Greg & Armchair Autobrokers:
I work in a new car dealership in California, and in this state, it isn't a
marriage until you sleep with the bride... In otherwords, the contract is
consummated when the shinny little tail lights cross the curb in the
possession of the new owner. Deposit or no deposit. Deposits are
requested by the dealership to increase mental ownership but are fully
refundable if the transaction is not completed. Since they are going to
refund your deposit, there is nothing you can do to make them honor the
price. I have a friend who manages a Sacramento Mazda dealership. Give me
the specifics off list, and I can see if they will match your deal.
I've seen customers change their mind in the delivery area and cancel a sale
after everything was signed. I've also seen management catch a pricing
mistake, run out into the delivery area and cancel a sale. Everybody is
quick to jump to conclusions about it being a tactic, but mistakes are made.
I've also seen mistakes go the other way, i.e. price is agreed, paper work
is completed, customer leaves with the car, and then we find out we
transposed numbers & lost money. I'm not implying that they can't do your
deal, or won't with a little arm twisting from you, but I am saying that you
can't make them sell the car.
The exception to this if if they advertised a price on a specific vin#
vehicle on a specific date, then they have to sell that specific vehicle as
advertised, unless it was a misprint, in which case they will have a printed
retraction from the advertiser on display in plain view.
Now as for arm twisting techniques that can prove effective. 1. Offer to
call Mazda's regional customer service headquarters. 2. Suggest that you
know a friend who is a California DMV investigator (we have one lurking on
the list if he chooses to reveal himself). 3. Give a little to get a
little. Just letting the manager know that you will refer others to his
dealership can help. 4. Let them know that a dealership outside of the
area is willing to do the deal if they aren't, but that you'd rather do
business locally.
David Riker
74 Midget
63 Falcon
70 Torino
> http://home.pacbell.net/davriker
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Greg Gowins" <cartman@dnai.com>
> To: "Spridgets List" <spridgets@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Monday, March 04, 2002 5:19 PM
> Subject: Dealing with Buying a Car
>
>
> Hello fellow listers,
>
> I'm looking for some feedback on how to proceed in the following
> situation:
>
> I contacted my local Mazda dealer to find out about the 2002 Miata
> Special Edition. I gave him my configuration, we negotiated a price on
> this configuration in writing, and I put a deposit down on the car last
> week. Everything's hunky-dory right? Wrong.
>
> I got an email from him today saying his manager balked at the pricing
> and increased it by $3000. Needless to say, I was a little miffed. I
> sent an email back asking for his supervisor's name and number so I
> could speak with him. He sent me another email back stating that it
> wouldn't do any good to speak with his manager, and that he'd mail me
> back my deposit. I told him to not send it back until I spoke with his
> manager.
>
> Well, folks, where do I take it from here? I don't think going to
> another dealership is an option, since this is a Limited Edition car,
> they've probably already added on the price. I don't know where I stand
> from a legal position, having the agreed upon configuration and price on
> paper, and them accepting and cashing my deposit check.
>
> Any and all feedback is appreciated. Thanks.
>
> Greg Gowins
> '69 Sprite
> Dublin, CA
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