Question: After verbally telling me we had a deal on a used car the car dealer turns around and reneges on a verbal contract. Was this exercise just a ruse to get me emotionally conditioned to ownership of the car?

January 26, 2006

Hi Tony

In a nutshell here is an account of what I think is a sleazy practice from Freeway Chevrolet in Chandler, Phoenix:

I negotiated a price for a Dodge Magnum at $16,000. The dealer asking price was $16,988. The salesman goes off, then comes back and says "not enough."

Ok, I offer $16,500. The salesman goes off to his manager once again and comes back and says "not enough!" I inform the salesman this is as far as I can go, say "goodbye" and proceed to walk out the car dealership.

Just as I get to the door the salesman calls out to say he got an OK (which seemed to come from the "bullpen" or manager's station) to sell at $16,500. Great; we head back to his office and fill out my personal details. I get proof of my insurance from my car which they photocopy, and I proceed to wait for the official invoice to be drafted.

Time goes by (about 30 minutes) and I notice the car isn't being cleaned for delivery, and I still haven't signed the newly drafted invoice which to my mind shouldn't take this long.

In the meantime the salesman has been taking me on a tour of the dealership when he gets called to the "bullpen." He comes back and we go to his cubicle where he informs me, regrettably, that his boss's boss cannot let the car sell below their asking price.

WHAT? After verbally telling me we had a deal they turn around and renege on a verbal contract. Was this exercise just a ruse to get me emotionally conditioned to ownership of the car, snatch it away from me (something a 3 year old does) and expect me to cave in and pay their asking price?

I briefly informed the salesman of my disgust and walked out. Now, I have no problem with them saying no to any of my offers. My two issues were they never made any mention of having to get a boss's boss approval, and the verbal contract agreement was withdrawn after I gave them all of my personal details in good faith on buying the car.

What are your thoughts Tony?

Ed S.

Answer:

Hi Ed,

You know Ed, it never ceases to amaze me what morons there are working in the car business. In fact it embarrasses me!

My thoughts are simply this: Freeway Chevrolet apparently has no integrity, and they do not stand behind their word. That tells it all!

They are part of the problem that gives car dealers the bad reputation they have. There are indeed good and honest car dealers out there, but this kind of crap gives them all a bad name.

My suggestion to you is to never do business with them again, and to tell everyone you know to steer clear of them because they have proven themselves to be dishonest and untrustworthy.

All my very best...

Tony Iorio

PS: I invite Freeway Chevrolet to respond to Ed's letter. I will be more than happy to post their response on this website.