Why would a dealer complete a deal with me for my new hatchback subcompact, complete all the paper work, and then at the last minute ask me to leave a deposit (which he said he would not cash "unless something happened") for the $4500 amount that my trade in already represented in the deal and completed paper work. Foolishly, tired after three hours in the dealership, I signed such a check and left it. I also wrote a separate check for the amount of money I was to pay for the car after deducting the $4500 from the Out The Door price. It kept nagging me for two days--the sale was last Saturday, in Florida. I drove the new car home. I'm very happy with it. Then yesterday I called the Main Office of the Brand, in California, and they said that dealer's practices are up to the dealers and their market, but "if I had any doubts about an unnecessary check being out there like that, to put a stop to it." I did. I called the dealer to tell him that the deal was complete without that extra "contingency $4500 check being in his hands." The person at the Corporate Headquarters for the Manufacturer said, "If they're not going to cash in a check then they don't need it."
Now I'm left with this nagging thought that something was not up to snuff with whatever this dealer was doing, and that a surprise will be sprung on me because of whatever relationship that dealer has with the Govt. office in charge of Cash for Clunkers.
I think what they did was some sort of malpractice, something off the cuff. What were they planning to do if "something went wrong with the Cash For Clunker thing," return my old car to me after two or three months?
I've already put the new car under my insurance. I'm driving it. I paid for it, including a check for $10880, plus another $3000, plus the Trade In Value of $4500 for my Mazda MPV.
Something doesn't smell right. The dealer has not returned my calls. I called them yesterday, three times.
Appreciate any clues, hints, or ideas on why they did this.
Now I'm left with this nagging thought that something was not up to snuff with whatever this dealer was doing, and that a surprise will be sprung on me because of whatever relationship that dealer has with the Govt. office in charge of Cash for Clunkers.
I think what they did was some sort of malpractice, something off the cuff. What were they planning to do if "something went wrong with the Cash For Clunker thing," return my old car to me after two or three months?
I've already put the new car under my insurance. I'm driving it. I paid for it, including a check for $10880, plus another $3000, plus the Trade In Value of $4500 for my Mazda MPV.
Something doesn't smell right. The dealer has not returned my calls. I called them yesterday, three times.
Appreciate any clues, hints, or ideas on why they did this.
