Lonestar Buick Pontiac GMC This dealer scammed me by adding three non-required warranty extra fees on my new GMC Acadia McKinney Texas
This dealer team has lied to me from the begining. At the time I was at the dealer for looking for a new Acadia. They did not have one but could locate the one met that I want from another dealer. In addition, I told them that the year is almost ended, so I look for 2007 model if I can save at least $4000 from the MSRP. So, they printed out the description of that new Acadia with MSRP $36,xxxx. Then they gave me $4000 off. As I kept my words, I agreed to take the car. They asked me to deposit and sign a document, so they could get the car here without obligation to purchase.
Three days later, the car arrived without manufacturer sticker. I asked for the sticker price. It was found under the seat (why was it hidden under the seat?). The MSRP shown on the sticker price was only $34,xxx. I felt that I was ripped off, so I went to ask the saleman and his manager. They were sorry about the difference but they would adjust it. However, when I went into the room of their sale manager named Tim. He gave me the invoice that based on MSRP 34,xxx but only gave me $1500 off. I disagreed to take the car with the offered price since I originally asked for $4000 off from the MSRP. If it is $34,xxxx then I would take it for $30,xxx since GMC next year model 2008 were already in the lot. They said that I have agreed and signed on the invoice. I told them that I did not read through everything since the finance guy (Steve) just ask me to sign, deposit so they can get the car here.
The argument took almost 2 hrs. It was around 11:00PM at night with my wife and my two young children 7 and 5 yrs old as they kept asking me to go home. I was really tired and also wanted to go home then they finallized to agree gave me total $3500 off from the MSRP of $34,xxx. The price after all discount was around $30,xxx. As I wanted to support American product and like a GMC Acadia, I agreed to take it. When I asked the total including tax, tittle everything, Tim told me that the total will be around $34,xxx. He said the sale tax was based on 8.25% (I later found it was only 6.25% on the next day). The other charges were included in price for the new vehicle warranty. So, the extra charges sounded like required in the purchase of new vehicle. He did not disclose or tell me that these extra fees were optional or not required when purchase a new vehicle.
Since I was very late 11:30PM, my whole family was really tired and we had to go home so we can go to work on the next day. We finally took the car home. The next day, I found out that in my invoices the three extra warranty fees called Dealer Accessories were optional and not required in purhcase of a new vehicle. I felt I was totally ripped off by this whole scam method of these guys (Tim and Steve) at Lonestar dealer. The extra warranty of theft guard, paintless protection, tire exam monitor costed me extra $1800. None of these I've never needed it since my insurance and new car manufacturer already cover it. Like when consumer buying TV or appliance at store, this dealer should have told me these extra warranty are optional before they added to my invoice. Then I researched over the internet and found that there have been so many people were ripped off by these type of scams and many dealers were suit by state attorney generals. I thought that I wanted to support American product by going buy American car with American Dealer, now I found I was ripped off by this dishonest Lonestar dealer.
Hung
Plano, Texas
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Anonymous
Plano,Texas,
U.S.A.
Finally I got refunds from the help by Better Busines Bureau
#3Author of original report
Thu, October 11, 2007
I first offered Jim (Dealer's Finance Dept Director) to refund 2 out of 3 unnecessary items that he added on the invoice that he did not disclose with me. He refused and even careless when I told him, at the bottom line, I had to file a consumer complaint with the Attorney General Office or Better Business Bureau as for consumer protection, not for me only but for all future auto buyers at this dealership. Well, The BBB contacted him couple times but failed. BBB was able to reach someone, whom I guess was a top management from Lonestar Auto Group. Yeah, I got my monies back not 2 but all 3 items.
Thomas
Anderson,South Carolina,
U.S.A.
You made a few errors...........
#3Consumer Comment
Sun, September 02, 2007
First, there is NO price advantage to buying a "NEW" car (i.e. a car never driven as a demo, never registered, etc.) at or near the end of its model year. Unless a car or truck is "HOT" (demand meets or exceeds present inventory) you can get the same price at the BEGINNING or MIDDLE of the model year. [Demo cars are simply a bad deal.]
Second, you should know the MSRP for the vehicle, and all options, before you EVER visit a dealer. Better yet, visit Edmonds and price the model you want. Then request dealer quotes. You can also write a snail mail letter to numerous dealership GMs requesting their DELIVERED price. And when you do visit a dealership with a quote, speak ONLY with the person named on your correspondence or someone that person specifically designates to you. No one else!
Third, NEVER agree to have a vehicle driven in from another dealership. Why buy a "NEW" car that some lot jockey has zoomed down the road contrary to the manufacturer's recommendations for breaking in a new car? Then too, there is the "slight possibility" that the window price was quoted "incorrectly". But you know this.
Fourth, do your homework. Consumer Reports has a goldmine of information on new & used cars, including a reliability database derived from owners' experience with about 1,300,000 cars that is updated yearly. Reading CR requires a trip to the library or $26 per year. This is a lot less than what your Acadia cost you.
It is unfortunate that your attempt to "support American product by going buy American car with American Dealer" went so very poorly, but living in a free country (Bush & Gonzales excepted) means you are also free to be taken advantage of if you are not well prepared before you buy something, especially motor vehicles, corporate stocks, and real estate.
If you think that you got burned on your Acadia purchase, just wait until you purchase some real estate, say a house, with your eyes wide shut. The more money involved in a purchase, the more money-sharks you will encounter. Garanteed.