***This report that I am filing with Rip Off report is regarding Olathe Dodge Chrysler Jeep in Olathe Kansas, and is owned by Landers McLarty out of Little Rock Arkansas***
On July the 4th I began looking for a new vehicle, and visited Olathe Dodge Chrysler Jeep in Olathe Kansas. I test drove a 2008 Chrysler mini van, and planned on trading in my current Chrysler. The sales person negotiated a deal with me, and we agreed verbally to a total contract price of $20k that included my trade in. At that point I took my wife home and came back later to the dealership in order complete the contract. When I came back and sat down with the finance manager, the figures were no longer that same and I advised him that this is not what I initially negotiated (the total amount financed was significantly higher) and they did what I now believe to be called “lowballing” or perhaps as far as “bait and switch”.
The finance manager then persuaded me to go ahead and sign the contract (prior to my knowledge that this type of sales technique is not legal), stating that I could think about it over the weekend and if I was not happy with the purchase I could back out of the contract the following week. I went ahead and unwittingly signed the contract, not knowing that the state of Kansas does not have what I now know of as a “cooling off period” (in other words, no thinking about it…when you sign the contract you own it). Over the weekend I noticed many problems with the mini van, including faulty breaks (the vehicle only has about 6k) and extensive hail damage. I finally decided that the additional money that was required was not worth it and I would back out of the contract the following week.
What happened next still makes me feel as though I spent a weekend dealing with the infamous Screwtape from the classic Christian C.S. Lewis novel (They must have been proposing a toast after I left the dealership). I called to inform the salesman that I did not want to go forward with the deal, he attempted to talk me out of it but I finally insisted that I would be bringing the car back. He said that would be fine, and hung up the phone. Moments later I received a call back from the General Manager, who I now affectionately refer to as Toadpipe, and he advised me that he would not allow me to bring the vehicle back because they had an enforceable contract. He said, and I quote “he was going to hold my feet to the fire”. I'm not sure which realm of Dante's Inferno I entered, but it made me reminisce of the man in the novel whose feet were covered in filth and his soles were on fire. This dealer franchise is really something else.
I was so livid at this point that I wasn't quite sure which way to turn, but I decided to opt to e-mail my daughter who spent several years in lending prior to the current economic meltdown. She advised me that what Olathe Chrysler Dodge Jeep, or Landers, did to me was not only highly unethical but potentially illegal. She stated that although business transactions like this are not the industry norm, their have been many dealerships that have done this to customers. I told her that I wanted to file an Attorney General and BBB of KC complaint against the dealership, and then she proceeded to ask me the details of the transaction which included the final sales price, etc, listed on the contract. I told my daughter that I did not know the final sales price because I did not have the contract or any other documents. My daughter then became very concerned and told me that it is required per the Consumer Protection Act, which is regulated by the FDIC, that they supply a copy of all documents to the customer at close. My daughter stated that if they fail to provide these documents, well then, the contract should not be enforceable. They also did not take possession of, nor did I sign over, my vehicle. At this point my daughter advised me to contact Johnson County Credit Union, who financed my vehicle, in order to inform them of what happened with Olathe Chrysler Dodge Jeep. She told me that if they knew the details, they would not cash the contract because they would hopefully not want to be implicated in this type of business dealing. My daughter also stated that she would do some research and attempt to get in contact with the owner and explain the situation from a legal perspective (not that I can't handle my own business, but she does have extensive prior experience in lending). The story only worsens from this point.
My daughter finally tracked down the owner, in Little Rock. She left a message with the office manager, and advised her what had occurred the day before between myself and the general manager. The office manager told her she would have the owner contact her ASAP. In the meantime, waiting for the phone call, my daughter decided she would go to the dealership herself to discuss matters with my sales person, the finance manager, or the general manager.
When my daughter arrived at the dealership, she initially spoke my sales person. When she confronted my sales person about the business transaction, he immediately took a defensive attitude, and apparently made a derisive remark about me…specifically called me a “bold-faced liar” and said the transaction never occurred in the manner that I stated, and defended their business actions. Needless to say calling her father a “bold-faced liar” did not settle well, and she demanded to speak the finance manager and the general manager. Next, she attempted to also advise the general manager that what they did was not only unethical, but had legal ramifications, and she was becoming increasingly hostile because of the manner that I was treated and the way she was beginning to be treated. At this point the general manager stated, once again, that he was going to “hold my feet to the fire” and that he didn't care about the Consumer Protection Act. He boldly stated that I was legally responsible for this contract. How can Olathe Chrysler Dodge Jeep do this when it is clear that they are in direct violation of the Consumer Protection Act? Needless to say my daughters temper flared. She left the dealership yelling at the GM and the salesperson while the finance manager never showed his face (apparently… for obvious reasons).
She then got back on the phone, and tried to call the owner again. He immediately called her back this time. The owner stated that he could not divulge personal information about my loan, but he did listen to what she had to say and she says he was at least slightly more polite. Despite informing Mr. Landers that Consumer Protection Act issues were looming, by not supplying me with closing documents, apparently he didn't take that issue too seriously and believes they still have an enforceable contract. He stated that if he had signed a contract, as well as other documentation, he would have never personally walked out of the place without it…as if that is a reason for the finance manager not to do his job. My daughter advised the owner that he needed to put himself in the place of the customer, not an owner of a dealership, and told him (and I paraphrase) that customers are at times befuddled by sales staff and managerial sales techniques at dealerships, and that I was not to blame about not walking out without paperwork…it ultimately the responsibility of the finance manager to supply the documentation needed to customers. The owner finally told her that he would force the dealership to at least let him purchase another vehicle if he wished, but still states that they have an enforceable contract. My daughter thinks it is entirely possible that the dealership if not even familiar with the law, that is regulated by the FDIC, because many dealerships do not even send their finance managers to school…it is just baptism by fire.
At this point I have filed numerous complaints about Olathe Chrysler Dodge Jeep, or Landers, and the home office is based out of Little Rock, Arkansas. I have filed with the Attorney General of Kansas, KC BBB, my local KC FDIC office, sent an e-mail to Chrysler, as well as other sources that should be able to aid me in resolving this matter. While doing research online, I noticed that this dealer group has numerous other complaints, not only with Rip Off Report but with the Attorney Generals office and local BBB offices. I am not aware, but hopefully should soon find out, if they have ever had complaints of this nature with the FDIC.
If anyone else has had problems with this dealer group, I urge you to file with your local agencies and state government. This dealerships business philosophy does not seem to be quality over quantity, but quantity no matter what the cost may be. Dealer franchises like this fail to recognize that it is more cost effective to keep current customer, and gain referrals out of them, than to advertise advertise advertise. They are helping to ruin the Chrysler brand name, just when the company is trying to rebuild. Business dealings like this will not help to gain repeat business. The clientele that experience things like this needs to hold this dealer groups feet to the fire.
Here is a listing of their dealerships…they might very well own dealerships in other states as well, but I only pulled Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas.
Lees Summit Dodge Chrysler Jeep
Olathe Dodge Chrysler Jeep
Landers Honda
Landers Brothers Buick Pontiac GMC
Landers Brothers Chrysler Dodge Jeep
Landers Brothers Hyundai
n/a
n/a
U.S.A.
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