Posted: 4 years ago

A Scam of the First Class 

Finally we were lucky, but you think that you are smart. You examine all the letters that come in from car dealers and make “so-called” educated decisions on who can give the best deal at this time of year when the market is moving from the old “new cars” to the newest “new cars.” For the two of us, it was time to consider upgrading from a 2002 car with 88,756 miles to a new model (which would be kept for a while). You think when you research on the internet and then go to the dealer it will be fair and negotiated on both sides (you get a good deal and the dealer gets a good deal). As I said, you think that you are smart. You have done research on many subjects while getting two Masters degrees and several college degrees. But when it comes to “a scam of the first class” no one is smart. Street smarts and practiced hustling as a team outweighs any intellect. “A scam of the first class” is like a tag team “con-job.”

We arrived at the dealership, wanting to upgrade to a 2007 or 2008 automobile. We were already sold on the model. We owned one and talked up the car to our friends and anyone who would listen. We loved that car. We also thought at first that we were dealing with the normal staff of the dealership. It did not take long to find out that we were dealing with a seasoned team of hustlers (called “liguidators”) from Chicago who are brought in by the dealership. Too late, we found these men from Chicago are only motivated by getting the “sale” (money), to move cars by any tactics and perform brilliantly in their job (using lies, subterfuge, compliments, tag-team unease and other questionable techniques that have been mastered over years of working in an area for a brief time, getting their job done and flying back from Houston until the next “scam of the first class”), never to be seen again. As one of the tag team said, near the end when we caught on too late (angry and feeling stupid for falling for the scam): “That is out of my hands now. You have to deal with the legal people on that” and “We cannot be responsible for the promises made verbally by the salesmen. We just do our job” and “You want to bring in your lawyer? He can talk to ours” and “You cannot prove that the flat tire was orchestrated, which of course it was not!” 

OK, let us examine the nature of the “scam”: 1) It was important that when a buyer says that he is interested in trading in a car for a new one, the “scam” team redirects that buyer toward an older (“but a good deal for older”) 2006 car instead of the newer ones in 2007 and 2008. My wife and I soon found out that the letter that got us to the dealership was (in their words) “worthless as a promise of a deal” (it just got us driving into the lot). 2) After an hour, when a total was given for the 2006 car and I asked to check their computer for a comparison with other cars with similar gas mileage and, maybe, the option of buying a brand new 2008 (with our trade), somehow I was misdirected away from that pursuit and told that they (these salesmen from Chicago who had flown in for a few days when all the normal staff were given time off) would give us the best deal “because we do not work for the dealer. We like you people because you are nice so we will give you our best deal.” No, they are not the normal salesmen but they are hired by the dealer. What I found a week later was that the dealer did not know their tactics for this “first class scam.”  Their misdirection was so smooth that only later were we suspicion. And only later did the dealership get multiple complaints. 3) We told the tag team of Frank and Mike (last names were not given or cards not passed out since they are there just for “two more days”) that we “wished to think about the deal overnight and come back in the morning with our decision.” In grand style, the tag team said: “Of course, come back and make your decision then. Doesn’t Texas have a 36 hour rule where you can change your mind? (No, they don’t for cars; just for door to door salesmen, selling things like vacuum cleaners.) Give us a down payment to hold the car and, if you decide against buying the car, the check can be torn up immediately.” 4) It was then that one of the team ran in to tell us that we had a tire that was going flat (conveniently at exactly the right moment, we later thought but could never prove in court). At that point, Frank and Mike in chorus told us, “Oh, let us fix your flat overnight, drive this 2006 home and come back tomorrow with your final decision.” 5) It was then that we were told that to take the 2006 off the lot we had to sign some papers but “it was no big deal. You can still decide tomorrow.” That was also done so smoothly that we liked, trusted and believed the front men for the “scam of the first class.” All this happened by wearing two buyers, 71 and 75, down little by little over a two-hour mental and physical tag match. 6) Of course, we lost the scam. The flat tire worked to get us to drive off the lot, the promise that we could change our minds the next day got us to sign the papers (and “bring the title tomorrow when you decide finally” but “sign this lost title page just in case you cannot make it until later in the week”). We really knew that the “scam” worked when we returned. All the pleasantness was gone. “You own the car. You signed the sales agreement. You drove off the lot. You seem an intelligent person. Our motto is: Buyer beware but also seller beware. We cannot do anything for you. You own the car now.” 

I was so mad that I drove to another dealer in the area and asked about the law. The liguidators were correct. If you sign the papers and drive a car off the lot, you own it in Texas. We pondered: “Even if the sale was misrepresented? Even when we did come back and say that we did not want the deal because it was a well-oiled, orchestrated mis-presentation of half-truths, outright lies and inflated figures?” The answer is “Yes, you now own the car.” Mostly, we were at first angry with the scam artists who had manipulated us and lied to us, and finally we were angry with ourselves for falling for a “scam of the first class.” Later, we remembered details where we could have backed away (feeling in our gut that something was happening that we did not understand and finally did not want to happen). They were so good at the scam (even with a well-timed flat tire) that we did not think, we acted. We were sold on “considering buying” a 2006 car where we came to buy a 2008 (both were the same ultimate price). Now, that is magic of the first class. But if this happens to you, do not give up on “magic.” We contacted the owner of the dealership. He contacted his “real” staff and they were wonderful. This week we drove off with our 2008 special automobile with smiles all around. 

At last, we want to tell the world about this kind of “scam” which is done all too often. Luckily, we can take the hit on our price strings. We still love this model of car and now can forget that this dealership (who also got scammed by the tactics of unethical men) brought these guys in as a “team of the first class” to carry off this “liquidation.” The dealership is responsible (and as honorable men they took responsibility and treated us with respect, honesty and goodwill which will be returned) for who they bring in to carry off a well-prepared, well-recruited, well-executed “scams of the first class.” 

What I hope by writing this all out are two things: 1) I wish to record this idea: If someone gives you their word and a handshake, that is the universal trust that any business should be based upon (not a written document that has been falsely presented). I guess that I do not wish to lose trust in business and between businessmen (I am a Rotarian). My wife and I do not care about the money (that is secondary) but both of us do wish to deal with others in our community where we can place TRUST. 2) Anyone can fall prey to a well-done “scam” (here, buyers and the dealer). It is only later that you see the brilliant deceptions and the nuances of falsehood. After anger comes “Wow.” In all the 50 years of our marriage, this is the first time in America that we have left a business transaction with a “dirty” taste in our mouths and come back a week later to leave with a smile and a “good taste.” We have been lucky. Just think, some people get this kind of lack of TRUST often. That is sad! My dad, who was street smart but only went to the tenth grade, told me long ago: “First scam, THEIR fault: second scam, YOURS.” Because of an honest dealer who brought in dishonest “liquidators” (being scammed himself), there will be a second time. As I said, we were lucky.

Joe

Joe Kagle

Member: RECSWUSA and ROTI

President: Rotary Global History Fellowship, 2007-2008

Professor of Art and Art History, Kingwood College, Texas

Posted: 4 years ago

You're lucky to have made it out in one piece.  Scammers.  Should be more like SCUMMERS.

My horse and I ...

Posted: 4 years ago

Wow.

Just wow.

Sooo sorry to hear of that.  I expect they will reap what they sow, but that is little solace, eh? 

Trying to get without first giving is as fruitless as trying to reap without having first sown.

It does not do to leap a 20 ft chasm in two ten foot jumps.