- Report: #774008
Complaint Review: Gwinnett Place Ford - Duluth Georgia
Reported By:
feduponscams -
Cumming, Georgia, United States of America
Submitted:
Updated:
-
Author Not Confirmed
Why?
Gwinnett Place Ford
3230 Satellite Blvd Duluth, 30096 Georgia, United States of America
Phone:
(404) 418-6877
Web:
www.gwinnettplaceford.com
Categories:
Business Rating:
(0)
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Gwinnett Place Ford Gwinnett Place Ford Used Vehicles scam or unfortunate error? Duluth, Georgia
For a month, we had been searching for a particular used car for our 18 year old son who car shares with the family. My husband found an advertised vehicle in the color, make and model that was exactly what he had been looking for on Gwinnett Place Fords used car website. We knew how much we could put down, had pre-approved financing and everything was in order on our end. He called and explained this was a car he wanted to seeTHE ONLY car he cared to look at or test drive. That is important to note.
He left work early and arrived at the dealership on a Friday afternoon, expressed to the nice sales guy if he liked the condition of this car and he could deal with him on what we knew we could spend, he would buy the car that day. He was impressed with the vehicle and worked the numbers with the salesperson who said he could come off the price a bit to work in our budget. They started writing up the paperwork for this carTHE ONLY car he looked at and test drove.
After 5 hours on the lot, most of which was spent awaiting the sales manager to get through to our finance company, my husband drove off the lot with the car he had been searching for, spending $1200 more than intended after tax, tag and title, but he accepted that. He came home to a VERY excited son.
My husband receives a call at work four days later, from the salesperson who says he actually bought a different vehicle and that the car he has in his possession still belongs to the dealership. Apparently, the contract he signed had the VIN# of another car on it. A car he had never seen, didnt drive and wasnt even advertised. If he wanted to keep the car he drove off the lot with, it would be $4000 more he would have to pay. He reminded the sales person he never had ANY interest in another car, never saw this vehicle he signed a contract for and however this happened, he wanted the VIN# changed to the correct number and they needed to make it right.Take a loss if need be or he would assume he was being scammed and this was blatant bait and switch in the largest possible way. He made plans to go to the dealership in person the next day.
Looking back at the 5 hour camp out at Gwinnett Place Ford with the used car sales manager, some little errors my husband caught before signing the paperwork that evening now make sense.
Today, he went to the dealership personally. They apologized and said it was a horrible mistake and to make it right, they would only ask for $2000 more and take a loss on this vehicle. They contend it was a huge error. Incompetence that extreme might be believable if the sales manager was new. Apparently, hes been with them a while. Guess they figured my husband and son wanted THAT car so bad, hed find a way to pay for their mistake? We have called the governors office for information on the legalities and our rights. Since this is a licensed new car dealer, they dont HAVE to have any special license to sell used vehicles. BUT they do have to answer to the Federal Trade Commission and consumer groups. Be assurred thats the LEAST we will do. As long as they give our down payment back, they cant be held legally responsible for a mistake.
We are making it a mission, and a lesson to our son, whether it be via media or court, to see this through. They will get not one dime from us and we will urge anyone to not go to this dealership. Mistakes happen. We fully believe this was not only NOT a mistake , but a huge "bait and switch" and "yo-yo" scheme that an apology does not rectify. People should NEVER be treated this way. To add to the disgust, a parent taking the car back from his son who was so proud ? Not a happy day. This dealership refuses to make it right, take a loss or have some integrity. We believe hindsight makes it clear, with the obvious evidence of the behavior of the sales manager and the blatant mistakes my husband corrected, Gwinnett Place Fords used car sales manager KNOWINGLY SOLD another vehicle on purpose to get the sale and assumed my husband might be angry, but would cough up the difference later after an apology since he wanted that car so badly. Think again. .
Do we consider proving that in court or in front of a judge in some way? That sales manager would be a sacrificial lamb before that could happen. I dont know how far we want to take this, but I do know, the public needs to know this happens. My husband reviews documentation and fraud for a LIVINGand it happened to him. CROSS CHECK THE VIN # on the contract with the car you think you are buying before you sign.even if its the ONLY ONE you looked at. The longer they wear you down keeping you on the lot, the more you probably need to be aware they are attempting to pull something over on you. And what a sad shame it has to be like that.
He left work early and arrived at the dealership on a Friday afternoon, expressed to the nice sales guy if he liked the condition of this car and he could deal with him on what we knew we could spend, he would buy the car that day. He was impressed with the vehicle and worked the numbers with the salesperson who said he could come off the price a bit to work in our budget. They started writing up the paperwork for this carTHE ONLY car he looked at and test drove.
After 5 hours on the lot, most of which was spent awaiting the sales manager to get through to our finance company, my husband drove off the lot with the car he had been searching for, spending $1200 more than intended after tax, tag and title, but he accepted that. He came home to a VERY excited son.
My husband receives a call at work four days later, from the salesperson who says he actually bought a different vehicle and that the car he has in his possession still belongs to the dealership. Apparently, the contract he signed had the VIN# of another car on it. A car he had never seen, didnt drive and wasnt even advertised. If he wanted to keep the car he drove off the lot with, it would be $4000 more he would have to pay. He reminded the sales person he never had ANY interest in another car, never saw this vehicle he signed a contract for and however this happened, he wanted the VIN# changed to the correct number and they needed to make it right.Take a loss if need be or he would assume he was being scammed and this was blatant bait and switch in the largest possible way. He made plans to go to the dealership in person the next day.
Looking back at the 5 hour camp out at Gwinnett Place Ford with the used car sales manager, some little errors my husband caught before signing the paperwork that evening now make sense.
- They got the mileage wrong on the papers, which my husband corrected and was thanked "for catching that".... The sales manager sent someone out to the vehicle to check the number and confirm. No concern or directive to check the VIN # by the sales manager. Now a clue, he pretty much knew what was gogin down.
- The color was read out loud from the contract, as charcoal by the sales manager, and my husband asked, if that is considered black by the manufacturer ( it is a black metallic color) The sales manager responded, .. Black charcoal, they call them same thing Another suspicious comment that now seems pretty suspect.
- The real red flag, is the most telling in hindsight. The sales manager claimed he had spoken to our finance company, and we were approved for $4000 less than my husband had thought. In order to make THIS deal, he would have to pay another $4000. ( This was three or four hours into being at this dealership waiting to sign paperwork.) My husband corrected him, and while irritated, thought a rep with the finance company got it wrong. Called them back himself, had them fax over more copies of the approval paperwork , and speak to the sales manager in front of him via the phone, confirming the finance amount. Again, a hearty thanks from the sales manager for getting that straightened out, as though it was a mistake on the finance companies part.
Today, he went to the dealership personally. They apologized and said it was a horrible mistake and to make it right, they would only ask for $2000 more and take a loss on this vehicle. They contend it was a huge error. Incompetence that extreme might be believable if the sales manager was new. Apparently, hes been with them a while. Guess they figured my husband and son wanted THAT car so bad, hed find a way to pay for their mistake? We have called the governors office for information on the legalities and our rights. Since this is a licensed new car dealer, they dont HAVE to have any special license to sell used vehicles. BUT they do have to answer to the Federal Trade Commission and consumer groups. Be assurred thats the LEAST we will do. As long as they give our down payment back, they cant be held legally responsible for a mistake.
We are making it a mission, and a lesson to our son, whether it be via media or court, to see this through. They will get not one dime from us and we will urge anyone to not go to this dealership. Mistakes happen. We fully believe this was not only NOT a mistake , but a huge "bait and switch" and "yo-yo" scheme that an apology does not rectify. People should NEVER be treated this way. To add to the disgust, a parent taking the car back from his son who was so proud ? Not a happy day. This dealership refuses to make it right, take a loss or have some integrity. We believe hindsight makes it clear, with the obvious evidence of the behavior of the sales manager and the blatant mistakes my husband corrected, Gwinnett Place Fords used car sales manager KNOWINGLY SOLD another vehicle on purpose to get the sale and assumed my husband might be angry, but would cough up the difference later after an apology since he wanted that car so badly. Think again. .
Do we consider proving that in court or in front of a judge in some way? That sales manager would be a sacrificial lamb before that could happen. I dont know how far we want to take this, but I do know, the public needs to know this happens. My husband reviews documentation and fraud for a LIVINGand it happened to him. CROSS CHECK THE VIN # on the contract with the car you think you are buying before you sign.even if its the ONLY ONE you looked at. The longer they wear you down keeping you on the lot, the more you probably need to be aware they are attempting to pull something over on you. And what a sad shame it has to be like that.
4 Updates & Rebuttals
jm
United States of Americabad deal
#2UPDATE EX-employee responds
Mon, December 17, 2012
well there is just one issue.... what if any recourse? auto dealerships are state regulated. most states have you sign a "spot delivery" at the dealer. this states that both the dealer and you have 15 days to wrap up all paper work. unfortunately the state of georgia does not have ANY protection for the consumer. so it would be you against the dealership. the owner of this dealership is Casey Coffee. He is a ruthless person. i would personally just not do any business with them ever again. As for as everything that has happened. Well you could have stopped or canceled the deal anytime they asked you to come back in to sign more paperwork. the dealer would have had to refund your down payment.
feduponscams
Cumming,Georgia,
United States of America
This ridiculous scenario continues with a twist
#3Author of original report
Sun, October 02, 2011
After 12 hours from work, on that lot over the course of several days, we kept the vehicle . Our son loved it, and my husband made the choice to fight for it. The 4000 more they wanted for the car came down to 2000, since the dealership was" extremely sorry" for their error. We had the cash. He complained loudly, filed a report with the approiate state agency and they are apparently investigating.
Weeks later, the sales manager calls and says my husband needs to come in and sign the check making the cash he put down depositable. What??? Apparently, he ( the sales guy) had sat on this for a few weeks and didnt have him make the cash into a cashiers check that evening the the "supposed" closed deal. . Problem: My husband was out of town on business and wouldnt be back until the following week. He went in begrudingly and gave them an earfull again. Signed the check.
As of the last week, and eight days before the temporary tag expires on the vehicle, another "lead" sales manager calls and says he is terribly embarassed but... the voucher for the financing my husband secured was only good for 30 days and they allowed it to expire. He has to reapply on line in order to complete the transaction. The words from my husband arent printable at this point. And considering he works in an extremely stressful job and his blood pressure is a problem, to say this has been an incredible stress is an understatement. He went on line to reapply and it said he WAS NOT approved. IT looked as though the dealership HAD submitted the paperwork, but did so "incorrectly", according to the loan representative. Thus, they sent it back and the time alotted to close the deal expired.
When calling the loan originator, they said he had to wait 30 days to reapply. According to our records, it had been. To complicate matters, this past week, he decided to go back to work as a contractor, same job he's had for 20 years, but not on a w2, but a 1099 because his income would double on a new project. So... a self employed applicant, apparently, doesnt get the same credit as a person makign less money on a w2...
SO, at this point, it appears we have no way to keep this car unless we come up with 18,000 in cash. We would have it in 3 months. Not in a week. We put a large chunk of money into a renovation project to our home after we secured this car and THOUGHT it was a done deal. Our intent was to have it paid off in 6 months. Pay cash for our renovation.
Livid is NOT the word I have for these people who obviously sat on this on purpose. IF they didnt, this is the worst example of unprofessionalism and incompetance I have ever witnessed in a dealership that apparently has no problem with this kind of activity. Possibly even trains them to do this... For all we know, the general managers son might have wanted this car and their trying to find a way to get it back. It makes NO SENSE. Yet, we are honest people who have never anticipated this nor heard of this kind of practice. I dont think we have ever bought a used vehicle since we were very newly married and NEVER ever imagined this as a scenario. All in the dealership involved in this transaction are apparently still employed and have no problems "apologizing"...
This has taken a toll on my husband who has much more importance daily issues to deal with than be stuck by a car dealership who apparently thinks this is worth this hassle. I am livid beyond words. Not a suing person, but there HAS to be legal recourse on our part in some fashion. The car isnt worth it as much as the principle. We ate another 2000 for our son's sake. This latest issue is appauling.
IF ANYONE has any advice, beyond reporting, complaining to agencies, please share. We have the Governors office of Consumer affairs on to this. Doesnt help us in the immediate. Im not so sure they didnt get the report they are being investigated and did this on purpose. For a dealership to get people THIS paranoid and put us through this for one of 1000 vehicles, new and used on that lot, is cruel, unprofessional and downright discusting.
What happened to honest business practices and competancy?
coast
USAGo into attack mode
#4Consumer Comment
Thu, September 08, 2011
Demand a refund. Accept nothing less. They may have committed a crime. Good luck.
Robert
Buffalo,New York,
USA
Demand a complete refund.
#5Consumer Comment
Wed, September 07, 2011
I would demand a complete refund immediately and let them keep the car.
I don't believe this was a mistake. Demand a refund and file a formal FRAUD complaint with the police and your state attorney general.
Good luck.
