Auto Expo

We get there and waited 30 minutes to be seen even though I had an appt and was harassed the entire time before getting there about keeping my appt. So we finally sit down to talk to Max, who proceeded to explain that he doesn't know why they would say that because in fact, my credit wasn't ran. Which now I'm pissed because I came in with the intention of looking at the vehicle and if the numbers make sense driving the car back. So anyway, we go take a look at the car while they work numbers.

I come back and Max says that only one bank responded and that they want $13k down and apr would be 22%. So I'm like, "What? But okay, let me see the Carfax for the car." He replied with, "Okay I can get that for you," but never gave it to me, kept brushing it off. So he's like, "So we ready to do this?" I'm like, "Give me a printout with the numbers that the bank is asking for.." He tell me, "Oh I can't give you that. The finance manager has it." Mind you I literally can see the managers office from my seat. So if you're trying to sell a car, walk over and ask him for the paperwork and Carfax.

So we sat there from 10 am to 2pm. Then he tries to sell me a Maserati Gibbli that a guy was there to pick up, he already had paid for. They are scammers and liars.. They bring you there under the assumption that you are approved and it's a lie. Then you get there and they try to sell you a car with crazy down payments and interest rates. Then don't want to provide anything in writing. The car looked like it wasn't moved for months, dirty and dusty. And no test drive. Thank God I walked out of there and didn't purchase the car or got scammed.

I explained that after checking my credit it was not the greatest and that I had a prior charge-off on my report. I explained further that I did not want to waste anyone's time as well as my own time so I wanted to work with someone who had a high credit acceptance rating for people with fair credit. Vertulie assured me that she would be able to get me approved but I would have to go to the dealership. Now, I live in New Jersey and the dealer is located in Great Neck, NY. So, I set my skepticism aside and made the appointment and went.

When I got to the dealership I was greeted by the receptionist who informed me that Vertulie was not in, however, she had a salesperson who could help me; she handed me over to David ** who gathered all my documents and started the paperwork process. I explained my situation to David and explained that Vertulie guaranteed approval. He stated that he did not know what she was talking about but he could not guarantee approval. He stated that best we could do is try a credit application. I agreed and he submitted the application the the finance manager.

While I waited I asked David if I could be taken to the lot to see the cars he had. Instead of escorting me out to the lot and giving me a tour, he stated to me; "you can go outside on your own and check out the cars we have, we have cars on the left side of the door and some of the right side but you should check on the left first." I didn't feel comfortable going outside alone as I had no idea what I would be looking at in the lot. So, I just waited there with David. About 15 minutes later he came back and told me that I would have to wait until Monday or Tuesday because the banks were not open on Sunday and I needed to get approved first. This was the first hint to me that this was shady business.

When I was leaving David told me to go online and look at the cars I would be interested in and send it back to him with stock numbers. He assured me that he would get me approved for something. I reached out to David late Monday and he advised me that he was still working on the deal; for a few days I did not hear from David. When I finally reached out he stated that my income was not sufficient, so I questioned him because I earn roughly $80 - 100k per year. He stated that my paystubs didn't reflect the salary and I needed to provide additional information. Becoming more skeptical I submitted documentation of my supplemental income.

By Tuesday afternoon of the following week, I was approved. He told me that I was however, ONLY approved for a Mercedes Benz C300. He told me the reason why I was being approved for that car is because it holds more value so it's a better vehicle. I was too sure about that, however, I said, "Okay great". He asked me to go online and find C300's that would interest me. I immediately went online and found 3 C300's. I submitted them. Several days later I was told that they were sold. From this point forward, every car I selected was either sold or not "approved". All the vehicles I selected were in the price range he gave me as a reference.

This being said, I started to realize that every vehicle that David presented to me was either one that was out of my taste, or one with high mileage. Every vehicle that I selected he rejected and then sent me others that were higher mileage. After going back and forth for a while I found one that was perfect for me and within the price range. The vehicle was about $2700 more sticker price than the others he sent me previously. It was also extremely low mileage and it was perfect for me. I asked David to have the inventory price adjusted to the price of the cars that I lost since he inconvenienced me with his lack of communication the previous two weeks. He said he would call me on Friday afternoon to confirm and I did not receive the call as he stated. He also failed to follow up with me on other matters.

Today, I called him since he missed the call on Friday to tell him that I would be coming down because I was ready to drive. He immediately messaged me back and told me that I should wait because he was awaiting approval for the BMW I wanted. 15 minutes later I was told by David that I was not approved for that car. David told me "I can ONLY help you with a C300. That's it". He sent me another C300 with high mileage and told me that would be my only choice.

Becoming more angry and frustrated I immediately told him that I was no longer interested in the car and I wanted to have my info removed from their system because at this point I felt as though he blatantly thought I was an idiot; well I take that back, he actually did call me an idiot in his text messages to me. I felt as though throughout the entire process I was being played for a fool. For David to tell me that he was trying to help me, by selling me a vehicle I did not want was even more absurd and disrespectful. Let's be for real, the ONLY person he was helping was himself.

What really makes no sense to me in this entire ordeal is the fact that I was ready to sign and drive. The only thing that David would've had to do was negotiate the sticker price of the vehicle $2700. For a place that coins themselves on the service they provide, this service was the worst I have ever experienced. The text message exchange between David and myself was rather unprofessional. David began using CAPS, he made fun of my credit rating as if to say this is why you can't get approved, he made remarks about seeing me soon as to insinuate a fight. David is the most unprofessional sales person I have met at a dealership. David has 100% confirmed what car salesman are like. Dishonest and unprofessional at its best. I have weeks of text messages to add to this thread so that the arrogance of this individual can be made public. Worst experience ever.

Once I heard the monthly payment was going to be almost double what I had initially been told, I decided to leave. I was contacted the very next day and told that I could get the car I originally wanted, also at a monthly price more reasonable. I go back down there and I’m told that there is a program where they pay the difference between my agreed upon price and what the actual monthly cost is. Fast forward, the payment date was approaching and it took me countless text messages and calls to get them to transfer the money for the payments as part of this “program”. Unanswered text messages from the finance manager, the salesperson stayed In touch but had no way of getting the finance guy to contact me until 2 days before the payment date followed by an excuse about it being overlooked even though I’ve been contacting them about it for over 2 weeks.

Now after 3 months of payments they said we refinance and the monthly payment will go down to the agreed upon monthly price. I’ve made the 3rd months payment and now we’re back to the unanswered text messages and the salesman telling me that I should try to refinance on my own, saying that the finance guy is busy and he’s reminding me to contact him. I’ve reached out to him and now I’m stuck with this extremely high monthly payment. I basically was told anything to get the sale at the last minute. First time buying a car and now left to deal with everything on my own because I'm getting the runaround. Never again.

I called the dealership with a private number to inquire about the car under a different alias to see how this dealership operates, I was told to come on down. (Be mindful when these guys' interest is with someone else purchasing they will ignore you.) The sales rep finally answered and I asked, “Are you guys going to sell my car?” He said no. I called later on with a question about the car and I was told by the front desk the car is sold. I requested a manager, He took the call and said, "Someone out of town offered more money Approximately $4000 more than the listed price so we went with him." Even though I put the 1000 dollar hold on the Vehicle, and had the audacity to say, "If you match him we will sell it to you."

Currently I am trying to retrieve my deposit money and there is no one to be found. They are refusing to refund my money. The car is still up as available for purchase. I feel great knowing Auto Expo missed out on a guaranteed sale. I found a way better. This dealership is a complete rip off. Save your money and energy. Full of money hungry scammers.