Dealers have always done shady stuff like this...
I worked as a salesman back in the 90s for a short wile. The easiest money I ever made and I wasn't even trying.
The whole "Dealership" is designed to fleece the customer from start to finish.
The accessories girls were hand picked and were always gorgeous.
If you looked at the finance guys computer screen the interest rate was blacked out.
It was common for them to over price a "trade in" on the contract to make it look like the buyer had a deposit for a new car.
And then they'd wonder why people would get into trouble when trying to pay back the loan.
One time a young guy was looking at a V8 performance sedan in the second hand yard.
I told him he would be paying exorbitant insurance on such a car because of his age.
He left without buying the car and the next day his father came to the dealership to thank me.
I remember them charging a "2.5% environmental tax". I asked about it and was told to shut up and not ask again.
- I left soon after that.