My husband and I were in the process of purchasing a 2004 Honda Accord EX (VIN 1HGCM66534A012183) from Sanford Honda. We already had our financing and were ready to buy it when we asked for a carfax report and it did not match the car. The salesperson, who we do not hold at fault, double checked the VIN # and had the general manager double check the carfax.
I asked if I could get the number to carfax to clear it up but the general manager said he didn't have it. I told him where to get it on the computer, but he insisted there was no such number.
There were two errors. One was that the car had been registered repeatedly to the State of Virginia, but in the town of Charlotte, NC. Second and most importantly, there was a 7,000 mile discrepancy between the mileage advertised on the car and on the car fax. The dealership said this was a clerical error.
I asked for proof. They showed me the inspection by one of their mechanics (who they claimed was fired) who had put in the mileage as 36,000. This was no proof that it was an error. I asked again for carfax # and was told there was no number.
I asked to see a copy of the title with the odometer reading at the time they bought it or the bill of sale from the auction. The general manager, Stacey Cheek, showed me something on his computer. I insisted on seeing a hard copy. He asked someone to bring a requisition order (which was not what I requested.) I showed him on carfax where the phone number was and said, "this was all I'd asked for from the beginning. You could have saved yourself a lot of time and trouble if you'd just given me this."
Then they should me the "RO" on Sanford Honda stationary. I again asked to see the auction bill of sale to see the mileage — I didn't care about seeing how much they paid. I just wanted to see the mileage. The general manager said it was locked up and I couldn't get it until Monday. I said there are ways you can prove the previous mileage, you just don't want our business. I asked for his name.
Then the owner, David Marsh came out, gave me his card and told me he didn't want my business, to get off his property and never come back. They practically threw us out bodily. This was all because we were trying to get to the bottom of a fishy situation with the odometer reading.
In NC, it is a crime to report an incorrect odometer reading. I believe this is why they were selling the car for $2000 below Edmunds. They were hoping to find someone to take the car and transfer title so this mistake would never meet the light of day.
Dont' ever go to Sanford Honda. They give terrible service and they are evidently covering something up if the owner throws you out for nothing.
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