Another Colorado "*******" bites the bullet

[dpuckett]

I decided against Christopher Dodge when they had a 2nd gen one ton with a 5 speed I was interested in. There were 3 vehicles blocking it in, and the salesman didnt seem too inclined to get the pickup out. After piddling around 30 minutes, I told him to shove it, and that I would take my business where I'd be treated seriously (I was 21 at the time). I ended up buying a 92 D350 from A&W Trucks in Ft Lupton. Great service, even if they are proud of their pickups. Even gave sent me off with a full tank of fuel.



Daniel

 

[jrandol]

Ok I can talk about this now since I am not in the Automotive advertising business anymore. I had these guys in my book for quite some time, they are as crooked as they come. They are literally so bad that they are the 1 dealership in the state of Colorado that had a CADA office right in their dealership!! It was really bad, they got fined all the time. Course when your advertising budget is $750,000 per month you gotta do something to sell alot of cars otherwise you'll go broke really quick. I wonder when Chris's dealerships in California will find the same fate?

 

[fkovalski]

Originally posted by jrandol

They are literally so bad that they are the 1 dealership in the state of Colorado that had a CADA office right in their dealership!!

Jeff- What is "CADA?"

 

[jrandol]

Colorado Automobile Dealers Association





They are the governing board that works with the government aon both federal and state laws and assists the dealers in following them. Almost like a better business bureau for car dealers. You want to get a car dealer in trouble really quick, thats how you do it.



FYI:

Just a side note on advertising, the 9news quote says that car dealers advertising cars for sale @ $10,000 and selling them for $12,000. State law does say that if the consumer becomes aware of the lower price they must be refunded the difference if the scenario fits. But... ... ... ... ..... have you ever heard of a letter of retraction? I use to get dealers all the time calling me after the fact saying the needed a letter of retraction as they have an upset customer in front of them. If you fall under this category you just got screwed. Who do you think the advertising company/publisher is going to side with regardless of how ethical it is, someone who read their product and most likely wont use their product for several more years to purchase another car or someone who spends lots of money with them time and time again? Ok, getting off my soapbox... had to vent about the ole' days.

 

[jwdeeming]

Looks like clues were around as far back as May '03.



www.denver. bbb.org/commonreport.html?compid=17377&national=Y

 

[fkovalski]

Thanks for the definition.



Is it not leagal for dealers to do a justifed "bait n' switch?"

That is-- have one vehicle advertised as a model demo which cannot be further sold cause it is already under contract. A potential buyer comes in and says "I want to look at the diesel Ram for X dollers. " The dealer then says here it is, but its already sold.

 

[mgoncalves]

Originally posted by jrandol

Ok I can talk about this now since I am not in the Automotive advertising business anymore. I had these guys in my book for quite some time, they are as crooked as they come. They are literally so bad that they are the 1 dealership in the state of Colorado that had a CADA office right in their dealership!! It was really bad, they got fined all the time. Course when your advertising budget is $750,000 per month you gotta do something to sell alot of cars otherwise you'll go broke really quick. I wonder when Chris's dealerships in California will find the same fate?

Careful Jeff, they could be watching you



Matt

 

[jrandol]

Originally posted by fkovalski

Thanks for the definition.



Is it not leagal for dealers to do a justifed "bait n' switch?"

That is-- have one vehicle advertised as a model demo which cannot be further sold cause it is already under contract. A potential buyer comes in and says "I want to look at the diesel Ram for X dollers. " The dealer then says here it is, but its already sold.

Actually it is, under Colorado Law a vehicle must be advertised with a vehicle stock number or VIN number. It is not uncommon to have a vehicle sell or go under contract before it goes to press/print or other means of advertising. A dealer is not required by law to sell every same new Dodge Ram at XX price UNLESS they say something to the effect of "30 to choose from at this price" This is only fair practice to a car dealer as some ads may take days or in some cases weeks to go "hit the streets" and they had to deadline their ad that far in advance, they cant plan if that car will still be there, its extra hard in used car sales.



Matt, I'm covered buddy, thanks though. Not under any confidentiality contracts anymore there.



I dont want to sound like the conspiracy theory guy but didnt 9news say that Chris Hall was no where to be found for comment. True Chris does live in California but Clark signs the contracts, including the exclusive contracts with 9news. Hmmm.....

 

[fkovalski]

Originally posted by jrandol

Actually it is, under Colorado Law a vehicle must be advertised with a vehicle stock number or VIN number. It is not uncommon to have a vehicle sell or go under contract before it goes to press/print or other means of advertising. A dealer is not required by law to sell every same new Dodge Ram at XX price UNLESS they say something to the effect of "30 to choose from at this price" This is only fair practice to a car dealer as some ads may take days or in some cases weeks to go "hit the streets" and they had to deadline their ad that far in advance, they cant plan if that car will still be there, its extra hard in used car sales.

Then, what was Christipher actually doing if this is a "legal" practice ?

 

[jrandol]

Originally posted by fkovalski

Then, what was Christipher actually doing if this is a "legal" practice ?

C. D. among many other dealers do this. What I am refferring to is Joe Blow buys a new Dodge for $30k and then sees the same truck advertised 2 days later for $25k in a newspaper that came out the day he bought his truck. He takes it in to the dealer and complains and wants the better rate. The dealer doesnt want to refund Joe Blow the $5k he is legally entitled to so they call the newspaper or in any case the publisher of that product and "remind them" of the error they made and that truck should have been advertised for $30k not $25k and it was a publshing error. The publisher is Johnny on the spot and faxes over a letter of retraction and the car dealer is completely in the clear and so is the advertiser if they are worth a grain of salt and have decent liability disclaimers in their product. So the consumer gets believed into thinking it was an honest mistake and that they did get a good deal. People are human and do make mistakes and sometimes price mistakes do happen in ads, but alot of times its a dealer pressuring a publisher to help them out or they will stop spending money with them.

 

[Sticks]

That falls under the definition of racketeering, dosen't it?

 

[klenger]

Sounds like it is wise to shop wisely before signing. With the internet car sites and forums like this one, the consumer has a lot more leverage than they ever did before to get an honest deal. I may not have made the absolute best deal on my 04, but I don't think I could have saved more than a couple hundred $ somewhere else. Paying $5000 too much is insane.



BTW, I ordered my 04. 5 from another Denver dealer in the south part of town and have been treated very well.

 

[Rman]

you didn't hear it from me, but this same thing happens in real estate as well... jrandol has it right on the money.