WARNING: THREAT OF SCAM OR CON - Simply dishonest at best. So many cars and dealers out there. Find…read morean honest one.
Short version: They try to rip you off, change the deal, do not honor written expectations, do not inspect the vehicle, try to take advantage of your situation, and do not keep promises.
(keep in mind that I like to support small businesses and do not write bad review unless it is something really serious)
On August 13th, 2019, I arrived at Hayward Auto Gallery and met with the owner Shervin and the sales representative Johnny. They knew I had been saving for their higher down payment requirement and planning to buy immediately. They already had an approval on financing and we already agreed on the loan terms. They knew it was a 3 hour drive for me to get there in the evening and I was arranging to meet a friend who was buying the car which I used to drive there. So, they knew I was highly motivated to drive away with the their car for sale.
When I arrived, immediately, red flags. We began to transfer our belongings from the old car I drove to get there over to the new one and we found a vape pen in the new one. When the Shervin came out to greet us, he claimed the pen. Nice to know how the owner preps a car being sold and gets high while at work.
Next, I ask about the 8th seat. The van is advertised, even now, as an 8 passenger vehicle. When I was at the dealership the first time to apply for financing, I was told, "The seat is probably with the detailer, we'll have it ready for you." Now that I was there to buy, "I don't know. The VIN dictates our website. I don't know why it says 8 seats. Does your old van have an extra seat you can move over?" Really?
Next, I ask, "Did you get the window controls working from the driver seat? You said you just had to replace a switch." He says, "No, we forgot, but don't worry, we'll mail you a switch." Consider this - they claim the vehicle received an inspection, but it was missing a seat, could not control the windows, had a headlamp out, a piece of plastic that belongs somewhere loose in the back, followed by the vaping in the car, there clearly was no inspection nor desire to correct anything before selling. The problem might not be a switch and who pays for labor?
So, since I was highly motivated to buy that night, with a friend waiting to leave in my car, I go into the office to finalize. He shows me the computer screen that begins with CASH PRICE: $15,999. I say, "That might be right, but I thought it was less, can we check the advertisement?" And he says, "That's the price and we took the ad down since you are buying the car." So I say, "Ok, but I think I have a photo of the advertisement." as I begin to look for the photo he admits, "Yea, the ad was less. We included a $600 'bank fee'". I was like, "What? I texted you confirming we were going with advertised price, minus down, plus tax and license just this morning." And he says, "I left my phone at home and did not get that text." I'll let you pause on that one.
I told him firmly, "I agreed to pay the advertised price."
So I say, "Yes, but you replied to that text confirming the corrections and the deal." and he says, "Actually, that was my wife that replied." (Reminding me to bring a utility bill). Yea, right, but get this...
Later, after he sees the text exchange was at 7:30am, he says, "Yea, that was before I came to work, so that was me that replied." OMG, the tangled web we weave when we practice to deceive.
He then goes into the poor me act, "Do you really expect me to pay the fees I incur because of you?" Now he insults my intelligence, but I want the car, so I say, "I'll pay your bank fee." Note that he tried to charge exactly $1,000 more without my noticing even though claimed the "bank fee" was $700. So, I say, knowing I was dealing with a liar and a cheat, "I will pay the higher price. I will pay your bank fee, on ONE condition: You must label the price on the contract with the advertised price first and then you label this sudden increase as "bank fee" and.... he refused. He said he could not document it on the contract as he was claiming it had to be. I know why he did not want it documented on the contract.
We never got far enough to have him refuse the extra warranty he promised to be included in the advertised price.
So, my friend did not get my car that night. I did not buy the van from this con artist. I drove home for another 3 hours - wasting a day and gas, but at least I can do the service of warning others.
Don't reward this kind of behavior.
