Complaint Review: Ken Grody Automotive Group

On September 24th, my father and I looked through the local news paper to see if we could find any good deals on a new truck. In the advertisement, it showed a new Four (4) door 2000 Ford Ranger Supercab XLT.

The features include: Pwr windows/doors, remote entry, Sport Pkg, fog lights, chrome wheels, air cond, stereo CD w/ a 3.0L V6 5 spd. The advertised price was 13,975 after discounts and rebates. (5 at this price) The break down was this:

MSRP...............17,550
Dealer Discount....-2,075
Selling Price......15,475
Factory Rebate.......1500
Net Cost............13975

We called the dealer about 6pm the night before, they claimed they had 2 left. We then called the next morning, they still had 2 left, so we proceeded to the dealer. When we arrive a salesmen greeted us and we showed him the ad in the paper. He confirmed with us that there was 2 left, both exactly the same color. So he took us up stairs on to the roof (and then way in the back) where the truck was parked. The truck was dirty and was in need of a wash.

We also noted that the vehicle wasn't a four door like the truck in the picture shows. The salesmen said it must have been a mistake in the advertisement. We then drove it around the
block, parked it in front of the dealership and walked into the office to talk numbers.

No more than 5 minutes after got out of the vehicle, the salesmen told us the truck was just sold to someone else. At this point, I was pissed. I really had my heart set on the vehicle I just drove. We then asked about the second one they claimed to have had, they said it just sold as well. At this point I told them they were wasting my time and I got up to leave.

They calmed me down and told me to go back up stairs and find a comparable vehicle and they would "get me in it." The only thing I found that was similar was a truck that didn't have the sport
pkg/fog lights. Not the end of the world but it would be nice to have.

So after another 2 hours of my time, they tried to sell me that lesser truck for $2000 more dollars than the one advertised. After the salesmen had us talk to his boss, then his boss, we left furious and thinking: Did they really sell the TWO Ford Rangers in 5 minutes?

Why was the car in the back on the roof and not being detailed (washed and cleaned up) if it was being sold?

If someone just previously test drove it and bought it while I was testing it out, why was it in the back on the roof and not out front where I left it?

Was this just a ploy to get me stoked on a truck, then try and
sell me a lesser truck for a lot more by telling me it was just sold?

I think so....I have no doubt in my mind that this was a scam to just get me in the door and sell me a lesser vehicle at a greater price.

rweden@csulb.edu [SMTP:rweden@csulb.edu]

iA 9/25/00 6:54 PM