Car/Truck Buying Experiences

[Aavoxx]

Anyone with experience using one of the online sellers like carvana or vroom? I check out cars on carvana periodically for fun, would be curious to hear the experience if anyone has actually bought a car from them.

I sold my truck to Carvana. I highly recommend selling them vehicles. I don't know that I would buy one for the same reason.

 

[DancingOutlaw]

Check this one out. Look at the DOC fee, and they weren’t able to tel me what the heck the NAS theft fee is. Claimed Toyota makes them charge it. This is at a popular Knoxville Toyota dealer.

Honda dealership had a similar thing for the van my wife was looking at. It was some LoJack like system that you could sign up to have monitored. Said it was already installed. I said well we’re not paying for it because we won’t use it. Said they couldn’t uninstall. Cleveland Honda figured out how to do it lol. Guy offered her $500 for her car and said really it was worth $0. Cleveland gave her $1800. I had the wife take her van by Chattanooga Honda for her first oil change just for grins. I think it speaks to how tight the labor market is that they’re willingly hiring morons for customer facing positions.

 

[tn4elvis]

I bought my current F150 from Ted Russell and never again. The price was okay but the management person on duty was an ******* and treated me like sh1t. After I bought the vehicle and before I picked it up they called me and said they had made a mistake on the paper work and I owed them another $400 or so. I told them to keep it and to give me my money back. I got a song and dance from the finance person, even though I paid cash, that this would come out of her paycheck, whhhhaaaa. The bottom line is I would never buy a hotdog from that place again much less a vehicle.

Come south to a real Ford Store.Marshal Mize Ford.Ive worked there for 30 years.We have more selection and better prices.

 

[tn4elvis]

I wanted to start a thread on this because, for whatever reason, I love hearing stories about car dealerships. Both good and bad.....but mainly the horror stories. I am currently in the market for a truck, and it's made me remember a lot of my experiences. I don't have a ton of negative ones since I have only bought 2 cars from a dealer, but I have one that happened recently that me and wife are still laughing about and in shock. I'm also going to call the dealer out to you because it's something that needs to be known anyways if you're in the market for a truck.

So I searched for a Toyota Tundra for a couple of weeks. I wanted a newer 17-18 model with a leveling kit and after market wheels. Need the lift to see over my boat while towing. I would've done this myself if I could've found one cheap enough to have the $3,500 wiggle room with. One popped up in Knoxville, and I wanted to drive it, mainly because I have never driven a Tundra. So we had a free Saturday afternoon to go check this one and a few others out. Weather was kind of crappy so all of the dealerships were really slow. We check out the tundra and unfortunately it had not been through pre-inspection yet, so we could not drive it. So we leave. My wife's grandfather retired from Ford Motor Company so she gets the Z-Plan. So as we're leaving the Toyota Dealership, I get the "Babe, you know we get that pretty nice discount on new Fords, so why don't you check them out?" I give in. I thought, what the hell, I haven't driven the new F-150's so I will check one out. We roll into Ted Russell Ford on Parkside as it began to rain and my wife and I are the only customers in the dealership. As I walk in, I see it. One of the most beautiful trucks I have even laid my eyes on. It had everything I wanted. The color, the lift/leveling kit, the wheels, the interior, the matching bed liner, the step rails....EVERYTHING. I fell in love. I am so picky when it comes to vehicles and this was the first time in my life one had everything I wanted. This thing was $61,000. I am pretty financially responsible, and I wanted to explore my other options prior to spending near that.

I noticed they had another lifted F-150 on the lot that was in a much cheaper trim. We get a salesman, who is from India I believe. I could barely understand the guy honestly (I swear i'm not racist. Don't care where you are from as long as I get the deal I want). Anyways, I wanted to drive the truck outside because a Truck can drive a lot different lifted/leveled than a stock one, and this one afforded me the ability to experience that. So we hop in for a quick test drive. Test drive went fine and we get back to the lot. He asked me what I thought about the truck. I responded, "I like it, but I don't like the color scheme." Dude shakes his head and lets out a quick burst of air. I look at my wife, and she gives me the please calm down look. So I asked if I could possibly add that package to a different truck on the lot and he said yes. We go inside to see what the total $ figures on the Z-Plan would be. During this time, his manager is appraising my truck for a trade in. We finish, and I just really wasn't feeling like I was getting the truck I wanted, and the price was a little higher than I wanted. I then tell him that I really want the one on the floor, and that if I could possibly drive it, I would willing to buy today if trade in was appropriate. He responds to me by saying that I needed to put a $2,500 deposit on that truck before I put the keys in the ignition. Really? It's not a f*****g raptor. At this point I know I won't spend my money here. But wait there's more!!!!!

Before we were completely done, he brings me the deal sheet with my trade in on it. $10,000 for my truck. I had ran the numbers prior to going that day. Average Trade on NADA (which I have a sub to) was $14,375 and clean trade was $15,600. They could sell the truck for about $17,900. The sales manager made a fictitious NADA document in excel by snipping out the NADA logo and pasting it in an excel document. I call out the salesman on it. I tell him I worked in lending for 3 years and I know this is a fake document. Dude gets pissed and says no it's not. At this point, I tell my wife lets go. Salesman gets up and exclaims I am his 7th customer today and...."Nobody Buy, Nobody Buy!!" My response to him was, "I don't give a d**n, buddy!" At this point I realize the Sales Manager has my keys hostage. He comes out and keeps saying, Lets work a deal out today. I said hell no and to give me my keys immediately. I go on to let the Sales Manager know that I would have bought the $61,000 truck on his showroom floor if psycho hadn't treated me like I couldn't afford it. His mouth drops.. My wife is about 3 feet away is laughing hysterically because it's so hard to believe. At this point I laugh too, shake my head, finally get my keys after threatening to call the police, and we go have wings and beer. They blew my phone up for a week begging me to come buy that truck. Told them to go to hell.

TL;DR - Had a bad experience at Ted Russell Ford on Parkside Dr. Pretty funny story, you should read.

What experiences do you have?

If you haven't bought come see me at a real Ford store.Marshal Mize in Chattanooga. I've worked at the store for 30 years.Go on our website and look at our selection and pricing on the raised trucks.We have twice as many and better prices.

 

[tn4elvis]

Lance Cunningham is probably the worst experience I've had. Both on the service end and buying end.

Harper Jaguar had a salesman that treated me like a peasant when I walked in there years ago.

I did end up buying a Jag but from another salesman.

Come to Marshal Mize Ford in Chattanooga. You will love your buying experience. I've worked there for 30 years.The corporate stores are terrible at customer service. We are family owned.Fords highest honor for customer satisfaction is the President's award. Less than 10% of the dealers ever win one.We just won our 18th.No dealer in Knoxville has more than one.We take care of the customers.

 

[MR_VOL]

I could write a book about all the things that has happened to me.

I saw this post earlier today, so I asked my wife what was the worst experience she could remember. We actually ended up making 2 separate categories (1) bad experience and (2) funny/crazy experience.

I have had many, many unusual experiences, at different dealerships, including numbers game, getting a salesman fired, making a salesman freak out and start crying, walking out of closings at least 4 times, dealership not being able to explain fees/charges, treated like I was lying, treated like I could not afford buying this brand (Mercedes), asked to buy items or services not related to a vehicle purchase, a salesman quitting his job then immediately asking me for a job while I was in the dealership, a sales manager say "you got me" and then "most people aren't good at math," a salesman told me he would give me a free trip (which was timeshare) if I bought from him, a sales manager tell me the dealership owner (who is a friend of mine) was not authorized to approve any deal (he was fired immediately), a salesman said he would give me $100 Olive Garden gift card if I bought from him, I told a salesman that I was color-blind and wanted a black exterior and gray interior who proceeded to try and sell me a gray exterior and black interior, a Closing Officer (while laughing) tell me the dealership owner (Knoxville Ford dealer) had added a an additional "Processing Fee" to pay for a boat he had just purchased....to name a few.

 

[BAJAvol]

If you haven't bought come see me at a real Ford store.Marshal Mize in Chattanooga. I've worked at the store for 30 years.Go on our website and look at our selection and pricing on the raised trucks.We have twice as many and better prices.

Keeping my eye on the leftover roushs you guys have. Hope they drop more. I’m tracking a used 18 roush in Knoxville right now. It’s the lead foot color I really like. I actually got a quote from marshal Mize a while back because of the Z the plan. I didn’t know they added $13,000 for the roush package so I just held out.

 

[BAJAvol]

I could write a book about all the things that has happened to me.

I saw this post earlier today, so I asked my wife what was the worst experience she could remember. We actually ended up making 2 separate categories (1) bad experience and (2) funny/crazy experience.

I have had many, many unusual experiences, at different dealerships, including numbers game, getting a salesman fired, making a salesman freak out and start crying, walking out of closings at least 4 times, dealership not being able to explain fees/charges, treated like I was lying, treated like I could not afford buying this brand (Mercedes), asked to buy items or services not related to a vehicle purchase, a salesman quitting his job then immediately asking me for a job while I was in the dealership, a sales manager say "you got me" and then "most people aren't good at math," a salesman told me he would give me a free trip (which was timeshare) if I bought from him, a sales manager tell me the dealership owner (who is a friend of mine) was not authorized to approve any deal (he was fired immediately), a salesman said he would give me $100 Olive Garden gift card if I bought from him, I told a salesman that I was color-blind and wanted a black exterior and gray interior who proceeded to try and sell me a gray exterior and black interior, a Closing Officer (while laughing) tell me the dealership owner (Knoxville Ford dealer) had added a an additional "Processing Fee" to pay for a boat he had just purchased....to name a few.

This was a great read. I’m literally lol’ing

 

[jp1]

"when I buy a car, I talk to Jerry. when I buy a boat, I talk to Jerry. What I'm saying is Jerry knows about buying things..."

Anyone recognize that quote/paraphrase?

Does the Jerry you are speaking of know the Rev. Raleigh Arnwine by chance?

 

[WallyBalls]

Check this one out. Look at the DOC fee, and they weren’t able to tel me what the heck the NAS theft fee is. Claimed Toyota makes them charge it. This is at a popular Knoxville Toyota dealer.

Seeing that sheet made me cringe. I loathe the business.

Back when I was still in that world...something like "NAS Theft" was usually some type BS insurance thing F&I loved to tack on. NAS (Nationwide Automotive Service) generally has all sorts of crap like that they offer (theft protection, wheel coverage, various crap). And none of it is ever mandatory.

I remember at my dealership we had an empty office that was stacked full with "interior protection kits" that were billed out at $300-1000 (whatever they could roll into the monthly payment) that were never even handed out. I just worked in Parts but I saw plenty of that garbage.

That business is addicted to the easy money, and I don't know if it will ever get clean. The Toyota dealership I loved in Asheville was sold and is just another bullsh!t place now. One day I hope a business finally changes the new car market, they would be wise to watch was the Carmax/Carvanas of the world are doing and maybe adjust a little bit...

 

[BAJAvol]

Seeing that sheet made me cringe. I loathe the business.

Back when I was still in that world...something like "NAS Theft" was usually some type BS insurance thing F&I loved to tack on. NAS (Nationwide Automotive Service) generally has all sorts of crap like that they offer (theft protection, wheel coverage, various crap). And none of it is ever mandatory.

I remember at my dealership we had an empty office that was stacked full with "interior protection kits" that were billed out at $300-1000 (whatever they could roll into the monthly payment) that were never even handed out. I just worked in Parts but I saw plenty of that garbage.

That business is addicted to the easy money, and I don't know if it will ever get clean. The Toyota dealership I loved in Asheville was sold and is just another bullsh!t place now. One day I hope a business finally changes the new car market, they would be wise to watch was the Carmax/Carvanas of the world are doing and maybe adjust a little bit...

A DOC fee in excess of $600 is absolutely insane to me. you want to charge people for paper prep work that takes 45 minutes if that? Heck no. You know what they make money off of because it's shoved down your throat by the finance managers 10x. Extended warranties, NAS products, GAP, Ect. Most people have no idea that items like GAP can be purchased at a credit union (if that is where you are financing the vehicle) for a fraction of the price. Had one dealer that wanted to charge $1,099 for GAP. My credit union offers in for $449. I read an article the other day talking about how dealers have began to struggle due to the power of smart phones. Now the consumer knows what a car is worth, a ball park of what they paid on trade in, etc. So they can't mark cars up as high as they used to on used inventory. So the pressure to sell these add on products are overwhelming car salesmen. If places like Carvana, Vroom, etc. would price their stuff better, I don't think many physical brick and mortar car lots would survive it.

 

[BAJAvol]

If you haven't bought come see me at a real Ford store.Marshal Mize in Chattanooga. I've worked at the store for 30 years.Go on our website and look at our selection and pricing on the raised trucks.We have twice as many and better prices.

Also, are you able to provide pink slips on trucks?

 

[WallyBalls]

A DOC fee in excess of $600 is absolutely insane to me. you want to charge people for paper prep work that takes 45 minutes if that? Heck no. You know what they make money off of because it's shoved down your throat by the finance managers 10x. Extended warranties, NAS products, GAP, Ect. Most people have no idea that items like GAP can be purchased at a credit union (if that is where you are financing the vehicle) for a fraction of the price. Had one dealer that wanted to charge $1,099 for GAP. My credit union offers in for $449. I read an article the other day talking about how dealers have began to struggle due to the power of smart phones. Now the consumer knows what a car is worth, a ball park of what they paid on trade in, etc. So they can't mark cars up as high as they used to on used inventory. So the pressure to sell these add on products are overwhelming car salesmen. If places like Carvana, Vroom, etc. would price their stuff better, I don't think many physical brick and mortar car lots would survive it.

Add to that more and more buyers have absolutely zero interest in spending several hours in a dealership going through the 'traditional' experience. Its another thing online shopping has changed. Its why I have respect for dealerships that employ and empower decent internet sales people, as well as dealerships that see some value in creating a return customer rather than bleeding them dry the one time they step on the lot.

Ordering my 4Runner in 2015 took an two emails, one phone call for a deposit, and I was picking it up 6 weeks later. Signing the papers took 25min. Its why I was so disappointed that dealership changed hands.

 

[05_never_again]

I could write a book about all the things that has happened to me.

I saw this post earlier today, so I asked my wife what was the worst experience she could remember. We actually ended up making 2 separate categories (1) bad experience and (2) funny/crazy experience.

I have had many, many unusual experiences, at different dealerships, including numbers game, getting a salesman fired, making a salesman freak out and start crying, walking out of closings at least 4 times, dealership not being able to explain fees/charges, treated like I was lying, treated like I could not afford buying this brand (Mercedes), asked to buy items or services not related to a vehicle purchase, a salesman quitting his job then immediately asking me for a job while I was in the dealership, a sales manager say "you got me" and then "most people aren't good at math," a salesman told me he would give me a free trip (which was timeshare) if I bought from him, a sales manager tell me the dealership owner (who is a friend of mine) was not authorized to approve any deal (he was fired immediately), a salesman said he would give me $100 Olive Garden gift card if I bought from him, I told a salesman that I was color-blind and wanted a black exterior and gray interior who proceeded to try and sell me a gray exterior and black interior, a Closing Officer (while laughing) tell me the dealership owner (Knoxville Ford dealer) had added a an additional "Processing Fee" to pay for a boat he had just purchased....to name a few.

That's one of the funniest things I've ever read.

 

[volinbham]

Does the Jerry you are speaking of know the Rev. Raleigh Arnwine by chance?

I don't recall that name exactly but I do know the guy I quoted might be interested in buying a funeral plot and wants to know if you can double stack.

 

[volinbham]

Told the sales guy it wasn't the color I wanted - he said while most people want a certain color they really spend most of the time inside the car and never really see the color.

Made a deal on a Mazda CX-7 (new) that was on the lot. Doing the paper work on a Wednesday; they told me I could pick up the car on Friday. They couldn't give me a reason why I couldn't have the car that day but they still wanted me to make the purchase. I walked and went to another dealer. Worked a deal that was a couple hundred less but they had to get the car from another dealer they found a couple hundred miles away. Turns out they got the same one I was trying to buy (local) so I got the same one a bit cheaper. Found out/figured out the first dealer was redoing their floor plan (inventory financing) and they needed the car "in stock" as part of the inventory value and were going to act as if it wasn't sold. That was happening on the Thursday and why I could have it on Friday.

 

[jp1]

I don't recall that name exactly but I do know the guy I quoted might be interested in buying a funeral plot and wants to know if you can double stack.

Man on top and woman on the bottom, or woman on top man on the bottom?

 

[BAJAvol]

My absolute favorite thing I love to hear is when they follow up with you and say, "This price will not last long!" lol, ok. you have been sitting on the truck for over 3 months. Do you think raising the price is going to help you move it?

 

[Go aeiou]

Seeing that sheet made me cringe. I loathe the business.

Back when I was still in that world...something like "NAS Theft" was usually some type BS insurance thing F&I loved to tack on. NAS (Nationwide Automotive Service) generally has all sorts of crap like that they offer (theft protection, wheel coverage, various crap). And none of it is ever mandatory.

I remember at my dealership we had an empty office that was stacked full with "interior protection kits" that were billed out at $300-1000 (whatever they could roll into the monthly payment) that were never even handed out. I just worked in Parts but I saw plenty of that garbage.

That business is addicted to the easy money, and I don't know if it will ever get clean. The Toyota dealership I loved in Asheville was sold and is just another bullsh!t place now. One day I hope a business finally changes the new car market, they would be wise to watch was the Carmax/Carvanas of the world are doing and maybe adjust a little bit...

Yep, I flew from Nashville to Asheville to buy a new Camry from the Toyota dealership, and there was absolutely no BS. By far low price and I made the deal on the phone. Not one cent added on the sales document. My sister lives in Asheville, and they have purchased many cars there. Mainly because of a honest service department.

I noticed last fall that they had been purchased. Sad for the consumer.

 

[jp1]

Was looking at a Toyota Sequoia a few years back at a local Toyota dealer in Blount Cty. They had one similar to what I was looking for but wasn't exact. My wife and I asked them if they could find one like we wanted. They informed us that there would be a charge to transfer the car if they found one (we agreed to pay the charge). They called us the following day and said they had located 2 exactly like we wanted in Franklin but when they called the lot they were sold. So I pick up the phone and call the dealer in Franklin and the salesman says "says no sir they are still sitting on our lot". Ended up driving to Franklin.

 

[WallyBalls]

Yep, I flew from Nashville to Asheville to buy a new Camry from the Toyota dealership, and there was absolutely no BS. By far low price and I made the deal on the phone. Not one cent added on the sales document. My sister lives in Asheville, and they have purchased many cars there. Mainly because of a honest service department.

I noticed last fall that they had been purchased. Sad for the consumer.

I still go over there while I'm finishing out the free service thing I got from the old owners.

Its not gotten quite as bad as most other dealerships...you can still walk the lot without getting harassed and most of the cars are unlocked during the day. But they already have a doc fee, aren't interested in finding a specific configuration, and are loading the lot with a lot of el cheapo lift kit trucks and stuff like that to milk some extra money. They aren't headed down a good road.

 

[MR_VOL]

This was a great read. I’m literally lol’ing

If you think it's funny to read, you should have been there. Some of the facial expressions would have tears streaming down your face.

I left out several experiences, but one of my favorites was a Nissan salesman. I am a Dodge man but was looking at a Nissan Titan. The Nissan salesman was telling me how tough the Titan was and it would go anywhere and handle anything I could throw at it. Then he told me about how great of a warranty it had.......so I said if it broke down right now the warranty covers the repair? The salesman said not only is it covered, it is covered "no questions asked." I said ok, and then proceeded to drive in and ultimately through the medium. The salesman and I were bouncing around in the cab about like a first-day cowboy trying to ride a bull. I realized fast, the next time I go through the medium I had better have on my motorcycle helmet.

After completing the u-turn, the salesman was looking straight ahead with that proverbial "dear in the headlights" look when he finally got out "I pissed myself"......he then asked me to drive him home so he could change. After taking him home, he proceeded to ask that I not tell anyone at the dealership about him "wetting" his pants. I didn't tell anyone about his discharge, nor did I buy the truck. I will say this about that Titan, it appeared to be running about as good when we got back as when we left. I shook his hand, and he said "it was an experience"......then as I was getting into my truck he said "don't ever ask for me if you come back."

 

[imw8n4u]

If you think it's funny to read, you should have been there. Some of the facial expressions would have tears streaming down your face.

I left out several experiences, but one of my favorites was a Nissan salesman. I am a Dodge man but was looking at a Nissan Titan. The Nissan salesman was telling me how tough the Titan was and it would go anywhere and handle anything I could throw at it. Then he told me about how great of a warranty it had.......so I said if it broke down right now the warranty covers the repair? The salesman said not only is it covered, it is covered "no questions asked." I said ok, and then proceeded to drive in and ultimately through the medium. The salesman and I were bouncing around in the cab about like a first-day cowboy trying to ride a bull. I realized fast, the next time I go through the medium I had better have on my motorcycle helmet.

After completing the u-turn, the salesman was looking straight ahead with that proverbial "dear in the headlights" look when he finally got out "I pissed myself"......he then asked me to drive him home so he could change. After taking him home, he proceeded to ask that I not tell anyone at the dealership about him "wetting" his pants. I didn't tell anyone about his discharge, nor did I buy the truck. I will say this about that Titan, it appeared to be running about as good when we got back as when we left. I shook his hand, and he said "it was an experience"......then as I was getting into my truck he said "don't ever ask for me if you come back."

Reminds me of this

 

[MR_VOL]

Reminds me of this

I was lucky, the salesman only made a photocopy of my driver's license, and I didn't have to sign anything. Also, while in the medium, my salesman was quiet with his only words being I pissed my pants after completing the u-turn.

With cameras being so small today, I wonder if I could make any money on YouTube recording my visits to car dealerships?

 

[XknoxvolsX]

For the most part, dealers and salesmen don't care if you but it or not or at the price they want to sell it. They know someone will but it.