A How-To on getting me to never return to your dealership

"Battery Tender Unnecessary" (carac)
04/13/2014 at 14:35 • Filed to: Stealerships

It takes hard effort to convince me never to do business with you, but one dealership went through the trouble this weekend.

So after reading the glowing reviews from EVO, CAR, Motor Trend, Automobile, Top Gear, The Smoking Tire, and pretty much everyone else, I decided I might want to check out the Fiesta ST as a fun, inexpensive, warrantied car to tool around in and run errands. Friday I visit a few local Ford dealerships that had Fiesta ST's in stock but only one with an acceptable color and the options I wanted. It had been in the showroom for a little over a month. I left the dealership after a test drive and a lengthy discussion about cars at around 4pm telling the sales person that I would be returning the next day (Saturday) around lunch to get my trade-in appraised and, in all likelihood, purchase the car.

I arrived the following day and the associate took my keys to appraise my trade in. I spent the next 45 minutes or so watching the TV in the lobby and occasionally answering a question about the car. The associate then came over and said they "think" an associate from their other store across town had come to get the car I wanted. There was another customer that wanted to check out a Fiesta but that they didn't know if it sold. I said that "it kind of matters whether you still have the car or sold it out from under me." After 5-10 minutes she returned to tell me that someone had indeed just showed up cold at the other dealer and bought the car this morning. She starts talking about how easy it would be to find one via dealer trade and to order if they couldn't find one. I wasn't having any of it and I'm from the school of "if you have nothing nice to say, keep it shut." Then she says they finished the appraisal and said "the best we can do" was an offer $6k below the average trade in for a car of my mileage and condition (for the record, a PRISTINE '12 Range Rover Sport with 30 months left on the factory warranty and less than 15k miles). I then loudly and instinctively shouted "HA!" Seriously, a kick to the groin and spit in my face would have a less insulting way of saying "we don't want your business."

Despite what I'm sure was a look of utter disgust on my face, I calmly asked where my keys were (over the course of the two days I had been making mental notes on how difficult they make it to just walk out through their "procedures") and left without saying another word. I then went to Carmax purely out of curiosity where I got offered what I originally expected to get for the car. Needless to say, a certain Ford dealership won't be seeing a dime of my money, now or ever. I'm even pissed I spent a dollar in their vending machine.

Did I mention I live two hours from the dealership and that the saleswoman was aware of that fact when I said I would return the next day with my trade-in?

TL;DR:

Sell a car out from under an serious interested party (who lives two hours away)

Not contacting that customer to tell them you sold the car to a walk-in so they won't waste a day

Making a DISGUSTING low-ball offer on their car

Using misdirection and deception while acting like you're doing me a favor

Using techniques employed by telemarketers to reduce/interrupt negative responses like "no" and "I'd rather not"

One of the other Ford dealerships in this particular city (there are 4-5) was much nicer, less sleazy, and just more honest about everything. They are currently hunting down the car I want and will be getting my business when they do. I wouldn't recommend the other to my worst enemy.

DISCUSSION (50)

Brian Silvestro > Battery Tender Unnecessary
04/13/2014 at 14:38

Kinja'd!!!

dogisbadob > Battery Tender Unnecessary
04/13/2014 at 14:45

TESLA TESLA TESLA

They need that extra $6000 to lobby your state legislature to protect the stealers yo

TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma > Battery Tender Unnecessary
04/13/2014 at 14:49

Sorry about your crappy experience, it's always a hit or miss with dealerships. Why are you trading in your RR even though it's still new?

My father's old boss was so sick of dealerships' shit he would walk into a dealership, demand to see a salesman and list off what he wanted on his car. He would tell them he would pay sticker as long as they had it by the end of the week or if it was a custom order, as quickly as possible. If the car was not ready, washed, and the paperwork unprepared by the time he arrived, he would immediately leave, not a cent given. He once made the Audi dealer drive a S8 from Dallas to Houston in a day.

jkm7680 > Battery Tender Unnecessary
04/13/2014 at 14:51

That's terrible. If a customer comes out first with serious interest in the car, with the intent of buying it and probably a trade worth more than the other customers trade they could at least honor it. That lowball offer would just add insult to injury.

McChiken116 - Patrick H. > Battery Tender Unnecessary
04/13/2014 at 14:56

Gag, stuff like this is why I'm happy to deal with private sellers and shops instead of dealerships. Sorry to hear about all this.

Battery Tender Unnecessary > TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma
04/13/2014 at 14:58

Winter's over and I've run out of garage space (which will be rectified by fall but not before another car I have on order shows up in July). My Range Rover dealer said its the cleanest and best taken care of model they ever had come in for service. I love it but with the '14 RRS, used values have been in flux. Basically I'm barely going to drive it the next three months until I would trade it anyway. Selling now will get me the best price, I'll save three months of payments and insurance. You would be surprised how close the RRS is in insurance compared to the SLS.

PS9 > Battery Tender Unnecessary
04/13/2014 at 15:06

Didn't know you lived in florida, because this exact experience minus the trade in is what happened to me at Rapeltons. I walk in looking for a Camaro they advertized for $4k. "We have something more like this." The salesman says, circling a car for $7k. "Do you have this car, or not?" I ask. "Sure. This gentlemen will show you where it is."

We walk about the lot for 15 min while Dickhead McScumbag does everything he can to squeeze me into a balloon car payment I can't possible afford. After I explained to them that payments were off the fucking table. Oh, and they never had that car in the first place. Now you know why 'Napleton' has that neighborhood nickname.

tl;dr -> FUCK CAR DEALERSHIPS. Every last one.

TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma > Battery Tender Unnecessary
04/13/2014 at 15:07

I would have never figured the two would be so similar to the insurance companies.

Sounds smart to sell your RR now. I'm assuming you're paying for the ST in full?

Must be antsy waiting for your new ride, July's getting nearer and nearer.

Dsscats > Battery Tender Unnecessary
04/13/2014 at 15:17

Is the i8 coming in July? We need a review when it does!

Battery Tender Unnecessary > TillTheWheelsFallOff: Brocoma
04/13/2014 at 15:18

I think it's just where their statistics say the likelihood of having an accident in a RRS is much higher than a SLS, regardless of their relative prices. Paying cash depends on whether their 0% on Fiestas is still active when they find one.

Garrett Davis > Battery Tender Unnecessary
04/13/2014 at 15:20

Wow, that's awful. I can never understand this kind of behavior from people who do this for a living. You'd think they would learn even the most basic points of their trade.

TheBaron2112 > Battery Tender Unnecessary
04/13/2014 at 15:25

Hate to hear that, man. I hope your experience at the other dealer is good because the Fiesta is a fantastic car.

But I had a not-as-bad-but-similar story on looking for an ST. I went to a Ford dealer in Franklin, TN (yes, I'm calling them out). They had no Fiesta STs on the lot, but had 3 Focus STs. I asked for a test drive.

They refused me a test drive because they said they know what people do to them and that they're basically race cars.

I left promptly.

Battery Tender Unnecessary > TheBaron2112
04/13/2014 at 15:32

My experience was also in Tennessee. And test drives are weird. I've done enough business with the local land rover dealer that they literally tossed me the key to a 510hp '14 Range Rover Sport and said "just have it back by closing" last month, the local Porsche dealer handed me the key to a '14 Cayman I only asked to took at and said "have fun, I'm going to lunch" (both were surreal experiences), but the Ford dealer required a copy of my license, proof of insurance, and required an employee come with me

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > Battery Tender Unnecessary
04/13/2014 at 15:46

The beauty of dealerships is that there is usually another one, owned and run by completely different people, competing to get you business.

Tom McParland > Battery Tender Unnecessary
04/13/2014 at 16:00

This is why I do what I do.

George McNally > Battery Tender Unnecessary
04/13/2014 at 16:08

I did it all on the web......I emailed 4 Hyundai dealerships...told them the exact car with the exact colors and equipment I wanted-told them I was a serious cash buyer and wanted their best offer and the best offer gets my business.

3 dealerships came back with offers and one refused without a test drive first.

The only part that sucked wass that the other 3 dealerships continued to call me until I signed the papers at the 4th dealership.

sellphones2493 > Battery Tender Unnecessary
04/13/2014 at 16:21

My family has had very subpar experiences with Audi Dealers.
Dealer 1 (Len Stoler Audi): My father ordered a 2008 Audi A5 in Deep Sea Blue over Cinnamon from them (this is when A5's were nearly impossible to find). It was made very clear during the transaction that this car was a surprise to my mother for their anniversary in a few months to follow. The order was placed in her name for title purposes. A few days after the order, they sent my mother a fancy package thanking her for the purchase of her 2008 A5. Surprise Ruined. She was still happy, but the dealer's originally estimated 5-month delivery time was botched when they failed to mention that we'd have to wait for a 2009. Make it 14 months waiting. We cancelled are order from them because another dealer had an A5 coming in a few months in Deep Sea Blue/Cinnamon with everything we wanted, except it had the 19" Wheels.

Dealer 2 (Rockville Audi): We took over the order of this guy who lost his job for the A5 I mentioned above. It was made evident to the sales guy we didn't want the 19" Wheels and asked if there was anything he could do to change them. No. A few months later after the order was pushed back 3 months due to some factory issues, we get a call from the sales guy saying that they somehow got a Deep Sea Blue/Cinnamon A5 with everything we wanted, and nothing we didn't. My father agreed to go there in the next 4 hours to purchase it. We made the drive to Rockville (1 Hour) with the trade-in ready. Once we got there, he said that he was in the process of emailing us (not calling) to tell us that he 'accidentally' sold it during the time we were coming to pick it up. And, oh yeah, the A5 you ordered was just pushed back another 2 months. Pissed off - order cancelled.

Verdict: We waited another month figuring out what to do, and settled upon a Black/Cinnamon A5 at the first dealer. It was exactly what we wanted minus the exterior color. They took the trade-in (2003 325xi) and said they would return the tags for us. In the process, they managed to get 2-red light cameras and a parking ticket - both billed to us a few months later.

My father later purchased his 2013 A6 3.0T from Valley Motors Audi. We could not be happier over their service.

Spasoje > TheBaron2112
04/13/2014 at 16:58

Ditto when trying to test-drive a Mustang at the Richmond Auto Mall (BC) Ford dealer. The salesguys said that, on the other hand, he'd be happy to help me order one 'right now' lol

N51fanatic > Battery Tender Unnecessary
04/13/2014 at 17:01

As someone that spent some time as a car salesman years ago, you cant really be mad about them selling the car. You didnt put a deposit down, there are lots of other salesman and customers buying cars at the same time. In this case, even at other stores owned by the same management.

I once sold a 4runner in the showroom, closed the deal, i went to the car to move it out the showroom, another salesman was giving a walkthrough to another customer who was sitting in the drivers seat. I kindly told them it had just been sold and they needed to get out so i could process the car. The customer got livid, yelled at me and walked out lol.

Battery Tender Unnecessary > N51fanatic
04/13/2014 at 18:59

Are you saying I should be happy that I made a two hour drive to get a car to trade-in, then a round-trip 4 hour drive to buy a car they knew I was coming to buy, but sold out from under me anyway? Because I think I was perfectly justified in getting upset that they had wasted the better part of my day off. The appropriate thing for them to have done is say "we have another customer coming in at lunch that has expressed interest in this vehicle. if he decides not to purchase it, you are welcome to it."

It's obvious they are more interested in self-service than customer service.

wkiernan > Battery Tender Unnecessary
04/13/2014 at 19:09

You guys are making me feel pretty good about buying used cars from private owners.

Coty > wkiernan
04/13/2014 at 19:57

I'm a dealer and that's the only way I buy cars.

shop-teacher > Battery Tender Unnecessary
04/13/2014 at 22:20

If it makes you feel better, the vending machines are often owned and maintained by other companies.

BadgerSpeed > Battery Tender Unnecessary
04/14/2014 at 09:59

I hate to say it, but I have to agree with N52. You should of put down a deposit to hold the car. You even stated, "in all likelihood..." you would purchase the car. That is not closed deal. Is it crappy they didn't call you to tell you that exact vehicle was sold? Yes, but that is not a surprising sales tactic. They almost always want you in the door.

Battery Tender Unnecessary > BadgerSpeed
04/14/2014 at 10:08

"They almost always want you in the door."

Well then, they succeeded in getting me in the door one more time...and never again.

Dusty Ventures > TheBaron2112
04/14/2014 at 13:44

Amusingly my brother had an opposite encounter looking for a Focus SE. The dealer (Balise in Springfield, MA) didn't have an SE with a manual for a test drive (manual was his #1 requirement) so they told him he could test drive an ST instead. The salesman who rode with us even encouraged him to put his foot down a few times. They got the business, my brother did a custom, built-just-for-him-at-the-plant order, received the car in about two months (which was exactly how long they said it would take at the start) and has loved it.

Deputy Kovacs > Battery Tender Unnecessary
04/14/2014 at 15:21

I've had the same experience. I think it's partially a change of environment, clientele, and price range. People going to the Porsche dealership mostly know what they want, how much they are going to spend, etc. My dad asked to go look at a Panamera GTS recently, so I hopped over to the dealer and saw our salesperson (I say ours because we've bought 3 cars from him in two years, the bug has caught), asked to look at the car and he threw me the keys, showed me how the passport radar works and Sport + and said have fun.

I'm 20 years old dammit.

ETL > Battery Tender Unnecessary
04/15/2014 at 14:21

Ha I can beat this! I just recently had the worst experience ever. Just copied my review of them from dealer rater. Oh and talk about a joke of a site...my review isn't even showing up on dealer rater. Anyway, here you go:

For a number of months my girlfriend had had her eye on a Mini that Dancy had. When she was ready to buy we stopped into the Great Neck location because that's where the car was at the time. We'd seen the reviews and read the horror stories, but I've been through the car sales wringer and was confident we'd be able to weed through all the Dancy Automotive BS if the car checked out. When we arrived Carlton came out to help us. In the reviews I'd read, about the only positive thing ever said about Dancy was a few people commenting what a pleasure it'd been to deal with Carlton, so this was a bit of a relief and our visit went really well. Carlton wasn't pushy at all and we came away feeling really good about the experience. That visit was actually the first car we looked at, so obviously we still had some research to do. We went to two other dealers with comparable cars that day, but our salespeople were terrible - we didn't want to buy a car from them at all.

We felt good enough about our experience with Carlton that I sent him an email that evening expressing interest in not only the Mini, but also an LR4 for myself and pretty much made an offer on the Mini pending inspection by a mechanic. This was Saturday the 29th of March and it was in the evening so I let it go when we didn't hear back Sunday thinking that even though the dealer was open Carlton may have been off. Then Monday and Tuesday came and went and I eventually called him on Wednesday. When I called the office around 10am I was told he was with a customer and I left a message. I got tired of waiting and called him on his cell around 3pm and he was out of the office. He told me the best price he could do was the internet price and maybe he could knock off the $1000 fee for not being a previous customer. I explained to him that there was no chance we'd be paying $1000 more than the advertised price for not being a prior customer. I told him that the way business works in most places is you work hard to earn someone's business the first time and then once you develop a rapport with them they'll likely be willing to pay a bit more because of their relationship and their loyalty next time. Misleading someone about pricing is a way to make sure they never become a first time customer let alone a repeat customer. I went on to tell him that I am a bit of a car guy who'll be buying a couple cars over the coming years and I had a number of people I'd be happy to send to him since their inventory looks pretty clean. He told me I was absolutely right and he'd send me an email when he got back to the office.

When I received the email it said they best number is 'internet plus loyalty.' That was a bit ambiguous because I wasn't sure if he was saying plus a $1000 loyalty credit(meaning just the internet price) or plus the $1000 fee, but I didn't want to get into it. I told him before we got into negotiations further let's arrange to have the vehicle checked out that Saturday. I sent this Email Wednesday at 4pm. I still hadn't heard from him at 10:45pm on Thursday, so I sent him another email stating my displeasure with his lack of communication. I communicated to him that I was leaving calls, emails and even offers that were getting very close to their price from other dealers unanswered because I was waiting to hear from him because I'd prefer to build a relationship with a dealer I'd go back to rather than a Mini dealer in Connecticut or New Jersey or Texas.

I finally heard from Carlton by phone at 3:45pm on Friday. He told me he'd been sick all week(which is plausible given the time of year and the fact myself and many people I know have been sick lately, so I gave him the benefit of the doubt). He told me that getting the car checked out Saturday should be fine he just needed the details. Unfortunately since it was now Friday afternoon it was a little late to call a mechanic and ask them to free up space on their lift the next day, especially when Saturdays are usually both busy and half days for many mechanics and I don't have a relationship with any mechanics in their area to ask for a favor.

Monday April 7th around 1pm I sent an email to Carlton explaining why I didn't get in touch to have the car inspected Saturday. I expressed to him that we're exploring other vehicles and are heading to Jersey Wednesday evening to check out a very similar vehicle. I was hoping this would light a fire under him and finally get the ball rolling, but it hasn't. Later that evening around 6 I received an email from Chante, who is someone who'd responded to an initial internet inquiry of ours about the vehicle. I was under the presumption that she was not a salesperson, but rather just replied to inquiries because when I asked for her hours and which dealer she worked out of she told me the vehicle was in Great Neck and sent me the dealership's hours rather than her work hours. I replied to her email that we'd been working with Carlton, apologized for working with him if she was in fact a saleswoman, explained why I felt it was okay to work with Carlton(why I was under the impression she was not a salesperson), and that we were still interested in the vehicle, but tired of chasing them for our business. I also reiterated to her that it was my hope this could be salvaged and turned built into a relationship rather than a single transaction.

It's now Wednesday afternoon and I haven't heard from anyone. We worked really hard to give Carlton the benefit of the doubt because he was an easy going, likable salesperson which is something you don't come by very often,they had a vehicle that fit what we wanted, and there was a potential foundation for business going forward. We convinced ourselves that he was sick or something else was going on that was more important. We kept saying okay let's wait another day before we go look at this other car, let's wait one more day to hear back, but then we reached the tipping point. Yesterday when I was checking the vehicle online I saw that they'd RAISED the internet price by $1000 and I still hadn't heard from anyone. Something's going on at this place. I was skeptical of how bad all the reviews were, but now I believe every single one of them. As a consumer it's absolutely terrifying that they're still in business.

505Turbeaux > Battery Tender Unnecessary
04/15/2014 at 18:41

I am not asking you to disclose the exact town but I work with Ford dealers all over the country, some of the best, if I had a rough metro area. Maybe I can steer you to one that wont dick around with you.

Mikey > wkiernan
04/15/2014 at 19:10

I just bought a '71 BMW 1602/2002 this weekend. Drove 700 miles (each way) to get it, having never seen it in person. It was exactly as described, and when I arrived at the 70-year-old owner's house, he greeted me with a glass of bourbon. His wife was also a delightful old woman. They made me feel at home, and I made three new friends (one of which is German, and made mostly of steel). I think I'll make an oppo post soon.

Anyway, yes, finding non-crazy private sellers is a great way to do the used car business. Unless you find a really good deal at dealer (like my IS300 wagon for about half of the average price), not worth the frustration.

greenagain > Battery Tender Unnecessary
04/15/2014 at 19:17

you drove 2 hours to the store only to NOT buy the car?

Good for them, they found a real buyer.

greenagain > Battery Tender Unnecessary
04/15/2014 at 19:17

you drove 2 hours to the store only to NOT buy the car?

Good for them, they found a real buyer.

greenagain > Battery Tender Unnecessary
04/15/2014 at 19:17

you drove 2 hours to the store only to NOT buy the car?

Good for them, they found a real buyer.

greenagain > Battery Tender Unnecessary
04/15/2014 at 19:22

I'm sure they were willing to sell you the car on the first day you went there.

Nobody believes in the Be Back Bus that you promised to be on. A customer's and a dealer's verbal promise is worth the paper it wasn't written on.

quarterlifecrisis > Battery Tender Unnecessary
04/15/2014 at 19:36

A little late to this, but...oh well. In the winter of 12 when I started Vette shopping there was a NICE black C6 at an import dealer a couple hours away. Not a big deal, since the girl I was dating at the time happened to be in med school in the same city, so I was there frequently. First trip in was great..completely coddled, took the car out for a drive after I'd barely been in the dealership for 5 minutes. (Doesn't hurt that these guys do a lot of racing, and my PCP back home had referred me to them since he was on their "this dude buys a ton of shit from us" program.)

The problem occurred the next weekend.

I was working with my credit union at home, that happened to be closed on Saturday afternoons, so a check couldn't be stroked right then and there. I made plans to be back in the dealership, and for them to contact me if anything changed. I showed back up, and while they were appraising my trade I shot the shit with my salesman for awhile. He was a GM guy, so we had something to talk about. At one point he asked if I wanted to take a lease-turn in 335xi coupe for a spin, so of course I go for it. This is where alarm bells should have been ringing. The car was great...but the car was not a V8 powered, 2 seat, American coupe with 3 pedals. When we get back they inform me that the Corvette was sold before I'd even gotten there that day.

They had my number, and weren't afraid to use it during the week.....wonder why they didn't use it that day.....hmmm

Battery Tender Unnecessary > greenagain
04/15/2014 at 19:38

I drove two hours to visit my widowed grandfather for the day. He mentioned that he wanted to look at new trucks and I saw the Fiesta at the dealership. I told them I would be back with a trade-in and would buy the car if they gave me a fair trade for a car that was back at home. This wasn't an idle "I'll be back" this was a two hour visit during which I test drove the car, sat down with the saleswoman and her manager, talked about terms, etc. it ended with me making an appointment for Saturday to get my car appraised. I showed up at noon, when I said I would, and they waited an hour while they cobbled together an insultingly low (carmax offered me $5k more immediately after I left the Ford dealer) trade-in offer and that's when they decided to tell me they had already sold it that morning to a cold walkin. Sorry that you're convinced I'm completely at fault here. I'm buying from their cross town rival on Friday.

wkiernan > Mikey
04/15/2014 at 20:16

Holy crap that's terrific. I drove a 2002 once back in 1973 or 1974 and it impressed the Hell out of me. You're gonna love it! What color is it? By your user name I'm hoping it's light beige (wool color), which is a color I really, really like on cars. If I had a zillion dollarz I'd order a super fine new car in custom beige.

N51fanatic > Battery Tender Unnecessary
04/15/2014 at 21:02

Again, you are not looking at this from the other side. How big was this dealership? Was it a highway store? At my store we had 22 salesman. 11 per team. Do you really think we all consulted each other on who we had coming in to look at what? Do you think the General Sales Manager (the guy in the back who puts the deals together) has all this info put together? Its logistically impossible. Do you know how many times i had a customer SWEAR to me they were coming in to take a look at something, or to buy something only to be never heard from again?

I started selling cars when the last gen Sienna started going on sale. When we got an XLE AWD EVERY salesman went nuts. We would call everyone we knew wanted one and first customer in got it. You think i was going to tell my customer "Hey Joe, dont bother coming in today, my colleague has a customer coming in to buy the car you want that I have later this afternoon". See how ridiculous that sounds?

I do sympathize that you had to drive 2 hours and wasted an afternoon, but it looks like you are looking for a high demand, low supply vehicle. Might have to think about paying full retail, handling it all over the phone, and being guaranteed a car when you come to dealership to pick it up.

webmonkees > Battery Tender Unnecessary
04/16/2014 at 10:04

Sounds like a common theme is 'sure we have x car, stop by.. oh, sorry we sold it.'

I'd want to see inventory sheets to back their story up. Otherwise that's bait-and-swtich.

Battery Tender Unnecessary > webmonkees
04/16/2014 at 10:18

Well, in my situation, I test drove the car, ran the numbers, came back with my trade-in and it was gone.

Mikey > wkiernan
04/16/2014 at 10:37

Haha thanks for the kind words!! It's Sahara (tan). But the "beige" in my username actually refers to the fact that I work for Toyota, although now I guess I can say it's ambiguous! (picture below is not mine, but that's the color!)

Kinja'd!!!

webmonkees > Battery Tender Unnecessary
04/16/2014 at 20:39

It is a puzzler. Perhaps dealer financing moves one up the caste system. Just act like that up to the point right before signing anything, The keys and title in front of you then that's when you have 'aunty' call you up and she's gonna help finance it. Of course they'll have to run the numbers again. It's too late in the day, you know..

greenagain > Battery Tender Unnecessary
04/17/2014 at 17:29

help me understand. You've been researching the car, price shopping, checking inventories and you drove out there 2 hours, and you didn't bring your trade in. Why? Why turn what should be an easy transaction into a 2 day affair I'll never know.

Battery Tender Unnecessary > greenagain
04/17/2014 at 17:52

I think I stated the purpose of my trip was to visit a relative. I was also having the car I drove there (2003 E39 M5) serviced at a specialty shop. Two birds, one stone. I didn't check their inventory beforehand, we were simply going for my grandfather to see what trucks they had in stock. It was a spur of the moment thing. Not that complicated. It worked out though. I'm going to buy one from their across town competition tomorrow.

jimz > Battery Tender Unnecessary
04/19/2014 at 11:31

I'm as confused as the others why you didn't put a deposit on it. If this is exactly what transpired:

telling the sales person that I would be returning the next day (Saturday) around lunch to get my trade-in appraised and, in all likelihood, purchase the car.

then you're among hundreds of people the salesman has heard would be back "tomorrow," never to return. I agree they were kind of jerk-ish after the fact, but the sole reason someone else bought the car is because you didn't commit with a deposit.

embassured > Battery Tender Unnecessary
04/19/2014 at 12:16

I typically find that few car dealers' core principles in serving buyers match-up with mine (your article is case in point). For all other dealers, their principles match market activity 1:1. When sales are low - they work harder and adapt to simply stay alive. When times are good; i.e. sales are flowing easily, they take infinitely more risk with sales tactics - specifically, low balling trade offers and leveraging inventory across prospective customers. They must "win" more often than "lose" in this equation so I can't blame them for using these tactics. It's the definition of capitalism. That said, they won't get my business.

In reality, money is starting to get "stupid" again and sellers are responding in kind. For those that get "sold" a car, they're paying a premium. For those that are an "informed buyer", they'll be more selective.

Kenneth Lee > Battery Tender Unnecessary
04/19/2014 at 14:10

Yes they should have told you when you showed up that the car had been sold. But as someone who sold cars for a while I can tell you that if you were serious about buying it you should have left a deposit to hold the car. Do you know how many times you hear "I'll be back tomorrow to buy it?"

Leo > Battery Tender Unnecessary
04/19/2014 at 17:06

You must be stupid. No deposit = No car. You mad? It must be tough living out your life of inconveniences and first world problems. An internet blogger doesn't make your "I'll be back." any less idle that the rest of society. Relax and take the dildo out the butthole. It's a Ford Fiesta.

Battery Tender Unnecessary > Leo
04/19/2014 at 17:15

Thanks. I bought one across town.

lingenfelter > Battery Tender Unnecessary
04/19/2014 at 21:38

Its a tough situation. I'm sure a lot of people say "I like the car" and express interest verbally but then never return. A deposit would have secured the car for an agreeable amount of time (24 hours seems standard in my experience), for you to get your trade-in cleaned up, etc.

The salesman should have called immediately if the car was sold off, though. I have dealers call just because they hassled me for contact information when I'm browsing in their showroom.