First Time Buying and Having a Car Transported
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Illinois
First Time Buying and Having a Car Transported
Hi Club Lexus,
I am in need of advice. I recently bought a used car from Dallas. I live in Chicago and I used a transporter that the dealer recommended. I really loved the car and it was the exact packages I wanted so I bought it.
I should have seen the red flags with the transporter from the start. First I was informed that the delivery driver would call me 24 hours before delivery. I never received that call. On the day of expected delivery. I had to call the transporter person that I have been dealing with on the phone. I was told he was going to speak with the driver and follow up with me.
I did not receive a follow up, so I called the next day again to follow up myself. I was given the drivers number and I called him and he said he was going to deliver it today and will call me 30 mins before he arrives.
I was called at 10pm that night with no 30 min heads up. But I was excited to see the car! The car came dirty since it rained that day. I did a quick look around (should’ve looked harder). And did not see anything that stood out. The driver never got out to greet me nor did he ask me to check the car. He just handed me a paper to sign and did not explain it.
The next day I got the car washed and noticed that on the right bumper and passeneger side door there were two jagged dents. My heart dropped when I saw it. I took a picture and called the dealer and told him what happened. Then I called the transporter. They said they will get back to me. Now I am waiting.
The thing the transporter asked me about is if I signed the paper work for the delivery. I did. But I do not think it’s fair that the driver didn’t explain what the paper was and they delivered it late at night and it wsss dirtied so I wasn’t able to notice the damage.
I know I made mistakes on my first purchase as well as my first car delivered. I know this is an expensive lesson learned but I am hoping you guys may have some knowledge on what I can do to salvage something out of this.
Thank you!
I am in need of advice. I recently bought a used car from Dallas. I live in Chicago and I used a transporter that the dealer recommended. I really loved the car and it was the exact packages I wanted so I bought it.
I should have seen the red flags with the transporter from the start. First I was informed that the delivery driver would call me 24 hours before delivery. I never received that call. On the day of expected delivery. I had to call the transporter person that I have been dealing with on the phone. I was told he was going to speak with the driver and follow up with me.
I did not receive a follow up, so I called the next day again to follow up myself. I was given the drivers number and I called him and he said he was going to deliver it today and will call me 30 mins before he arrives.
I was called at 10pm that night with no 30 min heads up. But I was excited to see the car! The car came dirty since it rained that day. I did a quick look around (should’ve looked harder). And did not see anything that stood out. The driver never got out to greet me nor did he ask me to check the car. He just handed me a paper to sign and did not explain it.
The next day I got the car washed and noticed that on the right bumper and passeneger side door there were two jagged dents. My heart dropped when I saw it. I took a picture and called the dealer and told him what happened. Then I called the transporter. They said they will get back to me. Now I am waiting.
The thing the transporter asked me about is if I signed the paper work for the delivery. I did. But I do not think it’s fair that the driver didn’t explain what the paper was and they delivered it late at night and it wsss dirtied so I wasn’t able to notice the damage.
I know I made mistakes on my first purchase as well as my first car delivered. I know this is an expensive lesson learned but I am hoping you guys may have some knowledge on what I can do to salvage something out of this.
Thank you!
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 8,575
Likes: 391
From: PA
Thanks for sharing, hate these con artists. I once bought high end appliances and they were delivered in the rain. As such, I didn't notice the dents, just as you didn't at night. No problem, bought it from that big orange home center store, went there about 18 hours later, was told can't help you, need to talk with mgr. Mgr. was never in and now it's been 4 days, so I demand a call back. Calls back and says you accepted it, nothing we can do, you'll have to get it repaired through the mfg. Decided to call the ceo's office in Atlanta, and they said they are taking 20% off the order and will arrange for new panels to be installed at my home. When I went in to get the adjustment (not sure why not over phone), the mgr. was a real p****, said why'd you call the ceo's office?
Moral of the story, just because you signed doesn't mean you have no recourse. I signed as well. Try the BBB for starters, many businesses seem to respond to ratings going from A+ (default) to F-.
After that, the typical state consumer affairs. This would be the state where sold. Good luck.
Moral of the story, just because you signed doesn't mean you have no recourse. I signed as well. Try the BBB for starters, many businesses seem to respond to ratings going from A+ (default) to F-.
After that, the typical state consumer affairs. This would be the state where sold. Good luck.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 8,575
Likes: 391
From: PA
Honestly when I bought a used LS430 and the brakes pulsated (dumb shoulda opened her up but test drive was on the Saw Mill Pky) and the driver door actuator didn't work nor did the smart key with the door handles, lucky my wife was with me. She said you call that salesman right now, don't wait until Monday. He gave me lip service, oh sorry we'll take care of it I'll check first thing Mon. and get back to you. Never got back to me lol I contacted the svc mgr directly, he was a little indifferent at first, by the time they were done fixing the actuator ($860 at Lexus) and doing the brakes with OE Lexus, no lie we were very chummy. That's the right thing, but I can also see a dealer saying that's not warranted on a used car. Interesting and this was a GM dealership. If it were near my house they woulda told me to pound sand (seen it in person many times, upset customers). Nothing ever hurts to try.
At home, one guy was so upset, he told the SA, "I'll be dead by the time you fix this the right way." The SA just walked away. Duh, you had a customer service opportunity, and the fact that the guy said he would be dead, indicated he was not too happy.
At home, one guy was so upset, he told the SA, "I'll be dead by the time you fix this the right way." The SA just walked away. Duh, you had a customer service opportunity, and the fact that the guy said he would be dead, indicated he was not too happy.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,434
Likes: 249
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Pulsating brakes, while annoying, is usually caused by warped or out-of-round brake rotors from heat-build-up or lug nuts that are too too-tight, is usually not a major repair, and can, in most cases, be addressed by new brake rotors or, if enough metal is left on the old ones, by putting them on a brake-lathe and shaving them true and round again. 1Gen LS models, in the early 1990s, tended to have rotor-warp, because the car was quite heavy and the brake rotors somewhat too small for the job....but by the time the LS430 came along, from what I understand, that problem had been solved wth more robust brake rotors.
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Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 8,575
Likes: 391
From: PA
Pulsating brakes, while annoying, is usually caused by warped or out-of-round brake rotors from heat-build-up or lug nuts that are too too-tight, is usually not a major repair, and can, in most cases, be addressed by new brake rotors or, if enough metal is left on the old ones, by putting them on a brake-lathe and shaving them true and round again. 1Gen LS models, in the early 1990s, tended to have rotor-warp, because the car was quite heavy and the brake rotors somewhat too small for the job....but by the time the LS430 came along, from what I understand, that problem had been solved wth more robust brake rotors.
The very interesting thing about this, was, he stated the Lexus dealer said we need to replace the caliper bolts and the sensor, so sorry it's taking a little longer (they did not have the caliper bolts with the parts they had gotten nor the sensor). In my mind I was thinking, caliper bolts? Come to find that's exactly right, and the boxes for the parts were Lexus of Mt. Kisco. Everything was returned down to the bolts and sensor wire, and I saw the old pads were Akebono. The other interesting thing was they returned the rotors as well, and they had been turned. So they were already proceeding with turning the rotors before I asked for all new OE. Had to come back the next week as they couldn't get the actuator (they may have used aftermarket, no way to tell, took 3 days, maybe Mt. Kisco didn't have it in stock??), but the svc mgr. was super nice and said working there was a bit of BS in that they push parts by saying good, better, best (advantage, professional, OE).
Anyway my point was that even if you sign, don't simply feel you have to sit in a position where you got ripped off. Sometimes people do what's right anyway. I signed and put a non-refundable deposit on a Toyota, $5k. (Stupid dumb a*** college kid) When I changed my mind they laughed and said you just lost 5 grand, look at what you signed. I laughed the following week when the NYS Atty General said they need to refund the money to me, and I was there to pick up my check.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Illinois
Hey guys,
thank you for all your replies and advice! So through countless back and forths I was able to have the transporters agree to a $1000 reimbursement. The damage estimates were about 2.2k. I am happy I got at least half of it back.
Thabk you all!
thank you for all your replies and advice! So through countless back and forths I was able to have the transporters agree to a $1000 reimbursement. The damage estimates were about 2.2k. I am happy I got at least half of it back.
Thabk you all!
Pole Position
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,527
Likes: 175
From: IL
Sorry to hear about this heartburn
Hopefully you already had it insured and can make a claim (perhaps the dealer had some pics of the car in an undamaged state)
If you are looking for a body shop, the folks in the link below are terrific
https://www.albanyautochicago.com
Hopefully you already had it insured and can make a claim (perhaps the dealer had some pics of the car in an undamaged state)
If you are looking for a body shop, the folks in the link below are terrific
https://www.albanyautochicago.com
Instructor
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 92
From: FL
I'm glad the transporter didn't totally blow you off seeing as you signed their release. At least you were able to recover some of the damages. I know I'm sure you've heard this a million times, read and fully understand everything before you sign it, its your duty to read and understand before you sign on the dotted line. I once bought a car and told the truck driver that I hadn't seen the car before and I would like him to either deliver in the morning or afternoon not at dark and I didn't care if I had to wait longer. He accommodated me on the way back north after picking up some cars in Miami. Just a thought for future. I hope it will be smooth sailing in your new car once you get everything sorted out.
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