Baited into getting a Brand New 1 Year Old T4R Limited

[drodecker]

After shopping for 2 months with many dealerships, I finally sourced exactly the 2013 T4R Limited with my options and colors at a very good deal. It was in route over the Pacific and held up for weeks because of the Long shore men strike :/

The entire transaction was agreed upon verbally and in email. I had the exact VIN and total cost with taxes & docs.
I had my assistant pick it up from the dealership last Friday, just in time for a weekend getaway. In route, I checked the VIN I found that it was a different vehicle, but moreover it is a new 2012, not the 2013 as we negotiated.

The dealer admitted the fault and said they'd swap to the correct 2013 vehicle with me, but that was before they found out I drove 750 miles over the weekend.

I'd obviously like the 2013, but I can understand that I've put significant mileage on this 2012 in the 4 days I've had it, so I'm prepared to negotiate.

I'm about to discuss options with them tomorrow and I am considering asking for:
$2500 in upgrades/service

I don't know if they'll accept that. Do you think that is worth the one-year of depreciation or should I be a hard ass and get them to give me the 2013 we originally agreed upon that is sitting on their lot?

 

[RiDE]

They're fault, they should take care of it. That's a pretty major thing to over look. I would stay away from that type of dealership. How can you mess something like that up?

 

[jca21]

return it and get a 2013

 

[K O]

You're kind of in a bind. Who signed the purchase contract? They should have had the VIN on them and it's the buyer's responsibility to make sure that what's being signed for is what you wish to buy. Yes, it's a scumbag tactic, but dealerships do this frequently knowing that there's nothing you can do about it. The dealership might throw you a bone to try to appease you, but this is the game they play daily.

If the purchase contract had been written out for a flaming bag of dog poop and you signed (aka legally agreed) to pay $40k in exchange for it, then that's what you'd be stuck with.

I hope you are able to raise hell and get them to make it right, but dealerships INTENTIONALLY put the wrong info on every document in order to bilk you out of extra money. They'll change vehicles, put down the wrong numbers on various lines, accidentally include features you didn't ask for, etc. Basically if you don't personally read every line of every paper you sign, you're going to get f#@(ed at the dealership and you shouldn't even expect them to use lube.

 

[Lineman]

Did you sign the VIN for the 2012? You have nowhere to stand if you signed for the 2012.

 

[Jayhawk5G]

After shopping for 2 months with many dealerships, I finally sourced exactly the 2013 T4R Limited with my options and colors at a very good deal. It was in route over the Pacific and held up for weeks because of the Long shore men strike :/

The entire transaction was agreed upon verbally and in email. I had the exact VIN and total cost with taxes & docs.
I had my assistant pick it up from the dealership last Friday, just in time for a weekend getaway. In route, I checked the VIN I found that it was a different vehicle, but moreover it is a new 2012, not the 2013 as we negotiated.

The dealer admitted the fault and said they'd swap to the correct 2013 vehicle with me, but that was before they found out I drove 750 miles over the weekend.

I'd obviously like the 2013, but I can understand that I've put significant mileage on this 2012 in the 4 days I've had it, so I'm prepared to negotiate.

I'm about to discuss options with them tomorrow and I am considering asking for:
$2500 in upgrades/service

I don't know if they'll accept that. Do you think that is worth the one-year of depreciation or should I be a hard ass and get them to give me the 2013 we originally agreed upon that is sitting on their lot?

If they told your assistant when they went to pick it up that it was a 2012, and you still took it and still used it then I think you need to negotiate. However it sounds like after everything that was agreed too they attempted to give you a model year old vehicle when you agreed to price based on a 2013.

If they didn't make you aware and you had to find out by checking the VIN then they were trying to hose you and can figure out the 750 miles themselves. Go for the new 4Runner!

 

[Stifler]

"My assistant":sleepy: I find people that do their own dirt work are less likely to take it up the poop shoot in situations like this.

if the purchase order has the VIN for the 2012 then congrats on the new 2012

 

[Titanpat57]

"My assistant":sleepy: I find people that do their own dirt work are less likely to take it up the poop shoot in situations like this.

if the purchase order has the VIN for the 2012 then congrats on the new 2012

"chute"....:flipoff:

stand your ground and insist on the 13'

 

[Stifler]

"chute"....:flipoff:

stand your ground and insist on the 13'

:lmao: GLWT

 

[phillyd2]

Any transaction like this, what is said is meaningless compared to what is written and signed. Unless you can prove fraud (2012 crossed out in erasable crayon and 2013 scribbled over it) enjoy your new 2012.

And as a general rule of life, anybody reaching the level of having an assistant should know better.

 

[crunchcity]

The entire transaction was agreed upon verbally and in email. I had the exact VIN and total cost with taxes & docs.
I had my assistant pick it up from the dealership last Friday, just in time for a weekend getaway. In route, I checked the VIN I found that it was a different vehicle, but moreover it is a new 2012, not the 2013 as we negotiated.

Did you provide your assistant with the VIN to make sure it matched the vehicle when he/she went to get it...otherwise you didn't provide the assistant enough info to prevent dealer shenanigans.

 

[philsey]

Meh, strikes me as a very odd first post.

:shrug:

Methinks if I rate "an assistant", I'd be buying me a GL or something. Just sayin'

 

[jfdallas]

After shopping for 2 months with many dealerships, I finally sourced exactly the 2013 T4R Limited with my options and colors at a very good deal. It was in route over the Pacific and held up for weeks because of the Long shore men strike :/

The entire transaction was agreed upon verbally and in email. I had the exact VIN and total cost with taxes & docs.
I had my assistant pick it up from the dealership last Friday, just in time for a weekend getaway. In route, I checked the VIN I found that it was a different vehicle, but moreover it is a new 2012, not the 2013 as we negotiated.

The dealer admitted the fault and said they'd swap to the correct 2013 vehicle with me, but that was before they found out I drove 750 miles over the weekend.

I'd obviously like the 2013, but I can understand that I've put significant mileage on this 2012 in the 4 days I've had it, so I'm prepared to negotiate.

I'm about to discuss options with them tomorrow and I am considering asking for:
$2500 in upgrades/service

I don't know if they'll accept that. Do you think that is worth the one-year of depreciation or should I be a hard ass and get them to give me the 2013 we originally agreed upon that is sitting on their lot?

Just a couple of random thoughts...

1. Why didn't you give it a once-over when you first got it, before you headed out on the road trip? $40K+ spend on an SUV and you don't even have time to do a sanity check?

2. It took you several hundred miles to realize you had the WRONG vehicle? Was it a TE or SR5 instead of an LE as well?

3. Who signed the purchase agreement? Your "assistant"? Did they have a power of attorney from you authorizing to sign on your behalf?

4. Who paid for the vehicle? Is there a financing agreement that was signed or did you give your "assistant" a bundle of cash or a cashier's check?

5. Did your "assistant" know you were supposed to get a 2013 instead of a 2012? (as a side note, would they know the difference?)

6. "verbally" and "in e-mail" don't mean a thing in the contract world...you're stuck with whatever is on the paper IMO...unless you can pawn it off on your "assistant" if they signed for it.

Also, might be time for a new assistant...unless you are referring to your wife... :nono:

 

[Eagle]

drodecker, I'll skip the lectures about reading before signing...

Nobody else will stand your ground for you (unless you pay them enough). If you feel that you have been wronged, deceived, or delivered a product that does not match what you bargained for, take it up with the dealer... be persistent, but be prepared to follow through. Get in touch with someone willing and able to right the wrong without having to bear the responsibility for the mistake.

If that fails, call a real attorney (one who can provide better advice than an online forum). A demand letter is relatively cheap and the persuasiveness is often under-appreciated.

If that still fails, then you will have to weigh the costs of accepting your 2012 truck vs paying an attorney more to pursue the 2013.

Despite the comments you've received, the purchase contracts are not infallible. You may not have to prove fraud or deception of any kind... a simple misunderstanding may be enough to negate the contract (depending on your jurisdiction).

 

[Stifler]

I wonder if this is his assistant posting LOL

 

[Jayhawk5G]

"My assistant":sleepy: I find people that do their own dirt work are less likely to take it up the poop shoot in situations like this.

if the purchase order has the VIN for the 2012 then congrats on the new 2012

These "people" I would venture are probably more likely to have a lawyer for situations like these than us plebians...

If the information they provided you says 2013, and the purchase order says 2013 with the VIN for a 2012... then tell them you want the 2013 or sue...

 

[4ShoreRunner]

"My assistant":sleepy: I find people that do their own dirt work are less likely to take it up the poop shoot in situations like this.

And as a general rule of life, anybody reaching the level of having an assistant should know better.

Methinks if I rate "an assistant", I'd be buying me a GL or something. Just sayin'

I wonder if this is his assistant posting LOL

You all better hope he doesn't have an assistant because of some sort of medical reason...


...if not, yeah? who do you think you are throwing around that you have an assistant and rubbing it in all of our faces? :sobbing:

 

[nw_4Runner]

Meh, strikes me as a very odd first post.

:shrug:

Methinks if I rate "an assistant", I'd be buying me a GL or something. Just sayin'

Maybe his "assistant" is just a jackass in his head that tells him to do stupid things.

 

[Lolrax]

Oh well its the same car anyways, it ultimately doesn't matter.

 

[Stifler]

These "people" I would venture are probably more likely to have a lawyer for situations like these than us plebians...

If the information they provided you says 2013, and the purchase order says 2013 with the VIN for a 2012... then tell them you want the 2013 or sue...

puhlease.... come back down to planet earth.... Whatever is on thr buyers order is what was sold. Plain and simple