My local Ford dealer - Grrrrr

[cowboy]

Decided it was finally time to update the XD and join the modern world. To this end I went into my local ford dealer and asked for a quote on a brand new XR8 ute. Got the written quote, went away for a few hours and thought, went back and said yes. Signed contract, paid deposit etc. About an hour later recieved a phone call from dealer saying very sorry but we made a mistake and quoted you on an xr6. You can still have your ute but it will cost $6500 more than the price you signed on. Spoke to consumer affairs and my lawyer and discovered to my disgust that sales contracts ARE WORTH NOTHING!!!!! Pride made me cancel the order and get my deposit back. Not happy Jan!

So back in the market now....

[MoreHPformyXR6]

Originally Posted by cowboy

Decided it was finally time to update the XD and join the modern world. To this end I went into my local ford dealer and asked for a quote on a brand new XR8 ute. Got the written quote, went away for a few hours and thought, went back and said yes. Signed contract, paid deposit etc. About an hour later recieved a phone call from dealer saying very sorry but we made a mistake and quoted you on an xr6. You can still have your ute but it will cost $6500 more than the price you signed on. Spoke to consumer affairs and my lawyer and discovered to my disgust that sales contracts ARE WORTH NOTHING!!!!! Pride made me cancel the order and get my deposit back. Not happy Jan!

So back in the market now....

If you signed and paid your deposit & then said on 2nd thoughts no I will stick with my XD you would be liable correct?

[kervs]

Contracts do mean something, but you may find that being able to conditionally withdraw or alter the quote was a clause in the contract.

I've heard similar stories in the past.

[stomper]

Contracts are written by the companies to protect the companies. Gee, 6500 bucks under price I would have signed without thinking about it.

[cowboy]

So would i now. Was my first quote, didn't know it was so cheap!

[peterban]

Contracts usually have E&OE in them at the bottom.
This means errors and ommisions excepted, which gives them a legal out if they make a mistake in the calculations.
I think sometimes they use it as an excuse to suck you into signing and then later ring and say they made a mistake and hope you will just say yes!!!!

[Smoke Pursuit]

so what was the price they quoted you?

[nobbystang]

Originally Posted by MoreHPformyXR6

If you signed and paid your deposit & then said on 2nd thoughts no I will stick with my XD you would be liable correct?

DO they still have a cooling off period????

I'm very surprised you were unable to secure the car once contract was signed??

[Elks]

Contract usually have a note that states that they are not valid until they have management sign off, to stop some salesman who can't add up selling an XR8 $6500 too cheap.

However, jump on the phone, ring a few of the bigger dealers and see if you can get your original deal or somthing like it and you will soon know if you are being worked over or not.

[BadMac]

Originally Posted by myts

Contract usually have a note that states that they are not valid until they have management sign off, to stop some salesman who can't add up selling an XR8 $6500 too cheap.

However, jump on the phone, ring a few of the bigger dealers and see if you can get your original deal or somthing like it and you will soon know if you are being worked over or not.

As he said, you now have a written quote for the price. Go round the other dealers and ask them to match better it, even ring other cities and offer to fax the quote (after blanking the name of the stealer). You never know one of them might be short of food on the table for the kids or need that one more sale for the salesman of the year trophy.

[GXL078]

A contract is worth nothing? Another bit of tripe to protect the big dealers. If it was the other way around the story would be different. Consumer Affiars / Fair trading are worth what they cost, bugger all, should have got a real lawyer.

[Tles]

Originally Posted by stomper

Contracts are written by the companies to protect the companies. Gee, 6500 bucks under price I would have signed without thinking about it.

I'd be taking the contract to other dealers to see how close they can get - should be able to get a good deal on an XR8 now, especially after Easter fuel prices start dealers leaving big dark marks on the ground behind them. Try a rural dealer too they need the sales.... a lot

[Bucknaked]

When you go to another dealer and pick up your new ute, I'd be at a signwriter get a sticker made up for the rear window talking about the raw deal, then go park the ute out front of the dealership while you go to a restraunt for a nice long sit down meal. :

Well no i wouldn't do that, but it would be a bit of fun. Anyway, they will miss out on a deal, so if you go past show the salesman your nice shiney new ute, sure the'll get the message.

[Kommandant]

Problem is getting a real lawyer and fighting it would cost more then 6500.

[BPXR6T]

Originally Posted by MoreHPformyXR6

If you signed and paid your deposit & then said on 2nd thoughts no I will stick with my XD you would be liable correct?

Nope there is a cooling off period. I cancelled an XR6T the day after signing the contracts.

[GXL078]

Originally Posted by Kommandant

Problem is getting a real lawyer and fighting it would cost more then 6500.

about $250 an hour plus GST

[Elks]

Be sure to let us know the final outcome..