Braman Honda of Palm Beach

My wife and I went to braman Honda to purchase a car. Our old car recently blew its head gasket so we really needed something immediately. Brandon our salesman sold us a 2003 Honda accord sedan. He told us t old car recently blew its head gasket so we really needed something immediately. Brandon our salesman sold us a 2003 Honda accord sedan. He told us that it was Honda certified and had never been damaged or in an accident. Our finance manager, Om Prakash explained to us our interest rate was something like 8.9% and if we purchased GAP Insurance, Honda would pay our insurance deductible for any insurance claim repairs. He even recommended that we change our deductible from $500 to $1000 like he did for his own vehicle. The next day, Om Prakash called us back because we needed to sign some more paper work. He told us that the previous financing was rejected and we needed to sign for a new rate of 16 %. We felt like we had no choice and we did sign it. Later I heard that this is a commonly practiced bait and switch tactic. A couple months later hurricane Wilma dropped a huge tree branch on the trunk. When I made the claim to Honda's gap underwriter I was surprised to find out that GAP Insurance that Om Prakash sold us only covers the deductible if the car is totaled. I feel that GAP is a great coverage but it was defined to us incorrectly. We still would have purchased it without the lies, but we would have kept our $500 deductible. Due to this, we had to shell out $1000 because of his misleading information. We called and left a message but after our first conversation about this issue, he became busy all the time. We have never heard from Braman Honda concerning this issue. Recently we took the car to car max to trade it in and was surprised to find out that the car had been repainted and there is evidence of damage on the cars front fender most likely from a care accident (this was before we got the trunk repaired and the evidence they found was on the front fender) this dropped the trade in value about 3000 dollars. Lexus, Coral Springs Honda, and Maroone Toyota all said the same. I don’t expect a resolution, and I just heard of this site. I would have written sooner if I knew. I purchased the car almost a year ago and want people to be aware of the despicable tactics that we fell for at Braman Honda on Lake Worth rd in Greenacres Florida. We have purchased from them before and I guess this is how they treat a loyal customer. Here goes a great link for spotting repair and repainting from previous damage that will dramatically lower cars value for resale. www.omegamotors.com/buylikeapro/4_howtobuy_step5.html More

Mom needed a new car, and she wanted a 2004 4–Door Accord EX-V6. We called Sherwood Honda, and they said yes, they had '04's and were ready to deal! <br><br>We went there and were told that they had Accord EX-V6. We called Sherwood Honda, and they said yes, they had '04's and were ready to deal! <br><br>We went there and were told that they had VERY LITTLE in the '04 Accords, and none in the red that we wanted, but that they’d give us a great deal on an '05. Their pitch was that when we went to sell it at some point, think of how much better we would do because there would be less depreciation and blah, blah, blah. I responded, "But ******, we don’t sell cars, we DRIVE them, so we don't NEED an '05. Plus my mom will keep this car, and in 8 months buy a NEW Accord for my sister...from you! We won't be selling it, so we don’t need to spend the extra cash on an '05."<br><br>Are you getting this, because HE didn't; "Right, but we can give you a great deal on the 2005, and since it's not an '04, when you go to sell it, you..." He didn't seem to be listening to us, and given what we'd been told over the phone, I’m thinking bait and switch.<br><br>Still, we tried to deal on an '05, but they wanted too much for it…and didn't even TRY to make a deal on an '04 in a different color, but simply offered an initial price on any ’04 in our 4D/EX-V6. I had also asked if their price on the cars included destination fees, and all of the other nonsense. The salesman said, "yes, but, you still have to pay the taxes." (Of course…I assumed that: taxes, tag and reg. fees--NOTHING ELSE). Also, had they found “our car” in Red at another dealership, then we “might” incur a fee for flatbed transportation. <br><br>Now, were I in his shoes, I'd have said “what’s it going to take for me to put you into an '04 in another color?" He didn't, and I wasn’t going to do his job for him. There are other Honda dealers in the area; we walked out.<br><br>We got home and called Braman. I spoke with Marcel Capo, who listened patiently as I explained both what I had wanted, and how I felt that Sherwood had blown an easily doable deal. Marcel was really nice, and he understood what it took to sell us a car: just get me what I wanted, do it at a good price, and leave the BS behind. Marcel said, "Melanie, can you let me do a little research? I’ll call you within 10 minutes, and I'll give you my out the door price. If you like it, great, we can do a deal. If you don't, that’s okay, and I really enjoyed talking with you." He called back as promised, and offered his out the door (non-negotiable) price. His price was higher than Sherwood's, and he explained to me why. He also said that the car had to be flat-bedded from Miami, BUT AT EXACTLY NO COST TO US.<br><br>I called ****** back at Sherwood, and asked him to explain his price. Ooops! It actually did NOT include a "Dealer fee" of $499. I did the math: Sherwood's price was about $530 or so MORE than Braman’s.<br><br>We went to Braman and finalized the deal. Marcel was awesome, nice and fun, and so was Louis, their Client Advisor. Finally, we met Alfonso, who went over protection plans with us. I declined them, but he was totally cool, and not pushy. This was a really positive car-buying experience. <br><br>Marcel, Louis and Alfonso, see you in June when it's time to by a new Honda. Sherwood, I'd say thanks for caring, but honestly, I don't think that you really could give a...<br><br>Shitake Mushroom sandwich, that’s what I’d like for lunch. I think that my mom and I will take her new Accord EX-V6, the one that we just purchased from Braman Honda, and go and get it.<br><br>Ciao guys!<br> More