I inquired about a vehicle at Tutton via phone because I live four hours away. My experience began…read morewith a classic high-pressure sales tactic: Josiah told me someone was currently looking at the truck, then immediately recanted, saying, "Actually, that truck isn't being looked at, so we can talk now." Despite the red flag, I proceeded.
I was explicit that I would not be financing through the dealership. I had a "do not exceed" approved loan check from my bank and asked Josiah to confirm this was acceptable. He assured me it was and agreed to provide an "out the door" (OTD) price for my visit the next day.
After driving four hours, I test-drove the vehicle. Josiah was polite, and we even brought him lunch to show our appreciation for his time. However, the truck had several issues: PCM codes, dash warnings, missing parts, a stuck air dam, a struggling starter, and erratic shifting from a recently replaced transmission. Despite these concerns, the OTD price was not reduced from the advertised price.
Furthermore, Tutton's documentation fee is a staggering $1,000--nearly triple the average of other dealerships I researched. Then came the "hidden" fees. Once I presented my bank check, Josiah claimed he "didn't get a chance" to mention a $1,000 surcharge for not using their internal financing.
When I protested, the "negotiation" became a shell game. They offered to cut that fee to $500, but suddenly the tag fees, taxes, and a previously unmentioned "ETR fee" increased to make up the difference. When they finally agreed to "remove" the outside financing fee entirely, they padded the other line items--tags, taxes, ETR, and a new "TTL review reimbursement fee"--so the final OTD price remained almost identical to the original.
When we asked to speak to the manager, Brian, the experience worsened. He was condescending and dismissive, stating, "You already drove four hours... I know you are going to get the truck." He refused to budge even $400 to offset the imminent starter failure.
Two days after getting the truck home, the starter failed, leaving me stranded. I had to tow it and replace the part myself.
Both the salesman and manager lacked transparency and integrity. Instead of a professional transaction, it felt like a coordinated effort to swindle us through line-item manipulation. Based on other reviews, this seems to be a consistent pattern. I would strongly advise buyers to look elsewhere.
