Herb Chambers Honda of Westborough, Massachusetts was one of 12 local Honda dealerships that I solicited bids from (by email and over the phone) to purchase a 2008 AWD CR-V. Their original quote was high (around MSRP), and they were the ONLY dealership that was trying to get me to come in to their dealership even though I made it clear from the start that I had no intention of doing that.in contrast, Rockingham Honda in Salem N.H. Gave me their best price (and the best price overall) with their very first quote. However, at the end of the bidding process, Herb Chambers Honda emailed me a 'Best Price Guarantee' promising to beat Rockingham Honda's price by at least $100 if I brought Rockingham's emailed price quote in to them (Lie #1). They phoned and emailed a quote that was $100 under Rockingham Honda's quote and also told me that the AWD CR-V was on their lot in the color we wanted and we could pick it up the next day.
So the next day, my wife met me at work and we drove to Herb Chambers Honda expecting to purchase our new CR-V and drive it home that evening. After waiting about 15 minutes, a manager brought us into his office and left with Rockingham Honda's quote and the 'Best Price Guarantee'. Several minutes later, he returned and informed us that the quote they had given us was for a FWD CR-V and that my wanting an AWD CR-V was not clear in my email or phone calls (Lie #2). He also said that they didn't have the CR-V we wanted on their lot (Lie #3) and that there is no way that their sales people could know whether a particular vehicle was on their lot or in-transit by looking at their computers (Lie #4). He then told us that there was no way that Rockingham Honda would honor the price quote they gave us for a new AWD CR-V. Now, this was possibly said in ignorance or it was Lie #5.in either case, he was calling the people at Rockingham Honda liars. Well, needless to say, my wife and I immediately detected their scam and were very upset that we were not treated with the honesty and respect we had accorded them and requested in return.
We subsequently left Herb Chambers Honda and drove straight to Rockingham Honda where we purchased a beautiful 2008 AWD CR-V in the color we wanted and for the price they had originally quoted. Rockingham Honda also showed us on their computer that all Honda dealerships can easily tell at any time what's on any dealership's lot or in-transit, and that Herb Chambers Honda did have what we wanted on their lot when we were there.
We discovered the following after our experience with Herb Chambers Honda of Westborough: http://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/01/03/8_mass_auto_dealers_fined_for_misleading_advertising
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