First, follow your gut! I was referred to him because the Dynamic Duo between this used car saleman and the Financing Guy apparently had the hook-up and could approve anyone! My credit wasn't bad just typical college expierence with more credit cards then you really need. According to the Financing guy it was sooooo bad???
Yeah right. So I accepted the referral from a friend. They let me get in the car, take the car home, called me back and said that I couldn't get financed. So then I argued for a day or so and told them I would bring them their car and I wanted my car back and my money. Mysteriously, Household agreed to fiance me but for a Merceds! Wow sounded good. Switched cars took the "Benz" home and then the bomb dropped.
A few days later I returned to sign the paperwork. This is when the true rip off starts. Now, T*r is starting the bonding with his customer, and pre-qualifying them at the same time. All this time you think b/c he persuades you to believe that Andrew is the "bad guy." So I figured T*r was just being kind and sincere. What I forgot was that this guy is a professionally trained USED car-salesman! He sells and negotiates for a living! So I tell them that I can only afford $XYZ a month. He says, If "WE" could keep your payments at or under $400 then we could send you home in this beauty right?
So I smile and think what the heck, if they can keep me at $400-500 a month why wouldn't I buy a "Mercedes Benz"?
So I am led to what I learn later is called the lion's den (show-room) where the real "psychological mind games" begin.
I fill out another credit application for the other car loan and then goes and gets information on your trade in. Well my trade in was never added to the paperwork. When asked he said that it was added as cash?!? He then goes to the back office where the Sales or Fiance Manager is and gets a hit figure on your trade vehicle. He comes back with this garbage of a number and claims that waht KBB says. The supposed going price of the vehicle, $500.00 and I'm told that last week we took a car as a trade-in just like yours, except it had less miles on it, and we gave them $1,000 for it. That's what you were thinking isn't it? I said no and get p to leave when Mind game #2 is given.
He coerces me to accept less for your car because he started out giving you such a low figure! He then ask me, Are you going to put down $8,000 because the banks like to see about a 1/3 down payment and it's a Benz he yells. What about my trade as my down payment? I ask as my blood pressure is up I'd been there 4 hours and they were closing. Well the financing company you have likes to see actual cash payments he told me. So I tell him that I only want to put $3,500 down. He goes in an office comes back and says can you do closer to $6,000? I say well I could probably do $4,500. He starts talking about hte monthly payment being $600 per month and then has the audacity to ask, "Is that what you were thinking? By now i'm etremely aggravated, tired, have had this car for a week, grown to like the card and he apparently and very conveniently forgot that you did not want to go over $400 per month. I repeat to that I can only afford $400 per month.
He claims he'll take another $1000 off the price and says I thought maybe you were going to give more of a down payment? Then says what's the closest you could do to $600-$700. It is a Benz remember? So I think back on how good it looked in my garage, it is a step up from what I had, the new car smell still fresh in your mind, how good you looked in my new pre-owned Benz.
Thirty minutes later the "power closer" comes out to meet you. Mr. Finance rep smiles scribbles on some paper the price $25,500 with $7,000 cash down, $1000 promised for my trade (Note not written on the 2nd Agreement, $532 a month for 66 months!
You go back and forth a little bit with the closer and finally settle on some numbers. Twenty minutes later you're sitting in the Finance Manager's office getting ready to sign my papers. The Finance dude asked if T*r told me that my payment of $532 included the extended warranty, GAAP, Tire Wheel, yada yada yada?
The actual scam occurs here&
I said, No but is my payment still $532? The Finance Manager mumbles, clicks his blue screen a few times and says yeah. Confused I continue on, Yeah I guess. The Finance Manager begins to tell you the benefits of what the extended warranty maintenance contract is, and GAAP and some foolishness called Etching. What he didn't tell is that it raises your payment $12-18 per month. Unkowingly I decided to do it.
I left that dealership and didn't realize how much I just got taken to the cleaners until one day you need to use the autoNation Tire and Wheel Program or today when I find out that my extended warranty expired three months after I bought the program. Why? Beaucse it's based on your vehicle's in serivce datae and no the actual year of your car. So if yoy have a2001 Merceds C240 but it was placed in service December that is the date. Thus, it's April. Four Years 40,000 miles was reached last in December. Get it Dec Dec. I bought the car late September.
From research it is my understanding that dealership broke at least one law. Do your research and do not trust these people who tell you one thing and sell you another.
Take it from me, I'm stuck with a car I've only had a few months, no warranty coverage, 3 needed "warranty worthy repairs", out $7000 cash, never signed my title and never saw my traded car again not mentioned on my 2nd contract, no return calls, and a bunch of extensions to voicemails that no one replies to. Help me Howard is my next step. Atleast that's free!
AJ
Margate, Florida
U.S.A.
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