Topic: salesman cheating to get our business?

[stvl]

Recently, we have a car accident and our car got totalled. We shop around for a new Honda Civic and obviously, our criteria would be that the dealership have the car we want in stock for quick delivery. We visited 4 Honda dealers and the deals we were offered are comparable. We ended up going for Formula Honda because the salesman claimed that they have 4 cars in stock (specifically, Civic 4dr LX in gray) and the others has none.
 
So we signed the offer and that's April 20 Thursday. The next day the salesman called to say that our finance got approved. Everything looks good so far. Then on April 25 (Tuesday), the salesman called us saying that, "Oh by the way, the 4 cars still in stock last Thursday has all gone to other customers and we've to trade one from another dealership. Would you mind to have a few more kilometers on it since we have to drive it from Yonge/407 to our dealership (we specifically told him that we want the lowest kilometer one out of the 4 that he claimed were in stock).
 
We're really upset about this because we felt that either he cheated on us about they're having it in stock in order to get our business or he's not doing his job by not assigning the car we want to us on the day we signed the offer.
 
As of now, we refused to take the car he's going to trade from the other dealer not because there're a few more kilometers on it, but because we felt he's being dishonest. We ask for a car from their next batch.
 
My question is, are we stuck with the signed offer or can we walk out of the deal. We don't really want to give our business to Formula Honda after this. Any comment from you guys would be appreciated.

[Trainman]

Read this for more info:

http://www.cartalkcanada.com/forum/index.php/topic,45255.0.html

[Giant Dwarf]

Stvl, I'm sorry to hear of the hassle you're going through. 

While I certainly agree that it seems a little dishonest the way he's handling the situation, I don't think the 20 or so kms from Yonge/407 to Formula in Scarborough is really anything to worry about.  What is your concern?  The warranty begins from the mileage you have on delivery doesn't it? 

If it were me, I'd probably end up taking the car he's bringing in, especially given your tight timing circumstances -- but I'd certainly let the salesperson (and sales manager?) know of my displeasure with the 'run-around' treatment you've been given.

[ovr50]

  with Giant's comments above. What is the big deal over 20 or 30kms on a fully warrantied car? I've bought new vehicles with more than that on them - my wife's '99 Solara that just traded on a new one had to be brought up from Vancouver and it had about 350 kms on it (by someone I knew).

[stvl]

As I mentioned on my first post:

"we refused to take the car he's going to trade from the other dealer not because there're a few more kilometers on it, but because we felt he's being dishonest."

I just don't like to give our business to this dealer.

[mdxtasy]

As I mentioned on my first post:

"we refused to take the car he's going to trade from the other dealer not because there're a few more kilometers on it, but because we felt he's being dishonest."

I just don't like to give our business to this dealer.

But then right after you said that....you said "We ask for a car from their next batch"

I know you want to back out of the deal, but while the situation does suck, maybe other sales staff sold the 4 cars while you were getting processed?

[BJB]

I'm confused, when you sign a contract for a car don't they put the VIN # on the contract? How else do you get insurance without a VIN?

[Craig]

I've never bought a new car that was actually on the lot.  All have been orders or dealer trades.  Pretty sure I signed binding contracts without VINs.  Of course, once the vehicle is in, you sign a completed contract.

Once the VIN was known, the dealer called me, I arranged insurance, and in the case of the leased X-Trail, had the insurance info faxed to the dealership.  When the car isn't purchased outright, they're kinda fussy on that point.

The X-Trail had 200km at purchase.  I was already a little ticked at the dealer for delaying the pickup date twice, and just wanted to make sure the car was in good shape.  I inspected it quite thoroughly in the sun before driving off.  No regrets over the 200km, but next time, I might specify a maximum number of km.

[Gardiner Westbound]

So we signed the offer and that's April 20 Thursday. The next day the salesman called to say that our finance got approved. Everything looks good so far. Then on April 25 (Tuesday), the salesman called us saying that, "Oh by the way, the 4 cars still in stock last Thursday has all gone to other customers and we've to trade one from another dealership. Would you mind to have a few more kilometers on it since we have to drive it from Yonge/407 to our dealership (we specifically told him that we want the lowest kilometer one out of the 4 that he claimed were in stock).

Cars bearing dealer markers have passed me on Highway 401 with factory stickers and protective plastic still in place. Occasionally two or three are seen racing, rendering the manufacturer’s break-in instructions redundant.

Dealers of dubious integrity avoid the expense of dedicated demonstrator units. They sell test vehicles as new with 50, 100, 200 or more kilometers notwithstanding unknown numbers of sometimes damaging demonstration drives. Casey Togtema's Ontario Jeep Eagle, a large Mississauga Chrysler dealer famous for advertisements with Toronto radio personality Earl Warren, sold thousands of used and damaged cars as new or demonstrators before fraud investigators took notice. His son owns a large London Chrysler dealership.

Read the mouse print on the back of the contract. Void any clause that allows vehicle substitution, or calls for deposit forfeiture. If a dealer swap is required the car should be transferred by flat bed truck. Most dealers and towing companies have them. The enormous new car freight charge is more than sufficient to cover the cost. Obtain the VIN and inspect the car at the source dealer beforehand. Carefully note the odometer reading.

I insert clauses into the sales contract specifying a firm delivery date failing which the deposit will be fully refunded within 5-days, that the car is new and unused with not more than 30-kilometers registered on the odometer, that it has not sustained more than $100 of repaired pre-delivery damage, and that true copies of the PDI and all relevant work orders will be provided at delivery.

[BJB]

I know when I bought the Murano I got the VIN from the dealer before i signed anything, that way I could check to see if that particular car was part of a recall that had taken place, made my life a lot easier

[tenpenny]

I'm confused, when you sign a contract for a car don't they put the VIN # on the contract? How else do you get insurance without a VIN?

Whenever we've bought a car that was on the lot, we test drove the car, and the contract had the VIN on it.  (I would never buy a car I had not driven first.)  If the car was "on the lot", then why wasn't the VIN on the contract?  Probably because the car wasn't "on the lot".  But in the end, it doesn't much matter.  If you're happy buying a car that you haven't checked out first, then what odds.

The one time we bought a car that we hadn't checked out first, my wife drove it home, and discovered it had a flaw.  The wind noise was deafening.  After a couple of weeks of dismantling (ie, removing the dashboard, fenders, etc etc), Toyota found a weld in the firewall that was faulty.    The dealer refunded every penny my wife had given them, and they ordered another car.  We agreed that we would test out the new car, and if we liked it, we would negotiate a new deal.  Despite the good outcome on that one, I would never again buy a car without driving it.

[stvl]

Thanks for all the comments and advise guys. I've learn the lesson from this.

Basically the second part of the salesman's word after "..........we've to trade one from another dealership. Would you mind to have a few more kilometers on it since we have to drive it from Yonge/407 to our dealership." was "or you can wait for the next batch, it's ENTIRELY up to you!" then we ask when will the next batch come, and he said, "May 1" From his tone, he sounds like "I know you guys need the car immediately, you guys don't have any choice but to take it" So we told him we'll take the one from the next batch. Then he said, "Oh we'll have the next batch any day from May 1 to May 5, and by the time we're done with the PDI and stuff, you're looking at May 9 for the earliest delivery."

After hearing this excuse from him, we couldn't help but told him that "We want next batch" nothing more. He's so unhappy and just told us that "I'll call you in May" then hang up. I mean, we're the customer here right? And he hang up on us? That trigger us to think about walking out the deal.

[Accordingly]

After hearing this excuse from him, we couldn't help but told him that "We want next batch" nothing more. He's so unhappy and just told us that "I'll call you in May" then hang up. I mean, we're the customer here right? And he hang up on us? That trigger us to think about walking out the deal.

I assume you have given them a deposit, so walking out on the deal may be complicated by trying get it refunded. If the sales guy is hesitant (he assumes the deal is still on for a car from the 'next batch'), speak with the management and request your deposit back given the circumstances. Certainly, for a hot selling car like the Civic, I hope they will do the right thing. Good luck...I guess the lesson learned is "know what you are buying."