Automotive Avenues

Automotive Avenues responded

While I understand the reviewer's disappointment, he is completely misrepresenting what transpired. Every vehicle we offer for sale is offered at the same discounted price. The price never changes regardless of the form of payment. Cash, or credit, the price is always the same! Unfortunately, one of our Managers realized the vehicle was priced incorrectly. This came to light while the reviewer was test driving the vehicle, long before any contracts were signed, or form of payment was determined. The Manager explained and apologized for the error, but offered to honor the advertised price that day! I want to make that very clear. Despite a very obvious pricing error, we agreed to honor the advertised price! It was the reviewer's decision not to move forward! The Manager even went to far as to secure a slightly lower rate in effort to satisfy him, but he was not willing to move forward with the purchase. Despite our willingness to honor the advertised price, as well as the Manager's sincere effort to secure an even lower rate than initially quoted, the reviewer attempted to disrupt our showroom where 39 other customers chose to do business that day. He even went so far as to engage other customers to voice his displeasure. We go to great lengths to offer a combination of quality and value that is unmatched in the Tri-State area. We do that by offering one of the largest inventories in the nation, all in one location. Every vehicle is triple checked, serviced, and offered with pride. We have no certification fee's, Internet fee's, Prep Fee's, or other nonsense. We let our customers know what they're buying and stand behind what we sell. Mistakes are rare, but when they are made, we always do our best to rectify them. This was just an unfortunate situation where despite our best efforts, we were unable to satisfy the reviewer. Sincerely, Bill S., Dealer Principal

chadwick502 responded

While the owner claims that the price of a car doesn't chance based on payment type, unfortunately that was not case with me and another customer that same day. His response seems like an insincere copy and pasted auto response. His company may "go to great lengths to offer a combination of quality and value that is unmatched in the Tri-State area" however, my experience was anything but. The price was written on a finance sheet along with my trade in value and the monthly payment options. After deciding to not finance and just pay for the car in full, I was advised that the price of the car actually was incorrect and was raised $3k. This was all after I test drove the car. In response to the rate deduction and my wishes to not move forward with the sale: When I was first provided the finance sheet with the high interest rate, I asked the lady if the rate was solely the bank rate or does the dealership add onto the rate. She explained that the rate was solely the bank's rate and she had no control to adjust it. So hours later when I decided to not finance the car and pay it in full, the sales rep stood right up and talked to the finance department. He returned to let me know he was able to get them to lower the rate to "help me out". The new rate was a very small deduction. But I found it interesting that they were able to do that when I was told the bank controls the rate and this happened to be on a holiday when banks were closed... I explained that it does not help me out because I just decided to pay it off anyway. I want to make it clear that I was still trying to purchase the car even after the price increase because I was told that as long as I purchase the car that day, they would honor the original price. What the owner fails to include is the details about that agreement... I was told that I would have to get a check to pay for the car in full which was impossible because the banks were closed due to a holiday. I asked if there were any other options and they said I would need to show proof of funds, which I did. I asked if there was a way I could wire the funds to them. I was told that unless I had a check that day, I would need to finance through them to purchase the car at the agreed price. Otherwise, the price would increase by $3k the next day when banks were open. I even asked to put down a deposit and was told, "we don't do deposits". I explained that earlier in he day before I drove 80 miles to look at the car I was told that I could put a deposit to hold the car. The response I received was, "we only do deposits for people coming from out of state". In response to his claim that I wanted to disrupt the showroom, here is what really happened: After being told about the price increase I asked to speak to a manager and/or owner. I wanted to address the sudden price increase as well as options to still purchase the car. I was asked to step outside to have the conversation because "we don't want anyone else hearing about the situation". I explained that I did not want to be asked to walk outside to have a conversation. A young lady sitting in a cubicle near me overheard me mention about the price increase and she stood up and said the same thing just happened to her as well and she was also deciding to pay cash for a car. I did not engage other customers, the other customers were also getting the run around like I was and wanted to also voice their concerns. While I appreciate the owner apologizing that day to both me and the other customer, and for admitting this was "bad business" I do not appreciate his response to my review because it does not tell the reality of the situation. I recorded the entire interaction and have proof of the way things played out, exactly how I described. I also have a photo of the finance sheet that shows the price of the car, the financing terms and monthly payment options that were signed before the price increase. Had the owner recognize this "bad business" error and agreed to have me leave a deposit and come back the next day to pay for the car at the agreed upon price, this would not be an issue. But his typical used car dealer tactics and greed of $3k cost him 2 customers that day. I don't care if 39 customers chose to do business with them that day. 2 out of 39 customers got lied to and cheated out of a car that day. If thats a win for him, then so be it.