Bad Dealer Dealings - List Your Bad Dealer Experience

[Jdgate]

We arrived at Sunset KIA of Sarasota (Sarasota, FL) and our salesman (Dan Guthrie) had the SX parked in front of the dealership. We were told over the phone the purchase price was $46,035, and my mistake was believing this was the MSRP and didn't bother to verify. The SX was Copper Black, with tinted windows. I don't recall seeing the window sticker, but I can't say for sure it wasn't there. I'm guessing it was on the window. We financed (2.75) via KIA and got $1000 reduction, and then we plan to pay it off in 90 days without penalty. We did the deal, and left a happy new Telluride customer. Later that evening at home, I realized the window sticker was placed on the back seat and the MSRP was $44,140. At first I thought we had the wrong window sticker, verified the VIN was the same, and then found a second smaller sized "window sticker" described as "affixed as a supplemental consumer information label by your dealer". This second sticker had a price of $1,895 for the following services: custom pin stripe, door edge guards, nitrogen filled tires. I returned to the dealer the next day, related the story, and informed them had I known about the second sticker, I would have walked out of the dealership. I ask for some type of compensation for this inflated price, gave the dealer 4 days to think it over, and the answer was no. It appears this dealership adds this extra pricing on ALL their cars, but they only show the window sticker MSRP on the web site, and not the add-on pricing. The add-on sticker is on the window beside the normal window sticker. BEWARE OF THESE ADD-ON PRICING SCAMS AND VERIFY YOUR MSRP.

Also you don't have to wait 90 days to pay off the loan. There is no penalty. The dealership wants you to wait 90 days because they won't get reimbursed by KIA for the $1k rebate if you pay it off sooner. Pay it off now, as a way of saying thank you to them.

 

[Jdgate]

You mean they are being dishonest? Shocking!! Actually, I think they deliberately have someone make the calls who doesn't know better - probably tell her to just agree with anything the potential customer wants. When she is done urging the people to come in and the salespeople are confronted about lying all they have to do is say the person who called didn't know. Maybe she didn't know about the markup, either. On another note, I still haven't got the ID from my dealer despite requesting it twice. Are dealers limited as to how many they can order each month and once their quota for the month is filled and have to wait until the portal opens the following month to put in the next orders? Thank you for answering my questions!

My dealer gave me the conquest rebate when I picked my car last week. They just ate the cost. They still made money though. The dealership may be telling the truth, or they are banking on the finance deal still being around. Either way I would get something in writing that shows the deal since they "out of the blue" ordered a car for you.

 

[DougS]

"The dealership wants you to wait 90 days because they won't get reimbursed by KIA for the $1k rebate if you pay it off sooner. Pay it off now, as a way of saying thank you to them. "

I hear this so much. Its completely untrue.

 

[Jdgate]

"The dealership wants you to wait 90 days because they won't get reimbursed by KIA for the $1k rebate if you pay it off sooner. Pay it off now, as a way of saying thank you to them. "

I hear this so much. Its completely untrue.

Doug please inform us why multiple different dealers want people to wait 30 days then. They wouldn't care if their was not some sort of kickback or something they earned from it. Some dealers have down right lied and said people had to wait 30 days.

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[DougS]

I truly don't know. I've heard it from various finance guys too. With E contracting it is funded in hours. Pay it off the day after if you want. I tell everyone its perfectly fine to do and offer to help if needed.

 

[Jdgate]

Doing some more research on it, it appears the dealerships are trying to avoid a charge back. This is common among-st most major car brands. Good on you for telling people to pay it off right away. I worked retail many moons ago before I chose a career in law enforcement, I couldn't in good conscience sell people crappy products, or products I knew they could get far cheaper somewhere else. I found retail was not for me. However your dealership would make more money if you did not tell people to pay it off right away.

 

[kiasalesmidwest]

Also you don't have to wait 90 days to pay off the loan. There is no penalty. The dealership wants you to wait 90 days because they won't get reimbursed by KIA for the $1k rebate if you pay it off sooner. Pay it off now, as a way of saying thank you to them.

This isn't true, 90 days has to do with the finance reserve (which is a very small amount) not the rebate.

 

[Jdgate]

This isn't true, 90 days has to do with the finance reserve (which is a very small amount) not the rebate.

I corrected my comment 2 posts after the one you replied to.... I corrected it to a chargeback, which is I believe what you are referring too (or at least the finance guys I know at a few non KIA dealerships told me.)

It may be a small amount unless your dealership tacks a point onto the interest rate.

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[raydog9379]

I corrected my comment 2 posts after the one you replied to.... I corrected it to a chargeback, which is I believe what you are referring too (or at least the finance guys I know at a few non KIA dealerships told me.)

It may be a small amount unless your dealership tacks a point onto the interest rate.

I almost always re-finance a few days later once I have a loan #. I work over the sales guys so much sometimes that they try to screw me in the finance office and think they got me. I have a roughly 840 credit score, and they try to tell me I qualify for their special financing and get the best rates. Usually something in the 4-7% range. Whooppeeee. I typically say whatever and just refi w/ Penfed or Lightstream a couple days later for 1.5-1.9%.

Some people say why don't you just go in w/ your financing ahead of time and not play the games. 2 reasons... 1) I want all the incentives, etc.. that come with it (most times there are a few grand at play here), and to make them feel like they have a place to try to jack me in the deal after I've knocked the price down. I won't get all that if I just go in saying I have my own financing. 2) It's pretty darn fast to just do their financing and then get my own a couple days later online. When I bought my Porsche, I wasn't expecting to buy a car that night as one example.

 

[jw_tx21]

I almost always re-finance a few days later once I have a loan #. I work over the sales guys so much sometimes that they try to screw me in the finance office and think they got me. I have a roughly 840 credit score, and they try to tell me I qualify for their special financing and get the best rates. Usually something in the 4-7% range. Whooppeeee. I typically say whatever and just refi w/ Penfed or Lightstream a couple days later for 1.5-1.9%.

Some people say why don't you just go in w/ your financing ahead of time and not play the games. 2 reasons... 1) I want all the incentives, etc.. that come with it (most times there are a few grand at play here), and to make them feel like they have a place to try to jack me in the deal after I've knocked the price down. I won't get all that if I just go in saying I have my own financing. 2) It's pretty darn fast to just do their financing and then get my own a couple days later online. When I bought my Porsche, I wasn't expecting to buy a car that night as one example.

So then why do you want to lease the Telluride?

 

[CBass]

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[raydog9379]

So then why do you want to lease the Telluride?

Will be at a different place in life in 3 years. Will have less need for 3 rows at that point with one kid being a driver at that point (ugh... not ready). Figure if my mind changes then I’ll either buy mine out or get whatever the next generation of technology ends up being. Auto technology has grown exponentially in the past couple years. Plus I’m getting sick of general maintenance costs after 3 years (tires, brakes, yada yada but I never buy cheap junk to get by). Might have to do tires, but we’ll see how they hold up... should be able to go 50k before swapping I’d hope. In that case it’s on the dealer or next buyer to worry about it.

And maybe this is the biggest reason... my wife when we buy a car whether we get 0% or 1.5% or 4% or whatever wants us to throw nearly half down. It’s mental for her even when I point out that we could make x more investing it... she doesn’t get it and only sees a high balance. 2 years ago I started my Ferrari fund after visiting Maranello and driving a new CaliT. Once the last kid was out of daycare, I’ve been stashing that KinderCare $ into a mutual fund. In 10 years I’ll be able to buy and spec a new lower to mid range Ferrari or buy one a year or so old and go crazy. Any event, she’s seeing that $ pile up in the mutual fund account and is starting to ask about using it for something else. Either paying off the balance on the Porsche and/or dropping about $25k into this Telluride. So when I start seeing large chunks about to be depleted, I showed her why it makes more sense for us to lease this one and how you shouldn’t put more than $2k down. Shhhh...

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[jw_tx21]

Will be at a different place in life in 3 years. Will have less need for 3 rows at that point with one kid being a driver at that point (ugh... not ready). Figure if my mind changes then I’ll either buy mine out or get whatever the next generation of technology ends up being. Auto technology has grown exponentially in the past couple years. Plus I’m getting sick of general maintenance costs after 3 years (tires, brakes, yada yada but I never buy cheap junk to get by). Might have to do tires, but we’ll see how they hold up... should be able to go 50k before swapping I’d hope. In that case it’s on the dealer or next buyer to worry about it.

And maybe this is the biggest reason... my wife when we buy a car whether we get 0% or 1.5% or 4% or whatever wants us to throw nearly half down. It’s mental for her even when I point out that we could make x more investing it... she doesn’t get it and only sees a high balance. 2 years ago I started my Ferrari fund after visiting Maranello and driving a new CaliT. Once the last kid was out of daycare, I’ve been stashing that KinderCare $ into a mutual fund. In 10 years I’ll be able to buy and spec a new lower to mid range Ferrari or buy one a year or so old and go crazy. Any event, she’s seeing that $ pile up in the mutual fund account and is starting to ask about using it for something else. Either paying off the balance on the Porsche and/or dropping about $25k into this Telluride. So when I start seeing large chunks about to be depleted, I showed her why it makes more sense for us to lease this one and how you shouldn’t put more than $2k down. Shhhh...

Makes sense! Good luck negotiating on the lease!

 

[kwed76]

I'll add mine;

Citrus Kia in Ontario, CA. Been talking with Joel/Chase for about 2-3 weeks, trying to talk down the $5000 mark-up. They wouldn't budge. So I said if I put down $12,000 on a trade-in (2015 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring) would that get my payments to $550. They said it would be right around the $550. I had an offer from AutoNation for $11,500 and TrueCar had it valued from $12-14k so I decided to take it to CarMax before going to the dealer. I called Chase and told him I would be there later. He said he would put down for a 7PM appointment and that he would be there with the car. And to bring in the CarMax offer and they would try to match it. Both he and Joel mentioned how CarMax really overprices the cars and it is difficult for them to match that price.

So we go to CarMax and they only offer $10k. They guy there said they have a ton of smaller SUVs in stock and that probably effected the price. So we go to the dealer right at 7. And ask to see Chase. Was told he went home! So we sat there for 10-15 minutes and finally a lady came up to us, Sarah and said Chase went home but she saw our notes and asked what CarMax offered. We told her 10K and she asked if they could appraise the car, but she also mentioned how high CarMax offers and it is hard to match. So she takes the keys and tells us the service department is across the street and she has to take the car their to get it looked at. We said fine.

Little did she realize is that the security cameras were rotating on a TV and we could see our car. It never moved and no one ever even went in it. So we sat there for about 15-20 minutes and I decided to walk around the store and the car to make sure that was our car we saw on the camera. As I walked to the front I saw Sarah talking to another salesman in his office and our car just sitting there.

After a total of about 40 minutes she comes back and says we looked at your car! WTF? No you didn't. She says we can match the CarMax price maybe even give you 10,500 but thats it. Wife & I were pissed. She gave us the numbers for the car even with $12k down my payments were going to be in the low 600s, not even close to 550. Got to our car and still hadn't moved. So they all say how CarMax is high priced, and they really aren't and then pretend to appraise your car and then match it or go over to make you think they are a good dealer. B.S.

So unprofessional to set up an appointment and then not even call to say you won't be there. And then to have us sit there for an hour and you just lie to us was a slap in the face. Decided to abandon the Telluride and go for the sister Palisade. Picking up a Palisade SEL with convenience and premium packages for $41k this weekend. No mark up no b.s. deal done in the span of a few hours.

Avoid Citrus Kia!

 

[Lucas & Craig]

I'll add mine;

Citrus Kia in Ontario, CA. Been talking with Joel/Chase for about 2-3 weeks, trying to talk down the $5000 mark-up. They wouldn't budge. So I said if I put down $12,000 on a trade-in (2015 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring) would that get my payments to $550. They said it would be right around the $550. I had an offer from AutoNation for $11,500 and TrueCar had it valued from $12-14k so I decided to take it to CarMax before going to the dealer. I called Chase and told him I would be there later. He said he would put down for a 7PM appointment and that he would be there with the car. And to bring in the CarMax offer and they would try to match it. Both he and Joel mentioned how CarMax really overprices the cars and it is difficult for them to match that price.

So we go to CarMax and they only offer $10k. They guy there said they have a ton of smaller SUVs in stock and that probably effected the price. So we go to the dealer right at 7. And ask to see Chase. Was told he went home! So we sat there for 10-15 minutes and finally a lady came up to us, Sarah and said Chase went home but she saw our notes and asked what CarMax offered. We told her 10K and she asked if they could appraise the car, but she also mentioned how high CarMax offers and it is hard to match. So she takes the keys and tells us the service department is across the street and she has to take the car their to get it looked at. We said fine.

Little did she realize is that the security cameras were rotating on a TV and we could see our car. It never moved and no one ever even went in it. So we sat there for about 15-20 minutes and I decided to walk around the store and the car to make sure that was our car we saw on the camera. As I walked to the front I saw Sarah talking to another salesman in his office and our car just sitting there.

After a total of about 40 minutes she comes back and says we looked at your car! WTF? No you didn't. She says we can match the CarMax price maybe even give you 10,500 but thats it. Wife & I were pissed. She gave us the numbers for the car even with $12k down my payments were going to be in the low 600s, not even close to 550. Got to our car and still hadn't moved. So they all say how CarMax is high priced, and they really aren't and then pretend to appraise your car and then match it or go over to make you think they are a good dealer. B.S.

So unprofessional to set up an appointment and then not even call to say you won't be there. And then to have us sit there for an hour and you just lie to us was a slap in the face. Decided to abandon the Telluride and go for the sister Palisade. Picking up a Palisade SEL with convenience and premium packages for $41k this weekend. No mark up no b.s. deal done in the span of a few hours.

Avoid Citrus Kia!

 

[Tellmeride]

@kwed76
Was the KIA deal a lease? Negotiating a lease deal with only one number in mind, the monthly payment, is a detrimental mistake to begin with.

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[aaroneast]

I just sold a S with 5k dn payments were 587mo for 72 months.

 

[JCzoom]

@kwed76
Was the KIA deal a lease? Negotiating a lease deal with only one number in mind, the monthly payment, is a detrimental mistake to begin with.

Agreed. Even if you are buying it is a mistake. They always try to do that with me. I ask them, "WHAT IS THE PRICE OF THE CAR!?" When a final price is agreed upon, then it will be up to me how I want to finance it and how much I want to pay per month.

 

[Stoney]

I'll add mine;

Citrus Kia in Ontario, CA. Been talking with Joel/Chase for about 2-3 weeks, trying to talk down the $5000 mark-up. They wouldn't budge. So I said if I put down $12,000 on a trade-in (2015 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring) would that get my payments to $550. They said it would be right around the $550. I had an offer from AutoNation for $11,500 and TrueCar had it valued from $12-14k so I decided to take it to CarMax before going to the dealer. I called Chase and told him I would be there later. He said he would put down for a 7PM appointment and that he would be there with the car. And to bring in the CarMax offer and they would try to match it. Both he and Joel mentioned how CarMax really overprices the cars and it is difficult for them to match that price.

So we go to CarMax and they only offer $10k. They guy there said they have a ton of smaller SUVs in stock and that probably effected the price. So we go to the dealer right at 7. And ask to see Chase. Was told he went home! So we sat there for 10-15 minutes and finally a lady came up to us, Sarah and said Chase went home but she saw our notes and asked what CarMax offered. We told her 10K and she asked if they could appraise the car, but she also mentioned how high CarMax offers and it is hard to match. So she takes the keys and tells us the service department is across the street and she has to take the car their to get it looked at. We said fine.

Little did she realize is that the security cameras were rotating on a TV and we could see our car. It never moved and no one ever even went in it. So we sat there for about 15-20 minutes and I decided to walk around the store and the car to make sure that was our car we saw on the camera. As I walked to the front I saw Sarah talking to another salesman in his office and our car just sitting there.

After a total of about 40 minutes she comes back and says we looked at your car! WTF? No you didn't. She says we can match the CarMax price maybe even give you 10,500 but thats it. Wife & I were pissed. She gave us the numbers for the car even with $12k down my payments were going to be in the low 600s, not even close to 550. Got to our car and still hadn't moved. So they all say how CarMax is high priced, and they really aren't and then pretend to appraise your car and then match it or go over to make you think they are a good dealer. B.S.

So unprofessional to set up an appointment and then not even call to say you won't be there. And then to have us sit there for an hour and you just lie to us was a slap in the face. Decided to abandon the Telluride and go for the sister Palisade. Picking up a Palisade SEL with convenience and premium packages for $41k this weekend. No mark up no b.s. deal done in the span of a few hours.

Avoid Citrus Kia!

We drove an hour to Lynn when we found a Telluride with the options we wanted that we could test drive (we had found the Palisade lower model to have a lot of "road noise" on the highway - got tired of yelling over the road noise in our old Honda Pilot) so we wanted to test drive one with the soundproofing. We made an appointment and were promised that particular car would be there. After driving over an hour in heavy traffic, we got there, but the car wasn't there. Not because someone else was road testing (which wouldn't have been a big deal), but because the owner apparently was using it as her car and she was off that day. At least, that is the story we were told. Very aggravating when you ask them to check to make sure before you drive a long distance. Yours was even worse - clear deception. Too bad you didn't take a few shots of the video monitor and show them that they were full of it and you were on to their game.

 

[jw_tx21]

I just sold a S with 5k dn payments were 587mo for 72 months.

For real? That's awful for that buyer... but wow. Can't believe they went for that. Subprime? Must have been a very high interest rate.