‘Unethical!’ rages driver forced to pay ‘unfair’ $1.5k fee at dealership – he had proof they’d already agreed on price

A DRIVER has turned to social media for help after alleging a dealership reneged on a done deal for a used car.

In a Reddit post, a driver said they negotiated a price for a 2007 Toyota Camry over the phone, but the dealership asked them to pay more when he arrived.

Getty

AP:Associated Press

In March, the Redditor said they found a beat-up Camry in a dealership parking lot for $4,000.

The car allegedly had several interior stains, bumps, scratches, and a bit of rust on the hood.

The Redditor said the Camry’s odometer reported driving over 174,000 miles during the car’s lifespan.

Still, the driver said they wanted the sedan because of the low price.

“I called the dealership to confirm the vehicle was available and for that price,” they said in the post.

“I was told yes and yes.”

They claimed they drove an hour and a half to the dealership to buy the car, but they said sales representatives on the lot resisted the low price.

At first, the Redditor said they couldn’t find the car’s keys. They also said the salesperson who agreed to the deal left for the day.

The salespeople allegedly sent the buyer home without a car.

Then, they said the car’s price raised to $7,000.

The price rose after the dealership conducted a “rigorous inspection” of the vehicle.

“The sales manager refused to honor the price given to me the day prior,” the Redditor said.

“So, I got frustrated with him and said no thanks.”

Then, the Redditor reported that a salesperson contacted the potential buyer with another $4,000 offer that included the car’s tax, tag, and title fees.

“I call to confirm everything only to be told no, doc fee isn’t included in the sales price,” they said.

A car’s doc fee, or documentation fee, is a charge dealerships tack on to cover the administrative costs of processing paperwork during a vehicle purchase.

Dealership Tips

Here are some expert tips when purchasing a car from a dealership lot:

• 1. Set your price: Ensure you’ve calculated your monthly budget before going to the lot. You should include the car’s loan payment, insurance costs, fuel, and regular maintenance.
• 2. Research: Make sure you know which cars you’re interested in test driving before you reach the dealership.
• 3. Pre-approval: Secure financing before you go to the dealership. Dealerships may give you a better interest rate if they are competing with an outside bank.
• 4. Test away: Get behind the wheel before making any payments. A car purchase will be worth thousands of dollars – drivers should ensure they like the drivetrain, steering feel, and comfort of the car before taking it off the lot
• 5. Haggle: Drivers should always try to negotiate the price. There are so many good cars on the American market – buyers have a strong hand when negotiating price.

Source: Kelley Blue Book

While often non-negotiable, these fees can vary widely, so it’s worth monitoring them during the buying process.

With the documentation fee, the price rose to $5,500.

The added $1,500 fee killed the deal to bring the Camry home, the Redditor reported.

“We went back and forth all day with no such luck with him honoring his word,” they said.

“It just seems unfair, unethical, and very unprofessional.”

The driver asked a Reddit thread for help with the negotiations, and several people suggested that the driver move on to another vehicle.

“That car is dead to me,” one person suggested.

The U.S. Sun contacted the Redditor to confirm elements of this story – they didn’t immediately respond to our request for comment.