Dealer shenanigans: what would you do?

[dothedew]

What would you guys do?
On Monday: I found a truck on Ford Inventory that was in transit and got ahold of the dealer and started putting a deal together. The sales guy was slow as hell but between then and now we agreed to MSRP, they will do a window tint and bed liner, and give me $29K for my trade. The sales guy sent me a KBB Instant Cash Offer for the trade amount to my email and I said sweet write up the deal and send it to me and I'll get my bank loan check and be on my way. I put a $500 deposit down.

6PM last night the sales manager calls me and basically tells me to f* off. Says they'll only do $28K for the trade, no bedliner, no tint. Does not seem to care about what the sales guy agreed to? Everything is in writing in email/text message. He's literally just telling me no. So I agreed to it for now to get him off the phone and get the deal in writing but what would you guys do?

I like the truck that is incoming, its a Carbonized Gray 502A Lariat Sport with the BAP. It's probably a pretty rare build from what I've seen given the inventory. But I'm also a principals man and this guy really irritated me. So just curious you alls thoughts. I can always take the deal and then rake them over the coals on the survey and in reviews but I don't know if that practically has any effect.

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[Mtnman1]

I would go in with coly of email and tell the manager you have a deal. If they do not honor their deal, you will be contacting the BBB, posting on all social media, and contacting a lawyer for breach of contract. You put $$ down on a contract. They cannot modify after, unless you agree and sign.

That shady as f.

I would NOT have them do bedliner or tint. No way. No how

 

[cdfarmer]

I would go in with the proof you have on the deal the sales guy made with you and tell them that is the deal you put the deposit on and you are not paying any more than that. I am currently waiting on a 502a sport I ordered in late December and I can tell you the MSRP has increased around $5,000 since when it was originally ordered. So if they are selling it to you for the MSRP that the window sticker says they are already making $5,000 on the order and are also making at least another $5,000 on the difference between the original MSRP and invoice price that it was ordered at. Seems like they would be willing to give you the additional $1000 trade in value if they are making $10,000 on the deal.

 

[DarkSkyForever]

If you didn't sign anything, it doesn't matter that you put money down and hashed something out over email, legally. You don't have a contract. I went through the same thing last November with a dealership here (AutoNation), found a 502A I liked, went in person, hashed out a price, put a $500 "hold" on it, and was planning to come back and do the paperwork the next day. They sold the truck out from under me to someone willing to pay over MSRP. Its a shitty thing to do, but they don't have to sell you that truck. Your $500 isn't a contract, just get that money refunded.

Don't bother filling out a review on BBB, don't bother contacting a lawyer( they'll just tell you what I did), go straight to Ford with a complaint about the dealer.

This is what will actually get something done. A complaint to Ford will actually affect the dealer, they'll receive fewer allocations going forward, they'll earn less on the back end of each vehicle they sell. One complaint is all it takes. Then its on them to decide if not selling that truck is worth it.

 

[Zengineer]

The dealer knows that the very worst thing that will come out of this is they give you your $500 back. No lawyer would get involved in this, the BBB has no teeth and going on some social media campaign is childish.

It's unfortunate but take one simple last swing at the manager to give you the original deal suggested by the sales guy and if that doesn't work move on.

It is very common to have sales guys offer a very attractive deal and later come back with "the owner/manager" won't agree. The idea is to get you emotionally invested in owning the shiney new truck and give them the upper hand when the less attractive offer is presented as the only option. They do this for one very simple reason: "It usually works"

 

[Graygoose2021]

One day these shady dealers will have tons of stock, and will be begging for customers again...

Just remember those dealers that tried to shag you....
find a better dealer.

 

[Bart]

Please don't reward this dealer with your sale. Leave reviews on all platforms.

 

[antho]

I wouldn’t do it just on principle. Why not order a truck from a dealer that isn’t a clown?

 

[780]

I wouldn’t do it just on principle. Why not order a truck from a dealer that isn’t a clown?

Cause you might have to wait 16 months to get it, lol

Depends how much you want the truck I guess. If there is nothing similar or close to it on another lot and this the truck you want.... It's a tough call.

Definitely a shady dealer and I'd definitely blast the dealer on social media. Plus if you make the deal, I believe Ford send you a survey to fill out about your experience?

Would I let a g-note make or break a deal on a 70K truck that might be hard to come by.... I don't know.

 

[130 Ghost_Riders]

As Zengineer said, the manager is hoping you got emotionally attached to the vehicle and that you’ll walk in and accept the switch. He did it over the phone because turning on someone like that is easier when they aren’t in front of you. Your options are you can rollover, walk away, or try to drive them back to the original deal. I’d walk in and feint ignorance of the call, if they want to press you can ask for the owner or the managers boss to voice your displeasure. You can tell them they can keep the original deal or you’ll walk out loudly displeased of the bait and switch deal changing. The sales manager sounds like he might be a scorched earth type who doesn’t worry about most customers due to the low turnover of most people, unless you’re a yearly vehicle swapper he doesn’t expect to see you again. You were offered 29k for your trade so it’s probably not like you need the new truck, don’t worry about the Joneses and do what is best for you. I drove my last truck for 14 years and if my dealer tried that and didn‘t honor the deal I’d still be in the ’08.

 

[hussar1683]

What would you guys do?
But I'm also a principals man and this guy really irritated me.

I’d tell him to go pound sand if he doesn’t honor his tentative agreement. Just like somebody above said, one day they will have lots full of those things and will be bagging people to buy them for 10k below the MSRP again. If you have a vehicle worth 29k you’re probably not in a dire need of a new one.
No way I would ever pay a penny over the MSRP which is already inflated to begin with.
Dealer markups can only last for as long as there’s enough morons out there willing to pay up.

 

[Jesse-Infotainment]

One thing to remember also you may be able to find it less later but as prices of vehicles begin to lower so will trade values. So it’s a toss up in the end. Like was stated above. The truck sounds like a want over a need so it’s a matter of how badly you want it.

it sucks to let people win that behave this way. Soon the end they will never learn if they aren’t taught.
I would suggest if he is the sales manager there is a general manager and email the general manager and ask him if the behavior displayed by the sales manager is in line with the dealerships and if so then you have your answer, so do business with a dealership that has that kind of ethic. I wouldn’t. I couldn’t bring myself to deal with anyone that saw it fit to treat me that way.

I have no patience for people like that.

 

[DCBoost]

That seems like a rare build to find these days. If it was me, I would grin and pay it. Sign a contract with them so they're locked in. Get the truck and report them to Ford. Let them know the 1 star they will receive when Ford sends you a survey.

 

[Tobstertx3]

Interested to see how this plays out……

 

[SupraVu]

The sales rep would need the manager's OK before approving any deal. Im surprised this wasnt the case.

Post up all texts/emails on Google, FB, any and all social media accounts available. Specifically name the manager in your post and leave a 1 star review...

That is, if they still wont honor the deal

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