Dealer still driving truck under deposit?

[RottnDogue]

Ok have a deposit on a truck spoken to dealer 4 times and they tell me they are holding truck for me. But I went to look at it last night. It is clear this truck has been drivin since The last time I saw it. It rained pretty heavy here a couple days ago, and the truck has dirt all over the side of the truck in a spray pattern from the tires like you drove through large puddles. I am ******... Should I be?



Darren

 

[sarj]

Now I might be out there on this... . but check this out:



A truck "to be" is kind of like a "wife to be", but the trucks a whole lots more important, right? And you might be the traditional type of guy that does the engagement type thing with a ring as a 'deposit' of sorts... right?

Now once you and the woman make the deal, and she accepts the deposit... you want her goin' out on test drives with other customers?

:--)

I don't THINK so



I'd be tellin' her to pound sand... but hey... that's just me :-laf



sarj

 

[fkovalski]

Contrary to what you might want to hear; until the deal is done, the truck is not yours. Suppose another with cash in hand came along wanting to take the truck on the spot and the dealer said “no” stating that they have a deposit from another potential buyer. Then suppose you did not go through with your part of the good faith deposit bargain? The dealer would now be out of a sale. Trucks are different from ladies. If it is still on the lot, the dealer should be able to do whatever they want to move it. If and when you finally get close to closing the deal and you do not want to take the truck after subsequent test drives then that is your option. I see no wrong in you taking another truck on the lot in that situation. JMHO -frank.

 

[RottnDogue]

So then what is the purpose of my deposit?

 

[Forrest Nearing]

I'd go somewhere else.

 

[fkovalski]

So then what is the purpose of my deposit?

You'll be the first one to get it when you come through with the check in the event that they may have taken other deposits after you. There may be several people putting deposits down. You have first crack at it. If not you, then the next on the list then so forth etc. This is how I kinda' see it. Not trying to p!$$ you off or anything, but a dealer is in business to move vehicles. I see it perfectly in your right to not go through with the deal and certainly you should get your deposit back if you choose to do so. I wonder if this situation were to be brought out prior to you giving a deposit to the dealer what thier rection would be?



EDIT:

How much time difference between you giving the deposit and then noticing the evidence? Same day, 4 days, a week?

 

[fkovalski]

One other thing to consider: was the truck placed back on “the lot” in an advertising sort of parking spot? It may have been driven to an inconspicuous place with the dealer fully intending to deliver it to you. They wait just until you are ready to pick it up to do the final detailing. You didn’t happen to notice the mileage?

 

[fkovalski]

I do not want to be argumentative either. It’s too bad that things are not done on a handshake anymore. But today one has to realize that it is the dealers who probably are making the rules. And, not to stick up for the dealers, but one has to consider an appropriate timeline for a transaction to take place. I would not see a reason to walk away from the truck you find out more info from the dealer as to what their intentions are and how the truck got dirty.

 

[cArNiVaLwOrKeR]

Have 1 of your buddies call the dealer and 0verbid your price you locked in on, and see if they are willing to let it out for a test drive

If so, ask for your dep. back and dont take a RUBBER CHECK

 

[RottnDogue]

Ok More info



Lot is packed with trucks, no extra room for much moving around. The 5 times I've been there including last night the truck is in the same exact spot. It had 8 miles on it the last time I parked it.



fkovalski I am happy for your point of view (the purpose of asking the question here) I don't agree with it, but before I go to dealer very ****** and do something I will regret I wanted others opinions, and time to calm down.



Darren

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Exactly what was the purpose of the deposit, instead of actually proceeding with the sale? IF you are now in a scramble looking for financing outside what the dealer provides, you are in sort of a grey area - the truck really isn't yours, and the dealer is probably within his right to display it to other potential buyers - but certainly in a restrained sort of way, not the "lessee how much rubber this baby will burn from a stoplite"...



OR, to put it on a more personal basis, if YOU were selling a truck, and a guy gave you a deposit to hold it until he could come up with the money - and OTHER buyers came along afterwards, would YOU run them off and not let them take a look at it in case the first deal fell thru? Maybe even let them drive it to see if they really wanted it?

 

[sarj]

That last point was an interesting one. I did that once... sold a vw I had, the guy gave me $100 and promised the rest at the end of the week. After I took the hundred, after I told him if he doesn't show, the 100 is mine, the guy looked at me and said "it's mine , right?"... . 'yep'... "i would have given you another 500", he says... "then we're both happy", i says. So I wait a week, kept it parked in front of my store with a for sale sign in it. 7 more people came in to check it out. I took 4 names & numbers in the order they came in, in case it fell through... but I didn't even start it to let people hear it. The original guy never even asked for a receipt for the deposit, came in on friday and drove away. I'm a handshake kind of guy, and I appreciate other's that are.



This is kind of an interesting thread for one reason to me... If all is true what rotten dog suspects, I wouldn't be worried about the truck, so much as I'd be worried about the tone of ethics within the dealership that I'd be dealing with in the future concerning warr & service work. I have a rotten dealer 5 blocks from my house & I'd ride the bus for 3 months before I took my truck to them for service. If I wasn't thinking good thoughts about a dealer, I sure as heck wouldn't give "truck buying" there much more of a thought.





sarj

 

[RottnDogue]

Not in a scramble, actually waiting for something to happen in 2 weeks which the dealer was more than happy to wait for. Sort of ending something 1st, something I do not wish to post. Money is not the problem.



Darren

 

[jelag]

What I want to know is WHY is the truck still sitting at the dealer and not in your front yard... .



I own a business, and often hold items for customers... . but if it sits for more than 3 or 5 days past when they were coming after it... I sell it... .



If you put money on it... go get it... . I have an 05 on order... my dealer knows that I travel... . he'll call my cell phone... . and I'll tell him when I going to pick it up... give or take 2 or 3 days... or I'll call him back... . You've got to either get the truck and let him sell it... .



Jim

 

[RottnDogue]

Jim

Like I said not going to post reason on a public board. And is irrelevent, deal was made no secret to dealer how long it was going to be they agreed. 1 hour or 1 month. What is the difference???? If 20 mins is too long to wait they should have said so and I would take my chances, and then ordered a 05. Nice that your life is so perfect that you can do the things you want when you want. Others have things going on that are out of there control.

 

[Jeff_K]

This is very similar to real estate. A deposit on a house means it is "conditionally sold". Realtors can still show the house but if someone else wants to buy it you get the first right of refusal (because you have a deposit on it), and you have to come up with the cash in 24-48 hours. Seems fair to me. The dealer has to be able to cover their a$$ too.

 

[GFritsch]

If you place a sizable nonrefundable deposit on the truck NO ONE ELSE SHOULD DRIVE IT. The contract should however have a time limitation. I am with Gary-- I would not go to the dealer without being ready to make the deal. You have more bargaining power when the dealer knows you will take it that day if the price is right. As for your situation RD I would tell the dealer that if there is 1 more mile on the truck you will not pick it up on the agreed on day.



Good luck--

Greg

 

[SGBARRACUDA]

Contrary to what you might want to hear; until the deal is done, the truck is not yours. Suppose another with cash in hand came along wanting to take the truck on the spot and the dealer said “no” stating that they have a deposit from another potential buyer. Then suppose you did not go through with your part of the good faith deposit bargain? The dealer would now be out of a sale. Trucks are different from ladies. If it is still on the lot, the dealer should be able to do whatever they want to move it. If and when you finally get close to closing the deal and you do not want to take the truck after subsequent test drives then that is your option. I see no wrong in you taking another truck on the lot in that situation. JMHO -frank.

Now I don't claim to know what the standard is in the car bidness, but i can tell you the policy at the car lot I work part time for as a salesman. If you come in and place a deposit on a car or truck I park it in the back of the lot and that unit is marked sold! Now we do have rules that govern how the deposit works, We use a guideline of $100. 00 a week with a max of 4 weeks

that it can be held, and it is a non-refundable deposit. ( I'm taking the unit out of inventory so if you don't show up as per your agreement you loose the money) this covers a potential lost sale. BUT WE WOULD NEVER CONTINUE TO DRIVE OR SHOW IT TO ANYONE! JMO

 

[SGBARRACUDA]

This is very similar to real estate. A deposit on a house means it is "conditionally sold". Realtors can still show the house but if someone else wants to buy it you get the first right of refusal (because you have a deposit on it), and you have to come up with the cash in 24-48 hours. Seems fair to me. The dealer has to be able to cover their a$$ too.

How can you compare a home sale to a truck sale! A home doesn't have an odometer, it can't be taken out and abused by a joy rider,or smoked in, or have the front end knocked out of alignment or or or (taking a deep breath)

JMO

 

[Wiredawg]

I Think the Dealer Should Park the Truck in Back and Mark Sold

I've never placed a deposit on a vehicle I was gonna purchase, so I have no practical experience. I can only speculate on this.



I think the dealer should hold the truck for whatever amount of time you agreed to and mark it sold. A deposit constitutes intent to purchase. I'm pretty straight forward in doing business, so I would ask the dealer what's going on. The only thing is, he may ask you the same thing.



Good luck, Wiredawg