Complaint Review: Dave Delaney Columbia Motors - Hanover Massachusetts

Do you want to wait months on end for a car deal to go through only to have the carpet ripped out from under you after you already shook hands and made a deal? Have your sights set on a s**t box car that won't shift into drive? Enjoy being lied to or be have a salesman make snide remarks and condescend you? 

Yes?! Then is this is the place for you! The old cliche is there for a reason, and Dave is the epitomy of a "used care salesman"!

I would have to say this was my worst experience ever when buying (or not buying) a car. While looking for an affordable yet reliable car for my daughter we came upon a VW Jetta in Dave's lot that needed a bit of work as he told us up front: new compressor for air conditioning, and a paint job (as it was covered in scratches and a couple of rust spots). My husband gave him the price of what we would buy it for once the work was completed. Dave agreed on the price and told us he'd give us a call as soon as the work was done, they shook hands and we went on our way. A week went by with no word so texts and emails were exchanged while he explained the wrong part had come in so they needed to wait for a new one. Another week or so went by and again texts and emails were exchanged as Dave told us that they were still working on it and it would be done soon. Another week or so and we're told it's being painted and will soon be ready for our test drive. Another week and I check the website and see that the car (shiny new paint job) is listed (for much more than the agreed upon price).

I immediately email and ask if I can come down within the hour to give it a test drive. I head down to the dealership check book in hand and take the car for a spin. It drove great, air conditioning cranked. I stop at my brother's house (a mechanic) to have him take a look under the hood. He said the only concern would be when the timing belt was replaced (if at all) - this would be a needed repair sooner rather than later if it hadn't been done by the dealership. I was fine with sucking up that cost as it seemed like a great little car. As I went to leave, the car would not shift into drive. After repeated attempts (by both my brother and I), turning the car off and on, etc. Nothing. The gear shift would not budge. We gave it another few tries and eventually it went into Drive so I was able to head back to the dealer. Upon my return I was greeted by the salesman. When I asked whether or not the timing belt had been replaced at all, he gave me a bristly attitude and finally answered "well, we never replaced it". Secondly, I told him about the gear shift issue. He looked at me with complete disbelief and asked me if I had my foot on the brake - REALLY buddy, I've been driving for 30 years....I told him to give it a shot and of course on his first try it went into drive - again with the condescending look. Then he asked if I remembered to push the button in on the shifter - serioiusly? Again, not my first rodeo. So, I tell him to give it a few more tries, and of course about the 3rd time it sticks, there is no moving it at all.

He shuts the car off, turns it on, tries again - nothing. He then explains that German cars have a safety lock feature and maybe that is what needs to be replaced. I let him know that this is definitely a necessary repair, as the car is for my young daughter I would hate to have her get stuck somewhere and have her call me crying for a ride. To which he replied: "Just get her some tissues". I wanted to knee him right in the nuts but instead said "well, if Dave can get it done in the shop just tell him to call me when it's done and I'll come back down with the check". Then he made a big deal about me dealing directly with Dave and that Dave is now in the office and wouldn't I like to go in and say goodbye - very odd, but I went in and told Dave about the issue and after a few minutes of me standing there talking he decided to look up from his phone as if he didn't believe that the shifter was broken. His sales man told him that it was in fact and issue.

Dave then agreed to have it fixed and he would call me when it was ready to be picked up. I left and after being home for a couple of hours I checked my emails to find one from Dave stating that while he was "out looking for new inventory" someone had come in and purchased (and paid for) the Jetta. I was furious to say the least, not just because it was clearly a lie, but because he didn't have the balls to be a real man and keep his word. Had he just said that the cost of the repairs was more than anticipated I would have happily negotiated a new price. Of course he offered to fix up a similar car of a lesser value and "call me when it was ready". Needless to say my response was lengthy and accurately conveyed my disgust at his horrendous business practices. He then went back and forth on email with my husband and me telling us it was our own fault for "waiting to long" and that his salesmen didn't know that we had a deal already so they sold it and that's the nature of the business. His responses were anything but professional and I let him know that I would do my very best to get the word out there about what a sleezy move he pulled. So, here I am. POTENTIAL buyers beware!