightens the wheels, cleans exterior windows, removes tar, de-greases and dresses the tires, de-greases door jambs, dresses the tires and wheel wells, and clays the vehicle.

The better and best tiers also offer hand buff services for the exterior of a vehicle. The better tier polishes and glazes the vehicle, and the best tier polishes and glazes the vehicle, providing a light compound and paint sealant.

Other detailing options offered include:

• Interior repair/reconditioning
• Headlamp brightening
• Microfiber seat cleaning
• Leather reconditioning

Manheim Texas Hobby also has reconditioning services that don’t fall under their 3-tier system, which are light mechanical repairs, paint and body repairs, and other repairs.

Light Mechanical Repairs typically review items of concern, including the following: Brakes, cooling, diagnostics, suspensions, steering, electrical, alignment, and oil and fluids. 

Paint and Body Repairs include brush touch/Chip Wizard, auto body repair, and partial bumper repair.

Other Repairs provide paintless dent repair, key replacement/locksmith services, pin striping, wet sand and buff, wheel repair, windshield repair, and windshield replacement.

To gain insights on what the prices are, you'll have to reach out to their team directly.

Similar to Manheim Texas Hobby, Big Valley Auto Auction provides numerous reconditioning services. However, they do differ in what their services cover.

Big Valley Auto Auction Reconditioning Services

Big Valley Auto Auction has 6 reconditioning services, such as Wash-Only, Wash, Vacuum, Dress Tires, Standard Detail, Premium Detail, De-Identification, and Headlight Restoration.

A wash-only removes writing from the vehicle’s exterior, scrubs the exterior, rinses with soap and dries. This costs $20.00 per vehicle.

Wash, vacuum, and dress tires provide the same benefits of the wash-only, plus vacuuming the interior, shining the wheels and performing a quality check, which is a double check. This service will cost $35.00 per vehicle.

A standard detail is a wash-only service, with a quality check, de-trashes the interior, and cleans the interior and exterior of the vehicle. This costs $95.00 per vehicle.

For $150.00 per vehicle, a premium detail will provide the benefits of the standard detail, with the addition of Superbee, which is a vinyl cleaner, UV protectant, and dirt remover.

De-Identification removes any decals and stickers on the vehicle, for $150.00 per vehicle. (This is like a tattoo removal.)

Headlight restoration repairs fog and sun damage on a vehicle’s headlights. This service costs $25.00 per vehicle.

Below is a chart that checks off what each service covers, along with their prices.

Auto Auction Inspection Services Compared

Dealers pay for inspections to make sure they know exactly what they’re paying for. Whether it’s requesting a pre-certification inspection or a frame check, Manheim Texas Hobby and Big Valley Auto Auction give dealers multiple inspection options.

Manheim Inspection Services

Manheim Texas Hobby has a Purchase Protection Suite, which features 5 inspection and certifications options:

Flood check: to find more info on flood check services, please reach out to the Manheim team directly, as this information is not provided to the public on their website.

Manheim Certified vehicles are inspected to ensure they meet NAAA Certified Silver standards. This is guaranteed for vehicles 7 days or 300 miles from the date and location of sale.

Post-Sale Inspection inspects and guarantees a comprehensive list of components for lower mileage Green and Green-Yellow light vehicles for 7 or 14 days.

Manheim’s chart below breaks down the guarantee period and inspection guarantee, based on the vehicle’s mileage and light it was run under, its purchase price, items that are inspected, items that are excluded from this service, and the claim mileage criteria.

Limited Powertrain Inspection provides an inspection of a vehicle’s major components and includes a 7-Day guarantee, which can be assessed before your vehicle leaves the lot.

Below is a chart that breaks down the criteria a vehicle must meet in order to qualify for this service.

Manheim’s Limited Powertrain Inspection also follows a pricing structure, based on a vehicle’s purchase price.

A Frame Check inspects the structure of a vehicle for damage and costs $85. Below is a chart that highlights the eligibility criteria for vehicles requesting a frame check.

Manheim’s DealShield 360 Guarantee (DS360) allows you to return your vehicle for a full refund if it does not meet your needs. However, this feature is only available for purchase on a subscription basis. You get up to 21 days and 360 post-purchase miles to return your vehicle to any U.S Manheim location, for a 100% refund on purchase price, and the buy fee (up to $100,000).

Manheim Texas Hobby also provides dealers the opportunity to request a condition report, which is a complete visual inspection of the interior and exterior of a vehicle. Condition reports provide vehicles with an AutoGrade, which is a vehicle’s condition based on a scale of 0-5.

Manheim Texas Hobby’s condition reports consist of 3 tiers:

• Good Basic Listing offers basic vehicle description, limited frame damage report, and prior paint information.
  
  
• Better Seller Disclosure offers basic vehicle description, frame damage report, prior paint information, tire information, limited description of options, and images.
  
  
• Best Condition Report offers vehicle description, frame damage report, prior paint information, tire information, description of options, images, visual damage summary, and mechanical damage summary for an extra charge. (select locations only)
  

Big Valley Auto Auction Inspection Services 

Big Valley has 4 inspection services:

• A pre-certification inspection is a basic mechanical, structural, and electrical inspection. The price for this inspection is based on the light a vehicle is run under.

• Green light inspection is for vehicles free of any known defects and costs $115.00 per vehicle.
  
  
• Yellow light inspection is for vehicles sold under announced conditions and costs $115.00 per vehicle
  
  
• Red light vehicles are sold as-is and only qualify for a frame check, which checks for structural damage and flood damage, for $95.00 per vehicle.
  

Similar to Manheim Texas Hobby, Big Valley’s condition report is a visual and cosmetic inspection of the interior and exterior of a vehicle, which also gives each vehicle an AutoGrade, based on a scale of 0-5. However, unlike Manheim Texas Hobby, Big Valley’s condition report only consists of 1 tier.

Big Valley Auto Auction’s condition reports cover the following 5 sections for $20.00: Paint and body, interior, frame, unibody, mechanical, and tires.

Post-Sale Inspection

A frame check is a visual inspection of a vehicle, to check for any structural damage and flood damage. It costs $95.00 per vehicle.

Auto Auction Website Accessibility

Both Manheim Texas Hobby and Big Valley Auto Auction have websites, which showcase important information relevant to their business. Both companies want to keep their potential customers informed with the right knowledge to attend their sale day prepared. To do so, both have their own online learning centers, to provide dealers with the information needed. 

Manheim Texas Hobby's website features information about events, contacts, lanes, transportation, services, and a link to their registration page. Manheim Texas Hobby has a Help Center page that covers sections such as new dealer registration questions and an online buyer's guide. This is a really great benefit to dealers, as it allows customers to do their research before attending a Manheim auto auction.

Big Valley Auto Auction's homepage will provide information about  current inventory, services, pricing, learning center, dealer resources, events, and a link to our registration page. Big Valley Auto Auction's learning center consists of comprehensive, educational content for our dealers and buyers alike. Understanding the ins and outs of this industry is not easy, so we create helpful resources every single week to keep you updated.

Auto Auction Floorplan Options

Floor plans companies extend a line of credit to auto dealers. This lets dealerships finance vehicles without paying the cash upfront. The floor plan accepted at Manheim Texas Hobby is NextGear Capital. 

If your floor plan is not listed, you can reach out to their team for more information.

The following 10 floor plans are accepted at Big Valley Auto Auction:

• NextGear Capital

• Westlake Financial

• FloorPlan Xpress 

• CarBucks 

• Automotive Finance Corporation (AFC) 

• FlexPlus

• Auto Use 

• AXLE Funding (formerly Auction Credit)

• Kinetic Advantage 

• Car Financial
  
  

If your floorplan is not listed here, please reach out to our team, as we are very flexible with floorplan options.

Manheim or Big Valley: Which Auto Auction is the Right Choice for Me?

If you believe that Batman is better than Superman and there’s no changing your mind, regardless of information, then a comparison article may not be of interest. However, if you’re open to weighing your options when comparing auto auctions and considering which is best for you, then these factors might be helpful for your dealership.

Whether you're in the beginning stages of finding an auto auction or you're considering attending a different auto auction, you can use this article to help you decide which is best for you.

If you believe Big Valley Auto Auction meets your needs, learn what to expect when becoming a registered Big Valley Auto Auction dealer.