[I_8_U_2]

I originally joined to share in the SRT8 community but it looks like I won't be able to. In chronological order:

- I ordered a 300C SRT8 and put a $2000 deposit on it.

- I found out on Friday my company is moving me to China.

- I received a call from the dealership on Saturday that my car was arriving on Tuesday.

Now, I thought it would be an easy discussion with the salesman that I would not be able to take the car for obvious reasons. But he put me on hold for 10 minutes and then said the Sales Manager and store General Manager would have to call me back.

About 20 minutes later I received a conference call with ALL THREE OF THEM. They explained that my deposit was non-refundable and that if I didn't take the car, I would be out the money. :nutkick: They were extremely arrogant and steadfast that this is how they always do business.

Now after a "polite" discussion for 20 minutes I've decided to try to "take the car" and sell it for what I would have to pay for it. I won't register the car and the person who buys it will be the "first" owner. I am still trying to work something out but I have to wait until next week.

So instead of a great story about how my car finally came in and I picked it up and was all smiles, I have this. Yah. :banana:

When I ordered the SRT8 you needed to put up your sister to try and get on a wait list. I even had a buddy call up the dealership and pose as a potential buyer. They told him there is a wait list and its $2000 over MSRP plus a bunch of crappy dealer-installed options like $300 Invisashield and $500 Paint and Body sealant.

They also told him that with the Charger SRT8 coming out now, the 300C SRT and Magnum SRT will not be built again until a late-2006 or 2007 model to meet demand since the 6.1 HEMI engine is in short supply.


I haven't seen the final tally on the car I ordered by it was to be MSRP plus $2000 "market-adjustment", with no other dealer trinkets. I'm sure there's a Admin fee here or there but that should be all.

Any idea on how I could sell the car or transfer the original sale without losing my $2000?

 

[Rebel78]

That's bullshit dude, pardon my french. No way they should do you like that, it's not like they should have ANY problem finding another buyer. I would get out, find somebody else local willing to buy it, I wouldn't think that would be hard to do. There's probably somebody on here who would go 2 over if it's the car they wanted.

That's complete BS though, they're doing you wrong.

 

[HEMI4ME?]

NO FRIGGIN WAY THEY CAN KEEP YOUR MONEY. PERIOD> I had a deposit on 2 Hummer H3s when they first came out, and bougt one at another dealership. Canceled both and got the money back. Even if they tried to say you have to take the car you can get out of it. Check your state laws... There is usually a 3 day "right of recision" like here in AZ. Means I could take a car, drive it for 3 days and take it back and they HAVE to refund my money. I would do some more checking, trying to buy this car and sell it is a friggin pain IMO. I would tell them to :fing26: OFF.

 

[II kings 9:20]

I tought the SRT8 was soooo hot and in demand, waiting list and all thet yang, how dare they try to keep your deposit. Did you sign any papers that indicated the deposit was non refundable? If not, go get your money. You do not need the hassle of trying to sell this car unregistered and all those potential headaches. If they provided full disclosure re: the deposit (which I doubt), this is an expensive lesson to learn for future dealings. You may have to take delivery and roll the dice on the sale, what about sales tax and the GGT. Even if you did the unthinkable and forked over $2K with the knowledge of no refund, there should be an out clause re: satisfatory condition, find a flaw or two in the paint or some other defect, right pull etc before any paperwork is done and reject the car as "below expectations or unacceptable". Do the pre delivery test drive with the salesman, take your hands off the wheel and if it is like the C it will crown right, "this thing has the right pull". I can't accept this car with this problem". "I made a good faith deposit, paid over sticker and the deposit was contingent on delivery of the car without defects". Get your money.

 

[Rebel78]

That's a pretty good idea, take delivery, and find a problem with it. It's not hard to do, a paint chip or just anything, they certainly can't force delivery on you and keep your depositif you don't take it. There's gotta be some way, you could always walk in and................. :AR15firin

 

[goddardzilla]

I've said this before in previous threads: put the deposit down using a credit card, then if it becomes impossible to to get your state consumer affairs people to pressure these sharks into a refund, then apply through your credit card company, and say the transaction could not be completed for whatever reason - use your common sense here.

You did use a credit card for the deposit - didn't you?

 

[SRT8itchy]

Your options are covered by your state laws. They vary considerably from state to state. I'm curious how long ago you ordered. It seems that DCX can't delay production and then dealers expect customers to wait indefinitely. Your dealer has probably picked up on the fact that these cars are no longer doing over MSRP. If your order was not based on a final written deal, how could you be obligated to purchase at any price? Could they tell you 10k over and keep your deposit if you didn't pay? If you haven't agreed to pay X, and they haven't agreed to sell for X, there's no "meeting of the minds" and no contract.

 

[arnoldw]

I'd get another job and keep the car :drive:

 

[cbutler32]

Lmfao!!!

arnoldw - that was a classic!!!
I8U2 - good luck man!
that blows...
it'll work out though...
and good luck in China.

 

[arnoldw]

I8U2, do you HAVE to go to china :ugh2:

 

[ResumeSpeed]

...They also told him that with the Charger SRT8 coming out now, the 300C SRT and Magnum SRT will not be built again until a late-2006 or 2007 model to meet demand since the 6.1 HEMI engine is in short supply...

Seems if that were really true they would be more than happy to have the car in inventory!

I would call the dealer back and tell them that after consulting with your attorney that you have decided to NOT purchase the car and that you will vigorously pursue the return of your entire deposit. Period. Don't negotiate any further, tell them your decision is FINAL and "goodbye". I would also contact your local AG's office for their advice as well as the DaimlerChrysler local zone office.

You'll *never* come out ahead by buying the car and trying to immediately resell it. For one thing, you'll lose all of the sales tax, which depending on your local rate could be $3,000-$5,000. Factor that in and you'll be needing to sell the car for $5,000 or more above MSRP. You stand to lose a LOT more than $2,000.

DO NOT purchase the car!! FIGHT like hell for the return of the deposit. As mentioned it is illegal in many States for a dealer to keep a deposit unless you signed a specific "non refundable" agreement. In addition, keep an eye on the car for the next couple weeks and see if it gets sold. IF it does, and it probably will, then you will have more of a defense in fighting for the return of your deposit. Especially if they end up selling it for over MSRP and it sounds like they will probably gouge someone for as much as they can. Send me the VIN and I can verify when/if it gets sold.

It's hard to believe that under your circumstances, the unexpected job transfer, that a dealer would pull this crap. That shows what kind of dealer they really are, one that I would certainly never want to do business with.

Do others a favor and post the name of the dealer here, this is certainly a dealer than could use some negative publicity.

 

[Model 57]

I can't guarantee how the laws work in all states; I'm sure that they vary one to another. I oreded a truck a few years ago, they gave me the run around, and I finally told them that I didn't want it. They told me I wouldn't get my deposit back, and I said that if I had to come see them with my attorney that I would. I never even saw, let alone took delivery of the vehicle. They gave me the money back then, no problem.
I ordered a 300C in Feb. and told them to cancel it the beginning of June, and they refunded my money the next business day.
I can't see how they can keep your deposit on a vehicle that you never recieved, and especially on one that has such a high demand, THEY SHOULD HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEM SELLING IT. I think that they think that they can buffalo you, keep your money, and still sell it.

 

[poplifedc]

What I did when the recent Jeep Wrangler came out back in 1997. They would not refund my deposit because the Sport model I ordered was on back order for 3 months.

I needed wheels and demanded my deposit back. They said it was non refundable and I sat my ass down in a chair at he dealership and told the store manager that every customer that comes through the door, I'll tell them to take their business elsewhere.

I got my depost back. Get yours. They won't have a problem selling that car.

 

[XCITsNU]

I would download an audio recorder from the internet and call the dealership GM back directly while recording the call. Three on one is always going to raise their confidence level, but one on one will bring things back down to earth.

I would state I spoke to our corporate attorney who put me in contact with a local attorney who was a classmate of his and after speaking with him, he is willing to meet me at the delaership this afternoon to explain how the law really works and to provide the dealership with a bill for his time. The attorney explained that unless the signed deposit slip clearly stated non-refundable deposit, or the vehicle was flawless and had no unacceptable conditions during the extensive test drive needed to determine the full acceptability of the vehicle, that the dealership had no legal right to retain the deposit and must return it immedietely.

Then I would tell the GM he has exactly 10 seconds to make up his mind whether he wants to return my deposit now, otherwise we'd be seeing him this afternoon. Then I wouldn't say another word, no matter how long the silence lasted.

 

[ChuckG]

About 20 minutes later I received a conference call with ALL THREE OF THEM.

That tells me all I need to know about these guys. Follow the advice of the members and you'll get your money back. BTW, DO NOT get involved in any conference calls. You want it one on one.

I'd also like to know the dealers name.

 

[HealeyRick]

I would download an audio recorder from the internet and call the dealership GM back directly while recording the call.

That advice could find you using your deposit to fight the criminal wiretapping indictment in some states. Seek legal counsel first if you're thinking of following it. uch:

Rick

 

[GNSCOTT]

That advice could find you using your deposit to fight the criminal wiretapping indictment in some states. Seek legal counsel first if you're thinking of following it. uch:

Rick

I don';t think its some states, I think that is a Federal law and they do prosecute it. My father is a Fed Court marshall and he said there are alot of those cases and alot of room in Federal prisons ( no overcrowding). I think the state laws come in in video taping. In all states you are allowed to secretely videotape, but some you cannot have sound. NEVER record someone w/out their knowledge.

 

[Rebel78]

I think if you mention the word "lawyer", you'll get it back with no problem.

 

[frank29]

:AR15firin Make a sound recording of the jerks. :AR15firin

From your location of "Motor City", I ASSume you live in Michigan. Michigan is one of almost forty states that has a “one-party consent statute" for making sound recordings. They have this so third parties cannot record conversations without the knowledge of the (typically) two parties involved...this would be illegal wiretapping. As long as you are a party to a telephone conversation, you can record it without informing the other party.

There are some states that have "two party consent" laws (actually its not two; its all parties; but, again, two is the typical number). I think these states are: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania & Washington.

 

[I_8_U_2]

Talked to the dealership today and here's the deal:

I don't know about the rest of the country but Michigan just woke up and they WANT the 300C SRT8. Standard pricing is $5000 over MSRP plus the dealer trinkets and Gold Plus warranty. This seems to be more on the 300C than the Magnum since the 300C boasts a few more special makeover items.

Anyways- they said that to meet demand for their customers, they've had to "dealer swap" for the 300C SRT8 paying a "transfer fee" of $1800 to the other dealers.

I'm not too sure what this has to do with me but I think I can easily find a buyer to "take my spot" then they'll give me back my money.

Anyone want a 300C SRT8 for like $52,000?