“Buy a piece of Crap car like I did at 44 Auto Mart in Bardstown!"
My Olds Bravada was paid for. It was bought and completely paid for in the early part of 2002. It had its problems don’t get me wrong. There were no monthly payments and that was wonderful. But it had seen its better days. In early 2007 it was in pretty bad shape, but with a little work, I thought it could last another couple of years or so. It needed a tune up – done. It needed a new muffler system – done. It needed new window motors – done. It needed a new fuel injector - $400.00 – done. It needed new tires - $350.00 – whoa – done. Everything done – drove it home – and the friggin’ transmission went out!
It was time for a new vehicle. Past time really and I had to find one fast.
So I went to 44 Auto Mart.
It was early March and the weather was wonderful – too bad the Global Warming people weren’t happy about it. It was way too cold and wet for them to rally the troops! But that is another story…….
Anyway, it was early March – I went to 44 Auto Mart – I needed a vehicle.
This was the deal – I wanted a car with no money down for no more than $200 per month period.
I told them that I wanted a good vehicle as I already had a piece of crap at home in the driveway and I didn’t want to buy another one. They sold me a piece of crap!
Long story short, as we all have better things to do than just read a lot of fluff – I had already signed my name on the dotted line and agreed to a price consistent with a payment of $258.00 per month (which actually came out to be $168.20 (+) $110.28 – funny how it adds up differently after you sign the initial paperwork huh? But needless to say – the car broke down on me 5 times the first 4 days I drove it so it spent the 1st month in their fix it shop. The air-conditioning quit working but they said they fixed that. Well, at least the first part of the month they couldn’t find a problem with the fuel pump and then it broke down on me again twice the next day I took it back, and then they finally fixed it. Of course I got to drive 4 other vehicles the 1st month of their choosing – but I will give them a thumbs up for my not having to walk the 45 mile trip I make every day to work!
I won’t even go into the fact that the finance company they had initially set me up with was not aware that I had bought the car thru them so I had to fix that myself - and the insurance company they thru at me apparently charged me $100 just for signing up with them! Woo Hoo! Can you feel the sarcasm in my words? I don’t care that they dropped $600.00 off the total price for my inconvenience – my stress and time was far more important than that measly amount. I don’t even care that they paid the $300 to fix the car when it was broken – as it should have been working when they sold me the damn thing in the first place! Good thing I waited to write this down long after the fact so that I do not appear to be as mad, huh?
Ok, here is where it is now.
I bought this damn thing the 1st week of March and drove it maybe one week that whole month. I still had to pay the car payment that month didn’t I? Well, in April I had to put brand new front and rear brakes, rotors and drums on it. In May I had to get all new tires – the front 2 were dry rotted and the back 2 had rubber separating from the tire itself! In July – well in July guess what? The damn air went out – followed by the fan motor! Unfortunately – due to the lack of not being a freakin’ multi millionaire – I lacked the funds to fix that. And it’s hot out there man! It’s now freakin’ August for crying out loud!
So I thought I would write this blog and send them the link.
And I thought I would get that bright “buy this car” stuff and write on my car things like “this car broke down 5 times the month I bought it! Follow me to 44 Auto Mart!” and “I bought this from 44 Auto Mart and it’s a piece of Crap!” and oh yea “Buy a piece of Crap car like I did at 44 Auto Mart in Bardstown!"
I wonder if telling the truth in a Sarcastic way can be deemed “liable”. Guess I need to contact a lawyer.
Stay tuned……oh and I just found out. A new Blower motor is gonna cost me $200.00. Woo Hoo!
it's always funny that the people that buy a used vehicle and pay no profit, due to the fact that they can't get prime credit, always feel that they got messed over. things that make you go hmmm!!! the moral is pay your bills get a new car at a inflated price.
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Oh yea - and whoever "b" is - you can kiss my ass dude. Can't even give your name - going forward posts won't be included. Of course, the salesman's first initial - who by the way I have not spoken one word against - is "b" , makes me go hmmmmmm.
And this is not about a moral of ... pay your bills. One's credit should not be a factor in whether they are treated fairly. One can marry into the worst credit in the world and be haunted by that for 10 years after a divorce. A person's character cannot be judged and should not be judged by 3 credit reporting agencies - atleast I cannot find that in the Constitution of the United States. Can you?
This is about being cheated and lied to by a company in the heartland of America.
"Thou Shalt not Lie."
Not my words, but words I live by. - peace.
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*** update folks ***
Complaint Data
Problem
Please provide a BRIEF, FACTUAL DESCRIPTION of the problem you experienced. If you are notifying the BBB of an advertising claim that you believe is inaccurate or misleading, include the date and location of the advertisement.
1. Primary Classification:
Product Issues
2. Secondary Classification:
Selling Practices
3. Problem:
I bought a used car from 44 Auto Mart in March 2007. Turned out that it had fuel pump issues right away and they were fixed in approx. 4 weeks at no cost. But in April I had to put brand new front and rear brakes, rotors and drums on it. In May I had to get all new tires – the front 2 were dry rotted and the back 2 had rubber separating from the tire itself! In July – the air conditioning went out – that's a $200.00 fan moter to replace and install. These cars are sold as is. But they should not be allowed to sell junk cars. Plus they were not accurate and did not close the deal with the financial institution - I had to do that myself a month after the deal was signed. Will never buy a car from these people again - have heard many other people having issues with them - but of course no one ever files a complaint. Just want this put on record that this "one customer" was not satisfied. Thanks.
Complaint Background
Not all of these questions are required. Please provide as much information as you have.
1. Product/Service Purchased:
2. Model Number:
3. Contract, Account, or Policy #:
4. Order #:
5. Purchase Date: 3/3/2007
6. Date Problem First Occurred: 3/8/2007
Dates you complained to the company/organization
7. First Date: 3/8/2007
8. Second Date: 8/2/2007
9. Third Date:
10. Payment Made: Yes
11. Payment Method:
Name of Sales Person
12. Title:
13. First Name:
14. Middle Name:
15. Last Name:
16. Suffix:
17. Purchase Price:
18. Disputed Amount:
Desired Outcome
Enter your DESIRED OUTCOME below. Please keep your description within the box provided, without scrolling. A summary of your complaint is preferred, as the BBB will contact you if they need additional details. Mandatory fields are followed by a RED "*".
1. Desired Settlement:
No settlement requested - for BBB information only
2. Desired Outcome:
Keeping one person from buying a car there it would be sufficient. I was told by an anonymous salesman that "it's always funny that the people that buy a used vehicle and pay no profit, due to the fact that they can't get prime credit, always feel that they got messed over. pay your bills get a new car at a inflated price." I guess they mean that people without perfect credit deserve it? Their complaints are invalid? People should be treated fairly - period. Thanks for your time.
complaint issued with the Better Business Bureau
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http://www.pcmacs.com/nalley09142007[1].pdf
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44 AUTO MART
998 FROST AVE.
BARDSTOWN KY 40004
(502)348-4187
This is in response to the letter received from 44 Auto Mart to the Better Business Bureau on September 11, 2007. There were several seemingly small and insignificant mistakes made in the writing of this communication – but when examined closer - these mistakes expose the overall experience and bad business practices of your company as a whole.
The words “took advantage” were used at the onset of the letter to set the overall tone –presenting myself, the customer in a bad light. When used in context “took advantage of his opportunity to test drive this vehicle”, simply means I drove it before I bought it.
So, I drove it before I bought it and I could have taken it by law to a 3rd party mechanic.
This is correct. I do not dispute this. I could also have a 3rd party inspect all purchases going forward – whether it is TV’s, appliances, furniture, or groceries. All of these products are purchased AS IS as well. It does not matter the product – it is the word of the vendor. I did not ask for restitution – only acknowledgement and documentation of my unsatisfactory customer experience.
The next sentence in the letter states that “Mr. Nalley had a fuel pump issue roughly a month after his purchase.” This statement is incorrect. Though I had started the paperwork on this vehicle on March 3rd – all paperwork was not final. The car broke down on me 5 times in Highway traffic the first week I drove it. I then took it back to your dealership. I was told you would fix it – and yes you did offer me a truck one day and a small car to drive the rest of the week – but please note that all gas was paid for by me. Your mechanics had not found a problem by that following Friday. I once again drove the “unfixed” vehicle having it brake down on me 3 times in traffic by Monday - just three days later. Please understand the paperwork was still not completed. Your company gave me another vehicle to drive and had the car another full 4 days before you finally had it break down on one of your employees and fix the problem. Yes you fixed the fuel pump. Yes you did it free of charge. I wasn’t going to pay you to fix the car that you just sold to me before the paperwork was completed. I also had your Manager sign a piece of paper stating that your company would fix all that was wrong with it. I had even mentioned the air conditioner not working properly. It was a bad fan motor – I was told it was fixed – I assumed your mechanic had hooked up his machine to it and made sure it was fixed. I assumed wrong.
Now, all of this happened in March 2007. Yes there is regular maintenance. Yes I bought this AS IS. Yes I could have taken it to a 3rd Party Mechanic. In April 2007 I had to replace all brakes and all rotors and drums on the vehicle. In May 2007 I had to replace all four tires. Is this normal wear and tear of a vehicle purchased just 2 months prior?
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In June 2007 the fan motor went out. Is this also normal wear and tear of a vehicle purchased just 3 months prior?
I do not believe your reputation is as important to your company as you state. I know that your customers are not. All things lead to the sale, and away from honest practices.
As stated in my original complaint, if I can prevent just one person from purchasing a vehicle from your business it will be sufficient. And again - it does not matter the product – it is the word of the vendor. I did not ask for restitution – only acknowledgement and documentation of my unsatisfactory customer experience.
Thomas Nalley
3592 New Haven Rd
Bardstown KY 40004
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