BUYER BEWARE WHEN DOING BUSINESS WITH PRESTIGE TRADE INC
THEY DO NOT ABIDE TO THEIR OWN CONTRACT
We had been looking at used cars for about a month when we came across a car advertised on CarGurus that matched the model and year we were looking for. We were looking at other used cars in the Philadelphia area and decided to stop at PRESTIGE TRADE INC and look at it.
When we asked for the Carfax, they said they do not use it, but provided a report from Auto Check. At the time, Auto Check gave the car a clean bill of overall health. As we trusted PRESTIGE TRADE INC when the dealer said, "there was nothing wrong with the car" along with the Auto Check report, we still wanted it to be checked by our mechanic. After informing the dealer that our mechanic was 90 minutes away, he informed us that they would only allow a mechanic that was 10 minutes away. After the purchase, we had our mechanic look at it. One of the headlight housings had to be replaced, the back brakes were frozen and had to be replaced. He also indicated there were several replacement parts in the front end, supporting that it was in an accident. Again, we should have walked away, but trusted PRESTIGE TRADE INC when he said, "there was nothing wrong with the car." So, after we purchased the car, we bought a report from Carfax which showed that damage was reported. In addition, it wasn't until later that we noticed the date on the report from Auto Check was weeks old.
We test drove the car on a Saturday and decided to make an offer (cash and check) for the car which was accepted by the dealer. When we returned home that day, we received a call from the dealer indicating that there was a problem with the sales contract. He said he made a mistake and that we would need to pay another $1,000 or return the vehicle (the mistake was not coming out of the dealer's pocket). He also said that he would not cash the check or send the title until one of the two happened. We reminded him that we had a valid contract and that he must cash the check and send the title as stated in their own created contract.
So, the check was shown as cleared on that Tuesday, and as the contract stated, they would send the title once the check cleared. After a week of not receiving the title, we contacted the dealership and the manager wanted us to sign a release and a different sales contract, among other things before he would send the title. It wasn't until we started legal proceedings that they sent the title after nearly a week and a half after the car was paid in full.
After dealing and purchasing with PRESTIGE TRADE INC, we would suggest that you:
* Do not trust and buy from PRESTIGE TRADE INC.
* Buy a Carfax report before your purchase and make sure you have the car checked by your mechanic.
* If your foolish enough to buy from PRESTIGE TRADE INC, pay all cash and obtain the title and a detailed signed sales contract before you leave. Make sure someone else reviews the contract if you feel uncomfortable with any part of it before you sign it. It's your right, exercise it. read more