I posted the below this morning, but since then went down to the dealer and talked to the salesman. He convinced me my suspicions were wrong. I'll explain after the original post:

ORIGINAL POST

I ordered a 03 C240 wagon from Smythe in San Jose in early August. It was due to be built in mid-September. They offered $1200 off MSRP without haggling. I thought that was good enough after seeing a lot of posts here from people who paid more than this, and going to a couple of other dealers who wouldn't deal, so I took it.

I never heard anything more from the salesman, who said he'd keep me posted, so since my car should have already been built, I emailed him yesterday. He called me today, saying there had been a mistake in the ordering, and my order was put on a car that was to be built in mid-October instead. I remember reading a thread here once saying that happened to someone else, and the dealer had done this intentionally so they could sell the original car to someone else at a higher price. I thought this might be what happened to me, but wasn't sure that it couldn't have been an honest mistake.

Then I remembered I got a copy of the NetStar order update from the salesman in late August, showing my order was placed correctly in the system, and was supposed to be built mid-September!

So I'm pretty sure I've been had. Can anyone say if it's possible this could have happened for any legitimate reason other than the dealer wanting to sell my car to someone else?

Now I have to figure out what I want to do. I really hate to give my business to a company that would do that to me, but I also hate to go through the shopping process again, and probably end up delaying getting my car even more (with the options I ordered, I'm pretty sure the car will need to be ordered).

I also see now a post from last week saying that Smythe is offering $2500 off 03s through the end of the month (today!). I think at a minimum I'll call the salesman tomorrow and tell him I want that discount, and something more, to not cancel the order.

Any suggestions?

UPDATE

All is well. After talking to the salesman, I'm convinced it was just an unintentional error. He showed me in his inventory printout that the car I was supposed to get wasn't sold yet, and that the purchase numbers on my original order and the NetStar printout were different (meaning they were different vehicles). He also showed me that the NetStar printout actually was coded for an October, not a September, build. He admitted he should have checked it earlier but didn't.

To make up for the delay they gave me another $500 off the MSRP, for a total of $1700. I tried for the $2500 that I read they were offering off the C240 sedans, but they wouldn't go for that. That was fair, since the dealers have a lot of these in stock, but the wagons haven't gotten here yet.

The salesman handled the situation very well, considering I went in there suspicious and accusing them of something they hadn't done. But I'm really relieved I don't need to cancel the order and start over again.

Too bad I don't want a sedan. I saw in today's paper that Claridge's in Fremont is selling all their 03 C240 sedans for $3000 off, and a post below says Smythe is doing the same.

 

I would definately give it a try. Make sure that you make it clear to him that you will make this little "situation" public unless he takes steps to compensate you fairly. Keep us posted

 

I truly loathe car salesman.

 

did you put any money down on the car? if not, technically it's not "your car". still, what a shady thing to do. how do dealers expect repeat business (or any business at all) if they dick around their customers? i will never understand that.

 

I did put down a $1000 deposit.

 

Point out to him what happened when the mustang incident got posted on a couple of sites! Then tell him you have a copy of the correct order and you know that he sold YOUR car to someone else. Tell him he's the first call. The dealership GM is the second call, and then go hogwild posting about what scumbags they are.

P
Don't settle for a free shirt and $250!

 

What was the Mustang incident?

 

Hey, do this guys have a website showing that special. I seen on here that they always seem to have low prices. You could always get a one way airline ticket and drive back and save. I ordered mine for November delivery (no out of pocket money) and thought I was doing good to get $1800 of MSRP. Hell, if they advertise they are bound to come down some more. Or is this just one of those monthend specials. PM me.

 

Nevermind. I just found their website. $3000 of an 03 C240 'on-line internet' pricing. No haggling. Makes one wonder why they don't do it walking in off the street. Unless of course their website MSRPs hide some additional charges. I copied that and will try some additional leverage with my dealer.


KENS
I would definitly go back and show'em this. They are affiliated with "AUTONATION.COM" so there should be no reason for your being s****** on your deal. H***, you might even have some additional leverage now. Good luck to ya.

 

It turns out it looks like an unintentional mistake. I edited my original post to explain.

 

I hope you're not thinking that the wagon is in short supply, thus any discount is good. There have been several posts here about the wagons not selling well (especially the C240 wagon), and how some dealers have offered equally large incentives on them as a result. I would call the $3000 off dealer and ask for the same discount on the wagon.

IMO, $1700 off is a deal here in N. Texas, but NOT if you live in the few parts of the country where they offer serious discounts (So. CA, in particular).

 

A ford tech took a customer's prized SVT Cobra out for a joy ride, and beat the snot out of it...and then bragged about it online, riddiculed the female owner, and had the ***** to even post the license plate number.

Nice, eh? Makes you wonder what's going on with your car when youre tooling around in that big E-class they loaned to you.

 

The beauty about the whole incident is that someone that knew the owner also peruses the site that the tech posted on. The guy ended up getting fired which wouldn't really be justice if it were my car, but better than nothing.