He recently had to relocate his shop to Seattle because the City Of Bainbridge Isle forced him out. He began selling everything he could in order to make rent in his new location. He was only 4 hours from being evicted unless he came up with rent when I showed up.
He and/or someone else also lives in his shop. This is a violation of fire code and zoning ordinances and he will be reported for this as well.
When I got to his run-down shop in a hard to find location, the vehicle I was looking to purchase was buried behind many other broken down cars he was selling. He told me it would be ready to go as soon as I got there but it took over 3 hours to get it loaded and make the purchase. Even though he was desperate, I was his last priority. He disappeared for 20 minutes at a time while I was left standing in the rain. I discovered he was working on other cars while I was waiting.
I didn't want the vehicle after I had seen how misrepresented it was but I felt bad for his situation.
It was missing many pieces he had not disclosed and there was lots of other minor damage, here and there.
He also lied to me about what parts were supposed to be in the back so I could repair the vehicle. There was a pile so I just took his word that everything was there. I asked him to mail missing parts to me since I was 4 hours-round trip away. He acted like that was the most absurd thing he had ever heard and then gave me very narrow parameters of how I was to talk to him in true Mafia fashion and accent. He was acting like he was the Godfather himself. He then said it was an as-is sale and it didn't matter what he said was included-while further insulting me. Exhaust parts had been cut off of the car and others were hanging down. But he had no idea it was like that.
I called the source he provided to buy other needed parts for the vehicle and discovered he had lied to me about the prices they quoted him too; very specifically. I had to pay hundreds more.
I would have thought his employees would have taken his side and went along with his story to help him make a sale. They joked around the whole time and actually made comments that detoured me away from the sale. "I hate these things, they always have xyz problems."
Not even his own employees had his back. All of his employees are new hires and did not know what they were doing. I am a certified automotive repair technician and it was obvious they had no clue.
It took 3 of his mechanics to loosen one bolt on the engine hoist. None of them had a very common 3/4" socket and could not find any of their tools. Finally, I suggested they just use an adjustable wrench-that worked. This is not an exaggeration. Fluid started leaking everywhere and his lead mechanic didn't know where Steve kept the rags and took 5 minutes to find one as hazardous fluids ran into the storm drain. This is a major violation with a steep fine.
Bottom line: He is a desperate and dishonest man, he will say and do anything to make a sale, he has zero remorse about it and will laugh at you for being stupid enough to fall for his tactics. Very disrespectful and dismissive.
I would think he would have been grateful that I saved his shop with my reluctant purchase.
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