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Apparently Some Car Dealers Think It's OK To Detain Customers Against Their Will
Jalopnik ^ | 2/10/21 | Tom McParland

Posted on 06/23/2021 12:38:16 PM PDT by Leaning Right

You would think that by 2021 car dealers would have wised up and fixed the broken mess that is car shopping. Many stores have adapted, but some are still relying on classic “stealership” tricks. One of the most egregious is preventing someone from leaving the showroom.

(Excerpt) Read more at jalopnik.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Miscellaneous; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: car; detain
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I suppose such events are rare, but I have heard of them before. The most common trick is to take a vulnerable customer’s possible trade-in out for a spin, then withhold the keys.

“Yes, we’ll get your keys back to you in a moment. But first sign this new-car contract. It’s a good deal. You can trust me on that.”

1 posted on 06/23/2021 12:38:16 PM PDT by Leaning Right
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To: Leaning Right
"You want to back out of the deal for the Family Truckster? Sure, here's your trade-in back."


2 posted on 06/23/2021 12:40:11 PM PDT by Yo-Yo (is the /sarc tag really necessary?)
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To: Leaning Right

Dealing with one now that took my trade and was supposed to pay it off. New loan showed up at the credit union, but they have yet to pay off the old. Interesting thing is, it appears they’ve already sold my trade-in. Wonder how they did that without the title.


3 posted on 06/23/2021 12:40:40 PM PDT by IYAS9YAS (There are two kinds of people: Those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.)
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To: Leaning Right

Yeah, I learned that one long ago. Now, I simply hold out my hand and will not even look at any numbers until my keys are back in my own hands.


4 posted on 06/23/2021 12:40:47 PM PDT by beancounter13 (A Republic, if you can keep it.)
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To: Leaning Right

National Lampoon’s Vacation comes to mind where Clark gets stuck with the Family Truckster.


5 posted on 06/23/2021 12:41:27 PM PDT by wally_bert (I cannot be sure for certain, but in my personal opinion I am certain that I am not sure.)
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To: Yo-Yo

You think you hate it now, wait till you drive it.


6 posted on 06/23/2021 12:41:40 PM PDT by IYAS9YAS (There are two kinds of people: Those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.)
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To: Leaning Right

While I was waiting for the police to arrive (and it wouldn’t take me hours to decide to call!), I would be posting real-time updates to the internet.


7 posted on 06/23/2021 12:43:12 PM PDT by Spirit of Liberty (Idiots are of two kinds: those who try to be smart and those who think they are smart.)
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To: IYAS9YAS

New car Dealers can create titles in Florida.......Don’t know about other states.......................


8 posted on 06/23/2021 12:43:38 PM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: Leaning Right

In this day and age ... why the heck do dealerships still use such old tactics? There’s no need for it.


9 posted on 06/23/2021 12:45:17 PM PDT by al_c (Democrats: Party over Common Sense)
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To: Leaning Right

Not like the good old days when you tossed the trade-in keys onto the roof.


10 posted on 06/23/2021 12:46:46 PM PDT by AppyPappy (How many fingers am I holding up, Winston? )
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To: Leaning Right
The most common trick is to take a vulnerable customer’s possible trade-in out for a spin, then withhold the keys.

That's why you talk price before ever mentioning a trade in.

11 posted on 06/23/2021 12:47:06 PM PDT by al_c (Democrats: Party over Common Sense)
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To: wally_bert
> National Lampoon’s Vacation comes to mind where Clark gets stuck with the Family Truckster. <

Well, I’d like to see a car dealership try to withhold Uncle Eddie’s keys. Fireworks would ensue.


12 posted on 06/23/2021 12:48:15 PM PDT by Leaning Right (I have already previewed or do not wish to preview this composition.)
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To: Red Badger
New car Dealers can create titles in Florida.......Don’t know about other states.......................

Even on a car that currently has a lien on the existing title? How's that pass legal muster?

13 posted on 06/23/2021 12:48:18 PM PDT by IYAS9YAS (There are two kinds of people: Those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.)
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To: Leaning Right

If anyone pulls that trick on you, whip out your phone and call the police. That is false imprisonment or attempted kidnapping.


14 posted on 06/23/2021 12:49:25 PM PDT by FormerFRLurker
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To: Leaning Right

My uncle told me the story where this one car dealer would have you put your car keys in this bucket; then without knowing it, the bucket was hauled up to the roof out of reach of the customer. I don’t know what was entailed in getting the keys back but 10 to 1 the dealer lost a sale.


15 posted on 06/23/2021 12:49:33 PM PDT by SkyDancer (I Identify As Vaccinated)
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To: IYAS9YAS

Last summer, I inquired about an internet ad they had for a 21 White F150. Yep, it’s right here on the lot, come on in.

I went at 4PM the same day. Greeted the sales lady, she took me out front for a test ride. It was a brown F150. I said no thanks, where is the white one I inquired about? It is in the shop, it got keyed last night so we will test drive this one. I said no thanks, let me know when it is out of the shop.

Next day I get a call, we have your vehicle ready to be looked at. Again I show up, she has the same brown F150. Apparently, the white F150 hit a tree earlier in the day and is back in the shop.

True story.


16 posted on 06/23/2021 12:49:37 PM PDT by VastRWCon (Fake News")
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To: IYAS9YAS

They can pay off the loan via electronic funds transfer but the paperwork is slower to catch up........................


17 posted on 06/23/2021 12:50:48 PM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: Spirit of Liberty

Yes. What you said.


18 posted on 06/23/2021 12:52:51 PM PDT by NEMDF
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To: VastRWCon

Last time we bought a car (2011!!), they cheated by changing numbers on paperwork THREE TIMES from what we agreed to. We were livid. They acted all like, “these things happen...”. We knew they were purposely trying to cheat us. I swore we would NEVER go to that dealer again.


19 posted on 06/23/2021 12:55:16 PM PDT by NEMDF
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To: Leaning Right

One local car dealership in San Antonio was known as the 911 dealer.

High pressure sales bastards kept one old lady there so long she called 911.


20 posted on 06/23/2021 12:56:29 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd (I love my country. It’s my government that I hate.)
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