So, I'll start off by saying I haven't spoke of this in several years, yet since I've been reading over this site for this first time tonight I've decided to share my story.
I purchased a 2000 Honda Civic from Thompson Toyota a few years ago. The sales person, a young man did his best to work the deal, including coming out to my residence in West Linn to pickup my deposit check and complete my purchase.
Being aware of the high rate of theft on this particular vehicle I opted to add a Thomason installed car alarm to the vehicle, to be installed approx. 2 weeks from the date of purchase due to backlog of available time. I scheduled the install, completed my paper work and drove home with my new car.
A few notes, I only received 1 set of keys, and was told that several sets we're made for this car as they kept coming up missing (this was information from the salesman).
So, we fast forward two weeks, the morning before my car is to have its alarm installed. At approx. 5:30 AM my wife heard what she thought was the sound of my car driving off, I slept though this, yet it came up in later conversations.
Needless to say as you've probably guessed, it was being driven off. I called the police the next day to report it stolen.
When the police called about 3 days later they had located the car off of 82nd, stripped with NO sign of forced entry or ignition tampering, the theif had keys to the car. The investigator interviewed the Thomason employee that closed my deal, who had since been "let go" for undisclosed reaons, yet since he didn't have priors related to similar crimes he didn't pursue it much further.
Part 2... The car was in a 3rd party body shop for about a month as parts took longer than expected, the shop it was in had an audio department that I had do an installation for me, since I lost all of my gear in the theft. Speakers, amps, head unit, etc. Were installed. Since we we're waiting on parts I scheduled the missed appointment with Thomason to install my alarm system that I had already paid for (they refused a refund). I did, however, manage to get the concession of a re-keying for the entire car, and I figured that I could have the body/audio shop look into adding additional security items and checking the dealership's install work.
I dropped off the car for the alarm install and returned the next day to pick up the car, all seemed fine and dandy, until I started the car and turned on the radio, no sound, weird. I proceeded to fiddle with things, still unable to get it to work I decided to check the amps in the truck, to my horror my amplifiers had been removed and all that remained was wires.
Gain an alarm, lose an amp, I was enraged. Not only was I quite sure that this dealership had sold me a car and stolen it back, now they're blatantly responsible for a loss of approx. $600.00 in audio from my trunk.
I immediately took my concerns to the sales manager, who in turn referred me to the general manager who proceeded to take me back into a small room and start an interrogation session. I REALLY regret not having a tape recorder at this point as the general manager was using intimidation tactics and cursing at me after I explained what had happened. His angle, "how could you possibly accuse us of stealing from you". He refused to take any responsibility; I insisted that he was responsible for the amplifiers.
His concession after much debate was they would pay me for the stolen equipment on two conditions.
#1 - I would not report the incident to the police.
#2 - I would sign away my right to pursue this matter in the future.
Taking into consideration that I was dealing with some shady folks I began to fear for my personal safety and opted to take their offer, although at several points following I wish I hadn't and believe that their tactics are probably illegal (if anyone has insight on this I'd like to know, also I'd like to know if this type of agreement that I signed is binding as it was under duress).
So, that's my story, I've since gotten rid of the car, yet I'd hate to have someone else have a similar experience if it could be avoided. Heed my warning, be wary of the business practices of this entire organization as I experienced questionable practices at all levels of the dealership.
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