Dealership Hijinks

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True story.
We bought a used car from a dealer. During the sale, I said I wanted an extra key. They said, no problem, no problem. It's one of those special keys with the pattern for the tumblers milled on the inside of the key. At the conclusion of the sale, they say they have to order the key. What?? They'll call when it's in. Two weeks go by, and no call. I call them. They can't get that key from the manufacturer. They have blanks, but no key making machine. A bunch of rigamarole. It's just a mess and I'm getting irritated. I go to pick-up the blank, I'll take it to the one locksmith in the area that can cut it (he has the machine... but no blank keys for this car). I'm not going to hand my key over to these yo-yos, I'll get it cut myself. I may finally be able to get it Monday or Tuesday, the locksmith has limited hours.

While I'm at the dealership to pick-up the key, I figure I'll pick-up a copy of the Certified Pre-Owned Warranty, which was missing from our paperwork. I meet our sales dude (a classic used car salesman, if ever there ever was one) and ask for a copy of the warranty terms. He hands me the glossy warranty brochure. I say "No, I want the terms of the warranty document". I open the brochure to page 2, and at the bottom point to "See your Limited Pre-Owned Warranty for details." The sales dude locks his smile on his face. I'm thinking "you don't have the answer to that question, do you?" (and in my minds eye, I am seeing him shake his head no with that tense smile locked on his face). The sales dude scurries off to get the sales manager. I go through the same drill with the sales manager. His response... a classic "deer in the headlights" look... and he held it for about 2 or 3 seconds... I'm thinking "you should take a lesson from the sales dude, at least he smiles". They both disappear in search of the illusive "Certified Pre-Owned Warranty". They're gone for 5 or 10 minutes and return with one in-hand (probably the only one in the joint).

At some point my irritation with the matter turned into amusement. I am currently pondering my next, simple, apparently benign question (that has no easy solution) to drop in the sales dude's lap. I look forward to my next visit to the dealer, if only to see the sales dude, smile locked on face, cringing at the eyes.
 
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You might want to read "Diary of a new car salesman" which was commissioned by Edmunds and can be found on the internet. Edmunds hired a writer to GET hired at a couiple of car dealerships as a salesman and to later write about it. Great story. ONE of the outfits the guy worked for was actually "pretty honest" .
 
I once visited my local Dodge dealer (who I hate anyway) to get a key for my old Dakota. I was told they "can't get those blanks anymore."

Fast forward, I was at Ace Hardware and I mentioned it to the guy behind the counter. He said "let me look at the key". I showed him and he laughed, he said he could make one in two seconds which he did. He said the dealer was trying to scare me into buying a new car.
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John
 
Always, Always get the uncomfortable idiot details in stone, and play hard to sign.

Takes extra work, but it is fun in the end. And always pays off in spades.

I caused so many headaches to get an actual spare tire kit for my Honda Fit (250$ value) and time was running out for their sales numbers for the month so they just did what I asked, when i pointed out the Chev Cobalt has a 15" spare 4x100 pattern in the trunk I was going to trade.

I said, I could get a plastic hub adapter and take the spare and jack kit from the Cobalt and they can worry about getting a spare tire from Chevrolet.

So I just turned the tables on them from the standpoint that I ALREADY had my spare and sat there smug. Now, was he willing to trade my spare for a Honda Fit spare? Definately. Did he want to put it in writing with me? No.

Did I get it in writing? Yes.

Be a pain in the rear and it always pays off in the end. Get them over a barrel, that is what they are trying to do to you. No hard feelings in the end anyway, they only respect you after.

Houses and cars are the least friendly purchases you'll ever make. If they are friendly, it is you that is being had.
 
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My Lexus vehicles all have a sidewinder key as well. But, luckily my local Lexus dealer cuts them for $30, not too bad considering two locksmiths both wanted $300. I think you know what I told them after that...
 
My dad goes to this one Toyota dealer for everything no matter how much I try to keep him out of there. The service dept is shared by sales so he's swarmed by salesman opening his door and fighting over who's going to help him (hes handicapped by multiple strokes).

One day he goes in for a brake problem. As usual he's swarmed with salesmen like a shaken hornets nest. He comes out with a $800 bill. The salesman knew it was expensive somehow (maybe a call?) and states "use that $800 on a new one, don't waste your money on the old one". Was an 06 Avalon with 66k. They work him over and before I know it he's calling me to go up there. They were trying to sell him a new Camry without his necessary handicapped gas pedal modification so dad wanted me to drive it home. What??????????? They don't want to do the modification anymore because of liabilities. Cost is over $700 to put that in. I was furious, threatened to rip the paperwork up.

Anyways, its his money so he bought the 2012 Camry. With his modified gas pedal bar. Push a handicapped old man into buying a new car he can't drive over a brake repair. Incredible.
 
The worst time to shop for a "New" (and I seldom buy new) car is when you really NEED one. More than once I have had a "stealer" play their form of "hardball" with me on a model whic I KNEW wasn't flying off the lot. Ya gotta know when to walk out. In two cases the sales droid who "couldn't go any lower" called a week later to find out "if I bought a car yet, because after some cosmic event, they were now able to offer a "better" price. BTW, if you don't want to be bothered with this stuff, obviously don't tell the sales droid any more than he needs to know. It also helps to have your financing lined up in advance. Don't brag about it, though, when you press them hard, they usually count on the kickback from the finance company they WANT you to use as part of the profit they expect to make. I was once told I couldn't BUY the car from a dealer at the agreed price UNLESS I financed it with them. I told them I'd be in with a certified check from a local bank and if they didn't close the deal I was going right to the dealer license commission with it. Yes, you sometimes burn bridges, but in that case I knew where a dealer with a BETTER service department could be found.
 
We know old folks worry about getting stranded and if they haven't been cleaned out by the "new economy" they feel better in a "new" car but an 06 Avalon with 66K is barely broken in. "Stealer", not dealer.
 
Hopefully the gentleman with the Avalon at least got a good trade-in value as they certainly are worth something towards a new Camry...
 
I laugh how 2 faced Toyota is.They claim their vehicles will last forever,you can hand them down to your daughter or granddaughter(like that commercial with the smiling baby with the big ball of hair behind the head),but when you show up at the dealer they claim your car is old (at 6 years?) and needs to be unloaded for a new one.Kinda makes one wonder....think about it.If EVERY Toyota fan had bought a new Toyota in say 2006 or 2007,other than conquest sales from other brands,and replacing crashed vehicles,they would sell NO new Toyotas to their die-hards for say 10-15 more years anyway.That would cripple them.So,they make these stupid claims that the Toyota you buy now will last 20-30 years,yet in 6 years you will need to replace it.Sounds like every other brand now dont it.
 
Not a car dealership, but my Dad called me the other day about an "extended warranty" for his 2003 Hyundai. He's 83, I'm 54, so he calls me sometimes for advice, since he's hard of hearing and doesn't always understand what people are trying to sell him.

Long story short, the sales weasel had talked him into making a $175 down payment on an 80,000 mile 10 year service contract for his 2003 Hyundai Elantra which will hit 100,000 miles soon. Covers engine, transmission, "differential", wiring and AC. I called the company. The total cost is $3450, $175 down and $153/mo. Thanks, I'll call my Dad. When I explained the details to him, he called them immediately and cancelled.

I fell for this once in my younger days, when buying a used Volvo. Salesman says that for x amount of dollars, I get a warranty for x miles. When I finally needed a repair, I found out that the "warranty" company was out of business. Oh, you thought you had a warranty with us, the dealer? Hm. Too bad.
 
Originally Posted By: Nickdfresh
Hopefully the gentleman with the Avalon at least got a good trade-in value as they certainly are worth something towards a new Camry...

$6,500. Had a couple of small dents and bumper scrapes from parking. Loaded 06, 66k. All dealer documented service.
 
I hate dealing with these places. When I bought our Subaru I was reading through everything I was signing and the salesman and the F&I guy acted like I was punching them in the face. To the point where the F&I guy suggested that the fact I didn't trust them at all created some sort of a negative atmosphere. If we weren't already 90% of the way done at that point, I would have walked out. I really had to hold back to not challenge his comment and ask why it was such a problem that I read what I was signing and wanted agreements in writing.

Heck, I had the same thing happen at a pharmacy when I was trying to by some Sudafed. "Sign on here" and I look at the sheet and don't see what I am signing for. I asked her what I am signing and her response was basically "just sign it". My response was "I like to know what I am signing, what am I agreeing to". She then asked why I was causing a problem before I found the statement I was agreeing to that was covered up on the sheet. I can only guess that very few people read what they sign.
 
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Did you get the "includes extra key" in writing on the bill of sale? If not, they don't have to give you anything.

When I bought my S4 last month, I made the sales guy write "INCLUDES 3 KEYS" to make sure they didn't pull a fast one. There are horror stories of people being promised "new tires" or "we'll fix X and Y" and then the dealer plays dumb afterwards.
 
Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
Originally Posted By: Nickdfresh
Hopefully the gentleman with the Avalon at least got a good trade-in value as they certainly are worth something towards a new Camry...

$6,500. Had a couple of small dents and bumper scrapes from parking. Loaded 06, 66k. All dealer documented service.


$6500. [censored], I would have given you $6501. You could have sold that yourself on craigslist in minutes at that price, if you priced it at the market price which is almost double that it would have sold within' a week or two.

They probably sold it at twice that. It sucks to hear people taking advantage of but unfortunately it happens every day.
 
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Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
Originally Posted By: Nickdfresh
Hopefully the gentleman with the Avalon at least got a good trade-in value as they certainly are worth something towards a new Camry...

$6,500. Had a couple of small dents and bumper scrapes from parking. Loaded 06, 66k. All dealer documented service.


what a rip off.
I sold my 2003 mazda6 for $6000 with 120k o it.
 
Originally Posted By: HerrStig
I was once told I couldn't BUY the car from a dealer at the agreed price UNLESS I financed it with them.


I kind of believe this. The best punking would be to pay off the note the next day. (Read it over good and make sure there isn't a prepayment penalty.)

I've never bought new and know I'm so cocky there's a trap that relies on my cockiness that I would fall into.
 
Originally Posted By: Rick in PA
True story.
We bought a used car from a dealer. .... I look forward to my next visit to the dealer, if only to see the sales dude, smile locked on face, cringing at the eyes.


If you don't want that "experience" next time, just go to Carmax. None of that *&^#$#@ there.
 
Originally Posted By: chiks
Originally Posted By: LeakySeals
Originally Posted By: Nickdfresh
Hopefully the gentleman with the Avalon at least got a good trade-in value as they certainly are worth something towards a new Camry...

$6,500. Had a couple of small dents and bumper scrapes from parking. Loaded 06, 66k. All dealer documented service.


what a rip off.
I sold my 2003 mazda6 for $6000 with 120k o it.

Dealers make the most money in used cars, parts and services. New cars barely cover the saleman commission and overhead.

If you trade in your mazda6 for a new or another car, you probably get around $3500-4000, and dealer will sells it for $6500-7000.
 
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