Townsend Global Imports
Takes your gas money in exchange for a test drive

After test driving a vehicle I was interested in purchasing, Townsend suggested that I take the vehicle home and return it on Monday. Five minutes after leaving the dealership, the gas warning light came on and I pulled over and put half a tank of gas in the car with my own money.

After getting a price quote on the loan value of the vehicle from my credit union on Monday, I decided that the Townsend price was too high and then asked for a refund (in cash or gas) for the remainder of the gas I had put in their vehicle. They told me that they wouldn't put any gas in my car but that if I bought the vehicle from them they would fill up my tank. I responded by telling them that basically they are taking a quarter of a tank of gas that I paid for. They responded by telling me that they had given me a rental car for free for the weekend.

What an insult... I did not ask to take the vehicle home, they insisted. I have a car, I didn't need a rental. Townsend then said that I didn't have to put any gas in their car. I guess they figured that I could just leave the car on the side of the road when it ran out of gas.

So watch out when Townsend tries to convince you to take a vehicle home overnight (and some other dealerships, too - a friend had a similar experience at Locklear Dodge). They may try and jip you out of some gas. Make sure they put plenty of gas in the car before you drive it off the lot. My question is this, was it really worth losing a potential customer and gaining bad word-of-mouth to take a measley $10 bucks of gas from someone? Poor business sense if you ask me.

I sent a letter to Mr. Townsend and will update this report if I receive a response.

Company: Townsend Global Imports
Country: USA
State: Alabama
City: Tuscaloosa
Address: 3537 Skyland Blvd. E
Phone: 8882584011

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