Tom Geiger Posted January 12, 2014 Posted January 12, 2014 I'm irked at car dealers.. I just spent some time looking through a couple of Auto Shopper type free magazines and hate the tactics! + Dealers who don't put the mileage in the ads... you just know when you see a car at a good price, it will have a million miles on it. I equally hate those that say "low miles" usually over 100,000. I had a salesman tell me a car only had it's first 120,000 on it! Yea, that's a high mile car in my book. And those crafty idiots who put "good miles" in the ad. Yea, those are gonna have a million miles on them, but friggin GOOD miles. + Dealers who put amazingly good prices on the cars in the ad, but the very very small print (often smudged) at the bottom of the page says "With a $3000 down payment or trade-in". I wonder how many people get sucked into those ads? + Dealers who put $3000 For Any Trade - What idiot doesn't know that they just added $3,000 to the price of the cars in the ad! + Dealers who don't put a price on the cars, only a monthly payment. You just know they are thieves! And I hate those dealers who ask you how much a month you want to spend right up front... um, gimme the price of the car and we'll work from there! You know they'll just adjust the price of every car upward to meet that payment. A Ford dealer tried pulling that on my daughter and I, and refused to believe we were going to pay cash for the car! + And what about those clowns who waste money on full page ads of cars with no mileage and no prices! As if I'm going to drive down there on that info! Okay, I feel much better now!
High octane Posted January 12, 2014 Posted January 12, 2014 Looks like you won't be buying a car anytime soon Tom as "everyone's a crook" in your book. So I wonder why millions of cars are sold each year?
Joe Handley Posted January 12, 2014 Posted January 12, 2014 Mom is in the hospital (CDH for the locals) and as I pulled into the underground parking I found this 4-Runner parked in the entrance lane last night. For reference, here's a pic I shot today.
Tom Geiger Posted January 12, 2014 Posted January 12, 2014 (edited) Looks like you won't be buying a car anytime soon Tom as "everyone's a crook" in your book. So I wonder why millions of cars are sold each year? No Nick, just those who pull underhanded tactics. And I've run into a few real dueseys in my lifetime! I've bought two cars with my daughters in the past two years. The Fiat dealer couldn't have been nicer, everything was truly above board. I'd go back there anytime. The Ford dealer was another thing. Tried the bait and switch, 'couldn't find the advertised car' (2011 Fusion with 18,000 miles) but had others at higher prices! Once we were leaving, the advertised car was suddenly found. He kept asking my daughter how much a month she wanted to spend. I kept telling him we were cash buyers, but he wouldn't believe me. When he 'found' the car, he pulled it up to the front of the showroom. Then he pulled a brand new one next to it, and pushed my daughter, "Wouldn't you rather have a brand new one for only $100 a month more?" She yelled at him that she was paying cash! The new one was nearly double the price of the used one. Then he tried to tell her she'd have less problems with a new one... which I nearly grabbed him by the neck and asked him, "If we're going to have problems with a 2 year old, 18000 mile Fusion, why would we even consider buying one at all? At that point I grabbed a sales manager and told him we were not happy. He sent the salesman away and handled us himself. He couldn't have been nicer. I bargained on the 2011 and got a good deal in the end. Oh, and don't think he reprimanded the salesman at all.. that was all part of their ruse.. bad cop, good cop. Edited January 12, 2014 by Tom Geiger
Agent G Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 How about "doc" fees that magically elevate the negotiated price back to where it was when you started ? How about "not being able to locate" a car you just looked at online, then not helping or even trying to "bait and switch". How about taking a half day off to go buy a car, telling the dealership I'd be right there and finding the car "sold" when I arrive ? There is a certain set of "name" owned dealerships here in town I will never visit again. G
Tom Geiger Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 How about "doc" fees that magically elevate the negotiated price back to where it was when you started ? The absolutely worse encounter I ever had with a dealer was with Potamken Chevrolet in New Jersey. My father and I accompanied my young female cousin to buy her first new car. The salesman was such scum that he tried to ADD the rebate to the purchase price. We had to fight to get the price where we wanted it, numbers all over the sales sheet crossed out and initialed etc. At the end of these negotiations, the salesman wanted my cousin to sign a BLANK sales agreement, saying that this one was too messy and he'd fill out a clean one later. Um, no. The car needed to be prepped, and the rear window defroster added by the shop so we agreed to pick it up the next evening. We arrived and he had a freshly typed agreement where all the numbers had been jumbled to their advantage of course. We had to negotiate the sale all over again. Then they wanted to look at the trade in 'one last time' and tried to devaluate it by a few thousand. We stood our ground that nothing on this car had changed over night. They finally relented. The car was being financed by Chevrolet on a low interest deal. The salesman announces that he found a way to reduce the payment $50 a month, and to just sign here! Looking at his paperwork, he had substituted in a high interest rate loan. He had upped the car's purchase price back to full list, and had substituted a 60 month loan for the original 48 month loan. That's how he got the payment down! When I pointed out the sales price rise, he said that was just 'paperwork' and just to look at the loan payment line. That was more than enough. We walked out. Later that year I'm watching a news show with John Stossel doing an expose on car dealers tactics with hidden cameras. I recognize the dealership and realize that he's talking to our salesman! My phone rings and it's my father laughing, he's watching the same show. Stossel basically said Potamkin was the shadiest dealer in the show. And at the time they were the biggest car dealer in NJ.
Pete L. Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 Fellas, And WE bailed out the auto industry...thanks !
High octane Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 I had one salesperson at a Chevy dealership last year, more interested in getting my address and phone number, than selling me a car, and I was ready to buy. I walked out and bought a car next door at another dealership that same day.
Tom Geiger Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 And we can talk about these sales scams because we were wise enough to not fall for them. I feel sorry for the average joe out there who isn't astute enough to see the scam, or outspoken enough to object. Again, many years ago I had a secretary who was very happy that she was about to pay off her car. Then she got something in the mail that confused her, and she brought it in for me to decipher for her. The letter was the instructions on how to turn in the car. She had no idea that she had been leasing the car! She thought she had bought it and that soon she'd have no payments, and the car! Then the nightmare began. The lease had a very low mileage allowance, and she had overrun that considerably. The dealer then went over the car and wrote her up for all kinds of wear and tear issues, everything from tires below 50% life, to stains in the interior and parking lot dings. They presented her with a huge bill to turn in the car, and end up with nothing. There was no provision in the lease to purchase the car, which at that point was worth less than the ransom they wanted her to pay! So I got involved and went to the dealer with her. I got them to sell her the car and waive a ton of fees. Of course I threatened getting media involved in the taking of a single mother with three kids making it on a secretary's salary. Still, the best we could do was that she wound up making pretty much the same payment for another three years. Absolute bull.
Austin T Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 It aggravates me when a friend moans and complains about the guy that won at a show I judged at, even worse asking why his didn't win. So I straight up told him he had a spot of orange peel that put him out of the running. Now he's going on a tirade on facebook about how were all corrupt judges that are scumbags that take bribes and is posting pictures of his trucks saying "This won this contest even with orange peel". God I can't stand people who are blinded by ignorance.
martinfan5 Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 (edited) It aggravates me when a friend moans and complains about the guy that won at a show I judged at, even worse asking why his didn't win. So I straight up told him he had a spot of orange peel that put him out of the running. Now he's going on a tirade on facebook about how were all corrupt judges that are scumbags that take bribes and is posting pictures of his trucks saying "This won this contest even with orange peel". God I can't stand people who are blinded by ignorance. Welcome to the human race So much drama over a hobby Edited January 13, 2014 by martinfan5
Austin T Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 Welcome to the human race So much drama over a hobby Right now I'm watching him build followers with lies and shove my name into the ground. I honestly can't believe I thought of this person as a friend.
Tom Geiger Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 (edited) It aggravates me when a friend moans and complains about the guy that won at a show I judged at, even worse asking why his didn't win. So I straight up told him he had a spot of orange peel that put him out of the running. Now he's going on a tirade on facebook about how were all corrupt judges that are scumbags that take bribes and is posting pictures of his trucks saying "This won this contest even with orange peel". God I can't stand people who are blinded by ignorance. People who put sooo much importance over winning at a model show! That's why I'm an NNL kinda guy! And let him whine publically. Kinda like shouting "I'M AN IDIOT" Edited January 13, 2014 by Tom Geiger
Harry P. Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 People who still pay at the grocery store with a paper check. They open their checkbook, fill out the check, ask what the date is, then the cashier needs to see ID, blah, blah, blah... What is this, 1959? Get a debit card, fer cryin' out loud!
Craig Irwin Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 I can think of a "few " Target shoppers who wished they'd used a check.
High octane Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 Not every wants or uses a debit card Harry, and I'm one of them. Of course I don't write checks at the grocery store anymore either.
Harry P. Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 I can think of a "few " Target shoppers who wished they'd used a check. I knew somebody would mention that.
Joe Handley Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 I refuse to get a debit card, actually had somebody give me a hard time about that and about a week or so later he had somebody snag his debit account info while buying R/C parts on line! Actually, one of my reasons for liking to buy fuel from Woodmans is that they will take personal checks at the gas station!
Austin T Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 People who still pay at the grocery store with a paper check. They open their checkbook, fill out the check, ask what the date is, then the cashier needs to see ID, blah, blah, blah... What is this, 1959? Get a debit card, fer cryin' out loud! Remember in "The Big Lebowski" when the dude writes a check for like 49 cents at the store in the opening for a carton of milk, I instantly thought of that when you mentioned it.
Guest Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 Debit card users aren't much faster than check writers. They have to swipe their card, punch in their pin number, wait for approval, wait for the receipt and finally sign the receipt. Then, if they don't have enough money, they have to fumble around for a credit card and start the process over. Then, they have the joyous task of gathering their receipts and trying to balance their account. Yeah, that's so much faster and more convenient. I hate writing checks and sure don't want the hassle of a debit card. So, I always carry cash for everything. A cell phone is something I can't tolerate. At one time, I had to carry one with my work. Now that I'm disabled, I don't and haven't missed it a single time. I haven't carried one since '07. I could get a free one. But, I don't want it. To me, they're an unwanted hassle. You would be amazed how much more peaceful you life is when you don't have a cell phone ringing all of the time.
cobraman Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 I use a debit card but in addition to the pin number you also most often need to answer "Do you want cash back ? And "Is total correct ? Still I think quicker than a check.
slusher Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 Debit card users aren't much faster than check writers. They have to swipe their card, punch in their pin number, wait for approval, wait for the receipt and finally sign the receipt. Then, if they don't have enough money, they have to fumble around for a credit card and start the process over. Then, they have the joyous task of gathering their receipts and trying to balance their account. Yeah, that's so much faster and more convenient. I hate writing checks and sure don't want the hassle of a debit card. So, I always carry cash for everything. A cell phone is something I can't tolerate. At one time, I had to carry one with my work. Now that I'm disabled, I don't and haven't missed it a single time. I haven't carried one since '07. I could get a free one. But, I don't want it. To me, they're an unwanted hassle. You would be amazed how much more peaceful you life is when you don't have a cell phone ringing all of the time. Do you ever think we was better off years ago. Sometimes all this new stuff just bring more headaches...
disabled modeler Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 Do you ever think we was better off years ago. Sometimes all this new stuff just bring more headaches... That is why I use cash...quick simple done. One that really ticks me is the lottery people buy scratch offs and scratch them and keep going while they make everyone else wait...sometimes repeatedly...get your tickets and move from the line a bit so others can get waited on please.
JTalmage Posted January 13, 2014 Posted January 13, 2014 Cold weather irks me. I'm sick of it. I want to work on my 1:1 cars... I've got tooooo much to do to them. I need to exercise... but I hate doing it indoors... so I like riding my bike... cant do it in cold/nasty weather. ugh.
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