Power Subaru Scottsdale AZ Deceptively sold brand new car with illegal window tint. Refused to pay to have it removed. Scottsdale, Arizona
I purchased a 2011 Subaru Impreza with the intention of moving it to Massachusetts a couple of months after purchase, which was explicitly stated multiple times to the dealership prior and during purchase.
Upon reaching Massachusetts (which has far stricter rules pertaining to registering roadworthy vehicles) I was informed that I could not pass inspection with the tint that was on the vehicle.
Not only was it illegal for Massachusetts standards, but it was also illegal for Arizona standards! How can a dealer unconscionably sell a vehicle knowing that a customer can receive a citation, or worse, not be able to register their vehicle?
After contacting the dealer and escalating to the sales manager, they still refused to pay to have the tint removed. Their simple solution was "Well, why don't you just bring it by and we'll take it off ourselves." That's a bit difficult to do from three thousand miles away, and also a bit besides the point when this concern was raised during the car's purchase.
It cost me $100 dollars to have the tint removed here since car dealers don't perform that service and specialty shops are the only ones capable (especially during the winter when the car has to be heated to release the tint without damaging the glass).
It's sad to see the car dealer stigma or stereotype play out. Poor ethics and morals, and still no solution...
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Matt
Massachusetts,USA
It's not about the money...
#4Author of original report
Tue, May 22, 2012
Well, seeing as how I don't own a tint gauge (the kind police officers use), it would've been a bit difficult to determine what percent the tint was. Since it was material to the transaction, and the salesman and I looked up the legal tint percentages while at the dealer during the purchase, the assurance that it would be taken care of was all I had to go on. Good faith doesn't travel too far these days. Not as far as getting anything in writing, anyhow.
As stated before, cars don't go through inspection in AZ, but they are required to go through inspection in MA in order to be registered in the state (even a brand new car). I took it to a local Subaru dealership and it was failed with only a few days left on my temporary registration. The dealer here didn't have the ability to remove the tint, so I had to find a specialty shop to do it. Had it not been January in New England, I would've just done it myself the old fashioned way. However, snow and blizzards wouldn't permit it. Even in my garage with a blow dryer or heat gun, the tint simply chipped off at the edges instead of peeling off.
The respectable solution would have been to have Power arrange to have it removed with a local MA Subaru dealership, as the cost to them would've been negligible or non-existent. The measly $100 I had to pay is definitely not the point. It's simply the principle. I hate to see stereotypes propagated, but slimy dealers have earned it.
They lost three additional sales because of it. I ended up buying another Subaru in MA right after we moved, and my parents and in-laws each purchased theirs from other dealers in the Valley. I absolutely LOVE the service at the dealer here in Belmont. It's stellar and comes as no surprise that they are nationally recognized. Even if my purchase out here isn't counted toward the total spent, it's still over $50,000 in sales that Power Subaru lost. I wonder how much they would've profited from those sales if they kept their word and put the customer first. I'd venture to guess it would've been more than $100....
john
everett,Washington,
USA
REALLY
#4Consumer Comment
Mon, May 07, 2012
I read this complaint and cannot believe you took the time to write it!!! Do you want them to fly to Mass and remove the tint? You choose this car with the tint on it, you moved to Mass, You remove it, pretty easy get of the computer grab a hairdryer and go to work!!!!!Really? I bought this car in AZ choose it off the lot with this tint ,drove it in AZ where they sold it to me just fine, Moved to Mass 3000 miles away from the dealership that sold me the car and now because of the tint that was on the windows when I choose the car in AZ I cant register it in Mass. This is all there fault because Mass has different laws than AZ. To top it off they wont fly to Mass and fix this and wont send you a check!!! Oh my word what terrible guys, I suggest you never go there again !!!! Im sure they would suggest the same thing
"It's sad to see the car dealer stigma or stereotype play out. Poor ethics and morals, and still no solution" I agree this is sad ,not the way you think its sad ,but sad non the less "Poor ethics and morals" like attacking people in a public forum because you do not get your way you stated"and still no solution" you stated "Their simple solution was "Well, why don't you just bring it by and we'll take it off ourselves."Thats a solution "It cost me $100 dollars to have the tint removed"thats another solution, are you just angry because you didnt get your way? There is no problem here no Rip-Off just a complete waste off time and someone drying to harm a business reputation with complete B.S
Cory
San Antonio,Texas,
U.S.A.
A Little Late?
#4Consumer Comment
Wed, February 09, 2011
IF you were aware that the tint was illegal, WHY didn't you demand that the tint be removed PRIOR to purchase at the dealership? I suspect you weren't aware of the tint requirements in MA and neither was the dealer. So you stated the vehicle was going to be transported to MA? There's no way for every dealer to know what state requires what equipment. That's YOUR responsibilty. You state MA has "far stricter" rules pertaining to "roadworthy" vehicles and that also pertains to the "darkness" of the tint. So they sold you a vehicle that was legal in AZ but not legal in MA. Did the tint have one of those little stickers that states it complies? You drove the vehicle for 3 months in AZ without a problem. Then you move to MA, attempt to have the vehicle inspected, it fails and you receive a ticket. I'm confused. I didn't know inspection stations could issue citations. Only failure notices. DID you receive a ticket? The dealer told you he's remove the tint. It's not his problem you moved to MA. It's also amazing I'm taking the dealer's side in this one. Maybe one every 10 years or so the dealer isn't the main culprit in this one.