Don't do business w/Criswell Audi in Annapolis, MD IMHO...
09-07-1999, 06:06 PM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Don't do business w/Criswell Audi in Annapolis, MD IMHO...
Do you want to do business with a dealer that goes back on a deal?, I sure don't, and never will be back.
We had narrowed down our picks to two A4 TQM's, one a '97 with sport as it's only option, the other, a '98 w/convenience package and cold weather package. Both were sold in late '97 but the '98 had 10K less miles.
This last Saturday we drove the '97 at Rockville Porsche/Audi first and were impressed with it. I liked it more than the '98 but I knew I would miss the sunroof. When we arrived at the dealer and started looking at the car we found out about the Audi Assured pre-owned warranty. This gives an additional 25K miles and two years of standard warranty on the car, not routine maintenance. I had never even heard about this on the forums or when looking at the '98. While we liked the car, my wife had not seen the '98 so we went to the dealer in Annapolis where we live. My neighbor had recently purchased a TT there and had a good experience so I thought why not do business with the local dealer.
We start to look at the car and begin speaking with the salesman that I had been talking with. I explained that since he had not been able to find a '97 TQMS as we had discussed that I had begun looking for myself and found one, but I wanted my wife to see the '98 they had. I told him that though their '98 had only 10K less miles and had only two months more warranty, I was getting more than two thousand less on the '97 than what they had quoted me earlier. He left and came back and asked if we met them in the middle with one thousand more than Rockville's '97 would we be interested. Now mind you we had already exceeded the amount we could spend and were borrowing from family for the difference, but we're getting more car than what I was looking for but couldn't find. So we took the car on a test drive and my wife really liked the Leatherette interior and the melange color. Before we left on the test drive the salesman mentioned that he would have to get the deal approved as he said they would be loosing money but admitted they paid too much for the car when they took it back. ( they sold it new but the original owner had to let it go because she left the country ) I told them I didn't expect them to sell it to us for less than they have in it but he explains it not my problem. We drive the car and my wife seems to like this one better, I agree we can't loose either way. So when we returned to the dealer, my wife sat down and started doing the numbers as I got paged from work and was preoccupied.
When I came back my wife had a purchase order all drawn up and put a $100 deposit down for them to hold the car. We asked that they do the certification to get the extra warranty ( they played dumb when we first asked ), clean up the car ( it was obvious they hadn't cleaned it in awhile, salesman even thought it was unacceptable ), replace the wipers ( we test drove in Dennis' leftovers ) and perform the scheduled maintenance that was missed in May ( it was missing from the service book ). He says he will take the car off the lot and mark it sold. We told them we would get our checks ready today and come back. This morning we are doing the paperwork with the credit union when they noticed they needed the amount on the purchase order that would be financed. After much difficulty, they finally speak with our salesman and explain that they will fax a copy of the signed purchase order to him so they could fill in the numbers for them with a total figure and fax back. No mention is made that there are any problems. As far as the credit union and my wife and I were concerned, we had all the things we needed and were ready to pick up our car.
Early this afternoon my wife gets a call back from the Audi Specialist about our "deal" and he tells her they can't sell it for that price, she's an attorney and wants to speak with the sales manager. The sales manager calls her back and says that they can't afford to loose money on this car. They exchange words but agree to talk later. He doesn't call back. We leave and proceed to the dealer to go get "our car." When we pull into the lot, "our car" is right back on the lot where it was when we looked at it on Saturday. ( they've been closed from Sat. eve til today ) We walk in and have to wait around a bit while they find the sales manager, but it's obvious they all know what's going on. My wife goes in to talk to the sales manager while I keep our two-year-old occupied. I can tell the conversation is pretty heated and after an hour in his office they emerge, my wife explains that there was just no way they could come to an agreement. He didn't care about ramifications or honoring the deal they had made. While they were in the office a young couple comes looking at "our car" and I inquire if anyone had told them this car was sold? They ask a few questions to see if it was the same one and yes indeed they knew about it, perhaps they talked to the dealer before we struck a "deal," but a salesman hustles them away before I can talk to them further.
When my wife goes to get our deposit check back, she asks the sales manager if someone else is looking at the car. He pauses and then answers, No, but we believe otherwise.
What I want to know is why they counter-offered to put them in the red on this car? They could have easily said no can do, our previous offer is they best we can do. We would have the '97 now and both of us would be minus headaches.
Anyway, don't do business with them, go to Rockville Porsche/Audi like I am or somewhere else in the DC area. Unless you want to deal with the type that give salesmen bad names.
We had narrowed down our picks to two A4 TQM's, one a '97 with sport as it's only option, the other, a '98 w/convenience package and cold weather package. Both were sold in late '97 but the '98 had 10K less miles.
This last Saturday we drove the '97 at Rockville Porsche/Audi first and were impressed with it. I liked it more than the '98 but I knew I would miss the sunroof. When we arrived at the dealer and started looking at the car we found out about the Audi Assured pre-owned warranty. This gives an additional 25K miles and two years of standard warranty on the car, not routine maintenance. I had never even heard about this on the forums or when looking at the '98. While we liked the car, my wife had not seen the '98 so we went to the dealer in Annapolis where we live. My neighbor had recently purchased a TT there and had a good experience so I thought why not do business with the local dealer.
We start to look at the car and begin speaking with the salesman that I had been talking with. I explained that since he had not been able to find a '97 TQMS as we had discussed that I had begun looking for myself and found one, but I wanted my wife to see the '98 they had. I told him that though their '98 had only 10K less miles and had only two months more warranty, I was getting more than two thousand less on the '97 than what they had quoted me earlier. He left and came back and asked if we met them in the middle with one thousand more than Rockville's '97 would we be interested. Now mind you we had already exceeded the amount we could spend and were borrowing from family for the difference, but we're getting more car than what I was looking for but couldn't find. So we took the car on a test drive and my wife really liked the Leatherette interior and the melange color. Before we left on the test drive the salesman mentioned that he would have to get the deal approved as he said they would be loosing money but admitted they paid too much for the car when they took it back. ( they sold it new but the original owner had to let it go because she left the country ) I told them I didn't expect them to sell it to us for less than they have in it but he explains it not my problem. We drive the car and my wife seems to like this one better, I agree we can't loose either way. So when we returned to the dealer, my wife sat down and started doing the numbers as I got paged from work and was preoccupied.
When I came back my wife had a purchase order all drawn up and put a $100 deposit down for them to hold the car. We asked that they do the certification to get the extra warranty ( they played dumb when we first asked ), clean up the car ( it was obvious they hadn't cleaned it in awhile, salesman even thought it was unacceptable ), replace the wipers ( we test drove in Dennis' leftovers ) and perform the scheduled maintenance that was missed in May ( it was missing from the service book ). He says he will take the car off the lot and mark it sold. We told them we would get our checks ready today and come back. This morning we are doing the paperwork with the credit union when they noticed they needed the amount on the purchase order that would be financed. After much difficulty, they finally speak with our salesman and explain that they will fax a copy of the signed purchase order to him so they could fill in the numbers for them with a total figure and fax back. No mention is made that there are any problems. As far as the credit union and my wife and I were concerned, we had all the things we needed and were ready to pick up our car.
Early this afternoon my wife gets a call back from the Audi Specialist about our "deal" and he tells her they can't sell it for that price, she's an attorney and wants to speak with the sales manager. The sales manager calls her back and says that they can't afford to loose money on this car. They exchange words but agree to talk later. He doesn't call back. We leave and proceed to the dealer to go get "our car." When we pull into the lot, "our car" is right back on the lot where it was when we looked at it on Saturday. ( they've been closed from Sat. eve til today ) We walk in and have to wait around a bit while they find the sales manager, but it's obvious they all know what's going on. My wife goes in to talk to the sales manager while I keep our two-year-old occupied. I can tell the conversation is pretty heated and after an hour in his office they emerge, my wife explains that there was just no way they could come to an agreement. He didn't care about ramifications or honoring the deal they had made. While they were in the office a young couple comes looking at "our car" and I inquire if anyone had told them this car was sold? They ask a few questions to see if it was the same one and yes indeed they knew about it, perhaps they talked to the dealer before we struck a "deal," but a salesman hustles them away before I can talk to them further.
When my wife goes to get our deposit check back, she asks the sales manager if someone else is looking at the car. He pauses and then answers, No, but we believe otherwise.
What I want to know is why they counter-offered to put them in the red on this car? They could have easily said no can do, our previous offer is they best we can do. We would have the '97 now and both of us would be minus headaches.
Anyway, don't do business with them, go to Rockville Porsche/Audi like I am or somewhere else in the DC area. Unless you want to deal with the type that give salesmen bad names.
09-07-1999, 06:16 PM
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Don't do business w/Criswell Audi in Annapolis, MD IMHO...
Not the first time I have heard this type of story. Dealers rarely loose money on used cars, if the unit gets old, dealers will "package it" with several other wholesale units to a wholesaler, or they will blow the car through an auction. Low mileage good condition A4's bring good money, it is possible that the sale's consultant went beyond their boundaries, or after you left there was sudden interest in the car that would offer the dealer more money. Either way the dealer should stand by their offer-it may be possible that there were selling the car with little gross but counted on making it up on the financing, but since you were going through your own credit union that possibility is gone. Still does not make it right. Each state has its own regulations, but in most cases take your deposit check back, and do business elsewhere.
09-08-1999, 03:38 AM
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
I had a very different experience...
I bought my '97 1.8TQ from them back in '97(obviously) and had a great experience with the sales woman. I live in Alexandria and test drove what I wanted already at HBL, but didn't like the color so I called Florine How(something) at Criswell in Annapolis and she had what I wanted coming into thier shop in a month. She basically said "let me call you back". So I waited for her to call me back with some high number but she called back and said that she hates to fight back and forth over the cost so she gave me the absolute lowest price the manager would accept which was at least twice the amount off the msrp as any other dealer around the DC would make on cars that where at least 4 months from being delivered. I just thought she was the greatest salesperson I've ever had to deal with, she kept me very informed of the status of the car and was very helpful when I went to pick it up.
Maybe they have established themselves as an Audi dealer and now treat thier customers like dirt, but back in '97 they were a pleasure to deal with (especially since it was my first new car purchase).
Maybe they have established themselves as an Audi dealer and now treat thier customers like dirt, but back in '97 they were a pleasure to deal with (especially since it was my first new car purchase).
09-08-1999, 06:04 PM
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
They turned me off too...
when looking for a used 1.8 last year, the saleswoman (was it the Florine from post below?) kept telling me how busy they were and how cars were flying off the lot -- an immediate turn off. She didn't have exact option info ready on the cars they had, and seemed reluctant to get me the info (isn't that what they do for a living?).
Anyway, when I called back another day, it was the same "we're really busy..selling lots..etc.", sounded like a desparate plea to get me there.
Anyway, when I called back another day, it was the same "we're really busy..selling lots..etc.", sounded like a desparate plea to get me there.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
njskier (A4i)
A4 (B5 Platform) Discussion
6
12-08-2003 07:02 PM
Gary P (sans Audi)
A4 (B5 Platform) Discussion
8
11-01-2000 07:03 AM
