Dirty Tactics - I had a bad experience at Terrace Gate Acura.
Terrace Gate is not the closest dealership to my home but they had the colour I wanted on
the lot whereas I would have to wait if I went elsewhere.On Thursday, I went to trade in
my old Celica and after much back and forth, we got to within $250 of a deal. I left
stating that I would have to talk it over with my wife.I went back two days later hoping
to close the $250 gap and to see if some compromise could be reached.The salesperson was
very nice and said, "Come in and we'll work something out".
When I arrived he claimed that they had lost the paperwork from two days ago and proceeded
to fill out a new form regarding my trade-in and he specifically remembered my final
package price and went to talk to the manager.The price they came back with was $1200
worse! I told him that I had come in good faith and that I had hoped that the gap
between us would narrow and now widen and the salesman said that unfortunately, the Used
Car manager "Dan" had offered me the deal on Thursday, but that today he was
dealing with the new car manager.
We changed a couple of details since I wanted a rear spoiler and I was willing to add $125
to "meet in the middle" so I improved my offer and he went back. After
much back and forth, the New Car Manager eventually came to see us and told me what his
bottom line was. This was still $218 worse than the offer from Thursday.When I asked
him why all of a sudden even the salesman started to deny showing that price. What
an insult and complete waste of my time! It's one thing to say that they
reconsidered their offer and that they would have honored it Thursday but that since I
didn't take it they changed their minds, but instead they tried every dirty trick in the
book to try and make a fool of me (lost paperwork, different manager, denying the facts).
Needless to say, I didn't give Terrace Gate my business and I will discourage everyone I
know from doing so.
That very day I went to another dealer and got great service. It was night and day.
September 17, 2001