SL/R230: Class action lawsuit-Ussery Mercedes
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From: Genoa, NV
2014 GLK250 BlueTec & 2009 ML320 BlueTec
Class action lawsuit-Ussery Mercedes
Published on todays Palm Beach Daily Business Review, a Miami attorney in a waiting list for a 230 SL-500 filed a class action suit against Ussery and Montvale, N.J. based Mercedes-Benz USA in Miami Dade Circuit Court, with 3000 other customers with deposits waiting for their cars since 1997, when pop singer Enrique Iglesias walk into the show room and bought one of the desired SL's ahead of many in the list for over 4 years.
The suit alleges that Ussery, which is owned by the Brockway family, did not maintain a fair system of dolling out the cars and that since 1995 it has held on to $2 million in customer deposits for the SL convertibles. The plaintiffs also are challenging the Ussery system for trying to prevent flipping. The dealership had required SL convertible purchasers to sign a "right of first refusal" letter which bound the customer to pay Ussery $10,000 if he or she sold the car within the first year to anyone other than the dealership. Ussery has since discontinued the practice.
The suit alleges that Ussery, which is owned by the Brockway family, did not maintain a fair system of dolling out the cars and that since 1995 it has held on to $2 million in customer deposits for the SL convertibles. The plaintiffs also are challenging the Ussery system for trying to prevent flipping. The dealership had required SL convertible purchasers to sign a "right of first refusal" letter which bound the customer to pay Ussery $10,000 if he or she sold the car within the first year to anyone other than the dealership. Ussery has since discontinued the practice.
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From: Sunny South Florida
1995 Jaguar XJS Convertible
The dealership tried to bend-over the wrong customer: An attorney...
Some businesses still do not understand... One day, they will bend-over the wrong person, and find themselves out of business..
Some businesses still do not understand... One day, they will bend-over the wrong person, and find themselves out of business..
Last edited by Mr. Xristo; Jan 2, 2003 at 10:24 AM.
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From: MA, USA
W126 1991 350SDL
it won't go anywhere. they haven't done anything against the law. they may be dicks, but last time i checked, no legislature in this country outlawed that.
most states have strict rules about those "$2M in deposits" and how they're handled. i believe FL's laws are relatively strict. the dealers probably make no interest on those monies.
doody.
most states have strict rules about those "$2M in deposits" and how they're handled. i believe FL's laws are relatively strict. the dealers probably make no interest on those monies.
doody.
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Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Sherman Oaks
2004 C240, 2015 GL350 Bluetec
weird. My dad just bought an sl500. he ordered it in feb of 2002, and got it in october. he had ordered 3, from different dealers, and his arrived. HE got the car, then they permaguarded the interior, ruined the interior, and had to get him another, which only took them 2 months.
All in all he didn't have to wait for a year to get his car, but I do know the beverly hills mercedes dealer still had his original sl sitting there when he picked upt he replacement, because no one would take the car due to the interior being ruined byt he permaguard.
Alon
All in all he didn't have to wait for a year to get his car, but I do know the beverly hills mercedes dealer still had his original sl sitting there when he picked upt he replacement, because no one would take the car due to the interior being ruined byt he permaguard.
Alon
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Typical....no difference than a Ford dealership! Does MB USA give a SH*T about customer satisfaction? I think the service department, and parts provide good service, just that whole initial sales encounter seems like a big scam. I wish there is a way to bypass sales.
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From: MA, USA
W126 1991 350SDL
guys - this isn't MBUSA's problem. this is the dealership screwing folks. we have laws in this country about controlling a distribution channel. MBUSA sells cars to your local MB dealer and then they're really out of the loop. they have coarse measures they can use to penalize the local dealer, but it's really not MBUSA's problem.
don't work with dealers who you think are dicks and you'll be a happier camper!
don't whine to MBUSA - they're not doing anything wrong, and they can't legally control what the dealers do.
and let's make sure we have open eyes about these wait lists. they're just lists. they're not promises. they're not even orderings, necessarily. the dealership's best customers get cars first. the dealership's infrequent customers get cars second. everybody else is third, regardless of when you put your $500 deposit down.
if i've been buying 3 or 4 new benzes per year from my dealer for the last five years and i want an R230 tomorrow, i'll get one tomorrow. that's the way it should be!
the magic of capitalism. what a country! wouldn't want to live anywhere else!
doody.
don't work with dealers who you think are dicks and you'll be a happier camper!
don't whine to MBUSA - they're not doing anything wrong, and they can't legally control what the dealers do.
and let's make sure we have open eyes about these wait lists. they're just lists. they're not promises. they're not even orderings, necessarily. the dealership's best customers get cars first. the dealership's infrequent customers get cars second. everybody else is third, regardless of when you put your $500 deposit down.
if i've been buying 3 or 4 new benzes per year from my dealer for the last five years and i want an R230 tomorrow, i'll get one tomorrow. that's the way it should be!
the magic of capitalism. what a country! wouldn't want to live anywhere else!
doody.
Last edited by Doody; Jan 3, 2003 at 11:21 AM.
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From: Genoa, NV
2014 GLK250 BlueTec & 2009 ML320 BlueTec
originally posted by doody
the magic of capitalism. what a country! wouldn't want to live anywhere else!
I agree, but Germany next....we make the best cars in the world, with the exception of Ferrari, and .....we have the autobahn! :p
the magic of capitalism. what a country! wouldn't want to live anywhere else!
I agree, but Germany next....we make the best cars in the world, with the exception of Ferrari, and .....we have the autobahn! :p
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Joined: Jul 2002
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Originally posted by Doody
guys - this isn't MBUSA's problem. this is the dealership screwing folks. we have laws in this country about controlling a distribution channel. MBUSA sells cars to your local MB dealer and then they're really out of the loop. they have coarse measures they can use to penalize the local dealer, but it's really not MBUSA's problem.
don't work with dealers who you think are dicks and you'll be a happier camper!
don't whine to MBUSA - they're not doing anything wrong, and they can't legally control what the dealers do.
and let's make sure we have open eyes about these wait lists. they're just lists. they're not promises. they're not even orderings, necessarily. the dealership's best customers get cars first. the dealership's infrequent customers get cars second. everybody else is third, regardless of when you put your $500 deposit down.
if i've been buying 3 or 4 new benzes per year from my dealer for the last five years and i want an R230 tomorrow, i'll get one tomorrow. that's the way it should be!
the magic of capitalism. what a country! wouldn't want to live anywhere else!
doody.
guys - this isn't MBUSA's problem. this is the dealership screwing folks. we have laws in this country about controlling a distribution channel. MBUSA sells cars to your local MB dealer and then they're really out of the loop. they have coarse measures they can use to penalize the local dealer, but it's really not MBUSA's problem.
don't work with dealers who you think are dicks and you'll be a happier camper!
don't whine to MBUSA - they're not doing anything wrong, and they can't legally control what the dealers do.
and let's make sure we have open eyes about these wait lists. they're just lists. they're not promises. they're not even orderings, necessarily. the dealership's best customers get cars first. the dealership's infrequent customers get cars second. everybody else is third, regardless of when you put your $500 deposit down.
if i've been buying 3 or 4 new benzes per year from my dealer for the last five years and i want an R230 tomorrow, i'll get one tomorrow. that's the way it should be!
the magic of capitalism. what a country! wouldn't want to live anywhere else!
doody.
you know, i kinda like how that works.. yet its wrong. but i like it
lol
