The car that Kat wrote about yesterday didn’t happen. (For the record, it was from Sam Auto Sales, 1634 Capital Blvd, Raleigh, NC.)
When we agreed to buy it yesterday, they needed to change the tires, and get a state inspection done on the car. The tires because they said they would; the inspection because they are legally required to.
We returned a few hours later to do the paperwork and pay. No problem. When we had signed everything and paid, we went out to the car. “Oh,” the guy says, “we couldn’t get the inspection done this afternoon. You could take it now and come back, but you might have problems with the expired inspection sticker.” I refused to take it, pointing out that it would be illegal for me to do so. (I think it was illegal for them to transfer the ownership without the inspection done, possibly even illegal for me to test-drive it.)
They phoned back this morning… The car didn’t pass the inspection.
At this point, they didn’t want to sell the car because “it might look bad on them.” My interpretation was “we did something bad and want to back out now, before you tell anybody.” To give you an idea of how badly screwed they seemed to be: they didn’t even try to sell me another car after refunding my money; they were just happy to give my money back and get me out the door. Just as well. I wouldn’t have bought gum out of their vending mahcine at that point.
I’m still fuzzy on why it didn’t pass—the guy’s English wasn’t great and he didn’t have any motivation to be really forthcoming just then. Our mechanic’s inspection was okay (not stellar, but not bad for a car of that age). Oh well, it probably got us out of a lemon.
January 5th, 2007 at 3:16 pm
hi greg&kat we’ve read your blog and we’re glad
that you revealed it to others.we’re going to start organizing people who have been victimized by these money loving shysters.and based on your actions i’m sure you don’t want others to suffer the same plight.thanks and i look to hear from you
frank
January 6th, 2009 at 10:52 am
I have been screwed by them as well, I was sold a newer/unsafe car
January 23rd, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Hey – my son found a few cars he wants to go back there and look at. What should I be weary of with these guys? I assume it will be just me and him to go back as dad wants no part of the car buying process. I don’t want them to think they can screw over a mom and her son. Thanks!
January 27th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
I don’t know the place in question, but a quick Google search revealed the following:
http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3717359757
Personally, this blog posting alone is enough to tell me I would never do business with them, but perhaps these extra reviews help steer your decision.
Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with this business other than doing a quick search and formulating an *opinion* based on this blog. This in no way represents the opinion of Greg and Kat’s blog, YMMV, IMHO, etc…
Phil