Dealer Scam? - LoJack

"Sprinty" (1985sprinty) 02/27/2020 at 17:40 • Filed to: None

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Hi all,

My wife and I recently purchased a pre-owned vehicle (2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport) and the dealer (certified Hyundai Dealer) said LoJack was installed and there was nothing we could do about. We didn’t want LoJack but they said it was installed and there was nothing we could do. We (probably not wisely) didn’t push back, so we bought the car with LoJack costing us about $500.

Now, several days later, a tech at the dealer says “LoJack needs to be installed”. We never wanted LJ and the salesman said it was non-negotiable because it was ALREADY INSTALLED. Feeling pretty cheated...

Is there anything we can do to fight the charge? any recommendations?

Thanks

Nibby > Sprinty 02/27/2020 at 17:50

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sell the car for $500 more you paid for. stonks ^

CB > Sprinty 02/27/2020 at 17:50

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Find any paperwork you can where it says that Lojack was already installed in the vehicle. That’ll be your only saving grace here.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Sprinty 02/27/2020 at 17:51

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I recommend you show up to the dealer and then:

And then politely ask for a refund on the Lojack fee.

This may be bad advice because they expect you to pay to fix the holes you shot into their roof.

Chariotoflove > Sprinty 02/27/2020 at 17:55

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You were Trucoated. Everything is negotiable, even the dealer pin stripping they put on the car and charge $300 bucks for. You don’t have to pay for that just because the salesman said so.   Awfully hard to do anything once the deal is signed, but I’d do what CB said. If the optioned was paid for but not installed, that could be breach of contract.

OPPOsaurus WRX > Sprinty 02/27/2020 at 18:04

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Tell the to give back the money. If they don’t, tell everyone in the showroom what they did then shit on the hood of the car in the show room.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Sprinty 02/27/2020 at 18:07

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That’s some bullshit right there. I’d demand to talk directly to their manager and get $500 back in cash or check. Or else:

facw > Sprinty 02/27/2020 at 18:09

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Probably you are screwed unless it you have it in writing that it’s preinstalled. Doesn’t hurt to ask to have them take the charge off though.

If they don’t make it right, I’d be sure to mention the incident on the major review sites.

Sprinty > Nibby 02/27/2020 at 18:15

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Definitely the most helpful reply. Thanx.

CalzoneGolem > OPPOsaurus WRX 02/27/2020 at 18:16

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Probably skip the last bit. That will definitely end with you being arrested.

Nibby > Sprinty 02/27/2020 at 18:17

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i do what i can

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Sprinty 02/27/2020 at 18:22

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There could be difference between physically installed vs  installed and integrated with the engine computer and activated. 

jimz > Sprinty 02/27/2020 at 18:23

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We didn’t want LoJack but they said it was installed and there was nothing we could do. We (probably not wisely) didn’t push back,

The wise thing to do would have been to get up and leave. You didn’t need that car that badly. As has been said, if it isn’t written down on something then as far as the purchase agreement goes it didn’t have LoJack when you bought it.

Man, what is it with Hyundai and Kia dealers? They almost universally seem to be the stereotypical sleazy dealership.

Under_Score > Sprinty 02/27/2020 at 18:24

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If this answers your recent car buying search, congrats on the new car!

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > CalzoneGolem 02/27/2020 at 18:33

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Also, shitting on command in a public place is hard.

Khalbali > Sprinty 02/27/2020 at 18:36

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I got upsold on undercoating on my first dealership experience, but I changed my mind and while it was too late to change the contract they did eventually send the amount to the bank. My payment was still higher than if I had never had it but at least it came off the total. And this was before the internet so I imagine if you make a big enough stink they'll do it.

XJDano > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 02/27/2020 at 19:08

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OP could plan ahead, bring in a bad of prepooped poop. 

SiennaMan > Sprinty 02/27/2020 at 19:13

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Look up your state regulator for dealerships and file fraud complaints against the dealership and the salesperson.

Show up at the regulators state board meetings demanding they take action against sleazy dealership. Start complaining about the fraud to your state legislators if the board doesn’t take action.

Your $500 is probably long gone (unless you can file and sustain a lawsuit on your own), but you could maybe turn up the heat on the dealership through their regulator..

Better still, show up in the managers office and offer to take these steps. (full disclosure, I don’t necessarily know if this would help, but in my state t he dealership and sales person have to hold state issued licenses and I think trying to threaten the status of those will do more good than publicity based approaches)

OPPOsaurus WRX > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 02/27/2020 at 20:19

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its all in the prep work.

ranwhenparked > Sprinty 02/27/2020 at 21:06

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Check your invoice, see if there is an itemized Lo/Jack $500 charge on it, that’s pretty much the only way to prove you already paid for it. You could also take them to small claims court, if you don’t mind wasting a vacation day in the courthouse. 

Sprinty > Under_Score 02/28/2020 at 00:29

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Thanks, and yes it is the answer to my many “is this a good car?!?” posts prior.  We finally said adios to the 2001 CRV and have been very pleased with the Santa Fe Sport.

CalzoneGolem > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 02/28/2020 at 00:42

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With proper diet and planning it should not be an issue.