Jim
Orlando,#2Consumer Suggestion
Sun, August 03, 2008
Katie: In all probability you are going to buy another car in your lifetime. As such, its time you (and your father) learned a few things. (If you expected me to tell you what you want to hear, forget it! I want your next experience to be better because you and your father are savvy buyers who know what you're doing.) 1. People all the time claim they are "good friends" with some car salesman who will get them "a good deal" as if that salesman is going to break the rules of the dealership just for them. Forget it. Salesmen are paid on commission, period. There's nothing wrong in being a commission employee either. 2. You are 20 and that salesman thought you were an easy mark. You said they would keep your payment at $250 "as long as I needed them to." You actually believed that? The dealership doesn't set the payments, the bank or finance company does. 3. They kept you and your father waiting 4 hours because they wanted to wear you down and you would quickly sign the papers without reading them (which you did) so you could get out of there. Did that occur to you? You are the customer. You are NOT the doormat. You played doormat for this "highly recommended" salesman. When a car dealer, or any other merchant treats you improperly, you WALK OUT. They need YOU. You don't need them! 4. You said, and I quote, "A couple of months later I was bored and got outt the contract and noticed something...". Why didn't you read that contract BEFORE you signed it? Why didn't your father read that contract BEFORE he signed it? Always, always, always READ what you are about to sign BEFORE you sign it! That "highly recommended" salesman thought you were STUPID and guess what, YOU and YOUR FATHER did something stupid. You didn't read the contract!!!!! Take a look thru this website and look how over and over and over and over and over and over and over people do exactly what you did...they sign without reading. There's to way to characterize that other than INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH STUPIDITY. Don't EVER, EVER do that again and suggest that to your father too! 5. The amount you owed on your trade in does not magically disappear in a new deal. Did your father explain that to you? You STILL OWE that money. The dealer pays off the used car then adds that amount (negative equity) to the new deal. That's why the final amount is so high. Yes, you are now paying for two cars but driving one. Is that smart? Again Katie, my point here is your education. You can take it as that or get angry with me for telling you wnat YOU NEED TO HEAR rather than what YOU WANT TO HEAR. Be well!