james goldstein

Review of Gwinnett Place Honda

BAIT AND SWITCH: On Friday, May 26, 2107 I called ...

BAIT AND SWITCH: On Friday, May 26, 2107 I called Gwinnett Place Honda to inquire about a used car listing for my stepson. The listing said the car was in Virginia and the "market price" for the car was $13,498. On my iPhone, this listing had an area called "notes" that said in all capitals, "REDUCED FROM $12,995 ! It also states, "please call dealer to verify pricing and availability." Note: These notations and this price are present on Gwinnett Place Honda's mobile website and listing for this car, but not its laptop webpage. On the laptop listing, however, it states, "* All advertised prices exclude government fees and taxes, any finance charges, and any emission testing charge. Price valid through today's close of business.*$599.00 Dealer Administrative Charge is included in advertised price. All prices and offers are before tax, tag, title, license and mv rights act fee.

I was quoted on the phone a sales price of $12,595. plus tax by Tori Henry, a dealership customer car specialist. Ms. Henry stated that because the car had to be brought from Virginia, I would have to physically go to the dealership and sign documents agreeing to the sales price. I was told that the car would then be brought to Atlanta and that I could have it checked out independently and decide whether to buy it. Notably, Ms.Henry stated something to the effect of, "we have a lot of comparable vehicles at the dealership for you to look at, too." I drove to the dealership in Friday afternoon atlanta traffic, which took an hour and forty minutes from Buckhead.

I asked for Ms. Henry when I arrived and was told she was a "business initiator" and that a salesman would be helping me. The salesman then quoted me the $13,498 price. I showed him the mobile listing and told him the price I had been quoted on the phone. He said, the business initiators sometimes say things that are incorrect or which they shouldn't, but he would check on the price. He came back about 5 minutes later, told me that the price was $12,595. He then tried to sell me on three other cars that were at the dealership, which I had no interest in.

He left again and then came back with a offer sheet for me to sign for $13,794.00 plus tax, which included charges of $500.00 to bring the car from Virginia and a $699.00 dealer administrative charge. I objected to both these add ons and said I would pay what I was quoted, plus tax. The salesman then left and after another 10 minutes, a sales manager, Rodney Brown, came over and said he would waive the $500.00 fee but not the dealer administrative charge. I left.

On Sunday, May 28th I received a voicemail from Ms. Henry, which I returned on May 29th. She asked if I had come to see the car and how my visit had went. When I told her what had happened, she said she would see about getting rid of the dealer administrative charge if I still was interested in the car. About a half hour later, I received a written quote from Ms. Henry. The quote had the $699.00 dealer administrative charge and a discount in an equal amount. It went back however to the sales price of $13,498.00 and added a "non tax fee" of $102.00, making the price $13,600.00. plus tax. This quote was $1005.00 higher than the telephone quote and $306.00 higher than the figure given at the dealership.

In response to an email to Ms. Henry pointing this out and stating I would recount this transaction in a review, I received a phone call from Mr. Brown. He told me the new quote was a mistake and that he had a corrected price to give me. I told him I had no interest in doing business with his dealership.

I very rarely write reviews and when I do, it's always to praise a deserving restaurant or a bed and breakfast, something like that. I don't think I've ever written a negative review before. My hope is that this account will keep others from experiencing similarly offensive business practices from this dealership.