Absolutely one of the worst experiences of my life. Every step of the process took forever and the employees ALL had the personality of a pine cone. I was never offered a test drive. After filling out the credit app, the salesman disappeared and I waited, and waited... I am a very busy pastor, so I had to get up and leave, telling another salesperson to have my guy call me. Years ago, I went on disability after a 2 month hospitalization and nearly dying. I had made good money compared to what disability gave me, so bills went unpaid and my credit rating suffered terribly. It is better than some, but not yet where I want and need it to be. My salesman assured me that they could get me approved. So when he called me the next day to say they had done so, I was very happy. Honestly, one major reason I was even making this purchase was to help correct my credit.
I've bought cars in Dallas from a local "tote the note" dealer, but he does not report to credit agencies. I can get a car in an hour, no references even needed, as he knows me now very well. It's hard to find honest and forthright business people these days. This place does NOT meet that criteria. Because I'm newly back to riding, I didn't want an expensive bike, just something to tool around on before buying a more expensive bike. The gas savings was also a big draw for me. I gave one quarter of the selling price down in cash. I was not told what I needed to get the bike, but I brought the standard proofs of residence, insurance, income, etc. I got through the whole process & find out that bike payments would HAVE to be made by direct withdrawal from my bank account. I do not need this and do not like this payment method. The interest rate was insane (almost 20%), but I am trying to fix credit, so I would make payments a while and then pay it off, like I did with engagement ring.
My first time on the bike I immediately find a problem. When the bike is started and you put it in first gear, it stalls as you release the clutch. One man from a local bike store told me this problem was common with Kawasaki Vulcans. Well, it stalled out and I lost my balance! Tipped the bike and hurt myself. (As I said, it has been a long time for me). That was the least of my issues! Next thing I know, the finance company is contacting me daily wanting all kinds of additional proofs... three months bank statements, etc, etc. At first I complied, but by the third request, I was done. They told me that they had NOT "purchased" the loan yet, so if I did not produce everything they asked of me, they would not purchase the loan. Having sold cars for many years, I could not believe the dealership would allow a bike off the lot without financing being fully secured! I was not about to have this finance company asking me endlessly for personal financial information. I was buying a bike NOT A HOUSE! They turned buying a bike into the kind of process I went through mortgaging my house! That is insane! So, I told the dealer I would be bringing the bike back. They never offered in-house financing, tho their website says they offer it. I got married less than two weeks following the bike purchase, so I was very involved with wedding preparations. Afterwards, we went out of town for a week. Could not get call or IM returns about returning bike for weeks!
Getting the bike back was not my first priority as I stay very busy, & finding the hours necessary return the bike was just not easy. Arlington is a good ways from Dallas and traffic is usually crazy when I have time to make the trip. It takes me an hour to get there and an hour to get back, so I have to plan on a 3 hour window of availability. A window I seldom have. After the wedding/trip, they decided to offer to send someone to pick it up. So, the guy comes to pick up the bike. He was nice and took the bike, put it on a trailer, and hauled it off. No issues. No problems. Shortly afterwards, I start getting deluged by IM's on my phone claiming the bike had been wrecked and I needed to provide my insurance information! WHAT? If it had been wrecked, I think I would have known about it. Tipped once, yes, wrecked, no. Anyway, they now are hassling the fire out of me, wanting me to pay for the damages they claim I made. After speaking with my attorney and having him review my documents related to this sale, he said that what they did amounted to an extended test drive as financing was not guaranteed when I drove off the lot. Even if I had somehow damaged the bike during this time, it is the seller's responsibility, not the buyers. Insurance is attained to protect the FINANCE company, not the seller. If the bike had been financed, and had it been a repossession due to failure to pay, then I would be responsible for damages. They now have stopped payment on my down payment refund check. Luckily, TX is strict about check issues, so warrant to be filed. This whole experience was a nightmare. I would NEVER recommend this place. read more