Dealer Warning - Dallas, Texas

[DougB]

I had a really bad experience with John Eagle Honda on Lemmon Avenue in Dallas. They quoted a deal on a '07 Ridgeline RTL/NAV via email from an internet build your own/quote from the Honda web sight, which I accepted and confirmed by email. When I arrived to sign the papers the salesman said that he thought that the towing package,which was one of the accessories in the deal, was factory included with the RTL. So they then tried to get me for $700 more. They offered no reasonable compromise and I walked. Manager would do nothing but say that the salesman made a mistake and they were not going to eat the towing package. Have a nice day!

Doug

[streetwerkzclothing]

walk on them, buy elsewhere. then go back and show off the ridgeline to the original dealer that you went to.

[ShootinDownTheStars]

remeber gang...in california, if they put those prices in email format like that, mistake or not, THEY HAVE TO SELL IT TO YOU NO MATTER WHAT THEY SAY!!!!!!! Not sure about Texas...if it is worth your while, contact your DMV....they wold know the answer and you could force them into that deal. It had to ba good deal for them to let you walk over a towing package.

[UglyDuck]

I can't believe that people are actually suprised by the actions of salesmen.

My salesman promised me one price and since we were previous customers I trusted him on the price, then when I signed the paperwork I noticed he only gave me 900.00 off, not 1,000.00 off.

I figured, oh well, my mistake.

then when they screwed up my RTS and replaced it with an RTL, I was supposed to come over right away to switch trucks. I took the remainder of the day off.

Then he couldn't reach the credit union in 5 minutes so told me to drive home and he would call and finish the deal.

He called two days later because he had been on vacation and wouldn't let any body else handle the deal and I had to wait because it was a switch.

Then he tried to screw me on the price again, but I made him give me some extras, then he said he was doing me a favor by coming in and doing the deal.


Then they lost the 30,000 check I had given them for the first check and had a check for the same for the 2nd truck and I was accruing interest on both.

I finally called and complained because I was paying a huge amount of interest on 60,000.00 and only actually owned one truck.

Turns out the finance department left the note in their desk and had I not called the check would not have been returned to my credit union for another month when they did the balancing.


They made good on the interest, but sent the check to my credit union to nobodys attention and it ended up in an FDIC misc account because the credit union didn't get it the government did and nobody knew where it came from, but rather than return to sender they just deposited it:eek:

So, don't deal with the government because idiots are working there and I think the same goes for most car dealerships. Once they get you down there you are dead meat.

All of that was reflected on the survey I returned to Honda. I will never buy from them again and will probably return to Toyota, but since the truck depreciated down to 23,000 trade in the two months I've owned it and the sticker was 32,040.00 I have a feeling I will be keeping it for a number of years.

Just venting - dealerships drive me to the point of insanity

[ShootinDownTheStars]

Holey Cow!!!!!

I don't think I have ever heard a story that jacked up about buying a car in my life!!!! I mean, it sure never fails. Seems like everything that can go wrong in a car deal always seems to happen to one person..the ol Murphy's Law mentality, BUt Wow!!!!

that so sucks!!!! Too bad to see you return to Toyota out of HOnda over a crappy run dealership, but I sure can understand why you would think about it or do it!!!!!!

Wow. Just flabbergasted by that one.

[chisoxjim]

seems the much heralded advise for "everyone to get a price/buy their vehicle/RL on the net" doesnt always work does it...?

This is about the 10th thread where someone thought they had "negotiated" a price over the net, and once they go there the truck was used, damaged, or the price was bad, etc, and others have given credit cards to hold a vehicle, and a switcheroo made...

the internet = buyer beware


Glad I used the net for research only, and did my deal face to face, ... Dealer has alot harder time being a weasel when you can look them in the eye,

[SweeeeetRedRidgeline]

All of that was reflected on the survey I returned to Honda. I will never buy from them again and will probably return to Toyota, but since the truck depreciated down to 23,000 trade in the two months I've owned it and the sticker was 32,040.00 I have a feeling I will be keeping it for a number of years.

Just venting - dealerships drive me to the point of insanity


Every used 06 RTL I have seen, is usually going for just below invoice. I dont know who quoted you 23,000 as a trade in but im pretty sure if you advertised that price, it would sell instantly. I think your just looking for a reason to keep the truck.................:)

[ShootinDownTheStars]

seems the much heralded advise for "everyone to get a price/buy their vehicle/RL on the net" doesnt always work does it...?

This is about the 10th thread where someone thought they had "negotiated" a price over the net, and once they go there the truck was used, damaged, or the price was bad, etc, and others have given credit cards to hold a vehicle, and a switcheroo made...

the internet = buyer beware


Glad I used the net for research only, and did my deal face to face, ... Dealer has alot harder time being a weasel when you can look them in the eye,

I am going to have to agree with a lot of this. There are more success stories ofinternet shopping than bad ones, but if you can use the internet for research, then get to a store, you do at least see exactly what you are buying.

There will always be dealers that will do whatever they feel they need to to get you to their store. A sI have mentioned in the past, there is no such thing as best price that nobody else will do. I had a sales meeting a couple weeks ago and the message to the team was simple.

There are three things that make a car deal...

1.-Price
2.-Availabilty of product desired
3-Idiocy

We will never lose a deal to price. If the guy down the street can do it, we will do it.

We can lose a deal to availability, but if I can't get it, then usually nobody can so we just need to find something different that works for the customer.

Idiocy works both ways. The Customer with uneducated idiatic requests or demands that are impossible to fullfill, or us the dealer doing idiotic things that make people take their business elsewhere. :D

Amazing to me that these dealers like having customers standingin front of them pissed off about being lied to. This job is stressful enough as it is!!!

Just make sure, if you do decide to do everything over the net, ask the questions and get them in writing. Is this a new car? How many miles are on it? Your price DOES include the tow package, correct? Etc ETc Etc. LEave as little to question as possible before you head down to the dealership.

[chisoxjim]

The internet is awesome for gathering info, although sometimes you have to weed through dis-information. I will order/pay for a CD, or a video game through the net, but a car purchase....hell no....


Part of the problem with the net is that it prevents face to face interaction, and allows devious people to hide behind their monitor with very little recourse.

This was my 3rd new vehicle purchase, and my 8th vehicle purchase overall, and each time I learned something. This time keeping the cost below $25,000 was my main goal, and when the dealer met the price I wanted I took it, and since they bargained in good faith I did not step back and say, ok, now I want you to throw in x,y, & z. I probably could have gotten the tow package, etc, but a deal is a deal, and your word is all you have in this world.

Honda treated me very well, this was my first Honda ever, and will not be my last, guranteed.

[DougB]

This is the email string with the John Eagle dealer (read bottom to top). It was a mix of email and phone calls as you will see in the string. But there is no question what I was looking for. He offered it to me for $33,185. + TT&L ($185.00 over my offer). I deleted email addresses.


Doug, we had just spoken to each other and we are $185.00 away from a great...no excuse me, an incredible deal. Doug you need to understand that if I could have done that earlier this morning, I would have. I want to earn your business, but I don't know what I need to do in order to convince you that you are getting an incredible deal! Now I realize that maybe it is a little difficult for you since you do not know me from Adam. But, I can assure you that I do not waste anyone's time, especially since I am extremely time challenged. Let's go ahead and secure the deal, what do you think?

--- original message ---
From: Doug@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: 7/10/2006 6:51 PM
To: ;xxxxx.JohnEagle@xxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: RE: Thank You For Your Inquiry


Stephen,
If you can get the price down to $33,000.00 plus TT&L with the accessories I want, I'll do the deal with you.

Doug XXXXX
-----Original Message-----
From: xxxxx.JohnEagle@xxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:xxxxx.JohnEagle@xxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Monday, July 10, 2006 10:59 AM
To: XXXXX, Doug - 335
Subject: RE: RE: Thank You For Your Inquiry


Qustion Doug,

Is that the only color you will consider?

--- original message ---
From: Doug@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: 7/10/2006 9:54 AM
To: ;xxxxx.JohnEagle@xxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: Thank You For Your Inquiry


Stephen,

I don't need to look at it or drive it. I have already done that and know what I want. It's just a matter of price. I made the same request to 6-7 local Honda dealers. Whoever gives me the best deal (cheapest price) gets my business! However, you are very close to my office on XXXXX Avenue, and would be the most convenient to deal with as far as purchase as well as service.

'07 Dark Cherry Pearl RTL w/NAV
Running Boards
Trailer hitch and harness
Front and rear chrome bumper trim.

Cash deal. No trade.

Regards,

Doug XXXXXX

[denvrfan]

The Internet is the ONLY way I will purchase cars. It has worked extremely well for a handful of car purchases I have made. No surprises whatsoever. I even was able to negotiate my trade in- sight unseen. No only did this dealer honor the deal, he barely looked at my trade when we arrived to complete the deal. In this era of internet shopping, an internet-savvy dealer has a distinct advantage vs. the stone-age guys that still try to do things the old fashion way.

[UglyDuck]

Every used 06 RTL I have seen, is usually going for just below invoice. I dont know who quoted you 23,000 as a trade in but im pretty sure if you advertised that price, it would sell instantly. I think your just looking for a reason to keep the truck.................:)
:) Edmunds actually - mixed on the truck like it/don't like some things, fat, heavy, ugly, slow

but,

comfortable, roomy, leather and decent gas mileage for a vehicle that size, lots of nifty cubbies with room to tuck my road bikes behind the seat and still throw gear all over the place in the bed & in the trunk.

HOwever, with all my mixed feelings on my own vehicle, I would recommend it to anybody who has a family and is looking for a great mixed use vehicle - just have to watch the dealers.

Just saw two today with 20's - it helped distract from the slab-side thing - really like the difference in person.:D

[UglyDuck]

The Internet is the ONLY way I will purchase cars. It has worked extremely well for a handful of car purchases I have made. No surprises whatsoever. I even was able to negotiate my trade in- sight unseen. No only did this dealer honor the deal, he barely looked at my trade when we arrived to complete the deal. In this era of internet shopping, an internet-savvy dealer has a distinct advantage vs. the stone-age guys that still try to do things the old fashion way.
I saw some prices on carsdirect.com (I think that was it) that kicked my purchase price to hell, next car will be an internet purchase as well.

[denvrfan]

I saw some prices on carsdirect.com (I think that was it) that kicked my purchase price to hell, next car will be an internet purchase as well.

When I said I buy all my cars via the internet, I wasn't talking about car buying services. I do all the research on the web and then start an email campaign to dealers within a 50 mile radius. You quickly learn who is serious about earning your business and hopefully, who you can trust to honor the price when you arrive with your checkbook. Again, it has worked great for me.

[BLK RTL]

My Best bud went to get an 06 Pilot, after failing to get a reponse from the dealers internet sales guy. The showroom salesman was going to kill him on his trade in ,2004 Accord EX-L. He left home in the Accord, Net guy calls next day, offering a $2k savings... He got his Pilot from the same dealership, and said hello to the other sales guy on his way out! Sometimes we win the battle

[hwycycle]

The internet saved me almost $6k off the sticker for my 2006 RTL with a sunroof. Like others have said, send a request for the make and model with the options you're looking for. Then make sure to print out the email with the quoted price. I spent 3 days driving from dealer to dealer looking for the best truck I could find. I was VERY suprised to find many of the trucks had damage. Whether it was gouged bumper skins or stained carpet, cloudy lenses you name it. Once I found my silver RTL w/ a roof and a build date of 5-06, I presented to the sales manager my quotes from OTHER dealers and with little effort they matched the price. Moral of the story;
2006 RTL w/ a roof for $27,500 including destination.
WORK THE INTERNET........you'll save