This past June 11th responded to ad in the Miami Herald Newspaper from South Motors Honda which read "Fathers Day Sales Event! Interest Free Financing available On Every New Honda In Stock (with approved credit, see dealer for details)". As my credit is high excellent I drove the 48 miles from my house to above dealer.
On arrival met salesman Ridel Diaz who took me for a test drive in one of the many new Civic models in stock. Liked the car and began purchase, advised Mr. Diaz I would like the "Interest Free Financing" which was available. He advised there was no such financing available so I showed him the 1/4 page current Miami Herald advertisement I had brought with me.
He told me to wait and walked approx. 40 feet to the glass enclosed Mgr's office where I observed him showing the sole occupant of the office the ad and talking to him. A few minutes later he returned and advised there was such financing but it did not apply to the Civic. When I pointed out that the ad clearly stated "every new Honda in stock" he left to return to the Mgr's office.
After quite some time he returned and advised that the Mgr. (Mr. Guillermo Mazotti) had said if I did not care to purchase the car "Standard Financed" that he and Mr. Diaz were busy (despite the fact that besides myself the showroom was totally empty) and could not spend any more time with me.
When I explained that I had just made what would amount to an almost a 100 mile trip for nothing and wasted my day off Mr. Diaz just shrugged his shoulders and stated that it was out of his hands as Mr. Mazotti had made the decision. When I asked to speak to the Mgr. Mr. Diaz again left to enter the Mgr's. Office and after conferring with him returned and advised Mr. Mazotti did not care to discuss the matter any further.
Mr. Diaz then left and on his leaving I advised I would take the matter further legally as this was an obvious example of false advertising by "bait and switch". The next day I received a phone call from a man identifying himself as a Mr. Bradley from South Motors Honda who inquired as what had occurred but never apologized or made any excuse whatsoever.
His only interest was whether or not I had talked to the Mgr. (Mr. Mazotti) directly and "in person" in an attempt to make the salesman (Mr. Diaz) the culprit. When I advised that I had observed Diaz conferring with Mazotti at least three times and that when Diaz had brought me the sales contract it was both clearly written ("standard financing only") and signed by Mazotti he cut the call.
The advertisement stayed worded the same for many weeks thereafter in the Miami Herald Newspaper and only after quite some time later was it amended to read in very small print "on select models". It is my opinion that this dealership is extremely disingenuous and sadly this type of attitude and behavior usually comes from the top down. Caveat emptor!!!
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