Ultimo Motors North Shore Poorly Handled Car Transaction - Overcharged Me, Delivered Late, then Ignored Me Northbrook IL

I recently purchased a Rivian R1T from Ultimo Motors, and I would not recommend them to anyone in need of a car. I was an out of town buyer who needed transportation, and worked with Steve Pickens and Alan Amjad at the dealership to negotiate the purchase of the truck and arrange delivery.

I sent the wire transfer for the truck on 12/29/24, and was told by Steve "it would ship within two days of the deal being finalized". Steve also told me it would be $1,200 for open trailer shipping, or $1,500 for closed trailer shipping. I opted for closed trailer shipping as I didn't want the truck getting chipped up in-transit, and he told me I'd pay the delivery company directly when they arrived. I did not have that much cash at home, so Steve told me Venmo would be an acceptable form of payment. I confirmed multiple times that 1) it would be an enclosed trailer 2) Venmo would be ok.

On 12/30 (11 days after my wire transfer arrived), I asked why the truck hadn't shipped yet, and Steve emailed me to say they were having trouble finding a covered transport at the $1,500 agreed upon price, and asked me if I could pay $500 extra? I said no as I bought the truck based on that delivery quote, and felt the dealer should need to eat any overage as it was manipulative to sell me a truck, then ask me to pay more for delivery after they already received my wire.

Steve eventually found a shipping option, which I confirmed again would be 1) enclosed 2) the driver would accept Venmo. Steve confirmed again on both counts.

Steve told me the vehicle would arrive on 1/6, so I made arrangements to be at home that day to take delivery. On 1/5 I still hadn't heard anything about an ETA, so I emailed him to check if he had heard from the driver. Steve then tells me on 1/6 that he made a mistake - they were actually picking the truck up on 1/6, not delivering it on 1/6. I'm not sure how you could possibly overlook the fact that the truck was still on the dealer lot on the day he told me it would be delivered 1,500 miles away?

Regardless, he then tells me it was picked up at 3:20 on 1/6, and I would hear from the driver the morning of delivery to give me an ETA and that they would send me a bill of lading via email (they never did).

On 1/8, at 9:30p while we were getting ready to go to bed, after I still hadn't heard any sort of ETA, I get a call from a Chicago number and am told the driver has arrived. He's parked about a half mile away because he doesn't speak English and I cannot communicate to him that he's able to enter our community through a service entrance that permits trucks.

So - I have to walk out there in the 15 degree weather to find him. Once I arrive, I see that the truck is on an open trailer, despite confirming over and over and over again with Steve that it would be an enclosed trailer, and paying a $300 up-charge accordingly. Then - the driver will not accept Venmo, despite me confirming multiple times with Steve that would be acceptable. I end up having to set up a Zelle account in the freezing cold outside with a driver who speaks no English, which took 15-20 minutes.

In the end, it took almost a full month to receive my vehicle after agreeing to a price and sending the money. The truck was sent on an open trailer across the entire country, and it won't surprise me if I end up finding chips in the paint once I go over it carefully. I was unable to pay the driver with the payment method they assured me would be acceptable. I also paid $300 extra for an enclosed trailer, and when I emailed Steve my complaints and asked for a refund of the $300 up-charge, neither he nor Alan ever replied. Completely ignored my email and moved on.

BEWARE - steer clear of Ultimo - they are not honorable people and are the stereotypical car dealer, simply wanting to do a deal, burn you and move on to the next one. I will never use them again.