Even though I think I paid a little too much for this mercedes benz automobile (you can get a much better deal on EBay!), I lost part of my down payment as well!
Salesman Tony Rodriguez is who I dealt with, but perhaps other salesmen at the dealership engage in this too.
Here's how it happens: After learning that you will be paying for part of the car in cash (I financed the balance), you are taken into a windowless room where the salesman counts the cash. He instucts you to sit on the opposite side of a large round table (about the size of the one you see on Charlie Rose (about 7 feet in diameter). The lights are dim and the woman he brings in to count the money is even dimmer.
She gets confused several times, starts making several stacks of the money and then, get this, drops a pile of the cash on the floor. It is out of my sight for about 10 seconds. As I lean forward, I'm told, "relax". She then drops it again about 2 minutes later. Again it is out of sight for about 10 seconds. I believe the table may have a secret compartment where they stash the cash as I did not see any money on the floor when I got up.
All told, the amount they counted came up $700 short of what I *KNEW* to be in the envelope.
As far as car salesman go, I think he is more dishonest than most, as I learned when I took possession of the car. Although the ensuing events were not strictly fraudulent, it did make me realize that the previous event probably was because I realized that I was not deeling with an honest person. If you must pay for any large purchase in cash, always bring a trusted friend or relative. Never take your eyes off of the money and count it twice before even arriving at the store/showroom etc. I'm sure there are other stories out there like this. I learned my lesson; luckily it was only $700.00.
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