I am writing to formally bring to your attention an unacceptable experience I had with your sales…read moredepartment, specifically involving salesperson Tristan Polk, regarding my 2019 Chevrolet Suburban 1500.
After listing my vehicle privately on Facebook Marketplace, a representative from your dealership reached out to express strong interest in purchasing it. After reviewing photographs and the vehicle identification number (VIN), your sales staff explicitly confirmed that the asking price was acceptable and instructed me to bring the vehicle to your location for final disposition. I have retained saved digital records of the Facebook Marketplace communication where your dealership explicitly confirmed in writing that the price looked good.
Knowing this required a 3-hour round trip from Grass Range, I agreed in good faith. During the initial drive to Great Falls, the vehicle's transmission failed. Demonstrating complete transparency, I brought the vehicle to your lot and informed your team of the issue. During that first visit, Mr. Polk offered me $8,000 "as-is" for parts. I explicitly rejected that offer, stating that $8,000 was not enough and that I would take the vehicle home, replace the transmission and return to receive the full agreed amount. Which Tristan confirmed would be possible.
I also asked Tristan if there would be any negotiating or if I would get a check in hand and be on my way, which he confirmed check in hand and be on my way.
I hauled the Suburban back home and installed a brand-new remained transmission. I then "hauled" it 30 miles to lewistown MT to Courtesy Motors INC which is a certified shop to have the control module properly programmed and perform the required transmission relearn procedure--securing official documentation and a 3-year warranty on the unit.
Once this was completed, I contacted your team again. Your representative re-confirmed the agreement and asked me to bring the vehicle back up. While I was actively driving to Great Falls today, Tristan Polk called my phone to confirm my exact arrival time "12:00pm" and assured me he could fit me in right away.
Upon my arrival:
1. Mr. Polk walked around the vehicle, praised its physical condition, and stated it was exactly as described.
2. During this walkaround, Mr. Polk admitted to me that his manager had been upset with him regarding the broken transmission from my first attempt. Mr. Polk explicitly stated that he told his floor manager I was serious, that I was going to replace the transmission, and that I would be back.
3. I provided full documentation confirming the newly installed, warrantied transmission along with the certified shop's programming and relearn paperwork.
4. We completed a joint test drive around the block, during which Mr. Polk verified that the vehicle drove and performed flawlessly.
Despite knowing full well that I declined an $8,000 "for parts" offer and spent significant time and money installing a brand-new remained transmission specifically to honor our full-price agreement, Mr. Polk stepped into the sales office for two minutes under the guise of "talking to a manager" and returned to flatly state, "We don't want your vehicle." When I pointed out that I had just driven an hour and a half at your explicit invitation and that no fault had been found with the vehicle, he immediately pivoted to a lowball offer $5,000 below our agreed price--a clear, deliberate attempt to exploit my travel distance and force a distress sale.
Furthermore, this entire ordeal resulted in over 300 miles driven across two round trips, significant fuel expenses, and hours of lost time--all incurred relying directly on explicit, written assurances from your staff.
This behavior constitutes classic bad-faith negotiation. Inviting a seller to drive three hours round trip under false pretenses, praising the vehicle's condition, and then attempting to leverage sunk travel costs to extract an unearned $5,000 discount reflects terribly on your dealership's ethics and operational integrity.
I expect purchasing practices at a licensed dealership to operate in good faith.
Alex..... here is my response to your " conscience"
Double Standard on Vehicle Condition: On a vehicle of this age, an original transmission is almost guaranteed to have significant wear and risk of failure. You would have accepted and resold the vehicle in that condition without issue.
Increased Value & Longevity: The vehicle now has a brand-new transmission, which dramatically extends its lifespan and directly increases its reliability for any future buyer.
Proof & Warranty: The replacement is fully documented with a valid warranty to back up the work and protect the vehicle's operation.
Claiming you cannot sell a vehicle with a brand-new, warrantied transmission--when you would have willingly sold it with a heavily worn, original one--is not a matter of conscience. It is simply an excuse to deny payment."