WARNING! LONG READ... but any input would be appreciated. Thanks.

Star Nissan is located in Bayside, Queens, in New York.
This is a pretty big and reputable dealership, so I hope some of you have had some experiences with this dealership. For those who work in dealerships, I'd like to know what the common practice is regarding this issue.

Here's my situation:
On Sunday, I stopped by Star Nissan to look for a used vehicle. The only car that remotely caught my eye was a Green 97 GLE. Looked it over, test drove it and sat down with a dealer to talk money. After some initial haggling, the dealer told me I had to put down a deposit in order for him to give the manager an offer of a final price. I had no intention to lock myself into it on the spot, so I asked numerous times whether or not I would be penalized or lose my deposit if I changed my mind, or something else came up that would prevent me from purchasing. He reassured me multiple times that if I changed my mind or if I backed out, I would get every penny back. (The very words out of his mouth, "I certainly hope you don't change your mind. It's a great car and you're going to love it. But yes, if you decide to change your mind, we'll give you all of it back.") It was getting late, so I didn't want to read over the entire purchase order word for word because I assumed the dealer wouldn't mislead me about it. So I signed and placed a $1000 deposit with my CC. He arranges for me to come in Tuesday and give him the insurance information, payment, etc. so that they can get it inspected and cleaned for pickup on Wed. night.

On Mon. night, I receive another offer on a better car, so on Tuesday morning, I contact Star Nissan and ask to have my order canceled. Turns out my dealer was off, so I ask if anyone else can help me. They tell me no and I have to contact my dealer. Wed. comes and the dealer calls me to ask what's going on. I tell him I want to cancel my order and he starts trying to change the story about what he told me regarding refunding my deposit. He calls me back later in the day after he supposedly talked to his GM and arranges to have me come in on Thurs. so he can try to work out a better deal with me.

Thursday, I show up and the dealer is busy with someone. He initially asks me what's going on and I tell him I just want to cancel my order and get my deposit back. After about an hour and 15 minutes of literally standing right next to his desk, he finally tells me that the GM is not in and that only he can authorize refunds. So he says I should come back Fri. or Sat.

Sat., I show up only to discover that now the dealer has taken the day off and the GM can't do anything about it unless the dealer puts in a request to get my money back.

Now I'm going back on Mon. and hopefully both of them will be there to resolve everything once and for all.

Bottom line, seems like they're trying to give me the run around instead of just refunding my money. The contract does say something along the lines of the dealership has the right to withhold a part of the deposit to cover any expenses they might have encountered. But nothing was done to it. It's even back in the used car lot already. I just wanted to know if I am entitled to a full refund. Every dealership I stopped by during that week told me that they have no right to hold my money unless I asked them to perform services on it.

Any input from you guys on this board?

 

Put it in writing and fax it to the GM and the salesman (followup with first class mail and copy the letter to your credit card company) demanding that they cancel the credit card authorization slip. Demand a written reply no later than 5 business days and threaten to report to consumer affairs and BBB. Before you write, ask for their BBB number.

 

you really want to get somewhere.... i work at a dealer ... MAKE A STINK.... talk to customers and tell them while they are there.... **** if a guy is waiting for his sales person to come back talk to him when the sales person comes back... they will want to make you happy then and there.... anyone one can fill out a check request... or call the GM of the dealership... not the sales manager or general sales manager... the general manager of the entire dealership...


IT does take time to process a refund, you wont see it overnight though... it takes my dealer 10 business days to process once a request is sent in... alot of times it can be fast tracked...


the dealership is in the city, and they are more of a turnover store... ie once your *** is in the car and youve signed papers they dont give a **** about you... it is like this at alot of places, or depending on the type of customer you are...

 

as a salesperson it is kind of funny when people do that, everything gets quiet and everyone starts lookin at you... BUT when the manager does come over take it outside, it is a business and you are taking money away from people tryin to sell cars to pay bills...

 

ahh the run around.. You shoulda known better.

 

That's is a load of BS they have not right to mislead customers. IF you tell anyone you are going to refund your money, you will expect a full refund if delivery is not taken.

 

Star Nissan tried to jerk my dad as he was looking into buying a new pathfinder. They advertise one price then added all these charges to the car when they were finalizing things. MY ADVICE is to contact credit card and put a stop to the payment, explain to them the situation and how you have gone there numerous times. They will then have to deal with Credit Card company, and will be more willing to refund money Very quickly.

 

Paragon Honda is just like them, they had me drive down 70 miles to queens and change the price on the car, i walked out the minute the asssshole sales men changed the price.. and filed a deceptive sales complaint with the bbb.org... check the dealerships complaints and records there before you go to a dealership... to my understand, you have to scream and yell and literally make a screen to get anything done.

 

every dealership gives you a bit of a hard time to get your deposit back, even mine. But this is ridicuolous. All they really have to do is swipe your CC back for $1000 as long as you still have your copy of the buyers order.

Just call up your cc company and have them put a stop payment on it. If need be fax them the buyers order.