What is this dealership trying to do?

So my wife and I went to the dealership on 2/15 to look at a new Off Road. They had to find a truck, so they had us fill out the credit application, and they would find the truck within 7-10 days.

The truck came in today, which I only found out because I called the sales guy at 5pm to ask what was going on with the truck. Here’s the issue:


He gives me the VIN and then tells me to give the insurance company the lien holder (he named one). This struck me as odd as I am aware of the process and I haven’t even met the finance guy to discuss options. I told him I don’t know who the lien holder is yet as we will decide that tomorrow. He repeatedly insists that they’ve already looked into it and this is “the best deal”. I told him that he has absolutely no authority to dictate what bank I finance with, and that honestly, I don’t think he should even be aware of any of these details as he is not the finance guy. He argued with me for a while and kept pushing/insisting that this is how it works, but eventually gave up as I refused to accept this. His reasoning in the end was “your insurance may not be open tomorrow to add the truck, in which case you can’t take it home”, I told him I don’t care, I’m in no rush.

He then asks me how much we are putting down (he pushed this in person too, so I just gave an approximate number). I said I would discuss that with the finance guy tomorrow when we come in. He insists that he needs to know the exact amount. I told him it was none of his business and that I would talk to the finance guy about it tomorrow. He kept pushing until I got pissed off enough and he said we could wait until tomorrow then. He then went on about how I’m being rude and he’s “done so much for me”.

A little back story on my interactions with the sales guy:

Spoiler

I initially reached out online for a price. I was contacted and told they would look for a truck and call me back the next day. I was never contacted again, even after trying to follow up with the sales guy. So I emailed the manager and he gave me a price and apologized.

So I go in and they give me this new sales guy. He asks me what I’m looking for and I tell him everything I want (Cab size, trim, engine, 4x4, packages, etc)… I shit you not, this man looks at me and nervously says “You obviously know a lot more about this than me, but does the Off Road come in an access cab?”. Great way to start a sale, right?

I hated this guy already, but I know exactly what I want, I have a price, and I’m not adding ANYTHING on to the purchase, so I figured fuck it, I’ll let him rock.

He then proceeded to tell me about “new for 2021” features that the truck has had since 2016, argued with me insisting that the access cab can’t have the premium package, gave me a price $700 higher than the manager and then basically called me a liar until I showed him the email and he verified it with the manager. He also refuses to call me by my first name. He calls me by my last name despite me correcting him in person and on the phone. I can go on.

My question… what are they doing? I’ve bought several cars and never had any dealership try to do business this way. Am I wrong here? Maybe this is legit.

It almost seems like they already went ahead and pulled a loan on our behalf before they even had the truck since he kept repeating the initial down payment amount I gave him trying to get me to confirm.


ETA: I get the truck on page 4

 

They may be trying to steer you to one of their banks to get a kick back.

 

EJECT!

I did, but didn't need to read past the part about filling out a credit app before actual vehicle was located and price was discussed.

 

That's not how to buy a truck . This has Rip Off written all over it .

 

Run. Don't walk away. Unless you failed to mention it, you have no sales contract. Go somewhere else - and file a complaint with Toyota and your local BBB. Go to another dealership, even if it means driving a distance. You will not be happy with this place.

 

Yeah fuckery is afoot!

 

I would buy elsewhere.

 

they want your money

 

I agree, I would go else where.

 

I hear stories about a red flag going up here or there, but this has flags popping up all over the place. I'd say it isn't worth it, just go find another truck somewhere else.

 

Leave them. They're trying finance you for kick back.

Just cut them off cold turkey.

 

Seems a if not the main ingredient of a vehicle purchase is missing from your opening posts, did you and dealership agree upon a sales price?

 

Plus it’s the end of the month, salesman trying to get his numbers so he’s being extra pushy. He wouldn’t care if you got 22% interest as long as he can count the sale.
Skip it, find a new dealer

 

Good cop bad coppin you. Something about you made them deploy this shady tactic.

If you have choices bail.

 

Had the same shit happen at a dealership that I told them I was using my credit union. Kept trying to get me to sign the loan paperwork, saying it was just preliminary and that my credit union would be used. I kept asking, if my credit union is being used why the hell do I need to fill out your loan paperwork.

It took me losing my shit and actually being out the front door and almost inside my car before they stopped the shenanigans.

All this over a used truck that I knew exactly how much they bought it for (I was going to buy it private party but the guy didn't wait for a couple of days for me to get the check from our credit union and he told me which dealership he traded it into and for exactly how much).

A bad dealership is one to stay away from. There is no such thing as one bad apple, they're either all bad or all good.

 

That's what I was thinking, which isn't uncommon, I just couldn't believe they would try it over the phone and the sales guy, rather than finance

I failed to mention it. I do have a sales contract.

Yeah, we agreed upon a sales price, that part should be in the spoiler to save space.


This is where I serviced my 16 Sport for the past 5.5 years, aside from overinflating my tires I never really had an issue with them

 

I don’t get it so have you negotiated the price otd on the truck ? When u filled out the credit application u gave them the right to find the financing for you of there choice it’s in the fine print . The guy asking how much your putting down has nothing to do with the finance guy . It goes threw the sales manager so they structure a deal on the truck. The insurance part all you have to do is show proof of insurance and you have something like 2 days to insure the truck . I don’t see anything wrong with what they are asking for . I think your over thinking it .but if your gut says run then run to a new dealer . Best of luck man .

 

Still doesn't matter - walk away.

 

Check your credit report and email the GM directly. Tell them you didn't authorize a loan initiate and please verify personally that it didn't happen. Its a criminal complaint if they did, but there's no need to voice that part out loud, yet.

PS. Don't give them the opportunity to make it right and if they try, tell them your experience word for word, and that's there is no way to make it right after that experience. Its not emotional, it's that's you can't make a business agreement with a company that has problems with staff behavior.

Run and find another dealer.

 

They are really trying to force you into buying the vehicle! Personally, as others have said, I would go elsewhere. You owe this dealership nothing.

Take some time to watch some of these videos:

https://www.youtube.com/c/KevinHunter/videos