Dan Nelson Finance Super Center (CNAC) ripoff, overpriced cars, unwilling to work with you ripoff business from hell Des Moines Iowa
If you are looking to get a used car, do NOT go to Dan Nelson Finance Super Center. They will rip you off, give you terrible customer service, and be totally unwilling to work with you.
I "bought" my car back in mid July of 2002. They sold me a 1992 Buick Regal, in relativly poor condition (though it drove ok during the test drive) for $7600. Overpriced by $2500-3000. Was told that after 12 months in the car, to bring it back, and they would show it as paid off, and they put me into another car from their lot.
They also said that it was sold to me at $7600 because it would look better on my credit when it showed as "paid". Within one month, i took my car into Firestone, and asked for an alignment. They told me that my tie rod ends were bad and needed replaced.
They talked me into doing a full check up on the car. Turns out that my car needed almost $2400 worth of work. The car needed new tie rod ends, a brake job, radiator and transmission flush, new tires (the ones sold on the car were dry rotted), a/c evacuation and recharge, belts, brake rotors, brake system flush and a fuel system tune up.
Now granted some of these things were added just to make money for the auto shop, but this just shows how bad of shape this car was in. The body appears to have been in a hail storm, due to a handfull of pit marks in the body. I even lost control of this car (luckly at a slow slow speed) when i made a right hand turn, and my left rear upper shock mount broke. Shock mounts just dont break.
When the car was sold to me, it was sold to me with two missing left front wheel studs. I had been riding around with 3 of 5 nuts holding my wheel on. The pressure and imballance finally sheared off two more studs, leaving me to drive the car on one stud and nut. So I paid for a tow and to get it fixed. A bill that cost me $181.37.
I can understand puting money into a car for basic maintence, but as you should clearly be able to see, this car was in bad shape when I drove it off the lot. This, in my mind, is neglegence.
Over the course of the first 6 months of having this car, i have also spent $100 in tires. Each tire ended up failing on me, one after another. I saved one of these tires so i can show the guys at Dan Nelson.
I now sit here with that same car, now broken down. A car that will not start. A car with some sort of electrical problem. Please, Please save yourself ALOT of greif, and take your business to a much more respectable dealership. One that has a history of GOOD customer service and customer satisfaction. Dan Nelson is just out to make money, regardless of the cost to its "customers"
I am due to return this car in two months, in july of 2003. And I just know that they will tell me that my credit is still not good enough to find outside financing.
Kevin
Des Moines, Iowa
U.S.A.
8 Updates & Rebuttals
Marshall
West Des Moines,Iowa,
U.S.A.
Being ripped-off is partly the consumer's fault
#9Consumer Suggestion
Mon, November 29, 2004
First thing, you bought a car that was 10 years old. What did you expect? You bu yit "as is" you can expect things to start going wrong with the car.
Secondly, don't take part in a special deal without getting it in writing. The car was overpriced (which all lots do). And if they offered to show it as paid off in one year, you should've gotten that in writing.
Thirdly, did you do any sort of inspection before taking it off the lot? You complained about pits on the exterior and nuts missing - things you should've known before leaving with the car.
I once bought an old junker of a car for a few grand. When I tried to leave, it had trouble starting. I demanded my down payment back if they didn't get it started. I knew it was a junker, but I also knew I was getting what I paid for!
Patrick
Des Moines,Iowa,
U.S.A.
another view-point. Nobody holds a gun to anyone's head to buy a car from us.
#9UPDATE Employee
Thu, November 25, 2004
I currently work for Dan Nelson automotive.I know what the warranties cover and what they do not.
I have also repaired/worked with several customers to repair their "issues" with their cars that were not covered under warranty.Dan Nelson Auto is not the "Evil Entity" that some people are making it out to be.
Nobody holds a gun to anyone's head to buy a car from us.Yes , there have been some mistakes made.Yes we have tried to do everything in our power to fix them.
Please keep in mind that the cars that are being talked about here have well over 100,000 miles on them.If people think that we can guess what is going to go wrong with their cars after they buy them and put miles on them,we should also perhaps try to guess the day that we are going to die.
This may sound a little harsh,but we don't have a magic wand or a crystal ball. This is the point I am trying to make.
Donna
Des Moines,Iowa,
U.S.A.
watch yourself
#9Consumer Comment
Thu, November 18, 2004
to all that buy cars you need to know what you are doing first .iam 44 year old female and have bought my car thru dan nelson they promised exactley what they told me and made it so. i got a great car and reasonable payments it helped my credit establish again after bankruptcy. if it wouldnt be for them you wouldnt have a car to begin with so all i can say is listen up carefully watch what you sign and be a better judge of somthing before buying it you wouldnt buy a house if it had a new coat of paint you would check it out carefully i sugguest you do the same on a car there is more than just putting gas into it and starting it also new cars happen the same way thats why i filed bankruptcy it was a lemon
Donna
Des Moines,Iowa,
U.S.A.
watch yourself
#9Consumer Comment
Thu, November 18, 2004
to all that buy cars you need to know what you are doing first .iam 44 year old female and have bought my car thru dan nelson they promised exactley what they told me and made it so. i got a great car and reasonable payments it helped my credit establish again after bankruptcy. if it wouldnt be for them you wouldnt have a car to begin with so all i can say is listen up carefully watch what you sign and be a better judge of somthing before buying it you wouldnt buy a house if it had a new coat of paint you would check it out carefully i sugguest you do the same on a car there is more than just putting gas into it and starting it also new cars happen the same way thats why i filed bankruptcy it was a lemon
Donna
Des Moines,Iowa,
U.S.A.
watch yourself
#9Consumer Comment
Thu, November 18, 2004
to all that buy cars you need to know what you are doing first .iam 44 year old female and have bought my car thru dan nelson they promised exactley what they told me and made it so. i got a great car and reasonable payments it helped my credit establish again after bankruptcy. if it wouldnt be for them you wouldnt have a car to begin with so all i can say is listen up carefully watch what you sign and be a better judge of somthing before buying it you wouldnt buy a house if it had a new coat of paint you would check it out carefully i sugguest you do the same on a car there is more than just putting gas into it and starting it also new cars happen the same way thats why i filed bankruptcy it was a lemon
Donna
Des Moines,Iowa,
U.S.A.
watch yourself
#9Consumer Comment
Thu, November 18, 2004
to all that buy cars you need to know what you are doing first .iam 44 year old female and have bought my car thru dan nelson they promised exactley what they told me and made it so. i got a great car and reasonable payments it helped my credit establish again after bankruptcy. if it wouldnt be for them you wouldnt have a car to begin with so all i can say is listen up carefully watch what you sign and be a better judge of somthing before buying it you wouldnt buy a house if it had a new coat of paint you would check it out carefully i sugguest you do the same on a car there is more than just putting gas into it and starting it also new cars happen the same way thats why i filed bankruptcy it was a lemon
E
Omaha,Nebraska,
U.S.A.
Dan Nelson Super Car Center is the devil
#9Consumer Comment
Wed, September 22, 2004
Well I two am a victim of his. I went in because I had just had my twins and I needed a van to ride my 5 children in. I decided it was time for me to get back into the workforce. I was refered to Dan Nelson by a friend and it's been hell ever since. First of all I spent all day their for them to tell me I didnt qualify. Than the next day it was a different story. Come on in. If you have 500 dollars to put down we'll send someone to come get you. Than it turned to 750.00 dollars but I needed the van desperately. I went around 12noon and didnt leave until around 8:00 pm and the van was nasty with some type of dog or cat hair so I had it detailed. I had mentioned the tires to them they said they were fine. That cost me 250.00. Ive taken the van in and they claim problems were fixed...but when I got my 2 not 1 but 2 diagnostics done it showed that it wasnt. Now my van has been there since monday and they are still havent done anything and its wednesday. They claim they are doing their own diagnostic check up. And I'm still waiting for the car centers manager to call me. Its been about 2 or 3 weeks now. So for all the readers out their Please go another route. I did this because of my credit but dont be desperate like me..Be smart. If you do buy a used car from him or any other used car dealership..Take it and get a diagnostic test done if they say no...Than you walk.
Nichole
Tama,Iowa,
U.S.A.
I Was Ripped Off...
#9Consumer Comment
Thu, July 22, 2004
First all I would like to say that I agree with the report, I have had nothing but grief since I got my car just 4 months ago, I bought my car in March for 7500 and it was wonderful for the first month or so, since then it has been hell for me, I have already replaced my water pump which should have been covered on my warrenty which was not replaced by them, I am now in the process of getting my radiator replaced, the seemed to be in fair shape, I got a 96 Grand Priz SE which is older but at the same time shouldnt of failed on my as soon as it did, the point of getting a new car was to have a dependable car for my child and I I havent been able to drive my car for that last month because of the radiator and the thermostat I have always properly taken well care of my car so this isn't something that should of just happend, now my child sit here with out a car while I'm continusly getting ripped off, they are very rude to me when I call then they don't want to work with you on things I went threw hell with them just to be able to get plates for my car, I'm getting several complaints from my references because of CNAC harssing them when they say that can't get ahold of me, I move so much I don't really have a contact number so they think it's right to harass my references they are on there because they know me not because they know what I'm doing...I strongly advise you don't go to Dan Nelson it looks like an easy way out but in the end it's not worth it..