Automotive Avenues

BUYER BEWARE before dealing with Bill Solko or Michael Shaw of Automotive Avenues Wall, NJ I strongly believe they had sold me a vehicle that is suspected to be tampered with, in a accident. I also sus Shaw of Automotive Avenues Wall, NJ I strongly believe they had sold me a vehicle that is suspected to be tampered with, in a accident. I also suspected speedometer tampering and factual fraudulent selling conditions of the vehicles. Please take the time to read through my experience at this dealership, I wanted to take the time to warn the public of Michael Shaw of Wall, NJ so that they don’t have to go through what I just went through with Michael Shaw of Automotive Avenues Wall, NJ. My true story: I have been in the market for a Mercedes SLK32 with low miles and in pristine condition; I had come across this 2004 Mercedes SLK with 37 thousand miles offered by Automotive Avenues. I’ve bought many cars before, but I still wasn’t satisfied with the dealerships description since it stated EVERYTHING was is in excellent condition "no paint issues, interior issues or accident history or repairs". Whenever a dealer describes a vehicle for sale, they always promote the car to be in excellent or mint condition with never any mention of any flaws, damage or mechanical issues “there is no such thing of a perfect used car, they all have issues, you just need to know what to look for”. That being said, I had contacted the seller direct through ebay with my phone number, to contact me. Shortly after, I was contacted by Michael Shaw (owner of Automotive Avenues Wall, NJ). My 1st impression was he lacked people skills, typical used car guy, he tried hard to be business oriented, but he’s one of these sales guys that can’t handle anything without making a big deal about it, always too busy, rushes you on the phone and barley lets you get a word in. This isn’t my 1st time dealing with someone like this, but giving everyone the benefit of the doubt, I decided to press forward. I had noted I was interested in buying one of his vehicles on Ebay and I wanted to get some additional photos since I wasn’t local to buy the car and his auction lacked the pictures I need to be comfortable with it understand the condition better. Immediately he said he didn’t have the time to take any more pictures, nor would he, Michael Shaw rambling on about how busy he is running the dealership and has too much going on to take additional pictures for every person that wants to buy one of his cars. I was really thrown back by this, but he had agreed to do a walk around with me pointing out ever defect he could find. Just to clarify, prior to doing the walk around, I noted I’m a car enthusiast, I wanted a very clear car “0 issues, all issues disclosed down to the stone ships” and I’m also very meticulous when it comes to my vehicles, so I wanted a very honest walk through down to ever little issue “ding, scratch, dent etc”. After spending 15-20 minutes on the phone with Michael, what came out of the conversation was a few very minor stone chips the size of pin heard and 2-3 door dings that you could barely see and could be removed as well as a few of the wheels had curb damage that he said he agreed would be fixed prior to selling me the car. In a nutshell, Michael noted only the discriminating buyer would only find what he noted. He was convincing at the time and the pictures he had posted along with our conversation seemed to validate it was a clean car with along with a clean car fax posted on Ebay. Little did I know, I was about to get screwed by Michael Shaw! After we had made an agreement on the phone over the price and shipping arrangements, I had proceeded to move forward with buying the car. That day, I wired the funds over on 2/8 and waited patiently for the paper work and car to be shipped to me the over the next few days “I’m only 275 miles away”. Over the next few days, I had emailed Michael and this woman Debbie, but I had never received any paper work or update on when the car was being shipped and by whom. Finally Debbie provided me with the name of the shipping CO “Level Storage Corp W. Springfield, MA”. Prior to this, Michael was always very short in his email correspondence and even when I had spoken to him on the phone, it was like I was asking for too much. This really had me worried and concerned… Finally, I got word the car was being picked up on 2/11, I would receive it on 2/13. Upon receiving the car that day, it was something out of a bad movie when it showed up, one of those stories you hear about and pray never happens to you! I received the car with 1, 18” and 1, 7” key scratches down to the paint on the passenger side of the car, 15+ other major scratches, paint chips and dings on the vehicle. The front bumper was hanging off missing hardware, it was also missing the lower grill completely, one piece of the drivers side grill was partially held on by a few zip tie, all 4 wheels were spray painted with overspray on the tires, the tires were barely holding air, the interior had a whole in the drivers seat, the air bag light was on, the check engine light was on, the center cup-holder console was broken and didn't close, there was duck tape holding the door panel on the drivers side, the trunk would not stay open as well! When I opened the engine hood of the car, it was evident the engine had more than 37 thousand miles on it and it was in a major front accident. I outright refused to take delivery of the car. I immediately called Michael and he basically told me to sign for the car and takes some pictures and he would work with me on the issues. I outright refused too and he kept saying it’s a used car, it’s going to have some issues. I was appalled, I had never been in such a situation before, Michael Shaw was another person since he had my money, I pleated with the Michael to take the car, but he refused too and got off the phone with me telling me to just send picture and he didn’t believe me. I told the delivery person, I had no paper work, the car isn’t mine and to take it back. The form that they also wanted me to sign to accept the vehicle, noted all the following I just spoke about. The driver then received a call from the transport CO and the driver was told by Michael to take the car off the trailer and leave it in my driveway. In order to get Michael to take the car back, I noted I would assist in the shipping and pleated with him to do the right thing and take the car back. I was at a loss, but finally Michael said we would work something out financially and he would contact the carrier to have them return the car to him since legally it wasn't mine. After the car returned to Michael the following day, he kept saying there was nothing wrong with the car even with all the pictures I took and sent him, it was like talking to a child, he wouldn’t let you get a word in, Michael kept over talking me, it was evident I had to go to his level and just agree on his terms and pretend he was right just to get my money back. It killed me, but I had no choice, he had almost $17 thousand dollars of my money. His terms, he had wanted $2000 for his time and all the shipping charges paid. Once again, I was appalled and very upset but I was scared I wouldn’t get my money back, so I only agreed to the shipping loss and tried talking to him like you would to a child, finally he agreed to that ONLY if I left him positive feedback to save face, otherwise he wouldn’t wire my funds back. A nightmare, unmoral and scary to think what he has done this to other people… It was the hardest thing I had to do at the time not to bite my tongue off, but I knew there were other avenues to make the public aware or Michael Shaw of Automotive Avenues Wall, NJ. In the long run, I got my money back minus the a $600 he stole from me for shipping cost as well as a few nights of sleep over all this. To conclude, I have learned a valuable lesson and I’ve shared my story hopping that others will read this and not do business with Michael Shaw and Automotive Avenues of WALL, NY. He is a terrible person, dishonest, deceiving and a disgrace to the dealerships. Karma will get him! What comes around must go around! BUYER BEWARE OF Michael Shaw of WALL NY. More