I have a clunker I wanted to trade in using that Cash for Clunkers deal. I wanted to see if I could get a deal on a new Pontiac G6 for my wife. I went to Patriot Buick/Pontiac/GMC in Williamsburg, VA. That's over 20 miles from my home. I found a Pontiac G6 that I wanted. I told the salesman what I had to trade and the salesman told me my old clunker qualified for a $3,500 credit. I had to do two things to get the deal: 1) proof of continuous insurance for 1 year prior to the deal, and 2) proof the car was registered continuously for 1 year prior to the deal.

I told the salesman the insurance thing was easy. I had my old policies that all showed the clunker. But I only had a current registration (I never save my old registrations). He said "no problem," he would runs a CarFax that showed continuous registration. He did run it and said it would be fine.

So I left him a $100 check to hold the car and went home, and my wife and I drove our clunker back to the dealership with the insurance papers and my current registration. That's 20 more mile home, and 20 more miles back.

When I walked into the dealship, the sales manager - a middle aged, overly tanned, blow dried hair, top-three buttons unbuttoned, gold chain wearing blow hard - said, "I hope you found your old registrations." I said I told the salesman I didn't have them, and I was told that the carfax he and the salesman ran was sufficient. He said, "Nope, the car fax didn't show any registration after 2005." I told him that was absurd. And, I reminded him he told me it was good to go before I left to go get my clunker. He said, "No you're

going to have to go to DMV and get them to write a letter saying your car has been continuously registered." He said they would hang onto my deposit until I came back.

At this point, I was fuming. I told him he could have told me the carfac was no good before I drover 20 mile home in one car, and and 20 miles back in 2 cars. He said he didn't look at it close enough.

I told him to give me my check, I'd do business somewhere else. In a most condescending tome, he said "I don't know why you are mad at me. " I told him because he was incompetent. I would do business somewhere else. As I left with my paperwork, he yelled at me "your gonna run into the same problem whereever you go, PAL." At that I tuned around, walk up to him and put my finger in his face and told him I hoped the "Pal" comment was directed at the salesman, who had retreated to the corner. He said, "Yes sir." I was so ticked I was shaking.

My wife and I left. We stopped at Suttle Cadillac/GMC/Pontiac in Newport News. Turns out they had a nicer G6 for sale there. I explained my issue at the previous dealer. Turns out, my current registration was sufficient after all. On top of that, the new dealer told me the Carfax the previous dealer ran was missing a page. I looke at the page numbers and sure enoug, it skipped a page and the missing page showed continuous registration. Then they gave me a helluva deal on the G6, which is now in my driveway.

Patriot lost a sale to incompetence. And the sales manager almost lost some teeth for being rude to me. I swear, if buying from Patriot was the cure for a fatal disease, I'd die before going back there.

Sorry for the long rant.

Thats a tough one Micro. They cost you a lot of time and gas. Its good though, that you were able to restrain from laying the smackdown on the dude, plus you got a new car for the wife. I think that qualifies for a shopping spree for yourself at Tackle Warehouse.  

I can suffer incompetence.  But to try and mask it with rudeness, well, that just does it for me.  Anyways, I came away better and I'm glad it worked out the way it did.

Now, I may just have to do that TW thing.  

I love it when a company gets rewarded for their customer service and competence, like the Suttle dealership was in this case!

20 miles is a long drive?   :-?

Good for you . Now, write a letter to corporate.

I went car shopping a few years ago. I stopped in at the Acura dealership to look at the MDX which I was very serious about buying. I was wearing shorts, t-shirt, flip flops and a hat. I told the 2 sales people who were just standing around that I was interested in the MDX. There reply "the used cars are in the lot over there, and pointed." I said "I want new, not used" They pointed to the other direction and said someone would be with me. After 20 minutes of waiting, I left. I drove a mile to the Volvo dealership and drove away in a new Volvo SUV in a matter of couple hours. I drove the Volvo to Acura, went up to the salesman and said " a nice day".

I absolutely hate dealing with car dealerships salesmen.

Glad everything worked out for you.  But these guys really seem to know how to push your buttons.

Later,

wow, that's pretty absurd. I can imagine you'd be pretty scary when you get angry, Rowland. You probably made that guy crap his pants.

Unfortunately, that's probably par for the course with a lot of dealerships.  The dealership I went to was forced to close.  Never, ever

had an issue there.  Everyone who dealt there was treated like family.

Sales people were honest and upfront.  Prices were fair, and service was out of this world.  I've had them work with me on costs of major repair

jobs and you were never sold something you didn't need.  I even had the OWNER get in my Jeep with his computer and we went for a drive to reprogram my transmission.  NO CHARGE!  If I was looking to buy a new car, I'd take it for the day, even overnight.  They were the best! God, I miss them!

20 miles is a long drive? :-?

It depends on your location. You could easily spend a couple hours trying to cover 20 miles in Atlanta traffic.

I've never been treated like that at a Ford dealership. And they say Northerners are buttholes?  :

Nice... all in all, you ended up with a nicer G6. Awesome.

20 miles is a long drive? :-?

It depends on your location. You could easily spend a couple hours trying to cover 20 miles in Atlanta traffic.

Indeed.  That was about an hour drive.  Busch Gardens (theme park) traffic plays havoc in the Williamsburg area in summer.  

wow, that's pretty absurd. I can imagine you'd be pretty scary when you get angry, Rowland. You probably made that guy crap his pants.

LOL, when I walked out the second time I looked back and he and the salesman were fiddling with the locks on the door.  I suspect they didn't want me back in.  

Sucks you had to go through that.Looking at it this way,you got a better car & deal.

So would this be called a MICRO-STIMULUS PACKAGE

What a PITA. My wife and I are lucky, we've had the same salesman for the last seven vehicles. He takes very good care of us, and encourages us to shop around to prove he is giving us the best deal. He's even sold vehicles to our kids.

Falcon

At least you got a better car. Gotta love dealing with salesmen  :

LOL. You ever see that Ron White deal he does on car salesmans position in the universe? I have MAYBE found 1 I actually liked. Even Saturn, who are supposed to be the "NO BS" car company pulled some really nasty garbage on me.

Incompetence is rampant but to cover it up with a total lack of empathy, with his comment on the car fax report, that he didn't look at it right the first time...a simple apology probably would have done better.

Sounds like it worked out for the best.

I agree with you that the guy was a putz and I probably would have decked him. One question though. Why didn't you close the deal on that first visit? I would Email G.M Like Bassn Blvd said and if you got the guys name, mention it and the original salesman you spoke with and all pertinent details. Might not help but might be good therapy.

I bought a couple of vehicles in VA. when I was stationed in Norfolk. Those guys are a different breed of snake in the grass.

I bought a couple of vehicles in VA. when I was stationed in Norfolk. Those guys are a different breed of snake in the grass.

I'm pretty sure it's universal.

Nice that you finally got your wife into a new car. That's a pretty sweet deal. As for the car guy, sounds like he had it coming. Karma is a #$^&* and he'll get his.

I'd rather take anthrax poison than deal with new car salesmen. In fact, I do not buy our cars. I send the wife. She is a shrewed and ruthless bit** when dealing with them, but nothing like I get. I DID drop a salesman on the floor several years ago. I was arrested at home later that day, but charges were dropped. The guy actually laid a hand on me to keep me from walking out the door... It didn't work; I walked out, sore knuckles and all.

Anyway, glad you were able to show some restraint. Your're a better man than I.

I bought a couple of vehicles in VA. when I was stationed in Norfolk. Those guys are a different breed of snake in the grass.

I'm pretty sure it's universal.

With two almost grown kids and a wife, I've bought a few

cars and trucks over the years. I have NEVER had a

"pleasant buying experience" and have never purchased

two cars from the same dealership. "I'm pretty sure it's

universal", too.

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