Andy Mohr Ford Andy Mohr Auto Dealers Deceptive Advertising Plainfield, Indiana

Black Friday Shoppers beware! An old addage is "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is" certainly holds true at Andy Mohr Ford!  Their Indy Star advertisement (on 11/18/12) clearly lists 36 vehicles for sale at what appear to be exceptional prices: $99, $199 & $299.  For the vehicles listed (no photos, just stock numbers), the prices seem unreasonably low.  It is Black Friday however and there aren't many vehicles at these prices and they open early and there are no comments about the quality of the vehicles.  It is at least remotely possible these are real deals - a used car for under $300.  Just like every advertisment, there are several items in fine print, disclaiming just about everything.  These vehicles too have one disclaimer: "Used cars subject to prior sales, no rainchecks", which is reasonable given the ads must be submitted days in advance to the paper.

What is not reasonable is that the advertisment was a "misprint".  The amounts listed were monthly payment amounts.  The "deal", according to one salesman, required $3500 down in addition to 72 more payments of the listed amount.  For most of the vehicles listed, this Black Friday "sale" had one paying more than double what most of these cars were worth.  This wasn't even close to what was printed in the advertisement.  Don't take me wrong - most of the cars were very nice and appeared to be quality vehicles.

I realize that mistakes are made but proof-reading goes a long way, Andy.  This was a sham, plain and simple.  Your sales staff's attitude to the people that waited, some for hours, was unacceptable.  A few were cold and unprofessional - "oh, yea, we'll sell you a car but not at that price, what are you crazy?"  

Andy Mohr has been in business in too many places for too long to allow something like this to happen.  It is poor business and it is disrespectful to your customers.  Forcing one to honor an advertised price, especially in the auto industry almost never happens, especially if it means the dealer could be out a substantial sum of money.  Issue a retraction after it happens?  Worthless to those who stood in line.  A $5 gas card?  You gave those to anyone who test drove a car.  Honoring the printed ad?  That would have been great but I stood a better chance hitting the lottery.  Something, anything a little more substantial would have been nice. . . or a sincere apology even . . . 

You lost several potential customers over this, Mr. Mohr.  It is likely not worth a call to an attorney.  Is it worth a call for Mr. Mohr to save a customer?  We'll find out.  You have my number, Andy, give me a call . . . .