I think I bought a new car, maybe not

[speeder]

Well, there you have it.

It was an honest mistake on their part, (that they absolutely not have made, this is retail car selling 101), nonetheless they are not going to eat it. I don't understand the principle of being willing to pay more somewhere else- it's not like they intentionally set-out to mislead/screw you. If this happened to me, I'd pay the difference or switch the car back for the correct one.

[Zeke]

No 72 hour recision in CA. You drive off the lot into the street and it's yours. Don't know about driving the wrong car off the lot.

BTW, this works for contractors and others in CA. Sign the papers at the business address and it's a contract. At home, you get 3 days. The only exception I know of is real estate.

[dmcummins]

Originally Posted by speeder

Well, there you have it.

It was an honest mistake on their part, (that they absolutely not have made, this is retail car selling 101), nonetheless they are not going to eat it. I don't understand the principle of being willing to pay more somewhere else- it's not like they intentionally set-out to mislead/screw you. If this happened to me, I'd pay the difference or switch the car back for the correct one.

I know it doesn't make much sense to some. But even if it's an honest mistake on their part, they made a deal. I just really think that they should stand behind it. If not I"ll do business elsewhere, even if it cost me.

[Hugh R]

Denis, if you were presented a new car with leather, and you bought it and then found the VIN didn't match, and they offered you the same car for that price in fabric, wouldn't you think that you got suckered?

[speeder]

Not if it happened like described above and I paid invoice for a car with fabric. And the VIN was wrong.

[dmcummins]

Well I was suppost to hear from the owner tonight, but it's 9:30 so I guess that's not happening.

And I don't know what invoice price has to do with anything. I bought my truck for $10,000 off sticker, that was the agreed upon price, their invoice cost had nothing to do with it.

I'm sure they have no problem with selling for more than invoice price.

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by dmcummins

Well I was suppost to hear from the owner tonight, but it's 9:30 so I guess that's not happening.

I know stuff is still "up in the air," but I'm not clear on whether you've bought the car... officially or unofficially. Or not.

But if you have bought it, and MO has the "you have 72 hours to back out with no penalty rule," maybe they're stalling to get it past the 72.

After that, it would be, "Sorry sir, nothing we can do about it."

[dmcummins]

Originally Posted by Heel n Toe

I know stuff is still "up in the air," but I'm not clear on whether you've bought the car... officially or unofficially. Or not.

But if you have bought it, and MO has the "you have 72 hours to back out with no penalty rule," maybe they're stalling to get it past the 72.

After that, it would be, "Sorry sir, nothing we can do about it."

I looked into that and I don't think that there is a 72 hour rule.

Basically they said they made a mistake and the paperwork was for a car I never saw, or knew existed. I have the car that I bought that day, and we are still driving it.

And there is always something they can do. The owner can still make this right. Or he can give me my money back. Which to me means they went back on their word, or reneged on the deal.

Hopefully this will be resolved shortly.

[jyl]

I wonder what insurance is covering that car - if any?

[Rot 911]

No 72 hour return law in Missouri. Personally I think they have some scam running. If they try to screw you around about returning your money, don't let them have the car back. If things get serious, give me a call.

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by dmcummins

I looked into that and I don't think that there is a 72 hour rule.

Basically they said they made a mistake and the paperwork was for a car I never saw, or knew existed. I have the car that I bought that day, and we are still driving it.

And there is always something they can do. The owner can still make this right. Or he can give me my money back. Which to me means they went back on their word, or reneged on the deal.

Hopefully this will be resolved shortly.

It wouldn't matter if there was a 72 hour rule, you didn't buy a car. Until you take physical delivery of the car identified on the paperwork. They're not trying to stall past 72 hours. The recision laws in many states are worded to specify sales made off-premise, i.e. solicited at your home. You went to the dealer, they figure you did so to with intent buy a car. No right of recision.

I still think the mistake was made by the other dealer and your dealer is struggling to figure things out. When you originally asked or authorized them to bring a car in, how did they know how to describe the car to you? They either read the locator's description, or the other dealer faxed them the invoice and they went over it with you. That's the only way they could have 'shown you the invoice and circled the number'. That's the MSRP and invoice they used, that's the VIN they based paperwork on. Did you see the car before they FIRST reviewed pricing?

The other dealer even sent the packet, books, invoice, and paperwork for the cheaper car. That's the car they thought they sent. That's why the key-code card didn't match. They probably had two similar cars and sent down the wrong one, it happened to be more expensive. Your salesperson didn't catch it, he should have reconciled the VIN from the paperwork with the car. He didn't. As Speeder said, he flunked Sales 101 right there. But ALL of the other documentation they had DID match. The finance manager that prepared your documentation reconciled the VIN on the paperwork with the MSO and invoice and it matched up.

The first person who should have caught it was the $8/hr porter at the 'other' dealer that grabbed the car so it could be traded to the your dealer. The only other person who would have had the chance was your salesperson, the flunkie.

Honest mistake.

So your position is that their honest mistake should benefit you by a couple thousand dollars. They even offered to give up 100% of their gross profit to appease the issue. You understand that they didn't know they were making a deal on the car you are driving. You even agree that their offer would be a better 'deal' than you'd get anywhere else. You like the car you now have in your possession.

So what am I not understanding? Help me understand your position.
From here, your position is illogical, opportunistic, and stubborn. Help me see things differently.

[kaisen]

How is this different than Costco loading a 50" flatscreen TV into your car when they accidentally rang up, and you paid for, a 42"?

Would you say anything? Would you point out their error but expect them to honor the 42" price, but keep the 50"?

[dmcummins]

First, both dealerships are owned by the same family. Same name. Just different locations.

I guess I'll agree that I am stubborn. I spent half a day at the dealership and I made a deal. When I give my word or make a deal, I stick to it. Why would I want to do business with someone who doesn't.

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by dmcummins

First, both dealerships are owned by the same family. Same name. Just different locations.

I guess I'll agree that I am stubborn. I spent half a day at the dealership and I made a deal. When I give my word or make a deal, I stick to it. Why would I want to do business with someone who doesn't.

So you'd be equaly as stubborn if you made a deal on a car that was cheaper than you thought and they charged you too much?

[dmcummins]

Originally Posted by kaisen

How is this different than Costco loading a 50" flatscreen TV into your car when they accidentally rang up, and you paid for, a 42"?

Would you say anything? Would you point out their error but expect them to honor the 42" price, but keep the 50"?

Not a good analogy. If the salesman showed me a 50" tv and said I could buy it for $3000, which is not far out of line for that tv and I agreed, and then loaded that same tv into my car, yes I would expect them to honor that price. They shouldn't call later and want another $100 because it had PIP or something,

[rick-l]

Originally Posted by kaisen

So you'd be equaly as stubborn if you made a deal on a car that was cheaper than you thought and they charged you too much?

Post Purchase Dissonance pretty much guarantees this happens with a major purchase and yes I have never taken it back.

[dmcummins]

Originally Posted by kaisen

So you'd be equaly as stubborn if you made a deal on a car that was cheaper than you thought and they charged you too much?

I have made mistakes in the past and still kept my end of the bargain. I'm sure that I have paid to much for many cars in the past. But I agree'd to the price and paid it.

I wonder what the dealer would be doing if it was turned around. I'll bet I would be getting the paperwork corrected pronto.

[vash]

i think i am with cummins on this one...sucks for the dealership, but crap..they should be professional.

when you are haggling and dealing for a car, you dont have a VIN on the table..he surely didnt drive the car, and note the VIN#. the buyer is blissfully ignorant that the car parked there is the car under negotiations..

somebody at the dealership should get an asschewing for sure. sucky situation. when i bought my MS3, i looked at the contract. the cashier mistakenly typed in the sticker price!! i almost had a heart attack, but i caught it. they were apologetic, but i wonder what would have happened if i had signed that damn document?

[kaisen]

The discussion here about what it means to 'make things right'

The dealership understands their simpleton mistake.

Making it right means reversing the sale and letting him out of the deal, which they offered.

Anything further is getting something for nothing. Punitive damages.

Cummins just believes he should get all of it (~$2000) for nothing, where the dealership is offering $1000 or so. And if the dealer doesn't give him every bit of the difference for free, he'll take his business elsewhere where he KNOWS he'll pay more. Bite off your nose despite your face.

[dmcummins]

I guess I feel that having integrity sometimes cost you. It works both ways.