Southwest Lincoln-Mercury - Internet buy gone wrong

[speelurker]

I live in Dallas, Texas, and had decided I would like to own a Nissan Murano. On Wednesday, June 20, 2007, I performed a search at http://www.cars.com for a used 2007 Murano. I found a listing for one with no price at:

Southwest Lincoln-Mercury
10025 Southwest Freeway
Houston, TX 77074
713-981-3586
888-891-7709
http://www.swlincolnmercury.com/

I found the same vehicle listed on their website and used their website to contact them. I asked for a quote on the vehicle.

The next day (Thursday) around noon, I called the dealership, since I had not seen a reply. I talked to their Internet salesman, and he informed me that he had indeed replied. I found the emails in my spam folder, and we proceeded to discuss the vehicle.

I was told the vehicle was only available under a contingent sales contract, as the previous owner was using it as a trade-in and had not yet taken possession of their new vehicle. That transaction was scheduled to be completed on Monday, June 25th, and the Murano could then be bought on that day.

We discussed the vehicle more, and I was quoted a price. We then discussed the logistics of how a sale would work given the contingent situation and that I was in Dallas and the dealership was in Houston. We then began to discuss the need to put a deposit down to hold the vehicle until Saturday, June 23rd, which was the soonest I could get to Houston to see and test-drive the vehicle. I agreed to provide a deposit. The salesman said that they would have to work on pricing paperwork and would follow up with me on the deposit.

The salesman called me a couple of hours later and told me that, since the transaction on the Murano had not been completed, they could not accept a deposit on it. However, they assured me I was "first in line" to purchase it.

On Friday, the salesman called to confirm my visit at the dealership on Saturday. I told the salesman that I would probably be arriving around 1:30PM and received assurances that I was still first in line for the vehicle.

Saturday morning, June 23rd, I left Dallas at 10AM, headed for Houston. At 12:30PM, while in transit, the Internet salesman called me and said the Murano was "being shown." I told the salesman I was still about an hour away from the dealership. The salesman assured me that I was "first in line" for the vehicle.

At 1:30PM, the salesman called again and said the vehicle had been sold by another salesman. They had just signed a contingent sales contract with another buyer.

At 2:00PM I arrived at the dealership. I voiced my concerns to both salesmen. I was told that they were just doing as they were told. I complained about the waste of my time and gas. The initial salesman I worked with apologized and gave me $40 as compensation for gas.

After wasting 10 hours of my life and 600 miles on my wife's car, I'm right back where I started.

This happened to me at Southwest Lincoln-Mercury in Houston. Buyer beware.

David in Dallas

[njjoe]

speelurker-

So sorry to hear about your tale of woe. Some new-car dealers have a poor sense of customer support and a definite lack of business ethics. Some used-car dealer are even worse.

There is a "Dealer Rating" section in this forum. You might want to consider posting some comments there.

-njjoe

[mgthe3]

Take every lawyer joke and replace lawyer with car salesman.

works for me

[speelurker]

Originally posted by njjoe
speelurker-

So sorry to hear about your tale of woe. Some new-car dealers have a poor sense of customer support and a definite lack of business ethics. Some used-car dealer are even worse.

There is a "Dealer Rating" section in this forum. You might want to consider posting some comments there.

-njjoe

Yeah, I've retold that tale at a number of places around the web. If just one person decides not to visit that dealership as a result, I'll be satisfied. :-)

And looks like I might be joining the Murano family tomorrow. Found another one that looks really good (and is nearby!).

[SIM]

Salesmen are always competing against each other and frankly, the manager couldn't care less who sells the car as long as it's gone. They were not sure that you would buy it so they sold it to the first customer who said yes. It's not fair for you and they should have informed the buyer that someone with priority was coming in from far to see this car but we all know also that even managers and salesmen have friends amd acquaintances who get the better deals. And this Lincoln-Mercury dealer surely never had such a quality vehicle before that sold so fast so they probably were caught off guard...

[jballchat]

Have you tried Jerry's Nissan in Weatherford (15 mi. west of Ft Worth)? When I bought my new '05 MO, Adam (still there) sold me a new Murano at a very attractive price. Did the deal exclusively via Internet and made the drive up from Austin to take delivery. No one in Austin would come close to Jerry's price.

[jaak]

Sounds to me like you got lucky. Buying a vehicle from a dealer like that, is not something desirable. I feel sorry for the other buyer too.

[rtking]

Dealerships and most car salespeople are snakes in the grass. Dealerships don't care who is "first in line" if they have a live prospect in the dealership.

I was buying a 2003 Mercedes E500 used. Financing arranged, all was done except I had to come in and sign the contracts. My meeting ran late so I made it to the dealership at 12:45 instead of 12:00. By that time, they sold the car to someone else. Really made me mad, but what can you do? Car is gone and the dealership got the money they wanted.

Instead of feeling like a victim, just make it a point to never deal with that dealership again and go out and find another vehicle. I ended up keeping my 2002 C230 Coupe (a good daily driver) and buying a Ferrari for fun. I have never looked back and have no regrets.

BTW, the Nissan dealership in Petaluma, CA was fantastic when I bought my '04 MO used. Picked me up from the airport (1 hour drive) and had the deal ready to go at the price we negotiated on over the phone. They were a breath of fresh air, at least with my deal...

Bob

[GripperDon]

And each time I do some "person" defends them. There are exception to every rule but my general rule is, I put them right up therr with the snaking stinkers that CEO's are. In other words about about as bad as you can get.

[ElleShooTiger]

Originally posted by rtking
I was buying a 2003 Mercedes E500 used. Financing arranged, all was done except I had to come in and sign the contracts. My meeting ran late so I made it to the dealership at 12:45 instead of 12:00. By that time, they sold the car to someone else. Really made me mad, but what can you do? Car is gone and the dealership got the money they wanted.

Instead of feeling like a victim, just make it a point to never deal with that dealership again and go out and find another vehicle. I ended up keeping my 2002 C230 Coupe (a good daily driver) and buying a Ferrari for fun. I have never looked back and have no regrets.
Bob

Sorry for dragging up this old thread, but seriously, consider yourself VERY lucky you missed out on that (or any) 2003 E-Class! That was the first year of that model, and they have had major teething problems, so rest assure that the other person was the real victim! We bought a 2006 E350, by that time they managed to get most of the bugs out, and in 2007 they finally made the E-Class a really reliable car.

My dad bought his 2007 Grand Marquis from this dealer, 2 days after his 2003 was involved in a 3-car/1-tractor trailer pile-up He went to their site and requested a price, then went in and signed the paperwork and got his new car. They were also nice enough to keep supplying us with temp tags for the next 4 months, my dad was constantly travelling and couldnt get to the tax office to register the new car haha. Of course, I'm sure they had plenty of Grand Marquis in stock, I doubt there much of a mad fight over base-model new cars lol.