Gage Auto Sales -- Rude, Disrespectful, Liars, Unhonest, Non-Trustworthy, Used Car Dealership Milwaukie, Portland Oregon

First I would like to describe my disgust for Gage Auto Sales in Milwaukie Oregon in the Portland Metro Area.  Well actually lets start with a story, a descriptive story.

I came in with a poor credit score, low 600's.  I knew it would be a struggle to purchase a reliable vehicle.  I had a truck I was willing to trade for, valued by Gage as a little above $1500.  I didn't have the vehicle with me so they did a "blind trade." Pretty good considering I originally purchased the vehicle for $900.  I also brought $1000 in cash to help with the deal.

I told the salesman that I was looking around and I would let them know when I was ready to drag race ... I mean test drive.  Anyway, the salesman was pushy and immediately started showing me the program cars, the general run around vehicles like Chevy Impalas (2007 and below), Dodge Magnums (2007 and below) ect ect.  Majority of these vehicles are past rentals so I said no.  Vehicle after vehicle he showed me was the same piece of junk. Finally I had it and was going to pack up and leave, this is too much and my truck works fine, were my exact words.  That is when they brought out the big guns.  New salesman, re-explain my story (low credit, money down, trade in, reliable car for my children). This is where the story gets fun, still with me?

This salesman spoke entirely too fast for his own good.  He should work for an auction house, not for a slimy car dealership.  With this salesman came better cars.  Cars out of my price range where I did the research and math prior and my wife and I decided on a vehicle no more than $12,000 sticker price.  Then came this beautiful 2012 Honda Civic, started like a charm, no noises, no leaks, hybrid ... really it reminded me of my first car.  It was a little out of my price range at a "red tag sale" of $13,400.  Carfax said 1 previous owner, I mean this was a beauty.  This was it, this was the car!  Car salesmen's job is to get you to love the car, finance guys job is to make it happen.

The finance guy, Bob, came out of his bat cave and at first I wasn't sure if I was about to die from this semi-truck of a man.  His sweat was dripping on the paper work, he stands at about 5'11", has a watch on his wrist larger than his entire head.  Very, very proud of himself and speaks with a large slur, probably from the beer smell on his breath.  Bob started explaining how he had bad credit at one time and how he was almost $100,000 in debt and he had lost his boats, cars and houses ... yes he used plural terms for these items ... then instead of him paying his debt that he had accrued he had just kept disputing the charges (the charges that he racked up) with the credit bureaus which than erased his debt (illegally) and now he has purchased his boats, cars and houses again.

What do you say to this? Good for you? Nice story, bro? This was so unprofessional and distasting; I sit here and wonder why I purchased a car here! I digress.

Well the Honda did not work out.  So I said we are leaving.  At which time the salesman said "oh no! Wait! We have one more to show you!" I originally told the salesman I wanted 1 of 5 brands.  A Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, Toyota or Honda.  I was brought out to a 2009 Pontiac G6.  I am sorry, but is this a Ford? No. Is this a Chevy? No. Is this a Dodge? Nope.  I am tired of their crap and started walking off.  But of course I had to walk past this vehicle.  So, why not look at it.  I do have to say I am now the owner of this vehicle and it is GREAT! But that is not the end, keep reading for the really good stuff.

We sat there, they ran some numbers and came up with a deal.  A deal that worked.  It was higher interest but it was manageable.  The price was just right.  I would pay around $250 for 5 years and my finance company was either A Reliable Credit or B General Credit Services.  Okay, that's cool.  I drove off from this place in a new set of wheels and my truck I dropped off as I was asked.

About 2 weeks later the scuzzy finance guy, Bob, called me at work.  Work of all places! Without this job I cannot afford this car, do not call me at work.  Calling me at work is embarrassing and unprofessional.  Does Bob care? Of course not because he is Bob Lee and the best d**n thing since sliced bread.  "Hey David, you're going to have to bring the car back or get a co-signer" umm Bob, my name is not David.  What in the hell are you talking about? He suggests he got the name mixed up.  So I had my wife sign with me, slightly better credit you know? Higher 600 level.

My wife makes twice as much as me, has been with her job for quite some time and has better credit than I.  This will work, I can guarantee it I was told by Bob the Finance God.  Suddenly 1 week later (three weeks I had been driving the vehicle at this point) which was 1 week prior to Christmas, we are denied again.  Okay, this car must be worth more than they are leading on, or my truck was such a piece they are shaking their god-like faces at it.

I have one last ditch effort I can make.  I can have my father co-sign to seal the deal.  My father financed his home 10 years ago with a community credit union he has belonged to for the past 20 years or so, financed two USED vehicles with less than 10% APR with the same financial institution and has never missed a payment.  I mean to say he has done all the right things for his credit in the last 10-20 years.  Does this work for Bob the Godly soul? OF COURSE NOT!

But before we get to that we have a fun one-sided conversation with the second godly salesman to approach us.  I received a phone call from that salesman and denied it because I was driving.  After I reached my destination, I listened to a 5 minute voicemail with the salesman.  He was speaking with another customer.  Interesting, lets carry-on shall we.  I now have another customers social security number, name and date of birth from a pocket-dial.  I still have this voicemail and it goes to the highest bidder, I joke of course.  However I do still have the evidence as I would like to surrender it to my local news station.  The pressure the salesman was putting on this poor soul, I feel pity for this gentleman who was trying to purchase a car for his wife for Christmas.

Okay that was interesting.  Next when I found out that God wanted the car back he had called me at work again, okay this must be my primary number now because he doesn't call my house or cell phone.  Embarrassed and on my bosses last phone nerve I nervously took the call.  Hey David, we need you to return the car.  This deal is just not going through and the lenders are all say (and I quote) NAHH! I replied with what the f*** does "NAHH!" mean? I haven't ever received a denial letter from a lender that said "NAHH! We are good." That really stirred me up and I was shouting at this point as it was 2 days till Christmas and I was already on edge.

Bob than decided to tell me "This all started when you are your d**n family started being scandalous liars." Oh, okay.  Please, Bob tell me how I lied on a legal document? Why am I not imprisoned? I told him to shut his fat mouth and I would return the vehicle that evening. He agreed.

I worked all day, I was tired and ready to do the honest thing.  Blackmail the company into giving me the car with the voicemail.  I arrive at the grimy shop and ask for Saint Salesman or Saint Bernard ... Bob ... I really need to stop slipping.  It is about 1530, military time for 3:30 PM and I am 15 minutes early for our appointment.  Bob and San Jorge are both gone for the week but I can keep the car until the following Monday.  This is really beginning to frustrate me and I am tired of the unethical treatment I am receiving here.

The Monday after Christmas arrives and we call ahead to request Bernard not be at the office or at least not help us any longer.  Within 15 minute I was approved with ... and I quote ... the same original deal.  I just needed to come down and sign some paperwork.  Cool beans.

I arrived at the shop and spoke with a different finance guy named David.  Said we would be in and out in 15 minutes.  Mind you, I brought my 9 month old daughter because it was a quickie.  2.5 hours later I am in a little office with a shaky desk, crappy printer, a pen, a screaming child and a quirky and fast paced signing guy.  I tried to read the paperwork but he rolled his eyes each time I examined the paperwork and ripped the documents out of my hand.  After all the typos were corrected (incorrect address, incorrect employer, incorrect spelling of names, incorrect social security number and incorrect county of residence) I began signing the documents for financing etc.  The very last page had one slight detail that was miscommunicated to me.  My terms went from 5 years to 3 years which almost doubled my payments.

What part of "all the details are the same?" I didn't sign until I received a recorded verbal confession to their guilt.  Now here we are.  The car still runs, ran a 200-point inspection at my local GM dealer and it is a piece of gold.  40,000 miles for a 2009 is pretty darn good.  I advise against Gage.  This is not the first time this has happened, read the rest of the reviews.  Buyer Bewarned.