Stamas Auto And Truck Maybe not thieves, but definitely dishonest West Warwick Rhode Island

There is way too much inventory out there to deal with this car dealer. My experience was similar to the previous poster and so I suspect this is standard operating procedure for Stamas. You will get a run around and you will be lied to. Of course, they'll deny it and come up with one excuse after another. But in the end, this place just perpetuates the "used car salesman" stereotype. Here is the letter written to the Motor Vehicle Dealers License and Hearing Board:

Dear Sir or Madam,

I'd like to bring to your attention a series of events that transpired during a car-buying experience at Stamas Auto and Truck Center, West Warwick, RI.

My wife and I purchased a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee from Stamas on November 1st, 2008. We were told that the former owner had the navigation disc required to operate the navigation system. We were further told that we would have it in a day or so and that we would receive a call to tell us it was available. After several days of no contact, I called Stamas on Wednesday, November 5th to find out the status. After being assured the previous owner had the disc, I was told that they would have it the following day. Meanwhile, the car could not be registered because a VIN check was never done for the car. On Friday, November 7th, we went to back Stamas to get the VIN check done and to get the disc. There was no disc and we were told that Stamas would be ordering one from Ebay and that it would ship directly to us (which, as it turns out, was false). We were also told at this point that the registration would be done on Monday, November 9th. When I called Monday to make sure the registration was done, we were given yet another excuse that the person who handles registration was stuck in Connecticut all day and that the registration would be done first thing on Wednesday since Tuesday was Veterans Day. Wednesday came and went and no registration. It was finally done Thursday and I picked up the plates on Friday, November 14th. It is important to note that no dealer or mechanic will perform any work or even look at a car until the registration is done. We were unable to have the car inspected by Tarbox Jeep in North Kingstown, RI until Tuesday, November 18th (see enclosed bill). In addition, there are repairs which Stamas has refused to make except of course for a fee including:

Front right (passenger) tire did not hold pressure (See bill TirePros)
Hood strut did not support hood (See receipt AutoZone)
High speed vibration (still being diagnosed)

I have contacted Stamas on numerous occasions (see enclosed phone register) to address these issues and the standard response is that the problems are someone else's fault and that they'll call me back. I have yet to receive one phone call from Stamas after they've said they'll call back. The day I called to have the tire, vibration and strut addressed (Wednesday, November 19th) I was told they'd look into a price, even though these are issues that surfaced as a direct result of an inspection by a neutral party. They did agree to replace a very dirty (see bills from Tarbox Jeep) air filter free of charge only after I pressed the issue. Initially, they were going to charge us. Additionally, the service department still saw fit to harass my wife, grilling her as to why she didn't bring the car to them first. Considering Stamas had the vehicle for months and didn't perform a basic inspection, including simply checking the fluid levels (see Tarbox bill), asking them to inspect their own vehicle is tantamount to asking the fox to guard the henhouse. In the long list of excuses Stamas has put forth for the issues that have arisen since buying this car, their position is now that they were selling the car on consignment and that it was the other dealership's responsibility. I'm not sure Rhode Island wants to be in the business of having licensed dealers accept cars from dealers outside Rhode Island on a consignment basis. At what point do Rhode Island dealers accept responsibility for the cars they sell, if they can just say not my problem, we're selling the car on consignment.? Of course, none of that is divulged up front. Late afternoon on November 22nd, I received a call claiming they finally (3 weeks after purchasing) had a navigation disc. They suggested that I drive up to West Warwick again to pick it up. After telling them in no uncertain terms that I was not going to drive back to Stamas for a 5th time, they reluctantly agreed to mail it to me on Tuesday, November 25th. I was assured it was going out in Tuesday's mail. Even if it was sent using USPS and was taken to the post office before 5PM, it would have arrived on Wednesday, November 26th. When it didn't arrive, I called to find out when it was shipped and told it was sent Tuesday. During the argument that ensued, the person claimed that the reason I didn't have the disc sooner was that they, presumably the first business they bought the disc from on Ebay, shipped them the wrong disc. This is interesting since they originally claimed they provided my address to the company and the disc was going to ship directly to me. The second disc finally arrived Friday, November 28th. But, of course, the disc was a year older than the car. Though it works, it is not the OEM for that car. The model number for the disc Stamas finally provided is 05064033AB. The disc that was originally supplied with the vehicle was the 05064033AC, an updated version which is $2-$3 (on average) more expensive. The current version is AF.

This doesn't sound like a reasonable experience. I should be given all items that belong to the car in a reasonable period of time, i.e. not 4 weeks. They claim to let you take the car to get it evaluated but when that evaluation reveals things that need to be fixed, they claim they are not responsible. I should be able to go into a car dealership, either used or new, have that car evaluated from an independent mechanic and have problems fixed. It's really not complicated. This is a clear issue of maintenance that was not performed, not some cosmetic issue. Some superficial research revealed that this is not the first time the commission has been contacted about Stamas. Perhaps with enough complaints from citizens, Stamas will be forced to adhere to some any standard. This is a business that perpetuates the Used Car Salesman stereotype that hurts so many responsible dealerships.

Jdicecco
Wakefield, Rhode Island
U.S.A.