Puritan Chrysler And Frank Apice Want to steal YOUR trade-in - and they ADMIT IT! Ripoff Cranston Rhode Island
On July 3, 2006, I traveled an hour to this dealership because they had six 2006 PT Cruiser Convertibles in the same Cool Vanilla color that no one seems to like except me. It was the first day of Chrysler's 'Employee Pricing' promotion - which I realize is just another way to try and convince customers they are getting a stupendous deal - but I was a serious customer, ready to buy a car.
I had done all my research: my 2000 Volvo C70 with all the bells and whistles has a Kelly Blue Book trade-in value between $11,370 and $12,400: a nice, clean car with below average mileage. (Even in the WORST possible condition, Kelly says this car is worth $10K on a trade.) For added insurance, I printed out a list of all the 2000 Volvo C70's for sale within a 250 mile radius of the dealership. The asking prices ranged from around $13K (for two cars with over 100K miles) to $17,995. Most were priced around $16,000.
Five minutes into my first test drive came the familiar question: "What would it take for you to buy a car today?" Mr. Apice is an 'old time' salesman, and when I didn't reply immediately, he went on to tell me that the Employee Pricing would be the same no matter where I went, so the only variable would be the value of my trade-in. I told him that if I liked the numbers, I was ready to write a check for the difference between my trade and the price of the Cruiser. This seemed to please him, but he went on to inform me that no one but a Volvo dealer could work on a Volvo; that Puritan could service every single make and model of foreign car EXCEPT Volvos. I began to anticipate a problem. Then he pointed out how nice it would be for me to drive home a new car today.
We returned to the DESERTED showroom (five salespeople were standing around debating the dangers of fireworks on what is, supposedly, a big week-end for car sales) and Mr. Apice got out his order pad. He wrote in, then very dramatically crossed out, the sticker price and substituted the 'Employee Pricing' price. He then asked me for my thoughts on the value of my trade-in. I politely asked him to please just give me his best bottom line offer. Off he went to his Manager.
With a flourish, he offered me his order pad on which he had written $17,800. For a split second I thought "What a great deal!" but then I realized: that was what he wanted in cash PLUS my Volvo for the $25,000 PT Cruiser! He was offering me $7,000 for my trade-in. I thanked him and rose to leave. He protested. I informed him what my trade-in was worth and what similar cars were retailing for. I also told him that since that was his 'best offer' I wouldn't waste anymore of his time.
He pressed me for a counter-offer, so I told him I would write him a check for $12,000, which prompted another conference with his manager. When he returned, magically, that HADN'T been his best offer! He offered me another $1,000 for my trade! Gee, $8,000! And he had this explanation for me: because the dealership didn't make any profit with 'Employee Pricing', they had to make it up on the trade-ins. He actually came out and told me that! I was dumbfounded.
When I asked what they would do if a customer HAD NO trade - wanted to pay all-cash, he got flustered. He then came up with another reason for trying to steal my car. They had had another Volvo - different from mine, but one he considered more desirable, that had taken 18 months to sell. Then he reminded me of Puritan's inability to work on Volvo's. But I couldn't listen to any more. I left. The showroom was still deserted, but I didn't wonder why any longer.
If they attempt to rebutt this, they should know that I preserved my entire 'Puritan experience' on a voice activated memo recorder in my purse. It's really sad that I felt I needed to do that - but it's more sad that I was right to believe an attempt would be made to rip me off.
There are plenty of other dealerships: maybe better, maybe worse. But you'll be ahead of the game simply by staying away from this one.
Carol
Moosup, Connecticut
U.S.A.
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7 Updates & Rebuttals
Thomas
Anderson,South Carolina,
U.S.A.
Gee, I think Carol got irritated....
#8Consumer Comment
Thu, July 27, 2006
The PT Cruiser is simply a repackaged Doge Neon. Nothing more. But I am not a fan of Volvos, either.
Trade-in 'value' at a dealer will be "loan value" at best. Car dealers make their big bucks on trade-in deals. Clean deals (no trade) will offer little dealer profit if the buyer is savvy.
On the other hand, just go ahead and try to sell your $13,000 auto PRIVATELY. People with little money, poor credit, no financing, and so forth, will come out of the woodwork looking for a miracle.... from YOU.
This is why I bought a very nice, used Big-Block Baja from a motivated seller at 'below market price' - very few people can pull out their checkbook and write a check for that kind of money as 'petty cash'.
Thomas
Anderson,South Carolina,
U.S.A.
Gee, I think Carol got irritated....
#8Consumer Comment
Thu, July 27, 2006
The PT Cruiser is simply a repackaged Doge Neon. Nothing more. But I am not a fan of Volvos, either.
Trade-in 'value' at a dealer will be "loan value" at best. Car dealers make their big bucks on trade-in deals. Clean deals (no trade) will offer little dealer profit if the buyer is savvy.
On the other hand, just go ahead and try to sell your $13,000 auto PRIVATELY. People with little money, poor credit, no financing, and so forth, will come out of the woodwork looking for a miracle.... from YOU.
This is why I bought a very nice, used Big-Block Baja from a motivated seller at 'below market price' - very few people can pull out their checkbook and write a check for that kind of money as 'petty cash'.
Thomas
Anderson,South Carolina,
U.S.A.
Gee, I think Carol got irritated....
#8Consumer Comment
Thu, July 27, 2006
The PT Cruiser is simply a repackaged Doge Neon. Nothing more. But I am not a fan of Volvos, either.
Trade-in 'value' at a dealer will be "loan value" at best. Car dealers make their big bucks on trade-in deals. Clean deals (no trade) will offer little dealer profit if the buyer is savvy.
On the other hand, just go ahead and try to sell your $13,000 auto PRIVATELY. People with little money, poor credit, no financing, and so forth, will come out of the woodwork looking for a miracle.... from YOU.
This is why I bought a very nice, used Big-Block Baja from a motivated seller at 'below market price' - very few people can pull out their checkbook and write a check for that kind of money as 'petty cash'.
Carol
Moosup,Connecticut,
U.S.A.
Your jeep, sp, story was spellbinding and so relevant.
#8Author of original report
Thu, July 27, 2006
I didn't 'go' anywhere - I answered the phone. They called me. You read as poorly as you spell. I had nothing to lose by listening - and if they HAD offered me $12.5k for my trade and the 2005 GT at market price, I would have bought it. I should refuse a fair deal because the dealership is dishonest? Any dealership will take you over the coals if you look like you'll go. Also: with all the figures included in my two posts, do you REALLY think I don't KNOW what NEW PT Cruisers are selling for? (BTW: The 2005 has a longer warrantee on the powertrain than the 2006 does: 7yrs/70,000 miles v.s.3yrs/36,000 miles.)But thank you so much for your very interesting (yawn) and applicable story about what a hero you were battling your son-in-law's 'jeep' (sp) problems at 'bluebonnet' (sp). 'Cut the deal without a mention of a trade-in and then see what they give you for your vehicle' - WOW - thanks so much: I never would have thought of that!! Have you told anyone else about this? Or is it your little secret?
Ken
Asheville,North Carolina,
U.S.A.
OK...I'd like to do some research on my own...
#8Consumer Comment
Thu, July 27, 2006
You say your 2000 C70 has "all the bells and whistles" and lower-than-average mileage, and the trade-in value is somewhere between 11.3K and 12.4K.
Which model C70 do you have? Coupe or convertible? Specifically, how many miles? I'm just curious just how far out of line these people were.
I'm always cautious when reading these reports about car dealers. Seems some people want a dealer to give them full retail for their trade, but want to buy the new car at a discount. Doesn't work that way, though. Others go to a website and misread it...they see figures and assume that is what their car is worth. They fail to see "trade" and "private party value".
That said, education is your best defense, and it sounds like you proved that here.
(And, as an aside...are you really going to be happy going from a C70 to a PT Cruiser? Please do all your homework before you buy one of these...)
Cory
San Antonio,Texas,
U.S.A.
What Is It With People?
#8Consumer Comment
Thu, July 27, 2006
The car dealer trys to screw her royally and she goes back for more. "There are plenty of other dealerships, maybe better, maybe worse. But you'll be ahead of the game simply by staying away from this one". And what does she do? Goes right back in for more. "Pangs of conscious", FROM A CAR DEALER? ?????? I don't think so. Here's a suggestion, see what new PT Cruisers are selling for brand new. It'll amaze you. Cut the deal without a mention of a trade-in and then see what they give you for your vehicle. Helped my son-in-law at bluebonnet, on a jeep. The jeep, with his trade-in was $5000 cheaper then at ancira. They wanted to "give" him $2000 less for his trade-in AND sell him the jeep for $3000 more. At lest you were savy enough not to buy their "We'll give you $12,500 for you vehicle and then raise the selling price of a vehicle $4,500, for what it really sells for.
Carol
Moosup,Connecticut,
U.S.A.
Puritan Chrysler Plymouth RI Frank Apice Still At It!
#8Author of original report
Wed, July 26, 2006
I got a phone call from Frank yesterday - unsolicited - asking if I had bought a car yet. I told him that after my experience at his dealership I had decided to put the purchase on the back burner. He said he had a great deal for me: a 2005 PT Cruiser GT with only 12K miles, loaded (as they all are)and would I be interested. I honestly wasn't sure if I ever wanted to go back there, but thought perhaps they were having pangs of conscious (or had seen my post here) and might want to make things right.
I told Frank that I wasn't interested in any deal where my trade-in was worth $8000. He assured me that he had thought that offer had been way too low also (lie - he tried to justify it to me when he came up with it) and asked what I wanted for my trade. I told him $12,500. He told me he would 'get with the used car manager' the following day and call me back. I doubted I'd ever hear from him again. Today, who's on the phone but Frank, telling me I can have the $12,500 for my trade if I purchase his GT for - get this - $23,900.
I did a search for all GT's for sale within 1000 MILES of my house and the most expensive one I could find was priced at $20,850. There are about a gazillion offered for between $18,000 and $20,000. Neither NADA or Kelly came anywhere NEAR a retail price of $23,900: NADA retail was $19,700; Kelly was $20,150. It was the oldest scam in the book: Frank had just tacked the additional money for my trade onto the purchase price! I was stunned. Did he think I wouldn't check? Is anyone really that stupid/naive? I printed out all my research and sent it off to him. Not that it'll do any good.
The dealership must do such a low volume (gee, I wonder why?) that they have to make as much as they can on any deal they do manage to put together! As I said in my original post: stay away or get ready to bend over! These guys have no shame!