And you guys think Dealers are bastards?

Today was interesting to say the least.

Fairly normal day until lunch time, when a customer walked on to the floor. Obviously I went to help him, and the following transpired.....

He showed me his old shape model outside and said that he wanted the latest one...but he wanted the basic spec one, as he didn't need any "bling".

No problem - we have a white manual on the floor for immediate delivery - he sat in it - told me he liked it, and he didn't want white, he wanted silver.

This was to be a cash deal and he wanted the car before month end.

I phoned HO and we had a silver one available, so he signed the Offer to Purchase, and left me with all of his details - wanted the car by Wednesday - Thursday at the latest.

The order was confirmed and the car was released to us and charged to the dealership, as is normal - pick it up at 9 am tomorrow morning.

Phone him to say that all is on track, and he asks....Does it have a turbo?...No, I say, you wanted the basic one, and the turbo is 150k more.............no sweat, he says, I'll come back in about 10 minutes to drive the non turbo, just to see what it's like. I remind him that his car will be here tomorrow...Great!...he says...40 minutes later, after getting the demo car ready and waiting for him, I phone to find where he is. Sorry, he says, but I'm waiting for my wife's car to get fixed and I'll be there now - that car is automatic isn't it? I say, NO...you specified a manual....Oh ***** he says...I'll get back to you....20 minutes later I phone again, and I say that we have been charged for the car and when he comes to bring all relevant documents that I had asked for. Oh damn, he says....My wife really wants an automatic turbo, but I am not prepared to pay the extra 150k...what can you do?

I say....The MANUAL, non turbo has been ordered at YOUR request...the wheels have been set in motion, and I cannot stop them....Oh dear he says...OK I'll have to take it then, and give it to my daughter.

10 minutes later, the phone rings again, and he says...My daughter won't drive manual...cancel the deal...

Now to many of you, this may sound like bugger all, but we now have a car that is coming in to stock tomorrow, 4 days before Year End, when stock is supposed to be as close to zero as possible, and I have a customer who has signed an Offer to Purchase which he has no intention of honoring!!

Perhaps he does this on a daily basis, I don't know, but I am not impressed...neither is my boss (which REALLY helps me on the Brownie Points scale!!)

I guess some of you will be laughing at the thought of a Dealer getting caught in this way, but I am sick to death of the customer permanently having to be right!!

This whole bloody situation sucks, and I really hope that this guy is attacked by the fleas of 2000 camels right now!!

Can't you enforce the purchase offer he signed?

R13... said:

Can't you enforce the purchase offer he signed?

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Unfortunately not. CPA has that tied up very neatly.

Basically you can stroll in to Aston Martin tomorrow, order a car and insist on a test drive...sign an offer to purchase on a cash basis, and walk away from it without batting an eyelid!

This does not change the fact that for every 1 consumer who shafts a dealer there are at least 100 other dealers shafting the consumer
of course not every dealer is like that.

It is wrong on his part but then I think of how many times I got screwed over by dealers on my trade-ins. I feel slightly bad for you but not too much

what an ass

Did he pay a deposit or anything ?

Perhaps Fazda in another thread you could disclose cost prices and percentage markup... versus the apparent cheapness of similar SA cars from other African countries

I'm sorry but you still have a perfectly good car and it was only a minor irritation for you. Dealers selling unroadworthy, stolen or written off cars far outnumber this "bad" customer.

I suppose you will have to adapt the business model to deal with consumers like this.

Require he put down a deposit (equal to your cost of doing everything you did).

I didnt know Fazda was such a bad person.

So what car was it and how much discount will I get if I decide to take it off of your hands?

i've always had a thought of putting a site together for service providers to check their customers (non itc) for incidents like the op.

Best I don't answer some of the comments, as I might just get nasty.

In a cash deal, a deposit is not required.

One takes a person on honour that they will stand by their legal obligation when signing an Offer to Purchase.

Those of you who constantly wish to tar dealers with the same filthy brush actually make me sick.

Put yourselves in my shoes before you answer that.

That sucks.

Whats the point of a sign offer to purchase if it isn't enforceable? Sounds suspiciously like that memorandum of understanding BS.

*If* the car is at the dealership on consignment then it shouldn't be a problem though. Won't affect financial results.

Fazda said:

Best I don't answer some of the comments, as I might just get nasty.

In a cash deal, a deposit is not required.

One takes a person on honour that they will stand by their legal obligation when signing an Offer to Purchase.

Those of you who constantly wish to tar dealers with the same filthy brush actually make me sick.

Put yourselves in my shoes before you answer that.

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I think you are over reacting.
You expect us to put ourselves in your shoes.

How many consumers have taken dealers on their honour when purchasing a vehicle only to be screwed in the process?

While I can sympathise with your situation - a deposit should be required if you have expenses arising and no firm promise of a sale.

Consumers are rife with anger at car dealers - as we can easily see the highly inflated prices we are paying vehicles - and at the same time have endless problems with services - after sales care - and downright dishonesty when selling cars.

semaj said:

I'm sorry but you still have a perfectly good car and it was only a minor irritation for you. Dealers selling unroadworthy, stolen or written off cars far outnumber this "bad" customer.

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You do realise that you are talking utter cr@p!!

We are an International Dealership with one hell of a reputation to uphold.

Customers HAVE to be trusted in their requests. Otherwise we would have to treat everyone as if he was a criminal with some sort of criminal intent.

With the CPA out there now there are many people using it to get away with incidents just like this. I doubt you are the only one. I have been shafted as well a few times since this act came into play.

requiem said:

... - a deposit should be required if you have expenses arising and no firm promise of a sale.
...

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I have never been asked to pay a deposit on the purchase of a car.

Well - another view is - now you have to treat consumers the way we have to treat car dealers. As if you all are criminals.

The CPA will increase the cost of doing business.