Dealer Run-around

rwithop · 09-21-2004, 01:07 PM

So I ordered a Seaside Peal (blue) #6 in June of 2004. I have two and a half more months to go, as of the latest update.

Getting impatient, so I decide to check all used/new Prius postings within a reasonable area. To my surprise I found a few. After calling each one, it turns out, none of the dealers actually have a Prius available but are posting them on online websites anyway!

I can't stand when dealers use tactics like this to get you on their lot.

Anyone else having this experience?

**TonyPSchaefer** · 09-21-2004, 01:33 PM

Isn't that illegal in some way? Is that considered "bait and switch" or not since they didn't sell you something else. It certianly is 'sleezy' to advertise something that's not in your inventory. However, I know that there are a lot of businesses - not just car dealers - who want to use the internet but haven't quite come to grips with it. Perhaps it's an oversight. Just trying to look at both sides of the coin.

But if you get the feeling that it was intentionally, yeah, stay away from there. Today it's an internet ad that's not real, tomorrow they're making promises to your face they won't back up.

bruceha_2000 · 09-21-2004, 02:10 PM

It turns out the Silver BC at AutoFair in NH I posted is just such a thing. I sent the info to someone on the board who had posted he was looking for a BC in New England. He checked it out and it is a car coming in and will only be sold to someone off the list if no one on the list wants it.

I, too, consider that sleazy.

09-21-2004, 01:07 PM	#1
rwithop Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: SF Bay Area, CA Posts: 120 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Dealer Run-around So I ordered a Seaside Peal (blue) #6 in June of 2004. I have two and a half more months to go, as of the latest update. Getting impatient, so I decide to check all used/new Prius postings within a reasonable area. To my surprise I found a few. After calling each one, it turns out, none of the dealers actually have a Prius available but are posting them on online websites anyway! I can't stand when dealers use tactics like this to get you on their lot. Anyone else having this experience?

09-21-2004, 01:33 PM	#2
TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 10,512 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 39 Thanked 168 Times in 109 Posts Friends: 23	Isn't that illegal in some way? Is that considered "bait and switch" or not since they didn't sell you something else. It certianly is 'sleezy' to advertise something that's not in your inventory. However, I know that there are a lot of businesses - not just car dealers - who want to use the internet but haven't quite come to grips with it. Perhaps it's an oversight. Just trying to look at both sides of the coin. But if you get the feeling that it was intentionally, yeah, stay away from there. Today it's an internet ad that's not real, tomorrow they're making promises to your face they won't back up. __________________ Proud father of Priapus: the '04 Tideland BC9 with an OEM EV button and sense of self-righteousness Current Mileage Chicago Prius Group Website Chicago Hybrid Group on FaceBook Find me on faceBook

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09-21-2004, 02:10 PM	#3
bruceha_2000 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: South Burlington, VT Posts: 2,549 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #8 Thanks: 6 Thanked 17 Times in 16 Posts Friends: 1	It turns out the Silver BC at AutoFair in NH I posted is just such a thing. I sent the info to someone on the board who had posted he was looking for a BC in New England. He checked it out and it is a car coming in and will only be sold to someone off the list if no one on the list wants it. I, too, consider that sleazy.