Dealer Shenanigans, need advice

[Schrek]

Ok, so this is a Toyota/Lexus Question. My wife wants a SUV with 3 rows. We have a 4Runner and a Rav4. We decided that the 4Runner stays so we are planning on selling/trading in the Rav4 (2014, Limited, 26K miles).

Friday night I found myself sitting in the local Lexus dealership looking at their used GX 460s since that what my wife down-selected to. The stealership asked if I was interested in trading in my Rav4, I told them not really, but told them they could take a look at it. I test from the GX460, they looked at my Rav4. I ended up leaving that evening because I wasn't ready to make a deal and I needed my wife to drive/eyeball the car. They never discussed trading in my Rav4 with me, but they gave me back the keys.

Saturday afternoon I was checking out the dealer's website and decided to see if they have any 4Runners in stock (because why not). I sorted by Toyota and was surprised to see they had a limited 2014 Rav4 in stock. More surprised that it had the same miles as mine and of course, the same VIN. :faint2:

So, I guess they really liked my Rav4 enough to list it for sale on their website. My Rav4 is sitting in my garage since we didn't even got close to make a deal Friday night - all I did was check out the GX460 and test drive it.

So, I don't know a lot about car laws, but is it illegal for a dealership to do what they did? Yes, I'm looking for a way to screw with them so I can get a better deal on the GX460, but I'm also pissed they listed my car, which I own (fully paid for, I might add) for sale on their website. Any ideas?

 

[SwayzeExpress]

Ok, so this is a Toyota/Lexus Question. My wife wants a SUV with 3 rows. We have a 4Runner and a Rav4. We decided that the 4Runner stays so we are planning on selling/trading in the Rav4 (2014, Limited, 26K miles).

Friday night I found myself sitting in the local Lexus dealership looking at their used GX 460s since that what my wife down-selected to. The stealership asked if I was interested in trading in my Rav4, I told them not really, but told them they could take a look at it. I test from the GX460, they looked at my Rav4. I ended up leaving that evening because I wasn't ready to make a deal and I needed my wife to drive/eyeball the car. They never discussed trading in my Rav4 with me, but they gave me back the keys.

Saturday afternoon I was checking out the dealer's website and decided to see if they have any 4Runners in stock (because why not). I sorted by Toyota and was surprised to see they had a limited 2014 Rav4 in stock. More surprised that it had the same miles as mine and of course, the same VIN. :faint2:

So, I guess they really liked my Rav4 enough to list it for sale on their website. My Rav4 is sitting in my garage since we didn't even got close to make a deal Friday night - all I did was check out the GX460 and test drive it.

So, I don't know a lot about car laws, but is it illegal for a dealership to do what they did? Yes, I'm looking for a way to screw with them so I can get a better deal on the GX460, but I'm also pissed they listed my car, which I own (fully paid for, I might add) for sale on their website. Any ideas?

Make sure they own the gx460!:lol:

 

[MtBuck]

Call them up, don't tell them who you are, ask them what is the price for the listed Rav. Then when you go to trade it in on the Lexus, tell them that's your trade-in price!:lol:

 

[Schrek]

Call them up, don't tell them who you are, ask them what is the price for the listed Rav. Then when you go to trade it in on the Lexus, tell them that's your trade-in price!:lol:

Lol, that's actually something I had contemplated doing.

 

[mnofpeace]

If you REALLY want to mess with them, send your wife, or a friend in, and have them ask to look at and test drive the Rav4...and see what their reaction is...


Muther-Fathers!!!!!!


Im curious, did they have a pic of your car on their web site also? that would really be ballsy of them...to have photo'd your car while you were out test driving the GX...

 

[5ontheFloor]

Not sure if any laws are broken. Of course if you went as far as trying to purchase and they give false info or somehow lie on forms that'd be some type of fraud. If u catch em with their hands in the cookie jar maybe some type of agreement could be made about that Lexus. Still skeasy thing to do those IMO

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[wanderMT]

Lol, that's actually something I had contemplated doing.

Do it - have a friend call. They probably figured you were going to trade but said otherwise to nail down price on Lexus. I wouldn't let them know that I knew about the listing of your Rav until opportune time, maybe during final sit-down with dealership decision maker, usually not salesman.

 

[bythehour]

Do it - have a friend call. They probably figured you were going to trade but said otherwise to nail down price on Lexus. I wouldn't let them know that I knew about the listing of your Rav until opportune time, maybe during final sit-down with dealership decision maker, usually not salesman.

I'd go one further. Have a friend call in and be all excited about find the EXACT CAR HE WANTED...and to ask them to please hold on to it until Saturday when he will come in to sign the paper at the price listed.

Then go negotiate your trade-in value.

 

[techno]

Get some screen shots of that ad before they take it down.

 

[Ojai4Runner]

Yes, 100% yes, get screen shots showing VIN

 

[Schrek]

If you REALLY want to mess with them, send your wife, or a friend in, and have them ask to look at and test drive the Rav4...and see what their reaction is...


Muther-Fathers!!!!!!


Im curious, did they have a pic of your car on their web site also? that would really be ballsy of them...to have photo'd your car while you were out test driving the GX...

No, they didn't go that far, but they did report it to carfax, so now it shows offered for sale at the dealers.

Lot of screen shots have been captured. So I have a ton of proof. I also talked to a JAG friend of mine who said I probably don't have recourse, but I can still screw with them. I ended up calling the GM tonight and have a 20 minute chat about their business practices. They are going to take it down ASAP and fix the Carfax. I told her I have no plan of trading my Rav4 in there, but I'll still buy from them if the price is right. That being said, they are getting some 1-star feedback on every platform out there.

 

[4runnergeek]

I'd go one further. Have a friend call in and be all excited about find the EXACT CAR HE WANTED...and to ask them to please hold on to it until Saturday when he will come in to sign the paper at the price listed.

Then go negotiate your trade-in value.

I would have went this route. This way you could have probably gotten a higher trade in value for your RAV4.

 

[delucat2]

they are just playing

they have not harmed you.... just ask for a price on the RAV 4 and use as your "trade in request" less $300. have fun!

 

[Kashoggio]

No, they didn't go that far, but they did report it to carfax, so now it shows offered for sale at the dealers.

Lot of screen shots have been captured. So I have a ton of proof. I also talked to a JAG friend of mine who said I probably don't have recourse, but I can still screw with them. I ended up calling the GM tonight and have a 20 minute chat about their business practices. They are going to take it down ASAP and fix the Carfax. I told her I have no plan of trading my Rav4 in there, but I'll still buy from them if the price is right. That being said, they are getting some 1-star feedback on every platform out there.

Yeah because you slamming them all over every platform out there will def make them want to do business with you and make sure you get a great deal.

 

[WallyT4R]

Screw those guys. Just move on. Go somewhere else. I have a salesman friend and he said the markup on the Lexus and LC is over $10K so there is plenty of room there if you can get a dealer to budge. He says he hates selling them cuz he doesn't get much more commission and it takes forever to do a walk through because of all the tech on those things.

 

[djm4r]

Fool me once...

shame on you... Never pays, IMO to do business with an organization you already know you cannot trust.

BOOM. For me, they're permanently off the "will do business with" list.

(fool me twice, shame on me).

 

[Schrek]

They aren't getting any of my business. I ended up leaving very negative public feedback on all the various feedback platforms for them.

Since it is illegal in CO to publicly list a car for sale you don't hold the title for, I spoke with the CO Department of Revenue. They were very interested in what happened and had me file a report and narrative. They took it from there.

 

[sohilltop]

I'd go one further. Have a friend call in and be all excited about find the EXACT CAR HE WANTED...and to ask them to please hold on to it until Saturday when he will come in to sign the paper at the price listed.

Then go negotiate your trade-in value.

This actually sounds fun ........

 

[Bbqqin]

They aren't getting any of my business. I ended up leaving very negative public feedback on all the various feedback platforms for them.

Since it is illegal in CO to publicly list a car for sale you don't hold the title for, I spoke with the CO Department of Revenue. They were very interested in what happened and had me file a report and narrative. They took it from there.

Let us know what the recourse is if there even is any. I'm curious to know where they can take it from there or if they will even update you on the report!

 

[dawudih]

They aren't getting any of my business. I ended up leaving very negative public feedback on all the various feedback platforms for them.

Since it is illegal in CO to publicly list a car for sale you don't hold the title for, I spoke with the CO Department of Revenue. They were very interested in what happened and had me file a report and narrative. They took it from there.

Provide the link; we'll start calling. I'm very interested in buying this Rav4, as I'm sure most people on the forum will be.