ws6 jim
08-22-2010, 04:10 PM
Some of you may know I am buying a 2011 Camaro SS and in the process of selling my 1999 Formula. There's nothing wrong with the Formula its just with all this construction and taking 206 all the way to Somerset County from Ewing its not economical or enjoyable to drive in that kind of traffic. So I've been price shopping as I'm getting realistically closer to buying one. I heard about truecar.com that gives you real world pricing of what others are paying for the same car. Also there is an option for a pricing certificate to lock in the best advertised price which on a 2011 is $475 below invoice courtesy of Fred Beans Chevrolet. Also to get the certificate it prompts you for your contact info email cell etc. So I've been in contact with several dealers regarding the car. I explain to them my main hold up is selling my car which is on autotrader and I provide a link showing them the car and the details of it because it is not your stock everyday car. So yesterday after work I head over to Fred Beans in Doylestown which is a little bit of a drive from me.
I am greeted promptly and everyone is nice including the salesman I've been in contact with. I sit down give my info and we build the car through his workbench. We finish up those details and thats when things turned for the worse. They need to drive and look over my car for an accurate appraisal. Now keep in mind I sent them the info explaining to them the work done and I was only making the drive because they said they would arrive at a value fair to both of us.
So now I give the keys to the appraiser and tell him its the blue firebird and I point to it. Well he walks to a black fourth gen CAMARO and starts writing up his sheet and doing a walk around. I walk out and point out my car and correct him. The salesman makes a joke about him needing crumbs to make it back to the building making light of what happened. He then starts it up and takes it for a spin. When he comes back he says its running pretty rough. I tell him its because of the choppy cam and high stall torque converter at this point I'm speaking a different language.
The salesman has been passing the time talking to others answering calls and helping another customer while I am at his desk. I understand its Saturday their busy day, but its been a while now. He finally gets the trade in value for my car and is eager to tell me they can give me $1500.00 for the car. The car and 3000.00 cash and I can get a 632 payment for the next 6 years sounds like a good deal right?!?!
At this point I am frustrated, but I don't show it I just choose my words very carefully. I told him thats unacceptable and ask him how can he arrive at that price point so he brings his manager over to lay down the law and pressure me into the sale right there.
I tell him I would rather give him 1500 cash than to give away the car. He says okay so lets put the deposit on your credit card today and he almost dares me to sell the car in 8 weeks in time for the Camaro to arrive. This is after I question that they have a stock and tired looking 2000 Formula priced at 9000 with 93k on it sitting on their own lot. I then question how can they expect that sort of financial commitment from me when I'm not getting anything from their side. They aren't getting the picture or aren't admitting where I'm coming from. I also let them know that I have another car to drive and theres no pressure from my side. So I then get up after being there 2 hours and driving back home 45 minutes empty handed, but with a better understanding how dealers work and make money off their customers both ways. They didn't want to see any paper work I brought for my car, they acted like they were doing me a favor, and told me when I'm ready I don't have to drive to the dealership, but rather call in my credit card for the deposit. Well they are right I won't be driving to Fred Beans again. I'll also email them when I sell the car. I'll let them know how much I sold it for, that I'm ready to buy....just not from them I'll have their pricing certicate matched by someone else and thank them for the experience.
Morals of the story cash is king, Fred Beans SUCKS, and a dealer will promise you everything just to get you in the door.
End rant
I am greeted promptly and everyone is nice including the salesman I've been in contact with. I sit down give my info and we build the car through his workbench. We finish up those details and thats when things turned for the worse. They need to drive and look over my car for an accurate appraisal. Now keep in mind I sent them the info explaining to them the work done and I was only making the drive because they said they would arrive at a value fair to both of us.
So now I give the keys to the appraiser and tell him its the blue firebird and I point to it. Well he walks to a black fourth gen CAMARO and starts writing up his sheet and doing a walk around. I walk out and point out my car and correct him. The salesman makes a joke about him needing crumbs to make it back to the building making light of what happened. He then starts it up and takes it for a spin. When he comes back he says its running pretty rough. I tell him its because of the choppy cam and high stall torque converter at this point I'm speaking a different language.
The salesman has been passing the time talking to others answering calls and helping another customer while I am at his desk. I understand its Saturday their busy day, but its been a while now. He finally gets the trade in value for my car and is eager to tell me they can give me $1500.00 for the car. The car and 3000.00 cash and I can get a 632 payment for the next 6 years sounds like a good deal right?!?!
At this point I am frustrated, but I don't show it I just choose my words very carefully. I told him thats unacceptable and ask him how can he arrive at that price point so he brings his manager over to lay down the law and pressure me into the sale right there.
I tell him I would rather give him 1500 cash than to give away the car. He says okay so lets put the deposit on your credit card today and he almost dares me to sell the car in 8 weeks in time for the Camaro to arrive. This is after I question that they have a stock and tired looking 2000 Formula priced at 9000 with 93k on it sitting on their own lot. I then question how can they expect that sort of financial commitment from me when I'm not getting anything from their side. They aren't getting the picture or aren't admitting where I'm coming from. I also let them know that I have another car to drive and theres no pressure from my side. So I then get up after being there 2 hours and driving back home 45 minutes empty handed, but with a better understanding how dealers work and make money off their customers both ways. They didn't want to see any paper work I brought for my car, they acted like they were doing me a favor, and told me when I'm ready I don't have to drive to the dealership, but rather call in my credit card for the deposit. Well they are right I won't be driving to Fred Beans again. I'll also email them when I sell the car. I'll let them know how much I sold it for, that I'm ready to buy....just not from them I'll have their pricing certicate matched by someone else and thank them for the experience.
Morals of the story cash is king, Fred Beans SUCKS, and a dealer will promise you everything just to get you in the door.
End rant