Lia Honda Albany

Wayne Balthazard was very helpful to us in our search for the right vehicle purchase. He is courteous and knowledgeable and worked with us throughout the process. We appreciate his help and assistance. the right vehicle purchase. He is courteous and knowledgeable and worked with us throughout the process. We appreciate his help and assistance. More

Buyers Beware – This Dealership Engages in Unethical Sales Tactics I am extremely disappointed with the deceptive practices at this dealership, and I strongly urge all potential buyers to carefully r Sales Tactics I am extremely disappointed with the deceptive practices at this dealership, and I strongly urge all potential buyers to carefully review every term before signing anything. This dealership routinely has customers sign documents without fully disclosing all terms—especially regarding extended warranties and add-on packages. Even after explicitly declining these extras multiple times, my friend was still unknowingly charged for a warranty policy. We spent approximately six hours at this dealership, and my friend knew exactly which car they wanted from the moment we arrived—there was no need for a sales pitch. While our experience with the sales representative was pleasant, what happened in the finance office was completely unacceptable. As someone with a background in bank sales, I know that no customer should ever be asked to “click here” and “sign there” without first receiving a full breakdown of loan terms, total cost, interest rate, and itemized charges. Despite repeatedly refusing additional warranties and packages, the finance representative continued to push them. Initially, the 10-year warranty was priced at $4,400, which was later "discounted" to $2,500 when bundled with other add-ons. After briefly stepping away for about an hour to remove the plates from the old car and return with a friend to pick up the new car, we were suddenly told the manager had “approved” the warranty add-on for “free.” Of course, nothing is ever truly free. Before signing the final documents, we requested a full breakdown of charges. Instead of providing transparency, we were redirected by the sales representative, who assured us that the finance representative would go over everything before signing. However, once inside the office, both my friend and I were met with a stern tone and told, “Don’t worry about the papers, they’re right there (pointing to a thick letter-sized envelope)—we’ll go through them afterward.” The representative then insisted my friend complete all the signature pages on the iPad first (i.e., signing terms before reviewing the policy documents). This is a major red flag. Once the documents were signed, my friend received an email copy of the agreement. Only then did the finance representative open the envelope containing the policy details. We expected two policies—but there was a third. The same 10-year warranty we had explicitly declined multiple times had been added for $1,700. The issue was not the cost but the deceitful manner in which it was included. My friend was deliberately misled, despite rejecting the warranty at least 7–10 times throughout the process. Worse still, the finance representative attempted to skip over the cover page listing the full breakdown, only for me to call it out—revealing the hidden charge. On a side note, we witnessed alarming data security practices in the finance office. While processing our paperwork, the representative asked us to wait for five minutes as they were still finalizing a prior customer’s loan application, with that customer’s information visible on the screen. Rather than asking us to step out for privacy, the screen remained open at a visible angle, making sensitive data viewable. If you value your privacy, be extremely cautious about how your personal information is handled at this dealership. This dealership’s approach to sales is highly unethical, and its data privacy practices do not prioritize client security. Buyers, please be vigilant—ask for all documents upfront and do not sign anything until you have thoroughly reviewed every detail. I would never trust this dealership with the business of any family or friends again. More