Bad Salesman - Who else got hosed by him?

[Tiberious]

Hey Camaro5 fans,

A few years back I got screwed in a big way by a very small guy named Brett. He had dark hair, was about 5'4", stocky, and used his experience with brain surgery to get your sympathy while sticking it to you.

When we bought from him he worked at what was Friendly Chevrolet, just prior to it becoming Friendly Chevrolet and let go just afterward. He moved from there to Sunset Chevrolet. I'm in no way blaming either of these dealers as they were both, as I understand it, under different ownership at the time.

The story is horribly embarassing. My brother in law works as an engineer for GM, I used his discount to get my dream truck, an Avalanche (electric blue or somesuch) which we were debating about when we happened by the dealership and saw it EXACTLY as I'd have wanted it....but not really as I could afford it.

I was a junior enlisted member of the Air Force at that time, my wife was pregnant with my first child (she came with 2) and being a first time dad, I was prone to panicking. We were both older than the usual age for a new chile.

My wife's income was the only thing that allowed for us to afford this car, and at that just barely afford it. We used the family discount and bought the car. That night I couldn't sleep, panicing about what would happen if I lost my wife in childbirth. The first thing in the morning we tried to return the truck for something more affordable. Big mistake!

He saw the look on my face, the insomnia, and knew that he had me. He told me that they'd sent the papers off and the sale was a done deal. He then told me that he could trade me out of it into a mini van at a loss of at most 3k. I figured, this was the right thing to do and he was doing me a favor......NO.

He played bait and switch for the next month, always saying he had something but when we arrived, nothing was there to see. He said he could do more for us if we signed away our GM family discount......I did it (never again.) Finally we ended up (a month later) with a van that didn't meet our requests, costing about 8k more than it should've and in the dog house with my brother-in-law.

Sorry about the long story, but he did this to a poor GI, his pregnant wife, and the two young girls with us. All the while I'm sure laughing about it.
For what it's worth, I've since lost most of my trust for my fellow man and am only now beginning to trust again. If anyone's seen this guy or knows him, STAY AWAY....he'll rob you blind. Show no weakness!

Tib

[SSmoothie]

I thought this state had a 72 hour buyer remorse law. That you could return a car or truck under your circumstance.

Anyway he doesn't sound like a nice guy.

Clay

[Entaille]

he sounds like a piece of shit, and I am sorry you had to lose so much money to learn from this.

wish you and your family the best.

[jrc1122]

in the summer of 2000-- I was 21 yrs old. Young Airman myself.

I went in to buy a 2000 Hyundai Tiburon. I wanted the one with the leather, sunroof, rear spoiler, and rear wiper (It was about 2K more than the base model (which didn't have those options)

I was conned into believing that I couldn't get financing for the higher priced one. But then they added an aftermarket sunroof and spoiler to it.
Not to mention they completed the paperwork with the extended warranty added in. Which I didn't catch until a few days later.

between the sunroof and spoiler being added on aftermarket, It was almost the exact same price as the Loaded model (that they didn't have on their lot, that they would have to do a dealer swap for)

So after I realized my dumbness and being duped. I went back and raised major hell.
I cancelled the extended warranty, and the sales guy was fired for lying to me about "not being able to be approved" for the higher model.

I follwed up several times, I had friends call and ask for the sales guy by name.. All got the same answer. So-n-So no longer works here.

[el ess A]

This is going to sound rough, but you only get screwed because you LET him screw you.

Never buy anything such as a car without doing ALL the homework. Age is usually a factor, as the younger you are, the more likely you'll hurry. I guess I had been lucky to take someone with me when I was younger that KNEW what to look for in dealing with dealerships.

Of course, experiences matter. I'm sure you've learned some valuable, albeit expensive, lessons. Thanks for sharing so others can learn.

[jrc1122]

Originally Posted by el ess X

This is going to sound rough, but you only get screwed because you LET him screw you.

Never buy anything such as a car without doing ALL the homework. Age is usually a factor, as the younger you are, the more likely you'll hurry. I guess I had been lucky to take someone with me when I was younger that KNEW what to look for in dealing with dealerships.

Of course, experiences matter. I'm sure you've learned some valuable, albeit expensive, lessons. Thanks for sharing so others can learn.

Age was definitely a factor for me. It is just a shame that the car sales business is full of A-holes and slime balls.

It is a shame you have to take a well educated car buyer with you in order to get decent deal.

Imagine if all businesses were like that.

You could never go in and buy a candy bar as a kid, because the clerk would screw you over just because you were inexperienced in buying products in general.
"That snickers will be $5.35"
Or you go open your first checking account.
you say: I would like to open my first bank account.
"It requires a $100 opening fee that is nonrefundable?

See my point. Car sales is one of the slimiest, shadiest businesses in the world.
Other businesses can't get away with that stuff, but some reason car dealerships do.

[Tiberious]

I absolutely agree, it was my fault. I was comfortable having that 'GM family' certificate in my hand, I thought that meant no fuss, no muss. Ordinarily it does.....this guy just saw a sucker sticking out of the top of my shirt I guess.

Either way, I wanted to share the experience (and look stupid) in hopes someone else could avoid it....and potentially HIM!

Thanks,

Tib

[Jayconut]

guy you bought a car you couldnt afford when you were unemployed?
tried to return it and still bought a van with no job some xx years later your still bitter about it.. wow who is at fault here?

[orangeonwhite]

i think he might be working at blade chev in mt vernon now

[Tiberious]

Jay, way to screw up the details. I don't think you got anything right but the van

[Tiberious]

It wouldn't surprise me Orangeonwhite, he bounded around just ahead of his reputation for a while. I know that he was fired out of the job he had in Puyallup as well as the job at Sunset in Burien.