Before buying a car, this is a good book to read. It explains why car dealers have free hot dogs and balloons and want you to bring your kids with you. parsy, who has been there
Posted on 10/19/2009 6:36:09 PM PDT by freemike
Well, here it is. I was looking for a second car, just an around town beater. Finally thought I found a half decent 95 grand am for 1500. High miles, not attractive but new inspection and new tires. It ran well. They guy at the little lot was sooo nice. Introduced me to his wife. Had the wife bring out their 9 mo. old little girl. Seemed like the just your average good joe. Well, I made an offer of 1300. and he agreed. Paid 1100. cash and the rest in check. (cont. below)
What are you the morality police, a human lie detector? You have no reason to doubt this poster’s story b/c what would be the point? Really.
Yup. Big, bad friends. Rednecks, or Harleys and gypsy leather... either will do. This is about word, more than law.
Why would he go into all this detail and be making it up?? Maybe I’m naive.
Well, my wife works in the evening. I work day. I had no one to bring the car back with me. This lot is in another town, about 20 minutes from my house. I offered the guy 20. to drive it to my place(didn’t pay him yet!) At least saved that 20! This guy was good. Very relaxed. Talked about the cars he was building. He had a nice fairly new Mustang on the lot, what looked like a new Vet, some nice trucks and then a few beater cars. The car had some dings, drivers door stuck a little, high miles but it ran very very well. No smoke, nice drive. I wasn’t looking for much. I guess I was a little tired of looking. I had been looking for 2 weeks. Actually missed out on a nice Nissan maxima. I wanted to sleep on it (an private sell) because I wasn’t sure about something that might be an engine problem, talked to a mechanic and e assured me my concern was nothing. So,, I guess I was a little tired and this guy was smooth. (little secret-I used to sell cars years ago and did well. I made salesman of the year-actually got tickets to go see Rush in New York—I was a great seller but just got out of it. Did it for a while to earn some money and then left for something else. That is how good this guy was!)
The money loss will not be a budget buster for us,, it will mean no second car for awhile. And it makes me very mad!! I know I have learned something good here. Still feel like vomiting. This guy is up on child porn charges, accused of having cameras hidden in his shops, all kinds of sick things and here I gave the guy my address, number and cash! ( I do have life lock) Don’t go shopping for a car when you are tired! Do not be in a hurry. I was! I was sick of looking and thought I had found something that was “good enough” for 1300!
Sometimes lesson are hard.
I have learned many a lesson myself.
Just for anyone watching. My dad was a car dealer and his dad was a car dealer.
1. Never leave the lot without the car. They don’t need to do anything with that car. You buy it, you drive it. Leaving the car “until the next morning” is a way to get more money out of you. They have the car, they have your money. You have no bargaining chip. They’ll find a reason to get more money from you.
2. Never pay cash for a car. If they insist, you go to the bank with the title and the car and get it done. You’d be surprised how many people try to sell cars when the bank holds the title.
3. If you are not ready to walk on a deal, don’t do it.
If you can, go over there tonight and see if the car is still there. If so, call the police and see if they will meet you over there first thing in the morning.
Before buying a car, this is a good book to read. It explains why car dealers have free hot dogs and balloons and want you to bring your kids with you. parsy, who has been there
??? Like, why??? What would be the purpose to make up a story like this?? I got better things to do with my life. Actually, I’m blowing off steam. My wife is working so I can’t tell her(she’s gonna just love it). I tried calling a few friends but of all the freakin time I can’t get anyone. So, I’m sitting her stewing and thought,, hey I can post this on freerepublic and maybe I’ll feel a little better as people tell me how stupid I am!! Seriously,, I have had a little laugh at some of the posts. I can laugh about it a little now. (I loved the posts that said (Wire me $2000. and I’ll help you out) I love it!!
Thanks for the prayers too. I seriously thank you!! I felt bad for my son and daughter,,, but, it’s a lesson for them too. Dad had to admit he got stupid. It happens. We’ll be able to get another car in a short while. This was just a second car. I drive a new Wrangler so we have a good ride.
I actually already prayed and thanked God for all he has already done for me. Thanked him for my health, my kids and a whole bunch of other stuff. I sickens you, though, when you’ve done something so stupid as this. I really do still feel like a good vomit!! But I’d rather just go there with a few friends and get the car. Unfortunately I’m stuck right now, alone. Sometimes things like this happen when you have no one to turn to but yourself and God.
Have every large male friend you have meet you down at the dealership in the morning. Don’t leave without the car or your money.
Scumbag bullies like this assume you’re going to back down, he’ll cave like Madeline Albright before Kim Jong-Il if you make it plain he’ll feel pain for screwing you.
Criminals usually have an MO. No all theives are murders and not all child molestors are theives.
You do not own the car unless you drive it off the lot. If you take delivery at home, you have 3 days to recind the agreement. In the car business we call it “taillights over the curb”
Know you are telling the truth - (ignore the skeptic!)
Sorry you are having to go through this. I would feel sick, too, had I done this. But we’ve all done dumb things.
(I felt stupid for TWICE giving different “beggar” women money who approached me - after church - with sad tales of woe. Thankfully, on the 3rd time, I finally had learned to just say no, can’t help you. But still felt stupid for the other 2 times).
Anyway, I like the idea of calling the police. If that guy is a sleazoid as it seems he is, I wouldn’t want to go anywhere near him again. JUST my opinion. And, yes, stop payment on your two checks.
Call the police now and ask for their advice
“Bring friends” That won’t help. Behave in an adult manner and make sure the owner of the dealership is clear that you will sue him against his bond on the dealership. I ran a independent dealership out in the country. The best way to guarantee no cooperation from me was to show up all ghetto with your homies. Small independent lots handle alot of cash and the principal players are often armed and take no shiite.
About once every month or so, someone would come in with their friends, usually to get a cash refund for a check that bounced, and I can guarantee you the more you try to intimidate, the less cooperation you will get.
Youy are clearly in the right and a dealership is a sucker bet for a lawyer in court.
Run from problems on 2000-2001 Maximas if they are electrical in nature. Been there.
So leave your car there and drive the new used car home and pick up your car tomorrow.
Yeah, preferably a police officer "friend" - plain clothes or not. ; )
there is a chance that car might have some of his child porn and drugs stashed in it somewhere. guess who might be in a world of hurt if pulled over for say a minor traffic infraction and some eagle eye cop spies some of that jerk’s child porn and or drugs he left behind and that might have popped out of between seats or some such other scenario. just sayin’, be damn careful....
First of all Mike, none of this potential for a problem has happened yet.
He may show up tomorrow morning with everything that is due you in your car with the bill of sale and the electrical problem in the head lights fixed. Just because he and his wife are under investigation for Child porn (if so, why hasn’t Child Protective Services removed the 9month old little girl from the household?) or drugs does not mean that he is a swindler in the sales of cars from his or his employer’s car lot. You may be working yourself into a worry totally unjustifiably. Should you have left without the car or a bill-of-sale? Nope. But don’t assume the worst.
Tomorrow morning, if he does not show up, first call the car lot and ask where your car is and when you can expect delivery, or would it be better if you came there to get it. If they give you the run around, go to the dealership and demand either your car or your money. If you don’t get a satisfactory response, THEN call the cops.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.