Ralph Thayer Mazda - Toyota - Volkswagen Car Dealership - Individual- Alex Thayer ripoff blackmail and theft Monroe Michigan
Car shopping isn't the most pleasant experience and after dealing with the Ralph Thayer car dealership, your left with $200 stolen from your account.
I shall digress. After shopping for cars via the phone, internet, and leg work I found myself speaking with an Alex Thayer (of the above dealership) regarding a 2004 Passat.
He was ready to fight for my business and offered me a low OTD pricing which I was interested in investigating. He did not have my specific car in stock, but offered to transfer it from another dealership if I was interested.
I wanted to secure the specific Passat I was interested in (was having trouble with locating it at other dealers) and put a $200 deposit with him for the Passat I was interested in.
After rethinking my realistic payment range, I decided that I needed to expand my scope to a more economical car perhaps a Jetta or other make all together.
I called Alex Thayer back the very next day (not even 24 hours later) and thanked him for his help, but I needed more time to rethink my options.
He persisted that HE and only HE have my business and that I was somehow obligated to purchase through ONLY HIM! I again explained the situation and asked that my $200 be refunded. He then verbally attacked me and refused to refund my deposit unless I did business with him.
I explained that he had NO RIGHT TO THAT MONEY and that what he was saying was BLACKMAIL and THEFT. He went on to say that I somehow owed him that money and that I had promised to purchase through him. I NEVER VERBALLY OR OTHERWISE AGREED TO PURCHASE THROUGH HIM OR ANYONE ELSE!! The deposit was purely to ensure a specific Passat in case I was ready to and decided to purchase.
I don't know how he runs his business; maybe through stolen deposits?
I then contacted my brother-in-law who is a lawyer AND a dealer friend of mine - both of which said that what Alex Thayer was trying to do is ILLEGAL.
He still refuses to refund my money and I am now taking legal action.
I am utterly disgusted with his conduct over the phone AND with his business practices. He is trying to steal my money because he is angry over a lost sale. I WARN ALL OF YOU TO NEVER LEAVE A DEPOSIT ON A CAR!! I now know that they are not necessary and that pitiful human beings will try to scam you out of the deposit.
Jennifer
Utica, Michigan
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
The Great Thorn - Rip-off Report Consumer Advocate
Bayville,New York,
U.S.A.
Jennifer ask your dealer to read your Rip Off Report now and see what their thinking is.
#3Consumer Suggestion
Sat, November 01, 2003
Jennifer The problem in the auto industry is that auto dealers think they can do what ever they want to you and get away with it. They know that most of the right people that can do something to stop them will do NOTHING!
Think about this Jennifer. People who are trying to get elected in a good paying state government job all know that auto dealers have deep pockets.
So want to be politicians don't go after dirty car dealers when deception has taken place, they only want to chat with them when they want money to get elected. They like their deep pockets come election time.
It is now time that dirty car dealers learn that we are now in a new age thanks to the Internet. We all know that the BBB will never do anything to protect car buyers from dirty tricks in the auto industry. It sure seems to me they get paid to hide the deception instead of exposing it.
Go to any BBB and try to read a consumers actual complaint word for word. They will not let you read ANYTHING that the consumer wrote at all. This prevents consumers from ever being informed of Rip Off's. What good is the BBB?
Why does this car dealer think they have the right to keep your money? You did not buy anything, you did not ask them to do a dealer trade, You did not ask them to special order you a car nor did you sign any car purchase contract.
Jennifer when it comes to auto dealers, NEVER try to do anything over the phone. Trust me, they will tell you anything to get some kind of commitment out of you to get you on their lot. They that will do what ever it takes to get you to sign something and drive anything off of their lot.
Then we have this guy Ed in Seattle, Washington saying that you ripped them off by wasting their time. Ed wake up! Car shoppers need to do their homework before signing anything that is put in front of them.
Sounds like you are defending the "Lot Shark". What's up with that? You say that you have been Ripped off by a car dealer. Whay would you come to their defence?
This dealer is mad because they did not have control of you and they were not able to lock you into some kind of a car deal.
They don't want you to buy from their competition, they only want you to buy one of their OPDS ( "Over Priced Deprecating Sleds" )
Send a copy of your Rip Off Report to all of the following contacts. Your dirty dealer needs to know that you now have the tools to expose the way they are. Cool part of this whole process is, Your dirty dealer can't stop you.
Jennifer I posted the contact info to people that I know your dealer would not want to find out how they treat consumers. Make sure they ALL GET a "Printer Friendly Version" of your Rip Off Report.
Michigan: Mike Cox (517) 373-1110
P.O.Box 30212, 525 W. Ottawa St., Lansing, MI 48909-0212
http://www.ag.state.mi.us
Ms. Linda Watters
PO Box 30220
Lansing, MI 48933
Phone: (517) 335-3167
Fax: (517) 373-4870
Michigan
Office of Financial and Insurance Services
Office of the Commissioner
Fax: 517-335-4978
Jennifer at this time, I would like you to visit the following web sites and then ask yourself one question.
"What product or service to they all sell to auto dealers nationwide?"
www.biggross.com
www.paulcummings.com
www.carsalestraining.net
www.autosalestraining.com
www.jobtraining4money.com
www.americanautoseminars.com
www.fandiprofit.com/increasedprofits.html
www.autoconsultants-training.com/sales.html
www.nationalautotraining.com/training/home.html
www.autosalestraining.com/Our_Success/index.html
Go you your state's AG's office web site, the link below and file an online complaint about your dealer's Rip Off.
https://www.ag.state.mi.us/cp_division/w3cp_c01_new.asp
Next, Go to the FTC web site and you can file an online complaint about who ripped you off. Use their form to submit a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission.
make sure that you have all of the contact info about the company that Ripped you off before you file your complaint with the FTC. Remember you need all of your ducks in a row. So get all info before you file your FTC complaint.
The Federal Trade Commission is on your side and it costs you nothing.
https://rn.ftc.gov/pls/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01
Next, fax a "Printer Friendly Version" of your Rip Off Report to
Consumer Protection Division
P.O. Box 30213-7713
Lansing, MI 48909
Facsimile: 517-241-3771
Ed
Seattle,Washington,
U.S.A.
Youd did strike a deal ..I have been scammed more times than I can count
#3Consumer Comment
Fri, October 31, 2003
I am in no way associated with any of these parties but I do want to respond.
You state:
"I NEVER VERBALLY OR OTHERWISE AGREED TO PURCHASE THROUGH HIM OR ANYONE ELSE!!"
You did either verbally or non-verbally by giving this guy a deposit. The deposit was to ensure that you were serious and not jerking the dealership around. I am not defending them keeping the deposit because I think that's lame but just because you changed YOUR mind or got a more realistic view of YOUR financial situation doesn't mean that these guys ripped you off if anything you ripped them off by wasting their time. They should give you the $200.00, and believe me I hate car dealers probably more than most because I have been scammed more times than I can count but that's my fault and a whole other story.