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21st Century Auto Group Complaint - Beware of bait and switch - these guys have it down pat - Mercedes 2003 CLK500

Mercedes 2003 CLK500 - Complaint
Review by Vick57 on 2010-12-08
SPRINGFIELD, NEW JERSEY -- My son and I took a drive on Monday 12/6/10 to purchase a 2003 mb CLK500 for the quoted price of 11,500 It was listed for $12,900 however receptionist said they would let it go for 12k and then she said there was a $500 coupon so $11,500 would be the price before taxes and tags. So armed with all that info we contacted salesman "Joe Smith" our luck it was his first day on job. He said price was good and would see us around 8pm. We live out of state so we trecked up there only to be told it was sold to a lady earlier in the day - hmm - he said "we should have put something down on it". hmm After driving 2 huors we haad to examine the CLK500 - it was the real deal a very nice car - did not take on test drive since it was sold. The sales guy said he had other similar ones we could look at - so he showed us a scratched up blue one that he wanted $19,500 for hmm So lets get this right 11500 for a cherry one (that is sold) or $19500 for a scratched up one with more miles hmmmmm HE MUST THINK WE'RE IDIOTS. Found another clean CLK, a CLK320 with more miles and some very curb rashed wheels - drove nice - he wanted $13,700 for it - lets see 11,500 for a cherry 2003 CLK500 with 59k or 13700 for a higher mile lesser car CLK320 hmm hmm. On a side note the Indian guy, who was the decision maker, told us the car that was sold (2003 CLK500) was in bad shape lots of dents and scratches so we cannot compare the 13700 car to it - unknown to this "moron" - we actually viewed the cherry car - what a frickin LIAR!! We left dealership kinda pissed. Went back and immediately googled 21st century auto group complaints and lo and behold we were not surprised on the qty of bait and switch tactics - this gets better - so I called back two days later and asked if the car is still available - miraculously it was and I was told "Lady's financing fell through on the CLK500" WONDER HOW MANY TIMES THAT ONE IS USED BY THEM! SERIOUSLY
I asked him a how a car that was sold could have financing fall through?? I always thought you work with finance manager and secure the financing then close the deal. I should have known when the car did not have a SOLD sticker on it - usually that happens rather quickly - that should have made us acutely suspicious and my antenna should have raised. Anyway "French" was the latest salesman I talked to and he got kind of annoyed when I expained the whole situation to him. Got kinda short. TELL ANYONE you KNOW ABOUT THESE SCUMBAGS - THEY LIE LIE LIE. and the Joe Smith sales guy will never last - he knew absolutley nothing about the product he was selling and did not give clients(us) anytime to talk. I just wonder how many times the bait and switch happens on a daily basis with this dealership 21st Century Auto Group??? I really think it is status quo there. Moral of the story is to research dealership complaints before you go out and if you travel far - put a fully refundable deposit down to hold the vehicle - and most importantly if you are in Springfield NJ area drive to Ray Catena's mb dealership which is down the road from them and make sure to honk the horn when you pass these unethical low life losers! Thank you for taking time to read this - I hope I saved you time and money and an unproductive trip - take care.
Comments:
Posted by trmn8r on 2010-12-08:
There was a similar review (read "complaint") against Ray Catena in the last few days. What a coincidence.

I learned a lesson about going long distances to buy a used car. Don't do it, if there is only one. I took a Greyhound from PA to Boston once, and then back home because the car was not as advertised.

My last car, I researched on Autotrader, and found 5 dealers that had the same late model used car in stock. This is within a 150 mile radius. I visited each one in one day, and found my car at the last one.

These car dealers (Catena, 21st Century) are both large high pressure highway dealers. Personally I wouldn't use either one.

I think what you describe is a common tactic in used car sales. Did you find this on a dealer website, or a third party site?

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