first of all the texas attorney general filed a lawsuit against them the website tells all about it :
http://www.oag.state.tx.us/oagNews/release.php?id=1614
I would like to complain about Best buy motors also known as Giant Mart inc on 8335 north freeway houston,tx 77037 phone number: 713 355 6777, which website is www.supergiantpublicauction.com and wich owner is Eric SHALEV
I would also like to complain on behalf of many other unhappy customers that I met at this auction site and I saw and heard many complaints during my several visits to best buy motors.
I already file a complaint against them but I actually bought the car from them so I'd like to make another detailed and less "rushed" complaint .
Here is my full story :
I am a french citizen but united states permanent resident since october, I presently live in leesburg virginia and I came to houston in order to start a flight training ( private pilot ). So I needed a car in houston to get around during my training and as the rental car is very expensive I was in a rush to find a car quickly. I looked at some ads on houston.craigslist.com and found out that best buy motors had the car that I dreamed of a toyota celica of 2005 with 100114 miles on it. I then checked their website www.supergiantpublicauction.com as advertised on the ad. The toyota celica was on the website with the possibility to buy the car right now for 7500$ but as the auction was the day after I decided to go to the auction in order to get that car cheaper then that price which was too expensive for me. On the website it was specified that a 40% fee must be added on the bidding price on MERCHANDISES ONLY, so in order to make sure this fee doesnt apply to the cars, I sent an email to best buy motors asking them if the 40% applies also to the cars and they replied "no you will just have to pay TT&L +tax" being new to this country and unfamiliar to buying and selling cars I asked them what is TT&L? I had no answer to that question so I check online and saw that it means Title tax and license. I also requested a free carfax report as advertised on the website and I had no answer to that email.
I came to best buy motors on sunday 18th of april at around 1:30pm I was late for the auction wich started at 1pm, so in a rush the lady at the entrance asks me to pay 200$ cash deposit and 5$ entrance fee and sign the paper that I didn't have time to read and that she didnt suggest me to read, just showng me where I need to sign. I gave her 205$ and got my receipt of 200$.
I thought To bid on that celica for no more than 6000$ as the title tax would costs me approximately 500$ maximum. I was happy to win this auction at 5650$ the celica claimed to be IN GOOD condition and I immediately gave them a 2500$ check as requested. I then talked with another lady that was bidding like me and when mr Shalev saw that we were talking together and asking question and exchanging phone number he told us in the middle of an auction not to talk toghether that if we have questions go to the front desk because when people talk together they give false information to each other and bring people into confusion. this was about 3hours after I bid on the car and after I went back and forth in and out the auction, I still didnt know the full price that I needed to pay, but Mr SHalev probably thought that I knew about all the fees and that I was discouraging this lady to bid on the auction.
As I thought this remark very strange I immediatly headed to the front office and asked what i the total price I will have to pay for that car. Theresa the lady at the front said she doesnt know exactly how much it would cost but she grabbed her phone and made a quick estimation and the price ended up being 8300$ !! I had sign a paper saying 27% extra on the auction price. Theresa told me to come tomorrow and see with mr SHalev that he could maybe do something for me.
I then called the lady that I talked to warning her that there is a 27% fee on top of this auction and to be aware what price she bids. The same night I received a call from the lady I talked telling me that she bought a car an merchandise overprice and she was really mad about all the extra fees that she didnt know about.
And then come on monday at around 12 as theresa told me and I talked to mr shalev saying that I'm sorry, I bid on the car not knowing the 27% extra and that I cannot afford paying that car for that much. He then told me "no problem bring the cash money balance that you owe and we'll arange a deal don't worry " and then withdrew 2950$ from my bank of america and hsbc accounts and came back to his office telling him that before I give him the money I want to know what kind of deal he's proposing me, he then told "
don't worry you'll get the celica" I said but will I need to pay 27% extra ? he answered " no don't worry, give me the money we'll count together". I then trust him I give him the money.
Then I go to another office where Theresa make me sign the papers for the title transfert and the bill of sale on which it was written total price with tax and license 6333$ wich was the price I hoped to pay. Then I was led to another office where another lady told me that the total would be 8300$ because they addes the 27%. I then told her that Mr Shalev told me its ok I dont need to pay this. Theresa then came to the office and also told me yes its ok go and see Eric (shalev) but it should be ok you wont have to pay extra money.
I then go and talked to Eric Shalev who told me that I still have to pay that 8300$ I told him that I cannot pay this and if he can refund my money and keep the 200$ deposit that I initially gave for my mistake. He told me that he won't and that he has another customers that wanted to give him cash for that car and that I made a good deal on that. I then told him" what is the problem if you have a customer why don't you give my money back and sell that car to him ?" and answered " yes I can but then you'll loose your 3000$". He told me that he could help me and that I could choose another car from the directory he has but to bring my 2500$ balance and that he would give my check back. I immediately refused saying that I need to know which car I'm buying before I give him money. he then gave me a list of cars and told me to pick some cars that I like in that list. I chose some cars that to me worth less than the celica price. I picked for example the chrysler sebring convertible 2005 75000 miles , he told me to go and have a look at the car and that I have to add 1700$ to my auction price 5650$ for that car.I went to see the car and I could hear a very bad noise in the engine, I then called my husband so that he could check kelley blue book online and he told me that this car worth 3400$ but shalev asked me 7350$ for it! I told him that this car worth that much and he replied on an angry tone that he's trying to help me and that he doesn't have to do that and that I can leave if I don't want him to help. I then asked him the balance for the celica and filed an complaint.
I came back on wednesday 21st of april asking for the bill of sale copy wich they told me they dont give unless I pay in full. I also stated that on the contract I've signed if I buy the car for out of state usage I shouldnt pay licence and title (I thought staying about a month in texas). Mr shalev then apologized and made me sign another bill of sale without thetitle and license fees . which reduced my bill of about 500$ so I thought this is a better deal than the initial one and that if I don't pay I wont have any car and loose my 3000$. But I told them that I want to have all the paper and the cars keys before I give any money which they did. as soon as I got the car keys I found out that the battery is dead and they have to jump start the car. I then asked if someone could give me a ride to the airport as I needed to return the rental car. A lady accepted but when she asked Shalev on the phone he said that I need to pay for that.
I then left the car at best buy motors and came back on thursday 22nd with a friend so that he could drive one car. As soon as I drove the celica I realized that there was a major problem with the direction making the car very dangerous to drive and must be drove at less than 40mph. the steering wheel must be placed on the right position to have the car drive straight there is a noise on the front wheel if the steering wheel is release the car makes a steep turn to the right and seems like the is no front suspension. This car seems to have been in a accident and was not repaired, it is presently waiting for the mechanics to have a look at it but I believe its salvaged and it was not mentioned ( I didnt see the title ) so that I can talk to shalev about it. According to me Shalev wont refund any money.
At Best buy motors I also met a man that bid on a car for 100$ and ended up paying 900$ for the car and shalev told him that this car will be repaired for him and this man has been waiting for a month being bounced between the mechanics and shalev that apparently didnt pay the mechanics.
After he sold me the car I made an AutoCheck with the VIN number of the toyoca celica and it appear on the report that the celica is in perfect condition except emission and a lien/loan. Nothing is written about a major accident which seems to happened. The last odometers reading on the report is dated 03/10/2010 and it red 100125 miles but when I bought the car it was 100114 miles and strangely the lady that made me sign the papers didnt want me to fill out the odometer reading part of this paper that I certified having 100114 miles she wanted me to sign and leave it blank. I don't understand why an almost perfect report doesnt show what seems like a major axle damage.
I also saw a couple coming complaining that they didnt get their license plate that they have been waiting for a while, they looked angry.
When I filed the paper the employee told me that the other men in the next office have bid on a car and won it for 2000$ and that they wont get it because shalev wont let them have this car for so cheap.
the employees themselves say that they have a lot of customers complaining about cars.
Lot of african american and mexican people come to this auction and are helpless some don't speak english fluently.
Shalev during his auction don't speak clearly, he uses non understandable "words" which I think are not words like "glagglaggla 2000$, glaglgalgla 2100$ ! " that makes a form of pressure on the bidding and confusion.
He wants to make people think that he helps them in order for them not to complain ( and it works sometimes).
How come I have to pay 7800$ without TT&L when the buy it now price was 7500$ ? and he stills dare telling me I made a good deal on a car that is non drivable.
On the bill of sale its written 5833$ including everything and they made me pay 7800$ that they wrote on a small receipt
So many people get ripped off not only me there is really someting to do about this place, if you need more proof tell me which proof I need to bring I will make my best to prevent them from scamming helpless people.
I still havent received my title its been 22 days and they dont return my calls or email when I ask for a tracking number for the transfer of title.