I did an online search at cars.com for used vehicles under $4,000.00. My search results returned a 2007 Honda Civic Ex listed for $5,552.00 and a 2006 Mazda Mazda6 s listed for $7,226.00.
There was a link to e-mail the dealer in response to the ad which I did. I received an initial confirmation from [email protected] confirming my specified request for that price, then I recieved confirmation from Charles Moore at the dealership that my request was being processed. Then another e-mail for each stating that the Honda was available and the price is $18,999.00 also the Mazda was available and there was no different price quoted.
Today 11/18 I went to the dealer located in Peoria with both advertisements in hand and asked if the cars were available. The Mazda was there so I asked the salesman if they honored their advertised ads from specifically cars.com. He said that they did, and I told him I had an ad for the Mazda we were looking at for $7,226.00 he said we could go talk to the sales manager Bill.
Bill looked over the ads and said, "The Honda has been sold, and the Mazda is available but I cannot sell it for that price. He (Charles Moore) must have been smoking crack when he listed this price."
I asked if they could do anything to compensate me for the error for something else similar. Another salesman came over and basically stated it was an error on about 15 of their cars and they had already received calls on the error. The girl that was responsible for these errors no longer works there. (He gestured to Bill the seat at the end of the workstation where she used to sit.) Then told me it was an advertising error and they are not responsiblecars.com is and they are protected by the Federal Trade Comission since they pay cars.com to advertise there vehicles.
I then stated at the end of each cars.com message there is a disclaimer stating they are not responsible for the accuracy the seller is and Sunset Ford is listed as the seller.
He then stated they are not responsible again. I asked how they could claim in an e-mail message from the internet sales manager that Sunst Ford's belief in the internet sales department is that buying a vehicle at Sunset Ford should be a simple integrity based, hasslw free process. They are committed to providing consumers with all the information and services necessary to achieve that goal. Also they realize that i have many options available in today's market and he would personallly along with Sunset Ford work diligently to provide me with a truly unique buying experience.
I asked him how they could claim integrety yet not stand behind their advertised claims. I also asked him if any of those prospective buyers documented there findings or printed the ad.
I acknowledged his statement that they were protected by the mFederal Trade Commission; and I stated I was protected under the Consumer Protection Act. I had 2 ads and I had not been made aware of any changes they had implemented to correct this discrepency. I had my cell phone in camcorder mode in my purse and I told them I had recorded the conversation so I had something to back up my claim and left.
I was mocked on the way and told they would not be able to help. Which was the main reason of recording the dislect pertaining to my findings.
I may be learning as I go along but I knew that if my case were to make it to a courtroom I will have the evidence to substantiate my findings and I made those whose voices I recorded aware that our conversation had been recorded and what my intention was behind the use of this information.
I also just realized that the company I work for has a good working relationship with fleet sales at another Ford dealership in Arizona. We recently requested more vehicles and were allowed to take possesion of the vehicles before finalization of the paperwork and loan agreement. So since the temporary tags have expired and we have no proof of vehicle ownership we cannot renew the registration and iur Ford Fleet Sales Representative cannot request additional tag extensions since having practiced unethecal and non integral sales practices.
I do not wish to hurt this fleet sales representative or my company working reltionship with Ford. I would just like Sunset Ford to honor it's advertisement and lack of excercising approprate procedures once they became aware of the discrepency.
DaniellePhoenix, Arizona
U.S.A.
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