Buy locally? I tried. As I was in the market for a new car, I thought I would support local business and buy in St. Albert as I have done twice in the past.
I went to the local dealer, expressing what I wanted in the car. The dealer did not have this model in stock but ‘found’ one south of Calgary. A price (including my trade-in) was settled on with the salesperson.
The handwritten figures went to the business manager and returned as a printed contract. The total due turned out to be more than $2,200 over what I had seen the salesperson figure out. I noticed the previously individual lines (New car price — manufacture rebate — my trade allowance + the outstanding amount from the trade-in loan) were now listed only on a single line. I questioned this but was told it would need to be reviewed by the now-busy manager. I was amazed someone could change the figures so much and not be able to offer an explanation. I left without signing the contract.
That night the salesperson called me and offered to cut the amount due by $1,000. Verbally I agreed but thought about it over the evening. In the morning I called an Edmonton dealer who, as it turned out had the exact same vehicle in stock!
I immediately drove to the Edmonton dealership and told the salesperson this may be their quickest sale ever. I gave them all the same figures as the first handwritten bill and told them unless my math is way out of whack the first dealer was actually attempting to take $2,200 from the manufacturer’s rebate for themselves. Twenty minutes later they came back with the figures I had seen the first time and we signed the deal including them taking the trade. Additionally, their administration fees were cheaper by almost $100.
In this one instance I ‘saved’ over $2,300 by driving 10 kilometres into Edmonton. Now I wonder how much this dealer took me for on my previous purchase.
Dan Merritt, St. Albert