Frustrating

[Cornbread]

I need to vent a bit and perhaps give some poor soul a heads up so they don't make the same mistake.

I helped a female friend of mine buy a car last week from Ray Reese Volkswagen. They were very nice and got her everything she thought she wanted. She drove the car (a brand new never driven VW beetle) home and decided she hated it and it wasn't what she wanted at all. She called the dealership back and got the total run around even to the point where people wouldn't take her calls or put her on hold forever and then said they weren't in etc. She finally got a hold of the general manager and he told her she could bring it back but they want a 5,000 dollar cashiers check from her for them to take it back. Now I realize she should have driven the car more before she bought it but 5,000 dollars because she put 10 miles on the car and wants to take it back? Does that sound a little steep to anyone else? Anyway they have been so mean to her over the phone over the past few days she has been in constant tears when she deals with them. Even if she did make a mistake you shouldn't treat your customers that way. If this happened to any of your daughters would you guys ever deal with the dealership again or is this pretty normal for this type of situation?

-Andy Canfield

[Clyde]

First mistake was dealing with Ray Reese...worst customer service ever. My wife will NEVER buy a VW again because of how she was treated by them.

Second...spend some cash and call a lawyer...my understanding is that there is always a 24 hour grace period but I could be VERY wrong. A $100 phone call might save you some money. You could also try calling the state to find out the exact law but that could honestly take forever.

[RODACTION]

There is NO grace period. This will only come into play if they came to your home and did the "deal" there. Once the vehicle leaves the dealership wth the temporary registration permit in the window...it is yours, and also a used car. This is why they are talking 5k to take it back.

A very tuff situation for all. I would go to the dealer and talk face to face, you might get some where that way.

.

[BalouSC]

I hate car dealers. No matter what I always feel like I have been screwed. Even if I buy nothing!! I have never dealt with our resident Ford dealership but will eventually if they start putting the Cummins in their trucks!! Wouldn't that be a perfect truck!!!!

[Bobberman]

Once you drive it off the lot it goes down 5K. That is why people by gap insurance.......

[IDWITHELD]

Hey Andy, Sorry to hear about your friends difficulties.
This may end up being one of those life lessons.
Wish I had better advice. Buying cars is an art.

[EastCreek]

She made a mistake by signing and driving. She, and you, will need to learn from this one, They have you on paper...and that is it. Save your time and energy on this one. As someone mentioned, if you sign outside of the dealership, you have 72 hours to reverse the deal. I pulled it off with my younger brother!!!! but an insane learning experience. I think you two have gained knowledge in the world of buying cars...and it is a learned experience. I'd say she's stuck with the vehicle. Doesn't mean she can't sell. I'm 33 and I'm still learning. Sorry to sound old-school- my wife is great with numbers, but I feel emotions ALWAYS win with women, and salesmen capitalize on it. So, call me blunt, your female friend should always purchase vehicles with a good male friend by her side. I have seen my wife get worked too many times...and she is good with #'s...but gets sold. i have done the same. Now you have learned...don't keep repeating the learning process. EC

[Cornbread]

Yep, I think you guys are right. I should have gone with her to the dealership the day she bought it instead of just the days she went and looked at them and decided which one she wanted. If I had been there the day she actually signed the papers I bet she wouldn't have done it. She said she bought it because she felt pressured to buy the car. I talked to some folks at a few other dealerships and they said what you guys did. The 5k is pretty standard, but the way they treated her isn't. In the end it will be an expensive lesson for her but I will bet she never buys another car because she feels "pressured" to buy it.

[Thumper]

[QUOTE=Cornbread;1561838] She said she bought it because she felt pressured to buy the car. [QUOTE]

What???? Pressured?????

Waidddamminit! Can they do that????

[fishncliff]

If you financed the car, then you have 3 days to back out of the deal.
This does not only aplly to homees but also large ticket items like cars.

We were given this option when we bought our car.

[RODACTION]

If you financed the car, then you have 3 days to back out of the deal.

That maybe ? true in Washington, but in Oregon, you sign, you own. (as long as you take delivery of the vehicle)

[EastCreek]

Last comment is wrong. If you sign off premisses, you have 72 hrs to cancel the deal. That was in 2001 if I remember. I pulled it off after learnng the law...and couldn't believe that I did. In this case...learn a hard lesson about buying cars. It's no afternoon softball game.

[EastCreek]

In saying what I said, I meant that I demanded a return of my (brothers) trade in,and that I no longer wanted the truck...whcih they over charged blueb*** by 15K. They told me to take a hike basically, and I informed the of my knowledge...then they handed me my old keys and I chewed then out for taking advantage of a young, deperate buyer. (my brother). He learned his lesson. For that reason, which has been put nicely, I would never refer anyone to purchace a vehicle from Sandy Suburban / Ford. They were very dirty in their practices. Period.

Tom Miller

[iwanttofish]

I always rent a vehicle just like the one I want to buy and drive it for a few days to decide if I like it.

I know its a little late now.

[RODACTION]

Originally Posted by EastCreek

Last comment is wrong. If you sign off premisses, you have 72 hrs to cancel the deal. That was in 2001 if I remember. I pulled it off after learnng the law...and couldn't believe that I did. In this case...learn a hard lesson about buying cars. It's no afternoon softball game.

Your correct, I forgot to say sign at the dealership, its yours, sign at home or somewhere else, yep, there is a grace period.

My bad.

[Bonita]

Sounds like at this point her best bet is to just sell it. She probably won't get enough to pay it off, but probably won't lose the whole $5k. Another option is to trade it in somewhere - still probably will lose a little, but maybe not the $5k. Just check out the options well and take the time to get it right this time.
Salesmen are ruthless, I worked with lots of them; I don't think they're even human. The truth is, having anyone along when you do the deal will help because you have someone to keep you grounded and to back you up- if it's a guy, they'll automatically try to deal with him instead of a girl. It happened to me, at the dealership I worked at!!!
They hate it when you know what you're doing or aren't bent on getting the car right this instant - because you become harder to pressure into a bad deal. It's always good to try to 'step back' or take a time out so you don't make a rash decision.
Dealerships don't make a lot on new cars - in comparison to used cars, so they're more motivated to rip you off if you're buying new.

Good luck!

[SuperPanga]

Put yourself in the dealerships positition.They sell something new, the person does not like it and now they have a used car on their hands that can only be sold for thousands less, and they are supposed to take the loss? I dont think thats fair. A business exists to make money , not loose it . Almost all retailers today will only exchange for other merchandise from their inventory not refund for items that now are used and can not be sold as new. See if they will exchange it for something else on their lot.

[RustySocket]

Originally Posted by SuperPanga

Put yourself in the dealerships positition.They sell something new, the person does not like it and now they have a used car on their hands that can only be sold for thousands less, and they are supposed to take the loss? I dont think thats fair. A business exists to make money , not loose it . Almost all retailers today will only exchange for other merchandise from their inventory not refund for items that now are used and can not be sold as new. See if they will exchange it for something else on their lot.

Finally a response based on common sense and not based on emotion.

I have purchased no less than 7 new cars in the last ten years. Never once did someone hold a gun to my head and force me to sign any paperwork.

When you enter a car dealership you need to understand that you are entering a environment of trained professionals that are experts at getting your money. The same type of environment as a casino. That is there job.

Don't like dealerships you say. Why bother going inside...? Again, I have yet to see anyone held at gunpoint and forced to buy a car.

Buyers remorse is common and unfortunately a very expensive lesson for some.... especially the repeat offenders.

[Queeg]

Gee, Wally ... girls are weird.

Is it a TDI with automatic transmission?

[sandman]

Originally Posted by RustySocket

When you enter a car dealership you need to understand that you are entering a environment of trained professionals that are experts at getting your money. The same type of environment as a casino.

I feel 10 times better leaving a casino!!

[Chrome Bumper]

Did good at the Auto auction in Wood Village... I think

[waggle]

Originally Posted by Queeg

Gee, Wally ... girls are weird.

Is it a TDI with automatic transmission?

haha, wow leave it to beaver..... now theres a show we all need to watch again