Mike
Radford,#2Consumer Suggestion
Thu, March 16, 2006
You were a victim of a dishonest sales tactic called "legroom." It works like this: They lie about the payment without the options. They make it higher. In your case the payment on the basic deal with no optional warranties, etc. (at the same 0.9% APR) would have been $294 instead of $308. Then they sell you the options on the basis that they'll only cost a few dollars more per month. Actually you are comparing to a false figure without the options. Be very vigilant in the finance office. Pay attention to the amount financed, number of payments, and the APR. The payments will work out by themselves based on that. Do not be a "payment buyer." Beware of papers like the infamous "menus" that show only the down and monthly payment but not the supporting numbers. Do not make decisions based on them. Ask for more details like the total "out the door" cost of the deal. Figure before you shop what price range of vehicles you should be looking at based on the payment you can afford, the amount you'll need to finance, and the APR you're likely to qualify for. There are various calculator web pages to help. You can also buy a handheld finacial calculator at any office store that will figure the payments on a loan for you. Then you can tell on the spot if the dealer is trying to work "legroom" into the numbers.
Lisa
KEARNEY,#3Consumer Comment
Wed, March 15, 2006
I read your report, you communicated it very well. I work for a dealership now, after you get through with the sales person getting there markup, you go to the finance office and they too are sales people, they can mark up the finance charge percentage and sell you warranties that WILL be included in the contract and you will be charged finance charges for them to. Your best bet was to not finance the warranties but to pay out of pocket for them and then you may have found out before signing a contract that it would not have been the $1320.00 but the $2111.00 instead, maybe the cat would have been out of the bag before hand Finance managers have you sign contracts at the end,your tired, don't look over it well because you have signed your life away already with other papers. Also, once you do sign up for warranties, some will charge a cancellation fee even if it is only 24 hours later but the time frame you mentioned, the dealership probably still had it sitting on their desk. Hope this info will help in the future
Lisa
KEARNEY,#4Consumer Comment
Wed, March 15, 2006
I read your report, you communicated it very well. I work for a dealership now, after you get through with the sales person getting there markup, you go to the finance office and they too are sales people, they can mark up the finance charge percentage and sell you warranties that WILL be included in the contract and you will be charged finance charges for them to. Your best bet was to not finance the warranties but to pay out of pocket for them and then you may have found out before signing a contract that it would not have been the $1320.00 but the $2111.00 instead, maybe the cat would have been out of the bag before hand Finance managers have you sign contracts at the end,your tired, don't look over it well because you have signed your life away already with other papers. Also, once you do sign up for warranties, some will charge a cancellation fee even if it is only 24 hours later but the time frame you mentioned, the dealership probably still had it sitting on their desk. Hope this info will help in the future
Lisa
KEARNEY,#5Consumer Comment
Wed, March 15, 2006
I read your report, you communicated it very well. I work for a dealership now, after you get through with the sales person getting there markup, you go to the finance office and they too are sales people, they can mark up the finance charge percentage and sell you warranties that WILL be included in the contract and you will be charged finance charges for them to. Your best bet was to not finance the warranties but to pay out of pocket for them and then you may have found out before signing a contract that it would not have been the $1320.00 but the $2111.00 instead, maybe the cat would have been out of the bag before hand Finance managers have you sign contracts at the end,your tired, don't look over it well because you have signed your life away already with other papers. Also, once you do sign up for warranties, some will charge a cancellation fee even if it is only 24 hours later but the time frame you mentioned, the dealership probably still had it sitting on their desk. Hope this info will help in the future