My husband and I went in to check out their inventory, found a car we liked and were able to take it home the same day. They assured us that there would be absolutely no problem getting us financed. Two weeks later we got a call saying that financing cannot be approved, please return the vehicle. Less than an hour later we attempt to return the vehicle and they leave us waiting at a salesperson's desk for almost 45 minutes while they all huddle together in one of the finance offices. Out comes the saleslady and ""Del"" who says that he is the General Manager (he is not, we checked) and he says he has good news, he found us financing we just need to sign a new contract! He refuses to let us see a copy of said contract or tell us the name of the bank that was supposedly agreeing to finance us, he said he was not legally obligated to release that information (lie). We refuse to sign a contract without being able to look over it first and have it reviewed by an attorney because at this point we're pretty sure we're getting the run around. ""Del-the-GM"" continues by claiming to have a ""dealer's right"" to buy a loan from the bank and force us to make payments to the dealership (lie). When I explained that by doing that he would effectively be voiding our buyer's agreement he threatened us with legal action.
The next day I consulted our attorney who informed me that a buyer's agreement is conditional and does not legally bind us to the car, that dealership, or to anything else. No contract has been formed until you sign the financing agreement from the actual bank who you will be financing the loan through. Furthermore it is in the buyer's agreement that you have to sign the day you get the car that if you are denied financing as outlined in the buyer's agreement you have no right to the car. Our attorney advised us to return the car and the keys that day and he wrote letters on our behalf to the dealer, the GM corporate headquarters in Detroit, the State Attorney General's Office, the Better B-B and anyone and everyone else that we could file a complaint with.
We went to the dealership as soon as I returned home, parked the car in front and set the keys on the sales person's desk. She had obviously been expecting us to sign the new contract they were trying to force us into the day before and the look on her face when we told her that she would be hearing from our attorney was absolutely priceless!
What Sands Chevrolet attempted to drag us into is called a Spot Delivery Scam or a Yo-Yo Scam. Both are illegal and will void any buyer's agreement that you have with them. My advice;
1. STAY AWAY FROM SANDS CHEVROLET AT ALL COSTS!
2. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AND DON'T LET THEM INTIMIDATE YOU!
Pros: Absolutely not one.
Cons: Salesmen are willing to lie, cheat and steal.. literally!
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