I contacted Royal on or around July 28 to get a quote on a 2002 Volvo XC. I was quoted ~34990.00 on the car.
The salesman sent me a note, dated August 2, confirming the ~34990.00 price. I test drove the vehicle on August 2 and further discussed the quoted price - specifically discussed what the taxes would be on that amount. We agreed that taxes would be ~1200, making my total expense, including taxes, just above 36000.00. I told him I would be back in touch.
On Friday, August 9, I called my sales person back to make an offer. I asked if he could drop the price closer to 34000.00. He told me he had to talk to his finance manager and would call me back.
When he called back, he said that not only could he reduce the price further, but the ~34990.00 price was no longer good and the new price would be 36400.00 - that's 1500 more!
When asked why, he explained that the original price he gave me was only good through July 31, although he never disclosed this previously and he put the lower price in writing, and dated it August 2.
When I asked to speak to the finance manager about this, I was allowed to. The finance manager stated that I should have known that the original price was only good through July and that they bore no responsibility for the situation. He offered no apology and made no attempt to remedy the situation.
The practice of offering an attractive price for an item and then refusing to honor that price in favor of a higher price after the lower price attracts a buyer is known as a Bait-and-Switch.
Auto dealers have a sometimes undeserved reputation for being shady businessmen. Unfortunately, this dealer, Royal Automotive, has perpetuated the negative stigma attached to automotive dealers.
Richard
Birmingham, Alabama
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