AutoNation, Not Carl Gregory - sls284ever
Early February I went to AutoNation on Victory Drive, Columbus, GA. Met salesman Dylan in the parking lot and told him I wanted to buy a Ram truck. I told him I needed a V8 because I was going to be towing a trailer or a camper. We went inside and spoke with Dale (the interim sales manager when Ray was out). Inside I repeated to Dale I needed a V8 because I was going to be towing a trailer or a camper. Dale looked at something on the computer and then told Dylan to get a specific truck and bring it around for me to look at and test drive. Dylan drove the truck while I looked around inside. Then I drove the truck. I know there was a window sticker because I saw it while I was driving but I never looked at it. That was my mistake, but you would think if I asked for a V8 they would bring a V8 for me to drive. The truck had good pick up when I test drove it (I squealed the tires) so I assumed it was a V8. Went back into the office and Dylan filled out the finance application because I didn’t have my glasses with me. He showed me where to sign and I signed the application. They ran the application and said I was approved. While I was waiting, another sales guy (can’t remember his name. His dad owned Bama auto sales) struck up a conversation with me. I told him what I needed a V8 because I was going to be towing a trailer or a camper. He was more of a “high pressure” sales guy. He said whatever deal they offered today may not be available at later. Gave Walter the finance guy $1000.00 down payment on the truck.
Dylan called several times to check to see if I was going to buy the truck. I said I was looking at the end of the month. He said I probably shouldn’t wait because the deal might not be as good at that time.
Called on February 13 and said I would be in February 14 to buy the truck. They sent the truck to get the spray in bed liner and tow package I requested.
On February 14th, I went in to sign the papers for the truck. Nothing was ready. Finally met Walter (the finance guy) to sign all the papers. We discussed how much I liked the truck because it was a V8 that could pull my camper or trailer but would use less gas than my Tundra. Signed the papers and he gave me the envelope full of papers. I went back about an hour later and picked up the truck.
March 9 or 10 I called the dealership to find out if the truck had synthetic or synthetic blend oil. They asked if it was a V6 or a V8. I told them it was a V8. They asked for the VIN number. After staying on hold about 5 minutes the man came back and said the truck was a V6. I went to the dealership. Walt, the finance guy, met me outside in the parking lot. I told him the truck was a V6. He said he remembered me telling him I wanted a V8. I went inside and went to the sales managers’ office. I told him I was sold a V6 not a V8. He already had a piece of paper in his hand with notes on it. He said I already have your information here. He said “that’s the truck you drove, that’s the truck you liked, that’s the truck you got.” He said I would have to deal with the General Manager because there was nothing else he could do about it. He said the gm would be back on Wednesday.
I called March 14th and was told the gm was back but he was in a meeting. I asked for them to have him call me but never received a call.
March 15th Chris called me. He said Rueben was the gm and he had told Chris to handle the problem. Chris was a past customer of mine. He said they were going to do everything they could to make it right. They wanted me to be happy. I told him I already had a call in to the corporate office but had not received a return call. But if he, Chris, was going to handle it, I wasn’t going to pursue corporate.
March 17th, I went in and met with Chris, Richard and Dale. Another sales guy was talking with me while I waited for them to get out of a meeting. He said Dylan didn’t work there anymore. He referred to Dylan as “two cards short of a full deck”. After meeting with Chris and Dale, Richard (a new sales guy) was told to take the V6 truck to get it appraised. This is when I found out they were going to have me trade the truck in not just replace the truck. I found out the truck had depreciated from $38000.00 to $26000.00 in less than 3 weeks. It was at this time Richard also said Dylan didn’t know what he was doing as a sale person. He said they had moved him to parts on the north side of town because he couldn’t sell trucks. We tried to work out a deal but could not come to an agreement because of the depreciation being rolled in to the new loan.
March 21st, I went and spoke to Richard again. I told him since they couldn’t work out a deal I needed to speak with Rueben. I saw Dylan in the showroom while I was waiting for Rueben. He was delivering parts. He asked me how I was doing. I told him he sold me a V6 not a V8. He said he thought it was a V8, then he excused himself really quickly. Rueben said he knew the story of my problems. He said he got Dylan a job on the northside because he couldn’t do the job on Victory Drive. He also said Dylan had screwed up at the new store, speeding 65 in a 35 and loosing parts out of the back of his truck going down the road. Rueben said he was just trying to help him out because he had a new baby. Rueben told Richard to find the truck I wanted. He said he was going to pull some strings, call in some favors and make it work. He said I shouldn’t have went through all the problems with Dylan. He apologized and said some mistakes were made but they would make it right.
March 25th Richard called and said they couldn’t get the V8 financed because no one would finance the new truck with $8000.00 worth of depreciation from the old truck.
So now I’m stuck with a V6 that can’t pull my trailer or my truck without guzzling gas and risking blowing the motor.
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