This is why I hate car dealerships.

"Saracen" (manualdoucheelitist)
01/03/2019 at 15:33 • Filed to: Stealerships

Update: The refund is finally being processed by my CC company. I’ll still likely never deal with this stealership again.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Dec. 8th:

After neogtiations, I place a deposit on a Acura MDX that is expected to arrive on Dec. 14th. I tell Mr. Salesperson that I am putting my Audi allroad up for sale and that I won’t be able to make the transaction until the allroad has sold...but that I’m trying to get it gone before I leave for vacation on Dec. 21st.

Dec. 17th:

Mr Salesperson calls and tells me the MDX has arrived. I tell him I still haven’t been able to get the allroad sold, and that I probably won’t be able to get it done until after I get back from vacation (Dec. 28th), and I ask him if he’s sure that he’s ok with that...that if he isn’t. I understand and he can refund my deposit.

His exact words: “It is what it is. As far as we’re concerned, the car is yours and we want you to have it.” I say okay, I’ll get back to you when I have an update on selling my allroad.

He also tells me they won’t accept a downpayment with a credit card, something I’ve done with every new car transaction to date (because I love points).

Dec. 19th:

Mr Salesperson makes an about face. He texts me, saying that they can typically only hold cars for 48 hours, but can stretch to 72 if I tell him I’ll come in on saturday (when he knows I’m going on vacation on friday).

He also tried to convince me to just come in, finance the entire amount for the MDX and refi after I sell the allroad.

I tell him I’m not doing that, remind him that I won’t be back for a week, and ask him to refund my deposit.

Mr Salesperson does not return my text, and does not refund my deposit.

Dec. 31st:

After attempting to call Mr Salesperson to know what is the situation with the vehicle, lack of contact or my deposit, I get a hold of Ms Sales Manager.

She says the car was sold, and that she will get my deposit refunded and that I will see it posted the same day.

She also refutes Mr Salesman’s claim that a credit card downpayment would not be accepted.

Jan. 2nd:

A refund of my deposit has yet to post. I call the dalership. Ms Sales Manager is not in on wednesday. I am forwarded to Mr Sales Manager. He isn’t there, I leave a voice message. My call is not returned.

Jan. 3rd:

I call the dealership again. Ms Sales Manager is conveniently not in on wednesdays or thursdays, and the GM wasn’t there either.

This time I manage to speak directly to Mr Sales Manager, who says he processed the refund on monday. He doesn’t know why I don’t see it post, and that maybe it just will take some time (which is nonsense, I see credit transactions within minutes...much less three days afterwards!) He will contact his finance department and get back to me.

So that’s where I’m at. I’m trying to be civil about this, but my nice face is getting worn down. Any more of this, I’ll contact my credit card company directly and possibly the BBB.

DISCUSSION (15)

Future next gen S2000 owner > Saracen
01/03/2019 at 16:05

Ironically, my last dealership experience was....pleasant...oddly enough. The TourX transaction was pretty painless.

RPM esq. > Saracen
01/03/2019 at 16:06

If you want a car dealer to care, a nasty Yelp review is going to get you farther than anything with the BBB.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Saracen
01/03/2019 at 16:07

bUt dEaLeRsHiP fRaNcHiSeS pRoTecT cOnSuMeRs fRoM bAd tRaNsAcTiOnS...

Saracen > RPM esq.
01/03/2019 at 16:07

Yeah, leaving social media feedback is a given.

Arrivederci > Saracen
01/03/2019 at 16:08

So how did you end up making the deposit? Cash, check, ACH, wire, credit, debit? If he ended up letting you do it via credit card, I’d just dispute that with the CC company and be done with those foolios.

Saracen > Arrivederci
01/03/2019 at 16:10

Credit card (hence I said I’ll contact my credit card company at the end) . I made the credit card deposit before he said I couldn’t make a downpayment that way. And like I said, I’m trying to be civil before I take that route.

WiscoProud > Saracen
01/03/2019 at 16:14

I don;t know how far they are from you, but if you have some time to kill, i would just go there in person.

Arrivederci > Saracen
01/03/2019 at 16:14

Yeah, I wasn’t sure if you meant actual CC company or bankcard (like debit). Good on you for being civil, but it has been two weeks since you requested a refund, so I’d go ahead and file the dispute.

Arrivederci > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
01/03/2019 at 16:15

I got the refund for my Model 3 in less time than has passed for Saracen.

Saracen > WiscoProud
01/03/2019 at 16:17

I would if they were closer , but they are far enough that it would be too large of a chunk of my work day to do it.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > Arrivederci
01/03/2019 at 16:22

What!?! Un-possible. Tesla is evil and they don’t care about consumers as much as franchise dealers do!!!!!!1

Nick- Professional Car Destroyer > Saracen
01/03/2019 at 16:58

I had a similar experience at a Toyota Dealer.

It took them over a week to refund me my deposit that I paid in cash on a car to my bank account, I would definitely get in touch with your credit card company and see if they are hanging it up for some reason, and then go from there. Like you all my transactions are seen instantly in my account even if a refund was only being processed, and hadn’t been fully deposited. I would also get in touch with the BBB, tell your friends all that stuff. Especially if they’re being this shady about refunding your money.

Saracen > Nick- Professional Car Destroyer
01/03/2019 at 17:20

I actually just called my credit card company, and the refund is being processed and will be posted within the day.

Nick- Professional Car Destroyer > Saracen
01/03/2019 at 17:21

That’s a good sign.

One refund I was waiting on that was a considerable amount of money got hung up in the bank and I had to call them to get it all pushed through it was a pain.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > RPM esq.
01/03/2019 at 18:18

If OP does does this route, send the dealer an email with the copy of the review saying you will post it with a 1 star. The dealer should do as you want as long as you don't post the review.