- Report: #446906
Complaint Review: Quail Auto Sales - Albany New York
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Quail Auto Sales
49 Quail Street Albany, 12206-2415 New York, U.S.A.
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518-465-6888
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Quail Auto Sales Just make sure you check for painted over RUST before you buy a car from them! Albany New York
I have to say that at first, Stephen seemed really upfront and honest...but after these emails today, I'm not so sure. Read on.
(Stephen):
Sent: Monday, April 27, 2009 2:14:14 PM
Subject: Car
Hey guys it's Steve from Quail Auto Sales. I never heard back from u and wanted to know how u made out with the car that time and hoping it's running ok for u.
Talk to u soon.
(Me):
The service engine soon light still keeps going on and off intermittently. My brother's coming up on Sunday to address it. The left fog light is missing....was it missing when you sold it to me?Also, just like the Dodge, the body is already rusting. I noticed white paint covering rust in places on the Durango, and it looks like the rust along entire bottom of the driver side door was painted over on the Grand Am, so I expect that will be rusting out soon as well. Finding out that the (significant) rust was painted over leads me to wonder who did it; I'd like to say that it was painted over when you bought it at auction, but I can never be sure.
Truth be told Stephen, I'm not thrilled about the situation. My fiancee and I have spoken at length about whether we should return to you for our cars in the future. I know I got a good deal on the face for both of the cars...but I also bought an Accord from Mohawk Honda way back when for about the same price, and I NEVER had a problem with it.
Again, I can't be 100% sure either way about who did what in regard to our cars, and if I offended you let me apologize. All I'm asking is that if we do ever decide to buy another car from you, please be upfront about all the issues before we buy it.
---------------------------------------------------------
(Steve):
First of all, I did not purchase that at auction. Second, what issues was I not up front with you about. You knew the car had been in an accident, and I'm sure it had been painted due to the accident. I don't know who did the bodywork/paintwork, if they put on used parts,etc. Then fog lamp had to be there or it would have not passed inspection. Don't think after 66years, that I'm going to start to cut corners. Again, I never heard back from u guys. To be honest, I am offended. My family and I work really hard here to sell nice cars and take care of our customers.
---------------------------------------------------------
(Me):
I don't think rust is caused by an accident.
Thanks for the email; it's helped me to finalize my decision about who we'll be buying our cars from in the future.
---------------------------------------------------------
(Steve):
NP
(Steve):
Just so you know, rust can be caused from an accident.
(Me):
You know, I remember the days when folks who entered into a buyer/seller relationship actually could rely on the notion that the buyer would receive professional treatment regardless of the circumstances. The "customer is always right", I think was the saying.
It's sad to see that that old adage had absolutely no relevance in today's economy. True, it may have had some credence 66 years ago....but now, it's seen as completely outmoded and irrelevant.
Case in point; I went into a family owned car dealership about a year ago. I checked out a car and negotiated with the rep; bought the car for $5750.00. Cash. Out of my pocket. Everything seemed OK. I was happy, he was happy.
We got the car home, and we noticed daubs of white paint here and there on the car; over time the paint wore off, revealing rust spots underneath. A few months later, we began to notice rivers of rusty water staining the sides of our car's bumper. No problem; it's a 2000, and we got a good deal, right? You gotta expect a little bad every once in a while, right? And the car dealer really seemed upfront and honest....an exceeding rarity today. We didn't want a little rust to get in the way of a business relationship.
A few months later, we bought another car from the same dealer. This negotiation was a little harder; I didn't have thousands of dollars to put down, so I conceeded a bit. After all, the car was still a good price, and the first purchase was a breeze. So, I let a few hardball tactics slide, and I bought the car. I also informed the rep that I had four children, and I was planning to have all of them buy cars from this dealership; and additionally, when I graduated RN school (in a year), I was coming back to buy a car for myself as a graduation present. And I meant all of it.
So, the second car immediately has the "check engine light " go on. I get pissed...all of my good feelings go out the window. I think..."well, that's why he always has his family do the inspections....", but another part of me doesn't want to beleive that the rep would do something like this to a repeat buyer who's already proved that he's savvy enough to research the cars he might be buying. So, I get the code checked...it's nothing serious. I only have a 30 day warranty, but I don't want to drive the car all the way back to Albany to get it fixed, since I'm still leery about how his "family" fixes everything.
We also noticed that the entire bottom of the driver's side door had been painted to cover up.....RUST. Well, the sour taste in my mouth is getting more sour by the minute. My fiancee and I go back and forth about what to do; whether we should bother to buy all those cars from him in the future, etc. Eventually, we decide to let sleeping dogs lie. He seemed so nice.
And then an email came.....
You know Stephen, salesmen like you make me wonder exactly how much money I have to dole out in order to get an honest to goodness professional relationship from someone. I'm sure we negotiated for quite a long time, but it didn't get nasty. I mean, weren't we both smiling whan our (two) transactions were completed? I know I'm aggravating, I drive a hard bargain, etc....but aren't I still the one with the money????? Doesn't that count for ANYTHING these days? Look, I know you'll be in business regardless of whether I actually bought those (5....or more) cars from you down the road, but tell me...how does it become more worthwhile to send me, a customer, emails that make you sound like a pissed off teenager on I.M.? Did I somehow make you think that we were more than a salesman and a buyer? I'm genuinely curious about this....how does that transaction where personal vendettas outweigh the guarantee of several tens of thousands of dollars of additional business? Do you think that I owe you something, aside from money? And, before you ask....yes, I DO think that a hefty sum of cash that goes from my pocket into yours allows me to get testy when things don't go the way I expected them to.
I'd really like to know these things....and since we're now officially no longer in a buyer/seller relationship, maybe you'll be open to explaining how you perceived this whole issue. If you can keep it civil, I'd be happy to listen.
---------------------------------------------------------
(Steve):
You got everything figured out!....Good luck with you nursing career.
Take care.
Jay
Glens Falls, New York
U.S.A.
(Stephen):
Sent: Monday, April 27, 2009 2:14:14 PM
Subject: Car
Hey guys it's Steve from Quail Auto Sales. I never heard back from u and wanted to know how u made out with the car that time and hoping it's running ok for u.
Talk to u soon.
(Me):
The service engine soon light still keeps going on and off intermittently. My brother's coming up on Sunday to address it. The left fog light is missing....was it missing when you sold it to me?Also, just like the Dodge, the body is already rusting. I noticed white paint covering rust in places on the Durango, and it looks like the rust along entire bottom of the driver side door was painted over on the Grand Am, so I expect that will be rusting out soon as well. Finding out that the (significant) rust was painted over leads me to wonder who did it; I'd like to say that it was painted over when you bought it at auction, but I can never be sure.
Truth be told Stephen, I'm not thrilled about the situation. My fiancee and I have spoken at length about whether we should return to you for our cars in the future. I know I got a good deal on the face for both of the cars...but I also bought an Accord from Mohawk Honda way back when for about the same price, and I NEVER had a problem with it.
Again, I can't be 100% sure either way about who did what in regard to our cars, and if I offended you let me apologize. All I'm asking is that if we do ever decide to buy another car from you, please be upfront about all the issues before we buy it.
---------------------------------------------------------
(Steve):
First of all, I did not purchase that at auction. Second, what issues was I not up front with you about. You knew the car had been in an accident, and I'm sure it had been painted due to the accident. I don't know who did the bodywork/paintwork, if they put on used parts,etc. Then fog lamp had to be there or it would have not passed inspection. Don't think after 66years, that I'm going to start to cut corners. Again, I never heard back from u guys. To be honest, I am offended. My family and I work really hard here to sell nice cars and take care of our customers.
---------------------------------------------------------
(Me):
I don't think rust is caused by an accident.
Thanks for the email; it's helped me to finalize my decision about who we'll be buying our cars from in the future.
---------------------------------------------------------
(Steve):
NP
(Steve):
Just so you know, rust can be caused from an accident.
(Me):
You know, I remember the days when folks who entered into a buyer/seller relationship actually could rely on the notion that the buyer would receive professional treatment regardless of the circumstances. The "customer is always right", I think was the saying.
It's sad to see that that old adage had absolutely no relevance in today's economy. True, it may have had some credence 66 years ago....but now, it's seen as completely outmoded and irrelevant.
Case in point; I went into a family owned car dealership about a year ago. I checked out a car and negotiated with the rep; bought the car for $5750.00. Cash. Out of my pocket. Everything seemed OK. I was happy, he was happy.
We got the car home, and we noticed daubs of white paint here and there on the car; over time the paint wore off, revealing rust spots underneath. A few months later, we began to notice rivers of rusty water staining the sides of our car's bumper. No problem; it's a 2000, and we got a good deal, right? You gotta expect a little bad every once in a while, right? And the car dealer really seemed upfront and honest....an exceeding rarity today. We didn't want a little rust to get in the way of a business relationship.
A few months later, we bought another car from the same dealer. This negotiation was a little harder; I didn't have thousands of dollars to put down, so I conceeded a bit. After all, the car was still a good price, and the first purchase was a breeze. So, I let a few hardball tactics slide, and I bought the car. I also informed the rep that I had four children, and I was planning to have all of them buy cars from this dealership; and additionally, when I graduated RN school (in a year), I was coming back to buy a car for myself as a graduation present. And I meant all of it.
So, the second car immediately has the "check engine light " go on. I get pissed...all of my good feelings go out the window. I think..."well, that's why he always has his family do the inspections....", but another part of me doesn't want to beleive that the rep would do something like this to a repeat buyer who's already proved that he's savvy enough to research the cars he might be buying. So, I get the code checked...it's nothing serious. I only have a 30 day warranty, but I don't want to drive the car all the way back to Albany to get it fixed, since I'm still leery about how his "family" fixes everything.
We also noticed that the entire bottom of the driver's side door had been painted to cover up.....RUST. Well, the sour taste in my mouth is getting more sour by the minute. My fiancee and I go back and forth about what to do; whether we should bother to buy all those cars from him in the future, etc. Eventually, we decide to let sleeping dogs lie. He seemed so nice.
And then an email came.....
You know Stephen, salesmen like you make me wonder exactly how much money I have to dole out in order to get an honest to goodness professional relationship from someone. I'm sure we negotiated for quite a long time, but it didn't get nasty. I mean, weren't we both smiling whan our (two) transactions were completed? I know I'm aggravating, I drive a hard bargain, etc....but aren't I still the one with the money????? Doesn't that count for ANYTHING these days? Look, I know you'll be in business regardless of whether I actually bought those (5....or more) cars from you down the road, but tell me...how does it become more worthwhile to send me, a customer, emails that make you sound like a pissed off teenager on I.M.? Did I somehow make you think that we were more than a salesman and a buyer? I'm genuinely curious about this....how does that transaction where personal vendettas outweigh the guarantee of several tens of thousands of dollars of additional business? Do you think that I owe you something, aside from money? And, before you ask....yes, I DO think that a hefty sum of cash that goes from my pocket into yours allows me to get testy when things don't go the way I expected them to.
I'd really like to know these things....and since we're now officially no longer in a buyer/seller relationship, maybe you'll be open to explaining how you perceived this whole issue. If you can keep it civil, I'd be happy to listen.
---------------------------------------------------------
(Steve):
You got everything figured out!....Good luck with you nursing career.
Take care.
Jay
Glens Falls, New York
U.S.A.
