Dealer sold my FR-S

[Slick]

Where in Canada are you located, if you don't mind saying?
We know there are good salespeople out there, I have dealt with a few.
But there are bad dealers and reps out there also and that's what you hear most of. A few years ago, wife and I went to buy a Mazda from the dealer 3 mins from my house, ended up buying from another dealer much further away because they were acting like a**hats.

Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

My two cents on deposits.
When we take deposits we never tell the customer that they are refundable. If they cancel the deal, we can keep it ( but we never do). The only time we have kept a deposit is when we have done work on the car. Like if we installed a trailer hitch, or something. In my ten years at the dealership, we have kept ONE deposit. It just doesn't make sense from a customer service standpoint.

The bill of sale we have them sign at time of deposit states that all sales are final. I never want a customer to take a bill so sale lightly. We are putting a car aside for them and promising not to sell it, even if someone offers us more (this happens more than you'd think). Bringing in a car from another dealership has an expense.

In the event of cancellation, refunds are instantly put back on the credit card, or if it was cash, we have to cut a cheque. If we're cutting a cheque, sometimes it takes a day if the accounting dept has gone home for the day We would never make someone wait more than a day.

How each dealership handles deposits is different, and has nothing to do with Toyota/Scion. Don't knock Scion for a crappy dealership. The crappy ones are known to Toyota/Scion, and while they can't effect individual dealer policy, these crap dealers get less "favours".

I HATE HEARING ABOUT CRAPPY DEALERS. IT REALLY PISSES ME OFF. I WORK AT A GREAT DEALERSHIP THAT IS VERY FOCUSED ON CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. I'M PROUD TO WORK HERE. I HATE THE TERM "STEALERSHIP". (Though, I understand how it applies to some)

Sorry for the rant.

[raphymartinez]

Originally Posted by mattles

non-refundable deposit says to me STEALERSHIP STEALERSHIP RUN AWAY QUICKLY.

*sigh*

I guess I should clarify some cases where a deposit is and isn't refundable.

In a case where u put a deposit on a used car that isn't on the lot yet (an incoming trade) if you don't like what u see when u see it it is refundable.
If you cannot get financed, it is refundable.
On a new car that we don't have on the lot for you to see and drive but when it comes in it is not to your liking, it is refundable.

If you simply change your mind and don't want the car then it is not refundable (we then have the right to keep your deposit but usually don't), assuming that when you put the money down on the vehicle you've already had a chance to drive it. Like someone else pointed out that happens once in a blue moon. But the fact is the car was held for you and other possible sales were lost because we made a promise to not sell your car to anyone else. It's only fair.

We've even had people have us locate a car for them after they drove one here but wanted a different color and then when they see the color they thought they wanted in person change their minds on the color again and we simply (at our own expense) located another unit for them (that happens more than you'd think)

So stealership NO. But fair is fair.

[mattles]

Originally Posted by raphymartinez

I guess I should clarify some cases where a deposit is and isn't refundable.

In a case where u put a deposit on a used car that isn't on the lot yet (an incoming trade) if you don't like what u see when u see it it is refundable.
If you cannot get financed, it is refundable.
On a new car that we don't have on the lot for you to see and drive but when it comes in it is not to your liking, it is refundable.

If you simply change your mind and don't want the car then it is not refundable (we then have the right to keep your deposit but usually don't), assuming that when you put the money down on the vehicle you've already had a chance to drive it. Like someone else pointed out that happens once in a blue moon. But the fact is the car was held for you and other possible sales were lost because we made a promise to not sell your car to anyone else. It's only fair.

We've even had people have us locate a car for them after they drove one here but wanted a different color and then when they see the color they thought they wanted in person change their minds on the color again and we simply (at our own expense) located another unit for them (that happens more than you'd think)

So stealership NO. But fair is fair.

Thank you for the clarification -- everything I quoted in the above post is not only reasonable, but fair. Id hope that all dealerships function in a manner very similar to what you just described.

[raphymartinez]

Originally Posted by mattles

Thank you for the clarification -- everything I quoted in the above post is not only reasonable, but fair. Id hope that all dealerships function in a manner very similar to what you just described.

Thank you. I knew I just wasn't making myself clear in my other posts.

[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by raphymartinez

Thank you. I knew I just wasn't making myself clear in my other posts.

Yeah, you kinda said always non-refundable

I have no problem with the policies you listed above.

[Slartibartfast]

Originally Posted by Slick

Where in Canada are you located, if you don't mind saying?
We know there are good salespeople out there, I have dealt with a few.
But there are bad dealers and reps out there also and that's what you hear most of. A few years ago, wife and I went to buy a Mazda from the dealer 3 mins from my house, ended up buying from another dealer much further away because they were acting like a**hats.

I'm in Guelph. I bit of a long drive for you, but we've had people buy from Halifax and Vancouver. So, maybe it's not that far in comparison. Lol

[NYC BRZ]

So did the OP get this resolved?

[bestwheelbase]

Originally Posted by raphymartinez

On a new car that we don't have on the lot for you to see and drive but when it comes in it is not to your liking, it is refundable.

YAY! Like @Dave-ROR said, this is how it should be.

Honestly I had no idea people give deposits for any other reason than a new car that has not yet arrived.

Learning many good things in this thread.

[adamls2]

Would love to hear an update on this and how it was resolved. Please update us if you're able to!

[raphymartinez]

I would also love to know how this all ended up too.

I knew of a first 86er that changed his/her mind on the transmission choice after the car got to the dealer and Toyota promptly sent another unit to the dealership for the customer. The dealer then offered to send the original unit back but Toyota allowed them to keep it on the lot.

So I'm sure they can get another car for the OP.