Isn’t this illegal?

Thought this thread was going to be about the wheels.

 

What is it with blacked out Ram 1500s? I see a lot of them around and good lord are they boring.

 

When I was looking for an Allocation early on, I called Toyota of Kent. They told me this truck was coming, would have a 5k market adjustment, and that I had to use their in-house financing and could not pay cash. So, not only are they screwing people over on the price they want to screw people on financing. When the truck came in, they sent me photos via text. No interest in ever doing business with them. I found 2 other local dealers that are selling MSRP and my truck is being built on Tuesday. With others charging MSRP, this one may rot on the lot.

 

They are some shady people.

 

This.

There have been multiple news stories here in Alberta where the regulator (AMVIC) does absolutely nothing.

 

That’s because that SOB is getting money from the dealerships to look the other way. It’s all about corruption.

 

1. Some sucker might pay it.

2. They can give you a "deal" by dropping the "market adjustment". (Last new car I bought I was going to walk off the lot after seeing a "market adjustment" on the sticker but a salesman got to me first. Told him I'd pay the price that I found on-line through the AAA buying service. He didn't hesitate for a second).

Option 2 probably won't be in effect for the new Tacomas until later this year.

 

Almost every new car dealer, for almost every make, does this crap (including Volkswagen, you name it). They add stuff on, and inflate the price for "dealer installed accessories", with no option for you to just not have them. Best that you can do is negotiate the price to as close to as the MSRP as you can get without their add-ons, or somehow convince them to find a different vehicle, and buy it without their add-ons on delivery.

Sometimes it's for something you would have probably wanted anyway, like window tint. Are you going to ask them to peel the tint off after it's already been installed? Probably not.

 

It's illegal, but enforcement is weak.

https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidan...ule-combating-auto-retail-scams-dealers-guide

"The CARS Rule requires dealers to clearly disclose the offering price – the actual price anyone can pay to get the car, excluding only required government charges. Before they visit the dealership and throughout the transaction, consumers have the right to know the drive-off-the-lot price. If a dealer mentions optional add-ons, the dealer has to tell the consumer they can say no. And if discussing a monthly payment, the dealer has to tell the consumer the total payment."

 

Who gets to make the decision on number 3? There are so many adds that many would consider not beneficial. Paint protection, fabric protection, bed liner, VIN etc, Toyota care, tint, etc.

 

If the dealer claimed to add paint protection but it didn't actually protect the paint, that would qualify, for example. There is some grey area, but just because you don't 'want' the add on doesn't mean that said add on has no value.

"Under the CARS Rule, a dealer may not charge for an add-on product or service if the consumer wouldn’t benefit from it. Examples include charges for “nitrogen-filled tires” that contain no more nitrogen that naturally exists in the air. Other examples are add-ons that don’t provide coverage for the vehicle, the consumer, or the transaction, or are duplicative of the car’s warranty coverage. It would be illegal for a dealer to charge consumers for a GAP Agreement – a term the CARS Rule defines – if the consumer’s vehicle or neighborhood is excluded from coverage or the loan-to-value ratio means the consumer won’t benefit financially from the product or service"

 

They itemized the sticker price and you didn’t buy the car. You can’t sue cause you haven’t been affected by their actions. And if you were, welp it was written on the very sticker you’re complaining about, case dismissed!

This is in no way false advertising.

 

So it’s basically a feel good law that means nothing to the consumer.

 

I have bought cars out of state.

The contract and all details are negotiated before I arrive at the dealer.

https://www.phillongtoyota.com

I arrived. They quickly inspected my trade, verified the new vehicle, and signed the paperwork (no closing hassles; the contract was pre-negotiated out the door).

They accidentally overcharged Texas State Tax (they had written 6.5% when it is 6.25% on new cars) and refunded the overpayment on my traded-in Highlander. My bank was "The Bank of Trinidad?" (They are in Trinidad, Colorado).

Honest dealers get my repeat business. It's a local place (where I bought my Highlander a few years earlier) I'll never buy from again (too many silly games).

The nice thing about dealing out of state is if they sent documents, and they were signed, and you arrived only to find terms changed. Walk out and send a friendly, polite letter requesting a refund of your expenses (mileage, food, logging). Be reasonable (700 miles, three meals, overnight). They will likely ignore, keep at it, and then sue them. Think of a judge reading the letter, "You promised this vehicle at this price, and when the person arrived, it was not as agreed." Don't expect punitive damages; only your expenses will be covered." Dealers don't want bad press; you will win by default if they don't show up to court. Fun times. Sadly, local Judges need donations to win elections; car dealers tend to be huge donors. Humor errupts when their opponent was well funded by dealerships, they weren't, but won any way. I'm not saying anything anymore, but the judge assigned punitive damages to teach them a lesson.

 

Putting Trinidad, Colorado on the map.
I worked for Phil Long Ford for 3 years, not a terrible dealer but not the best. They stole $20,000 worth of commission from a fellow sales person so I lost all respect for upper management and promptly left. He sold a 2005 Ford GT with 160 miles for $190,000. He found the slip where it showed we paid $155,000 plus $2,500 freight to dealer. They paid him off of $175,000 commission and told him it had a special used car pack on it of $20,000. He lost out on $5,200 in pocket commission and threatened to sue (we all have signed commission contracts that are 5-10 pages). GSM paid him $5,000 to make it go away.

 

The did not advertise the end price. It was not pictured in the advertisement.

 

Then how did you know the actual price? Likely because it was clearly printed on the window sticker?

Dealer markups suck but no one is forcing you to buy one much less materially affecting you in any way with them. Some schmuck already bought it anyway lol

 

My guy, the rule says the dealer needs to clearly state the drive-off-the-lot price in advertisements. When the window sticker conflicts with the advertised price the rule is violated.

 

In case you need to go back to school and study up, you might start with the definition of advertise.

 

They are violating this rule EVERYWHERE!