A DRIVER turned to social media for help after claiming a dealership reneged on a deal struck for a used car.
In a post on Reddit, a driver said he negotiated the price of a 2007 Toyota Camry over the phone, but the dealership asked them to pay more when it arrived.
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In March, the Redditor said he found a beat-up Camry in a dealership parking lot for $4,000.
The car reportedly had several interior stains, dings, scratches and some rust on the hood.
The Redditor said the Camry’s odometer reported having traveled more than 174,000 miles during the car’s lifespan.
Even so, the driver said he wanted the sedan because of the low price.
“I called the dealership to confirm that the vehicle was available and for that price,” they said in the post.
“I was told yes and yes.”
They claimed they drove an hour and a half to the dealership to buy the car, but said the sales representatives on the lot resisted the low price.
At first, the Redditor said he couldn’t find his car keys. They also said the salesman who agreed to the deal left that day.
The sellers allegedly sent the buyer home without a car.
Then they said the price of the car increased to $7,000.
The price went up after the dealership performed a “rigorous inspection” of the vehicle.
“The sales manager refused to honor the price given to me the day before,” said the Redditor.
“So I got frustrated with him and said no thanks.”
Then, the Redditor reported that a seller contacted the potential buyer with another offer of $4,000 that included taxes, tags, and car title fees.
“I called to confirm everything and heard that no, the documentation fee is not included in the sales price,” they said.
A car’s documentation fee, or documentation fee, is a charge charged by dealerships to cover the administrative costs of processing paperwork during the purchase of a vehicle.
Tips for dealerships
Here are some expert tips when buying a car from a dealership:
- 1. Set your price: Make sure you have calculated your monthly budget before going to the lot. You must include your car loan payment, insurance costs, fuel and regular maintenance.
- 2. Research: Make sure you know which cars you’re interested in testing before you get to the dealership.
- 3. Pre-approval: Secure financing before going to the dealership. Dealerships may offer a better interest rate if they are competing with an outside bank.
- 4. Test: Drive before making any payments. Buying a car will be worth thousands of dollars – drivers should ensure they like the car’s drivetrain, steering and comfort before driving it off the lot
- 5. Haggle: Drivers should always try to negotiate the price. There are so many good cars on the American market – buyers have a strong hand in negotiating prices.
Source: Kelley Blue Book
Although they are often non-negotiable, these fees can vary widely, so it is worth monitoring them during the purchasing process.
With the documentation fee, the price rose to $5,500.
The additional $1,500 fee killed the deal to bring the Camry home, the Redditor reported.
“We were back and forth all day, with no such luck, with him honoring his word,” they said.
“It seems unfair, unethical and very unprofessional.”
The driver asked a Reddit thread for help in negotiations and several people suggested the driver switch to another vehicle.
“This car is dead to me,” one person suggested.
US Sun contacted the Redditor to confirm elements of this story – they did not immediately respond to our request for comment.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
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