Originally found a Dodge Ram listed on TrueCar. Price was right at blue book, a little over market, but the lot was close to home so I decided to swing by the next day and see what we could do. I received an email the morning before I arrived stating that the truck was in stock and confirming the price (this was likely automated due to me adding it on TrueCar.). I purchased a carfax for the VIN out of pocket after receiving the email. looked like a typical auction vehicle imported from Canada. I went in after work, there was no Ram on the lot. I asked one of the associates, who told me the truck had been sold a week prior. Before leaving, I asked if there was anything else on the lot he'd like to show me, since I was there anyway, and he shrugged. I left.
The next day I received another email from their office asking if I was "still in the market" , I explained that I didn't have a lot of confidence but I was willing to see what they had in stock. They replied that they had a red Silverado that they could "do better" on the price. Given that the only price that had been discussed was for the Ram, this implied they would beat the price of the Ram with the Silverado. I asked for a Carfax before coming back in, as I had already paid out of pocket for one already.
I received a dealers history for a GMC Sierra, not a Silverado, listed for nearly double what the Ram was. I responded asking if they had sent me the wrong information, or if they were offering the Sierra at a nearly 40% discount. Crickets for about an hour. I called the dealership to clear up the confusion, and was told no Silverado existed, and that the person I had emailed with was out of the office. The GMC Sierra was what they had intended in the first email, and by "do better" they had meant "cut me a deal on the list price." They ended up trying to offer me the Sierra for $5000 more than the original Ram. I turned them down and hung up. The next morning I received another email from the original contact, offering the same Sierra at the same price. I turned them down again, and listed why, and was told the Ram was still listed because there were "financing issues" regarding the sale. The Ram is still listed online as in stock, as of a few hours ago.
I'm not mad, but I won't try to do business with them any further. There no reason for the vague and misleading language and lack of communication, let alone not being able to accurately track and manage the inventory and listing for a small roadside lot. If you do try them, call ahead and confirm the vehicle you want is still there, and get hard numbers and clarified answers. Otherwise, you'll be on a treadmill for 3 days trying to get anything straight.
Edited with screenshots of exchange, since I am being accused of misrepresenting it. You don't have to be pissed about something to believe consumers should be aware of poor business practices. read more