Why car dealers and salesfolks have a bad rep.

[Hads930]

So if you did not see the thread about needing someone in Roseville CA last week I found a used car out there. Wanted a fairly uncomman option on a very comman vehicle. Anyway, John "Quick-six" went to look at it for me on Saturday and had positive things to say. I called the salesdouche immediately after talking to John and let him know that I was indeed interested in moving forward and was setting up a PPI for monday morning.

Called and got the PPI set up this morning and heard from the salesdouche, it went someting like this, Hey bad news, I sold the car yesterday. Me-What the fu??

I made contact with him last week before he had the car on his lot. He sent me pictures from his cellphone before they were listed on his site and had pictures, needless to say he knew I was interested. Had a local go by and look at it, then called immediately after I heard from my local guy and let him know I am serious about buying it and was moving forward with the PPI.

Was I wrong in thinking he would call if he needed a deposit to move forward and not just sell it. I know I know money talks, cash in hand, blah blah. Save those comments. Just a call to say hey, give me a credit card number to hold this if you want to buy it, if not I am selling it when we hang up.

ALL of them, everyone of them, total pieces of crap. Bottom feeders.

Rant over.

[Embraer]

Looked at a Lotus Exige two years ago. Put a deposit on the car (small...only $500). Had the dealer take the car to a trusted lotus guy for a PPI. (on my dime) Later that day, their internet listing is updated with MY PPI information...the info that I paid for. I call dealer and tell them to remove the information...that I am coming the following afternoon with cash to buy the car.

I drive down to the dealer (90 miles) the next afternoon and the car is gone. A buyer saw the information online the previous night and decided to come in and buy the car that morning. I hadn't been that pissed in a LONG time.

Dealer gave me my deposit back and just said "well, he got here first with the full amount."

[cockerpunk]

sale isn't final until its been signed for and money has changed hands.

although thats bull**** that they sold the car with your PPI information. and i'd expect a dealer to honor the deposit system. otherwise, don't take deposits?

[sammyg2]

You said you were "interested". That means maybe. A maybe with no deposit or commitment.

Did he promise to keep it for you? Did you promise to buy it? if not, you were nothing more than another POTENTIAL customer.

He had a sure thing and went with it.


It would be nice if he had waited to see if you eventually wanted to buy it or not, but he wouldn't be in business very long if he acted like that.

[TGTIW]

Did he seal your driveway too?

[Hads930]

Sammy that's about what I would expect coming from you. Just as you have taken the opposing position in the shady paving contractor thread and gone just short of calling wsfifteen a cheat in his dealings with his situation. Ok call me does make a verbal contract.

I know I did not have a deposit. Had I known he had every intention of taking any persons money before allowing me to perform a PPI I would have given what it would have taken to secure the vehicle during that time, even if it was non refundable. A call was all I needed, like I mentioned in the original post, if he had called and said hey ******* money or it's gone, I would have been fine.

As a side note, you can stay in business by waiting (1 day in this case) for a response from a customer. A business can actually demand a premium for said service. Not in every case but most. I left my last job for that same reason. You put your customers first and they will do the same.

[wdfifteen]

He should have given you a courtesy call to let you know you had competition and posting the PPI info you paid for was a slimeball move. He should come and seal your driveway. How did he get the PPI info?

[t-tom]

The fact of the matter is you did not have a deal in place. no deposit no contract. As someone that is in the industry not all car dealers are slime balls. 9.5 out every 10 people that call and say "I'm interested in XYZ car" Or "I'll take it" never show up. Until money has exchanged hands there is no sale. If you wanted the car you should have sent a deposit and asked for them to fax you a sales contract. Its pretty easy and happens everyday. I take offense at the slime ball remark.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by Hads930

Sammy that's about what I would expect coming from you. Just as you have taken the opposing position in the shady paving contractor thread and gone just short of calling wsfifteen a cheat in his dealings with his situation. Ok call me does make a verbal contract.

I know I did not have a deposit. Had I known he had every intention of taking any persons money before allowing me to perform a PPI I would have given what it would have taken to secure the vehicle during that time, even if it was non refundable. A call was all I needed, like I mentioned in the original post, if he had called and said hey ******* money or it's gone, I would have been fine.

As a side note, you can stay in business by waiting (1 day in this case) for a response from a customer. A business can actually demand a premium for said service. Not in every case but most. I left my last job for that same reason. You put your customers first and they will do the same.

DID YOU HAVE A CONTRACT? Did you agree to buy it, did he agree to sell it?
Did he promise to hold it for you? Did you ask him to hold it for you? Did you offer to make a deposit?

The big fat answer is no!

Call me is NOT a verbal contract. Never has been, never will be.

You were just a potential buyer, someone who MIGHT buy the car.
Yhe worse thing you can realistically say about the seller is he wasn't a really nice guy. But freaking deal.

in the other thread, a guy offered to seal a lot for $1100 and the owner says OK, do it. The guy did it as promised and as agreed. There was a contract. An agreement of compensation for prescribed work.
Later the owner wants to renege on the deal, and you some how twist that around and justify it?

What is today, the "I SCREWED UP AND WANT TO BLAME IT ON SOMEONE ELSE" day?

Sorry if this is coming off a little too rough, that really isn't my intent. I'm just putting it out there as harsh brutal truth, if it has sharp edges then wear gloves.

[wdfifteen]

Tom,
Would you have taken the PPI info the OP paid for and used it to sell the car to someone else?
Edit- Sorry it was Ebraer whose PPI info was used to sell the car, not the OP.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Hads930

Sammy that's about what I would expect coming from you. Just as you have taken the opposing position in the shady paving contractor thread and gone just short of calling wsfifteen a cheat in his dealings with his situation. Ok call me does make a verbal contract.

I know I did not have a deposit. Had I known he had every intention of taking any persons money before allowing me to perform a PPI I would have given what it would have taken to secure the vehicle during that time, even if it was non refundable. A call was all I needed, like I mentioned in the original post, if he had called and said hey ******* money or it's gone, I would have been fine.

As a side note, you can stay in business by waiting (1 day in this case) for a response from a customer. A business can actually demand a premium for said service. Not in every case but most. I left my last job for that same reason. You put your customers first and they will do the same.

You were a one time customer.

Very unlikely you would ever have been a repeat.

He does not benefit by waiting for you nor is he harmed by not.

Possible the car would not have passed PPI and he just told you he sold it because he does not want to put the effort into what he knows will be a non sale.

Something to think about. You are doing a long distance trans action. There is more involved on both ends of the deal.

Not surprised he took the path of least resistance.

Good luck on your search.

The one that was meant to be will come along.

[widgeon13]

Hell, they don't even care if you have a contract.

I had a contract a few years ago on a new Ford truck (with the dealer) and gave the guy a check for $1000! They still sold it out from under me over a weekend.

You have no recourse. What, find me a new car with similar specs, they said no way. I said screw you, never will buy a Ford product.

End of story.

The *******s just don't care.

[t-tom]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Tom,
Would you have taken the PPI info the OP paid for and used it to sell the car to someone else?
Edit- Sorry it was Ebraer whose PPI info was used to sell the car, not the OP.

No I would not have done that. I would have paid for the PPI and used it before the car was ever put up for sale. I'm not saying there are not a lot and I mean a lot of shady car dealers because there are. But there are a lot that are not.

[Tobra]

Possible the car would not have passed PPI and he just told you he sold it because he does not want to put the effort into what he knows will be a non sale.

Careful, you might dislocate your shoulder reaching like that.

First of all, my wife did not buy that car, she might have, if I told her about it, but I did not.

No sense getting bent out of shape. I don't think it is a scumbag move, not really. I know of many, many far worse things that car dealers have done. Tom, no offense intended, but car dealers did not get the reputation they have by mistake. My wife once special ordered a truck. Extended cab Chevy stepside, in Corvette yellow. At the time, you could not get a yellow truck, so she he ordered one like that, paid extra, waited two months. They called her, told her the truck was in, she went to go get it, and it had been sold to someone else. She was hot. Told them to paint another one yellow and she would pick it up tomorrow. The dealership ended up losing a few grand on a blue truck that she ended up with. Sold it 3 years and 30,000 miles later for $4000 more than she paid for it.

[Hads930]

Please don't take this as I want someone to blame, I realize I was going on an assumption, yes assumption that I would get a call. I also am guilty of not knowing local law and that CA allows car dealers to sell cars on Sunday, again my fault. Hindsight being what it is I might have asked more questions.

Just sour grapes on my part, I was raised different and though a COURTESY call would have been SOP. Yes path of least resistance probably came into play. Additionally based on the PPI, I was buying as long as it did not need an engine or transmission. It was overpriced and I was willing to pay it. Was on the phone with my banker moving money when the salesdouche called and gave me the not so good news.

Again, this was a pretty clean, low miles, rust free and fairly straight truck with a manual shift trans., not real common on this particular model. Just wasn't meant to be. Probably will settle with an auto and buy local.

And as far as the car biz in general and painting everyone with the same brush I apologize. Everyone that I have dealt with is a liar and bottom feeder.

[Hads930]

Tobra I should have put that in green. I don't post here often but lurk 3-5 times a week and spend enough time here to know who the good guys are. I sent that message as a joke. Please accept my sincere apology if you took that any other way.

[Rot 911]

Having sold a fair number of motorcycles and cars I will always take the cash over a promise to buy. After getting bitten in the ass a couple of times by "promises" left unfulfilled, it's the money that talks to me now.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by Hads930

Tobra I should have put that in green. I don't post here often but lurk 3-5 times a week and spend enough time here to know who the good guys are. I sent that message as a joke. Please accept my sincere apology if you took that any other way.

I figured you were joking.


My wife totally would have bought that car if I told her about it though.

Persevere in your quest.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Expect a salesman to do and say whatever will sell the car for the most money possible. They don't care about you, your time, your long search for the perfect car, because they know they'll never see you again. It's the reason why I only shop with private parties, because at least I have a fighting chance of dealing with an honest seller.

[biosurfer1]

I just sold a car and the guy gave me a deposit but after thinking about it, what good is a deposit anyways? Shows the seller you're serious? If you decide not to purchase the car, it's not like the seller can cash the check or keep the money. I suppose they could and play stupid until you get your money back from the courts, etc but in reality until the full purchase price is paid and everything is signed for, no deal is made.

The only thing I can say is how many out of area people probably email or call daily to these guys saying they want the car, hold it for them. Hell, I had a guy tell me he wanted my 914, wants a PPI so I said great, what time and where....radio silence from then on. I got so annoyed with how many emails started off with "I want to buy the car...." Just say your interested, its not like I take any more or less serious because they claim they want it in the email!!!