Complaint Review: Ed Bozarth Chevrolet - Topeka Kansas

Unless he's just a trainee the salesman already knows the lowest amount he's allowed to settle for on every car on the lot so the back-and-forth trips to his manager are just for show. it's a technique aimed at making the customer believe that many people have to be involved in the haggling, which in turn generates "fees". The customer is more likely to agree to pay those fees if he is lead to believe that the sale is a complex and tedious process.     

Clearly what the customer objected to was one of the typical con-games in the Sleazy American Car Business.  The customer DID NOT want to be SCAMMED, so they walked...they did exactly the right thing first of all, secondly they did the right thing by exposing this CON-GAME and thirdly, they will do exactly the right thing by spreading the word about the attempt to defraud.

The "CON-GAME" I refer to is the "Bogus, Add-On, Phoney Fee" scam.  Here's how it works...the dealer advertises, promotes or tells a potential buyer the car costs (x) number of dollars.  If there is negotiations regarding this "price", the "x" amount is the basis point.  For example, lets say the dealer tells the shopper the car costs $5000.  The shopper doesn't like that price and offers $500 less or $4500.  The dog and pony show begins as the salesman pretends to be in some massive arm twisting match was his "boss" to "get him" to accept $4500 because, after all, the salesman is "for" the customer!  (I'll pause while you laugh!)  OK, the salesman says the boss said "yes" and writes up the contract.  Oh, but guess what, an extra $500 official sounding but obviously phoney fee is added.  The customer DOES NOT get the car unless they pay the PHONEY FEE.  100% of the PHONEY FEE goes to the dealer.  Therefore, the REAL PRICE of the car was not $5000...it was $5500! 

We live in the USA and not Cuba, China or the old USSR.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with a business making a profit.  Representing the price of our example car as $5500 is how a businessman grounded in honesty and integrity will do it.  However, the Sleazy American Car Business has very few of those people.  To lie, play con-games, to misrepresent and defraud is a way of life for car dealer after car dealer.

When you confront these types, their usual excuses are "we disclose all fees".  (The bank robber announces he's going to rob the bank, doesn't he?)  Some hide behind the BBB as if the BBB is some kind of badge of honor.  Reality is anybody...ANYBODY can become a BBB "member" and ANYBODY can BUY any phoney "accredation" they want.  (Check out Youtube and enter "BBB SCAM" and go to the website "BBBRoundup.com". 

There is no segment of retail which is so involved in bogus, add-on, phoney fees as is the Sleazy American Car Business.  When was the last time you paid a "Dealer Fee" at McDonald's?  Or how about a "Handling Fee" at Walmart?

The potential customer here did exactly the right thing!  I am very proud they walked out as they should.  The dealer thought they were stupid and could scam them with this phoney fee.  They were wrong!

A couple of points in summation...there is a difference between a phoney fee which goes all to the dealer and a fee which the dealer collects for taxing/registration purposes PROVIDED 100% of that fee actually goes to the state or other municipality.

Secondly, not all dealers are part of the Sleazy American Car Business clan.  When you find one who isn't, I highly suggest you become a lifetime customer and spread the word about their honesty.

Once again, I am extremely proud of you...you had the common sense, the guts and the smarts to walk out and NOT get scammed!!!

I would object to the "prep fee", too.  And I absolutely will not "haggle" with some stupid "salesman" who has to keep running back and forth to his manager because he either he has not the authority and/nor the brains to conclude the deal on his own.  One trip should suffice - either to gain acceptance of my offer, or not. It's that easy.  I don't play games when investing a large portion of my money in an automobile purchase. 

Before I visit a dealership, I have done my research, I know exactly which automobile I want, the approximate price of the vehicle, and have secured the money through my bank.  Yes, I have gotten up and walked out of several dealerships, much to the amazement of the less than genius level salesmen and managers, because they want to play games with me and my money. On one such occassion the sales manager, upon seeing me walking out the door, came running after me, shouting " We'll accept the deal.  Come back. Come back ".  What a clueless moron.

Seriously, I already know which car I want, I have the money and am ( according to my bank ) offering a VERY fair price for it.  All that the dealership has to do is have me sign the paperwork and give me the keys.  Yet many idiots want to play games first.  I still wonder what the point is - these games only waste the time of the customer and the salesman, who could be off serving another customer.  And, yes, there are two large dealerships in my city that realize this and don't play these moronic games with their customers.

The consumer and his daughter came in on a 2002 Olds Alero which was priced at 3988. He made an offer of $2000 to our salesperson out on the lot the salesman called his manager and was told to get it on paper, which he did. The salesman then took the offer on paper to his manager who cut the price to $2,500 plus tax and fee.  The salesman took the paperwork back to the consumer who countered at $2,250 Joseph called the manager and the offer was declined. The manager re-iterated that was his best deal on this car. Joseph scratched out the customers offer of $2,250 and the customer sign the price of $2,500 plus fee and tax and went to the finance office.  The finance manager prepared and printed the buyers order and presented the numbers to the customers who then objected to the prep fee.
The finance called the managers desk and not getting an answer went down to his office the manager told The finance that what was on the worksheet was our best price and if he didnt want it at that price he would have to find another car.  When the finance manager got back to his office the consumers were gone.
 
Ed Bozarth has been a new and used car dealer in Topeka for over 40 years we did not get to be where we are by being dishonest or hiring dishonest people.
 
As per Rip-Off report guidelines the consumers name and contact info has been removed; this is the initial worksheet:
http://fototime.com/4C5F79DCAFFBEFC/orig.jpg

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I am going to contact the attorney general of kansas and see what can be done.
- Nothing you described is illegal or criminal.  A dealer will tell you anything if they think it will get you to buy the car, but it is what is in writing that counts.  If I read your report correctly you walked out and DIDN'T buy the car.  If that is the case that is exactly what should have been done.