DRIVE AZ CARS / Steve Gaines-Larry Swartz Don't Let this Dealer Sell You a Vehicle and then Transport it to you!!!! Phoenix Arizona

I purchased a low mileage collectors vehicle, a 2004 Chevy SSR Convertible Pickup on or about October 17, 2020 as a birthday present to myself.  I began negotiations after responding to a listing posted on Ebay Motors with the owner, Steve Gaines.

The transaction included a partial trade of a collectors car I owned, a 2003 Retro T-bird and after much back and forth an agreed upon trade plus $11,500 cash from me in addition was agreed upon which also included the Dealer arranging and paying for transport of both vehicles to their destinations as a part of the total transaction.

I wired the $11,500 to the Dealer and the Dealer then told me that their intentions were to have one of their contract drivers drive the vehicle I purchased to me and then pick up the T-bird and drive it back.  I reside in Texas almost 1,400 miles in distance from the dealer so I expressed my concerns that I didn't want an additional 1,400 miles wear and tear put on the vehicle I purchased plus the risk of raod damages from rocks and debris on the highways etc.

These conversation occured with a Larry Swartz who represented that he was partners with Mr. Steve Gaines who I had negotiated the deal with.

Larry then told me that if I would add an additional $500 he would hire a transport company to bring the vehicle I purcahsed to me to avoid the risks.

I agreed to do this and Larry hired a transport company that he claimed he knew well and had done business with in the past and for me to pay the transport the $500 when they delivered the vehicle to my home residence.

The vehicle (2004 Chevy SSR) was delivered on October 22, 2020 and I was shocked to see that the front grill of the vehicle had damage to it not reflected at the time of purchase and not noted at time it was picked up from the Dealer.

I noted the damage on the receipt that the driver gave me and made the driver initial the damage I noted on the receipt. (Bill of Lading) and I immediately notified the dealer (Larry Swartz) both by phone, via text and also email and also sent him photos of the damage.

Initially, Larry said he would speak with both Steve Gaines his partner and also he would get with the transporter to report this damage and make a claim.

The next day I had heard nothing so I again reached out to Larry Swartz and his tone had changed and he told me that I needed to take it up with the transport company who he had hired and I had no information on that company.  Then he attempted to offset the damage to my vehicle by stating that the T-bird that he had also hired to have transported had some damage to it so I owed him money for that damage.

The T-bird had no damage at the time it was picked up from my residence by the transport company he had hired and I have my copy of the Bill of Lading filled out at my residence that showed no such damage existed.

I then went and got an estimate to repair and paint the damaged area on my 2004 Chevy SSR at a National Paint and Body center,  (Service King) and the estimate is for $933.75

Ive sent the estimate to the Dealer and both Steve Gaines and Larry Swartz via Fed X mail, text and email and I haven't heard anything from anybody at this time.

Unless you can physically see and purcahse a vehicle in person from this Dealer, I would steer clear from them and definately don't do anything that involves transporting a vehicle to or from this dealer where they make arrangements.