Author Topic: Woes with car dealership.. suggestions? (Read 921 times)

mosca · « **Reply #45 on:** February 05, 2005, 08:22:43 PM »

It's governed by state law. Generally speaking, though, a deposit taken on an order or on a locate is contingent upon them being able to acquire the vehicle.

Y'know what,though? They told you up front that there would be a 2 to 4 month wait. They called you several times to tell you about similar cars that had come in. They tried. And, if they'd come up with the exact car when you'd been out of work for say, 3 months, would that contract have bound you to take delivery of the car? You yourself said that the extended wait was actually a good thing for you.

Prius supply is controlled by Toyota and the import distributor. As a dealership, you don't get what you ask for; you take what they give you. Speaking as a Subaru sales manager in the mid '90s, there was nothing like ordering 20 Legacys and 15 Imprezas and getting 15 Legacys, 10 Imprezas, and 10 SVXs.

If it were me, I'd take my deposit back and buy something else, and not look back.

My sister bought her car today. The $420 was the price difference from '04s to '05s. They gave her another $500 for her SLK230, making it $15.5k; it's the middle of winter in Chicago, and that's a little 2 seat roadster. They'll either make a killing on that trade or use it as a buffet table this spring. It's a risky piece to take in at that place and at this time. But still, local NADA on it is $17.8k with an $1850 mileage adjustment. I would have felt safe at $16.5K. The dealer threw in a bunch of free oil changes and inspections to make up for the $420, so she's happy.

Tom

Airhead · « **Reply #46 on:** February 05, 2005, 11:31:45 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by GRUNHERZ
Yes, ditch the Prius statement car and save yorself thousands of dollars by taking your money to a Honda dealership and getting a Civic sedan.

Or save yourself even more thousands and buy American. The job you save may be your own...oh wait, didn't Oio say he lost his job? And he still wants to buy an import????

You reap what you sow I guess. I hope your unemployment check covers the car payment you'll make to keep some Japanese dude who manufactures your car in a Tokyo country club membership.

Me, I buy American. And if everybody did then Oio would still have a job. If you aren't part of the solution then you are part of the problem.

If we Americans were even half as nationalistic as every other country's citizens were then Oio wouldn't be unemployeed.

SOB · « **Reply #47 on:** February 05, 2005, 11:39:07 PM »

I get all my printing done in Canada.

SaburoS · « **Reply #48 on:** February 06, 2005, 01:34:33 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Airhead
Or save yourself even more thousands and buy American. The job you save may be your own...oh wait, didn't Oio say he lost his job? And he still wants to buy an import????

You reap what you sow I guess. I hope your unemployment check covers the car payment you'll make to keep some Japanese dude who manufactures your car in a Tokyo country club membership.

Me, I buy American. And if everybody did then Oio would still have a job. If you aren't part of the solution then you are part of the problem.

If we Americans were even half as nationalistic as every other country's citizens were then Oio wouldn't be unemployeed.

Chances are the new car you buy won't be made in the country you think.

Some Hondas, Nissans, and Toyotas are made here in the States while some domestic labels are not.

People buy what they perceive as a good value for the money. Seems the Japanese rice producers are having a hard time of it as quite a few Japanese are buying California rice. Seems every bit as good as the Japanese grown but much cheaper.

ET · « **Reply #49 on:** February 06, 2005, 05:38:12 AM »

Go over the dealers head to their U.S. HQs.
Contact State Attorney Generals Office.
Tell them both you think you are a victim of fraud.
Maybe they will help.

mosca · « **Reply #50 on:** February 06, 2005, 08:22:42 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by ET
Go over the dealers head to their U.S. HQs.
Contact State Attorney Generals Office.
Tell them both you think you are a victim of fraud.
Maybe they will help.

Was he a victim of fraud? You've only heard one side, and even there he admitted that the extra wait benefitted him and that the dealer kept in touch constantly. Without seeing the exact contract outlining the circumstances under which the deposit is and isn't refundable, I don't think anyone here can say that there is fraud. I would bet that there is either no language stating that the deposit is non-refundable, or that the deposit is refundable if the dealership fails to perform within a reasonable time. In other words, OIO could have asked for his deposit to be refunded, but chose not to.

I've written a handful of rebuttal letters over my 20 years in the business. Every time a customer has complained about fraud, I have produced documentation signed by the customer showing that they knew exactly what they were doing; I had one customer write a letter claiming that we tricked her into signing a lease when she intended to purchase a vehicle. We replied with a copy of her email requesting information on leasing and lease payments, our return email explaining leasing, and a copy of her signature directly under the words on the contract, in bold, capital letters, "THIS IS A LEASE. AT THE END OF THIS CONTRACT YOU WILL NOT OWN THE CAR. DO NOT SIGN THIS CONTRACT IF YOU INTEND TO PURCHASE THIS CAR ON PAYMENTS."

I know that there is a lot of bs that goes on at other dealerships, but Iagree with VWE and WMLute. That's laziness. It's hard work selling a car. It's not physically hard; you don't have to be in shape. And it's not mentally challenging; you don't have to be real smart. It's emotionally hard. And that's really exhausting. And since it's emotions, lying works really well, so the lazy ones lie. And most people will do their job in whatever way is easiest, with whatever kludges and work-arounds that they can think of.

Tom

OIO · « **Reply #51 on:** February 06, 2005, 09:24:45 AM »

easy guys no need to fight over my problem lol.

"They told you up front that there would be a 2 to 4 month wait. They called you several times to tell you about similar cars that had come in. They tried."

Techically yes they tried... to sell me a much more expensive vehicle loaded with crap i dont want or would ever use. To give you an idea my car was 23k (without taxes, tags or dealer fees).. the ones i was offered were near 27k (without taxes, tags or dealer fees) .

"And, if they'd come up with the exact car when you'd been out of work for say, 3 months, would that contract have bound you to take delivery of the car?"

If i had cancelled the order i wouldve forfeited my $500 deposit. We both know no sales contract forces someone to purchase an item when the buyer wont be able to afford it... the seller would lose big. But I do get your point though... yet the fact remains, the dealer agreed and signed on a price and a delivery agreement and took my money... and they want me to take to a more expensive alternative because they cant keep their end of the deal.

I understand it may be out of their control and stuff and im trying to be as civil as possible with the guys working in the dealership; but then again, they were happy to take my money and sign the agreement with me. So in this case, who screwed up? And who do they want to pay for their screw-up?

Remember they wouldve kept my 500 bucks if i was the one that screwed up and couldnt take the vehicle.

"In other words, OIO could have asked for his deposit to be refunded, but chose not to. "

Actually I did ask about a refund around the 5th or 6th month and I was told id lose the money if I cancelled the order. The 'chose not to' was more like a 'well, hell those 500 bucks will be gone either way so i may as well wait it out' thing.

Im waiting for monday and see what they tell me about the toyota money back thing.. if its not avaliable ill see if they can add a year more on the warranty and take it. If not ill just take my money back.

mosca · « **Reply #52 on:** February 06, 2005, 09:35:02 AM »

Well, look at the contract; I can't see it. But I don't think they could keep your money in perpetuity. They may have lied in saying that you wouldn't get your deposit, but they would be hard pressed to show any damages with the waiting list for Priuses. Our contract says, "If you cancel this order (except as allowable by law)..." in other words, you can't cancel at whim. But you can cancel and receive a refund for failure to perform.

Tom

OIO · « **Reply #53 on:** February 06, 2005, 09:40:14 AM »

it says the deposit is non-refundable. sound quite clear to me.

anyways, ill post an update on monday night.

john9001 · « **Reply #54 on:** February 06, 2005, 09:43:08 AM »

on the subject of "buy american" Honda has 5 plants in ohio and a design office in cal., toyota has 8 plants in the US, there are other mfg in the US but i'm to lazy to look them up.

OIO · « **Reply #55 on:** February 06, 2005, 09:48:22 AM »

Isnt ford mostly owned by the Japanese?

Bodhi · « **Reply #56 on:** February 06, 2005, 09:49:36 AM »

Tell them you want the car, but want to be compensated for the interest free loan you gave them. Prime plus 6 points for the hassles they put you through. If they stick to their guns, then tell them you would like a day to think it over and make sure they are aware that you will talk it over with a lawyer.

The bottom line is that they are making money on the car, and they just need to suck it up and eat their mistake.

mosca · « **Reply #57 on:** February 06, 2005, 10:30:24 AM »

If that's all it says, and nothing else, then it's unenforceable. Just like making them produce a new 2004 Prius at the agreed upon price with agreed upon equipment is unenforceable.

I'm not saying you weren't handled badly. It stinks that many dealers treat their customers this way. The only thing you can do is vote with your dollars and buy a different car somewhere else.

Again, my advice is to move on. The BEST statement you can make is to buy a different car, then buy a used Prius in a few years doing the DOUBLE statement of green PLUS not forcing the manufacture of another Prius, when there are perfectly fine used Priuses all over the place.