Rant/Question - Purchasing a used vehicle from a dealership

[mom'sfolly]

I'd check your local laws. Usually on any big purchase you have a no penalty return policy. Return it, show them the ad, say you don't like being jerked around and will go elsewhere; then leave if they don't follow through.

 

[mjdtexan]

For sure print the ad. Really, print that ad. Then go back to the dealorship. Make something happen. I would. Threaten them with media coverage.

 

[kees]

Does this dealer sell many brands of automobiles?

If the dealership represents a particular brand, it shouldn't be difficult for them to call another dealership to swap a car. You can also check the dealership's CSI rating (Consumer Satisfaction Index). That will let you know how many people who've bought new cars from this dealership are satisfied with the salespeople. (Not to be confused with repairs.)


Can you post a complaint with Consumer Affairs?

The BBB website will indicate if there have been past complaints about this seller, but cannot remedy poor business practices.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Suzy

 

[balticbabe]

Since we're talking auto dealers I want to make sure everyone who buys a used car checks that the title is clear.

One couple was stuck with $40k in debt because the dealer had not paid off the previous owners' liens. It seems with the dealers in trouble they are passing the trouble onto their customers.

http://cbs13.com/local/folding.dealers.car.2.923931.html

 

[ChevygirlBeth]

Thanks for all of the input, I sure appreciate it!

I have to check PA laws... I did not buy this vehicle in my state, so local laws don't apply. And yes, this is a huge dealership with 7 locations - they sell a little of everything.

Marlin, I can understand what you're saying completely... it's the principle of the fact that they specifically told me they could not go any lower than a certain price on that vehicle and it was advertised for less than that price. They did almost nothing to this vehicle (they showed me the repair order on it) - they changed the oil and that way it. I don't think that can account for a $1752 mark up.

I may call them Monday. I am so not good at that, though. I was considering writing a letter to send (with a copy of the autotrader ad) along with the title for the car that we traded in, but I don't know if that would make any difference to them.

 

[breconbcs]

If the advertised price is less than you paid, you may be able to argue it out with them, that really depends on the laws in your state. Also a good idea to check how long you have to change your mind. Here in Ontario, we have 10 days for purchases over $1000.

eta: check the laws the state you bought it from. They have to follow those. You may even find a consumer fraud board type thing that you could call and ask them.

 

[HennysMom]

Ouch -

This is why I always look first by driving around on days they (dealerships) are CLOSED so that I can really look at each car the way I want to look at it (on my time

). I cant drive it, no - but.. I do go home and run NADA, Kelly Blue Book and private sales to see what the average price is for the vehicle I'm interested in. That way I know BEFORE I purchase what their mark up is already

. Dealers never give more than "average" for traade in (if that) so you should always average what "retail" and "trade in" are to come up with a comparable price.

We just did that last week - bought a 2002 Crown Victoria with 36K miles on it - loaded with every option (older couple owned it). We pulled everything on NADA and Kelly - then I called and got the VIN number - ran a Car Fax history report to see what was what on it, then decided from there if I wanted to drive it. We did - but we told the salesman after the 2nd time he came back with "We cant go lower than this" (by the way - what they had it for on their lot and what they adverstised it for online was $1,000 LESS). We didnt need financing so... I told them I have a price in mind and I'm not going above that price. Salesman says "Well Kelly says... blah blah blah" and I pulled out my KBB paper myself and said "Nope - I have Kelly right here and thats not what it says on your screen, sorry." Then he went to NADA - guess what? I had that too LOL!

I refuse to haggle prices - so we got up and started to walk out with a "thank you for your time, but I'm not going to pay what you want for this vehicle." Main manager came running out and asked us "Well whats your offer then?" We told them and he hemmed and hawed about it, saying "we're already coming down $1,000.00 from the price differences" Me: HA! No.. you advertised it online for XXX and thats the price I'm going with and then knocking off of that, sorry."

We got it for what WE wanted to pay for it...

Make sure the next time you go looking for a vehicle - do your homework so they cant catch you in "Well - NADA and Kelly say.." you can average the "common price" of the vehicle you're looking at and then start knocking down from there. They will still make alot of money off of the vehicle, trust me.

Good luck and let us know how it all turns out!

 

[tomcio]

I don't know how this works in the States, but here in Canada you have 14 days on purchases over $100 to make up your mind. It's called 'buyers remorse law' or something along those lines.

Basically, if you buy a big ticket item, and you find that it does not perform to your liking OR that you have entered into the contract erroneously (like with your price advertisement), you can go back and renag on the contract without having to go through court.

I hope your State has something similiar.

Good luck.

Tom

 

[Guitartists]

All and all it sounds like a badly ran business... cars for sale that don't start, typos on price sheets, slow service and having different prices on the same item. They probably dropped the price online to try and sell it quick.. but when they got someone who was unaware of the listed price to possibly buy it.. they jacked the price up for a better profit.

If you want to know for sure..... have someone check the price of a vehicle they have listed online..... then send someone to the lot to look at vehicles, acting unaware of the listed prices... and see if they quote them the online price or a 'new and improved' price.

But I'm sneaky that way and I like to get to the bottom of things to know if I was duped or if it was just my misfortune.

Best of luck though and I hope you get your money back!

 

[breconbcs]

Quote:
Sorry to disagree Tom, but it's only 10 days for purchases over $1000 and 72 hours for anything less - it is called buyer's remorse. And they don't have to tell you when you buy (some people think the sales people do, but it's buyer beware on that one). The company I just quit from drilled that into our heads. They gave us the information so we would understand the pay schedule but we were not allowed to tell customers unless they specifically asked. The small sales I got paid for on day 4 after the remorse time and the bigger sales we had to wait till day 11 to get paid. Those were the hard ones to wait for cause they never told us till we went to get paid if the sale went through or not - the joys of working on commission.