Public Warning: Unethical Practices at University Motorsports…read more
It is with a heavy heart and a sense of responsibility to the community that I share my disheartening experience working with Darryl Gallaugher at University Motorsports. Despite being a loyal customer who has purchased multiple vehicles from him over the years, my recent employment at the dealership has revealed a side of Darryl that goes beyond the "aww shucks," "harmless little old man" routine he employs.
The narrative began when I agreed to purchase a 1982 Datsun 200SX for a project car, with a down payment of $500 and a total cost of $2000. Darryl assured me that the car had no major issues and would be up and running soon. In an effort to assist his struggling business, I offered to work for him, not only to work off some of my balance but also out of genuine concern for the chaotic conditions of his shop and office.
Despite my efforts to contribute positively and make him money by selling other cars on the lot, Darryl consistently refused to apply the cash payments he gave me for my work towards my outstanding balance, providing vague assurances like "we'll take care of it later" or "don't worry about that yet; we still need to get it running." However, when it came to the small commissions he offered for selling cars to customers, I insisted on at least applying that money to my owed balance, to which he reluctantly obliged.
The breaking point occurred when promised repairs to the Datsun were continually delayed, and the car remained inoperable. Despite my attempts to schedule repairs, I was met with vague promises that never materialized. This led me to explore the option of finding a buyer for the Datsun who was better equipped for the project.
When I informed Darryl about potential buyers willing to purchase the Datsun for up to $2500, his demeanor shifted. Suddenly, he claimed that the repairs needed were extensive, suggesting I take a different car and transfer the credit towards it. Agreeing to this, I opted to take a 1987 Chrysler LeBaron Coupe at his suggestion, a vehicle I had been helping him find a buyer for even before it was offered to me, as I am an active Chrysler LeBaron enthusiast and owner of a LeBaron convertible.
However, the situation took a turn for the worse when, after agreeing to purchase the LeBaron, at his suggestion, Darryl deceitfully claimed he had no temporary license plates for multiple days and later changed his mind about selling me the car altogether. His objection was based on my intention to invest time and money into the car over the next year, enhance its value, restore its paint, and eventually sell it for a better price after I had some time to drive and enjoy it. This abrupt change in attitude revealed his greed and a complete lack of respect for our agreement and working relationship.
Furthermore, his disrespectful remarks about African, Indian, and Asian customers or "those people" as he put it, coupled with a derogatory comment about potential "black" buyers for a Cadillac, or "boys coming up here that are just going to try to talk me down" were beyond the pale. This, combined with his manipulative behavior, left me with no choice but to reevaluate my association with University Motorsports.
His refusal to take my payments for the Datsun and his attempt to renege on the LeBaron deal indicate a clear desire to monopolize potential profits over everything, even fair treatment of his own employees. He wanted to ensure that any hypothetical profit from these deals would go solely to him even thought every car he sells on his lot is bought for far less than $1000 and sold for $3 to $4,000 or more.
This is about my employment and our dealings, I haven't mentioned the hiding of rust under spray paint, the high milage vehicles with leaky engines and transmissions filled with leak stopper products that will fail once you get home and he has your money. Buy with caution and plan for emergency because he believes "what they don't know won't hurt them."
In our final conversation, he attempted to shift blame, claiming I hadn't even paid anything for the car and should have forced him to take the payments when he refused. However, it was evident that he never wanted me to pay for the Datsun because he would have had to fix it, and there was a chance I would have made a profit if I sold it and as a new car collector, I would have only sold it after I had a little fun in it and got to experience driving it, filmed and photographed it for my records.
In conclusion, Darryl's actions have exposed a level of greed and manipulation that I never anticipated. I worked diligently for the dealership, only to be treated as competition rather than a valued employee. This cautionary tale serves as a warning to anyone considering employment or business dealings with University Motorsports. Exercise extreme caution and be aware of the unethical practices that may tarnish your experience with this establishment.
