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Report: #67616

Complaint Review: Ron Tonkin Nissan - Portland Oregon

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  • Reported By: SALEM Oregon
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  • Ron Tonkin Nissan 10115 SE Stark Portland, Oregon U.S.A.

Ron Tonkin Nissan inflated selling prices, price gouging to people with damaged credit, auto consumer ripoff Portland Oregon

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I went to Ron Tonkin Nissan to get a used vehicle and try to get financing. They told me they already had me approved and had a few cars set aside (I filled out online application) to look at, and I just needed to drive up there.

I arrived at the lot and they told me they had a 1998 kia sportage that would be about 5000 to 6000 dollars. I said that sounded good and test drove the vehicle. I liked it, so I continued. I asked several times how much the sale price was, and only got vague answers. They then made me hand over my title on my trade in and $400 check for down payment and sign all other paperwork (including a contract agreeing to purchase the vehicle) before they would even show me the finance contract with the real numbers. This is where they hit me with $8000 selling price, plus $2000 in death and disability insurance on the loan, and a 2 year, 24000 mile service contract. At this point I felt trapped and signed, and they let me drive the Kia home. Luckily financing approval was only preliminary and not final. BTW, Kelly Blue Book retail value on the Kia is only about $5,810.

4 days later I had to go back to Portland for an in person interview with Auto Acceptance, the finance company. Luckily, the financing was Turned down for the Kia, but approved for a lower amount ($5000). So they sent me back to the lot, who were only willing to show me 2 cars - a 1994 Plymouth Acclaim and a 1989 Honda Accord. They told me either one would be $5800 (which after adding title and document fees, then taking out my down payment and $500 trade in, would be the max I could get approved for... hmmm...). The honda had a blue book sheet on it showing retail value of $4216. When asked why so much higher than retail value, they said there were bank fees for financing - BUT - this was the price BEFORE interest (which was 28.75% on a 48 month term). Am I supposed to believe that there's almost $1600 in bank fees on top of interest for financing a car?! I think not.

See, what people don't know sometimes is that it doesn't matter to the dealership if you pay cash or finance, if you have great or rotton credit. If you finance, they get their money up front within a few days. So their selling price to you should be the same regardless of your credit or payment situation. The bank is the one taking the risk, so if you have bad credit, they'll nail you on the interest rate, and you should expect it. But don't let the dealership rip you off on top of that, there's no need for it.

What Ron Tonkin Nissan was doing was making the price of every vehicle they showed me (Kia, Plymouth, and Honda) the absolute max they thought they could get the finance company to approve me for, and screw me on price on top of the bank screwing me on interest rate. (I would have done business with them if they would have sold me a vehicle at a fair price and just let the bank nail me on interest, I expected to get nailed on interest.) They figured since I have bad credit and need a better vehicle, I'd be desperate and let them do it. They were wrong. Since my contract was not approved at the terms I signed on, and they were unable to sucker me into another overpriced car, they were obligated to cancel my contract and return my down payment and trade in.

They returned my S10 Blazer (missing the cushion on the Driver's Side door armrest, and the one brand new rear shock I had left in the truck when they let me take the Kia home), then told me that down payments were refunded the next business day, they'd cut me a check, and I'd either have to drive back up a 3rd time (I live in Salem) or they'd mail it to me. Yeah, FAT CHANCE I'm gonna let them give me the old "the check's in the mail" line.

I drove back up today and got my check and title for my Blazer, then went to cash the check, where I got asked when I got the check because it wasn't authorized. The bank then cashed the check anyways (lucky for the dealership, as heads would have rolled, and I would have made a big enough scene that customers would have heard how bad they are).

I got past my experience with Ron Tonkin Nissan with only minor "scrapes" and learned my lesson, but let this be a warning to all that would deal with this place - DANGER AHEAD!!!!!!!

Also, I do not believe the price gouging had anything to do with Auto Acceptance. They are an in-house finance company, yes, but as Howard (the General Manager supposedly) told me, they are separate from the lots. He also seemed quite confused when I mentioned that a salesman at the lot told me I would have to borrow at least $5000 to get financed. Most of this ripping off was the dealership.

BTW, I went to a local small lot in Salem, and am getting a 1992 Jeep Cherokee Laredo with the 4.0 Litre High Output inline 6 cylinder engine and 4 Wheel Drive, in really good mechanical shape and only needing a paint job, for total $5570 - that's the total of trade in allowance, down payment, and all payments I will make.

If you wish to do business with Ron Tonkin Nissan, that is your choice, but PLEASE do so with caution and armed with all the facts. Know what you want, what it's worth, what a reasonable price is, etc. and don't let them screw you like they almost did me. And ALWAYS make them tell you selling price before you sign ANYTHING!!!!

Also, watch out for these tactics at other car lots too, I've been told they're very widespread, especially amongst the big dealerships that cater to "people with bruised or damaged credit"

Michael
SALEM, Oregon
U.S.A.

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This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 09/25/2003 09:50 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ron-tonkin-nissan/portland-oregon-97306/ron-tonkin-nissan-inflated-selling-prices-price-gouging-to-people-with-damaged-credit-au-67616. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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