Bill Heard Chevrolet false advertising! Rip-off! Sugar Land Texas
Ad in Saturday, 7-24-2004, Houston Chronicle stated 2004 Chevy Cavaliers automatic transmissions (air conditioning, cloth interior, rear defogger, am/fm cd) were on sale for $12,495 with an additional $4000 rebate bringing the price down to $8495. Ad indicated that there were 100 in stock. The fine print did not negate any of the above information.
Visited Bill Heard Chevrolet on the same day, 7-24-2004. Test drove a 2004 Chevy Cavalier with no extra options other than those listed above. Was told by Gary Pipher the price was $11,4--. Asked about the ad, and was told that was for a standard transmission. Informed Gary Pipher that the ad stipulated auto transmission. He then consulted with a manager and returned to tell me that the ad was referring to two grounded demonstration cars, but he could lower the cost of the car I had test driven by $1000. I left without a purchase.
Upon return home discovered an early edition Sunday Houston Chronicle in my drive with the same advertisement stating that there were 100 such cars in stock. Phoned a manager at Bill Heard to question what appeared to be false advertising. He stated that the starburst indicating that there were "100 in stock" emblazened on the photo of the Cavalier in the ad was actually from another ad and referred to other cars. Said they did have an orange Cavalier at that price. However, the car I test drove, which was not orange, fit the description in the ad and was not offered at the same price as that indicated in the ad. Is this not false advertising? Isn't false advertising illegal?
Jan
Richmond, Texas
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Jim
Orlando,Florida,
U.S.A.
Why Would Heard Be Phased By Illegalities? ..dealership chain is NO stranger to fraud and deception
#2Consumer Suggestion
Sun, July 25, 2004
The Bill Heard dealership chain is NO stranger to fraud and deception. Run a search and see how many legal problems they've had. Now that you know, let everybody know.
But there's more you didn't mention...
The FRAUD FEE. What kind of a fee was listed? They advertise $xxxxxx but that's NOT the price of the car EVEN IF it was in stock. Since the fee goes directly to the dealer, the REAL price of the car is the advertised price PLUS the fee!
They are advertising only a PARTIAL price for the car. That's why this fee is called the FRAUD FEE because it is the other part of the price. The dealer will lie to you in their advertising and tell you this FRAUD FEE is for administrative or handling costs but anyone with half a brain can see what this VERY COMMON SCAM is all about. And
oh yes, dealer prep is paid to the dealer by the manufacturer! Read that again!. When the dealer charges you a fee for "dealer prep" they are actually charging you for what you already paid for in the price of the car! Once again, another example of the CRIMINAL FRAUD and CRIMINAL DECEPTION rampant in the slimey car business!