Captain Jim

I ended up sending Ana an email saying that before I would step back in the dealership I needed an email from her clearly stating that they would pay me 3,500 for my vehicle and give me an OTD price no higher than 28,600. This is where she was talking about being. The Internet Manager emailed me back and said, "my price should get you close to 29400.00 out the door". I have to say that $800 isn't worth arguing over, but I can't get myself to go back through those doors. I have a very difficult time supporting a business that operates the way this dealership does.

Except for an extra ten thousand dollars! I fear that as the economy drops so does honesty and integrity.

Car dealerships are closing their doors left and right in my area. From what I understand this is pretty common across the US. I have to tell you that I don’t have much compassion for these guys. Their refusal to treat customers with straight forward integrity just amazes me. I never for a second thought I’d get such sleazy treatment from the Lexus dealership in Orlando. Lexus??? I was 100% positive I’d walk in having already agreed upon a selling price, they’d politely great me, I’d be offered a beverage, they’d stroll with me as we discussed my new car, we’d sign a deal and I’d leave feeling like I was one of the “special” folks who in this economy was lucky enough to be able to afford the Lexus treatment. Instead I was bum rushed at the door, hit with high pressure tactics, lied to, hit with a bait and switch and then treated like a fool who had money hanging out of his pocket and didn’t have a clue how to spend it. In this day and age of technology haven’t we grown past these types of sales tactics? Lexus of Orlando didn’t stand a chance at scamming me into paying more than I should, so why did they try? Why did they treat me so badly that I’d never want to set foot in their dealership for the rest of my life? Was it worth it even if they got me to pay a tiny bit more? In my book selling a car should be 90% customer service. Treat the customer so good they won’t want to go anywhere else. The last 10% should be the price, only because today’s customers can easily find out what they should be paying. Sell 70% of your cars via the internet, 30% in house. Swap the size of your showroom with the size of your repair waiting room. Treat us like gold when we are waiting for our vehicles to be fixed. That’s where you make most of your money anyway. In my book auto dealerships do every step 100% backwards from the way they should be operating. It’s no wonder they are closing.

Interestingly enough I learned that Lexus of Tampa Bay is the oldest Lexus dealership in the state of Florida. I was working with a salesperson named Madge. She was nice, but didn't seem to have any authority to deal. All she ever wanted to do was turn me over to their Sales Mgr. These guys need to just stop the games. Real business people don't have time for this garbage. I sent an offer. Send a response. Stop trying to drag me into your dealership to play games. I've bought my last few cars doing this, having them fax over an agreement, going in and signing the original, then walking out. Why do dealerships insist on losing a sale just to try and weasel out another hundred dollars? Is their time not worth anything? A sales person could run 3 or 4 deals on line in the amount of time they waste with one person sitting at their desk. No wonder dealerships are closing. Hmmm, sounds like a new topic idea!

Really? Do you think the IS transmission is poorly made? The U.S. specification IS250 is a fairly heavy car (3,400+ pounds) and has about the same power-to-weight ratio as the first Lexus LS I bought 19+ years ago and used to pull a utility trailer hundreds of times with no ill effects. That old 1990 LS400 is still doing fine with its current owner at over 275,000 miles. I've had a trailer hitch on almost every car I've owned since the 1960s and have never had a mechanical issue caused by towing a trailer. Oddly, outside North America, the Toyota Motor Company thinks that the Lexus IS is completely suitable for towing. Here is a screen image from the Lexus U.K. website that describes the towing capabilities of IS220d (Diesel) and IS250 (gasoline) cars sold in the U.K.: There is nothing different about the IS sold in other countries that makes it more acceptable for towing. A bonus of having a hitch is that it allows using a receiver mounted bike rack -- unlike with a car top bike rack, with a receiver bike rack there is no wind noise, little/no risk of damaging the car, easy for a short person to load a bike, it provides a stand for for working on bikes and you don't have to worry about forgetting that your bikes are on your car top and crunching them on an overhead structure. That looks amazing, and a little bit naught at the same time. Figures that an entry level Lexus can out tow an Isuzu truck!

Having towed small trailers for years, I can't even begin to imagine putting a hitch on the IS250. I highly doubt you'd have a transmission left by the end of your first trip.

I don't know if it helps or not, but my neighbor has a 1995 LS400 with hardly any miles on it. He's in his 80's and rarely drives except to the store. He's thinking of selling it for 5k, but would probably take any reasonable offer. May be worth a trip to Florida!

No, but I can provide a view from someone who is new to this site. I sent a few messages and emails to a couple active folks on this site when I was brand new. Nobody bothered to answer me. Being new doesn't always make you evil or mean you are trying to scam someone. Sometimes you're just new and reaching out. It's tough to become part of a new board. Sometimes a simple act can really help, and result in helping a new member become an active & productive member. JMO

This is the truth. There are sh__ty salesmen at every make. I'd let the GM know about it. Maybe the attitude comes top down, but if not, and the GM doesn't ever know about it, it will not be fixed. I'd think in Orlando you could take the price you were previously given, and shop it to another dealer. OR--call Ana, and give her an earful on this asshat she handed you off to, and tell her that he lost Ana a sale. I say F*** the GM and Ana... go straight to Lexus corporate and lay your story out for them. I'd bet that they'll be willing to bend over backward to resolve this for you. They have a high end marque and a reputation that should not be represented like a second hand used car dealer, especially in the state of our current economy. Like bartkat, the dealer I visit is completely professional, works hard to meet all my needs, and makes me feel welcome each and every time I am there. You know I think you're right. I sent Ana an email asking her to verify they were taking the trade at 3,500. I got nothing back. Looks like her phone call was nothing more than another attempt to get me in the doors for another BS run.

That's good to hear because I was really expecting more from this dealer. Now, how about an update. I received a call today from the original sales person Ana. She was checking to see how things went. Honestly, I could tell she already knew, but hey she was trying. She apologized profusely and promised that if I would come see her she would make sure I got the deal we spoke about. Now what? I'm just about ready to buy this other car and suddenly she pops back up. At this point I'm not sure if I can get myself to go back in to that dealership. If I buy from them what's to say I won't get rotten treatment when it comes to service? It's amazing how one person can ruin so much. And truthfully, what's to say they aren't going to just run me around again?

I can't say I've ever felt like that. Until now every car experience I've had I walked away feeling great about. The last two were done 100% on line. Brand new, 5k under invoice, fair trade value, they faxed me the papers I'd be signing. I showed up tossed them my keys, they tossed me their keys, I saw the papers matched, signed, thanked them and left. I swear I wasn't there more than 15 minutes, and only that long because they wanted a picture of us with the car for their wall. Guess who I called the second I was ready to buy a new car! Too bad they didn't carry the model I wanted, but I'll call them again next time too. The truth is, customers are flooding in right now due to this CARS offer. That will end very soon and showrooms will be empty once again. If a dealer is unethical or treats someone poorly now there's no chance in the world they will get that business when they need it the most. Plus they will lose business from anyone that person talks to. Buying a car should be a great experience.

Being new I hope I'm allowed one mistake. I posted this in the wrong area. Sorry. I put up a new one where it belongs. I really would appreciate feedback. Thanks everyone! Correct Post: http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...c=59281&hl=

I didn't realize there was a section for this and posted it in the wrong area the first time. My bad. I've been doing my homework for weeks now to make sure I'd be happy with my first Lexus. I've owned BMW's & Porsches but never a Lexus. I needed something small & classy that had good gas millage for my trips back and forth from Orlando to Tampa. The IS250 seemed perfect. I emailed the internet department at Lexus of Orlando and received a fast reply from their internet man. He had me working with Ana in their sales dept. We went back and forth in emails finding the right vehicle. In the end we were $1,500 away from each other on price. I knew we could both budge a little and pin this down. BTW~ it was an IS250 with the premium package, black on black. Not AWD and no Nav. I was doing a trade in worth $3,500 and asking for 28K out the door. They were offering $29,500 OTD including my trade. Last evening I get a call at work from Ana in their sales department. "Look, I know we're close and we both want to do this deal. It's the last day of the month so if there's ever a time to do this it's today. Come on down. With your Cash for Clunkers trade at $3,500 I will get well under what we've offered and extremely close to 28k. I know we can do this." I agreed to leave work early and head across town to see her so we set an appointment time for 6:00. I arrive at 6:00 to discover Ana is not available but they are putting me in the good hands of salesman Dan Webber. Let me show you what type of sales treatment I was given; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-SK1-iILlY In fact let's call Dan "Badger" from now on because after all the abuse I took I believe it truly fits him. Anyway, Badger come in and says, "So tell me what you're looking for in a car." I politely decline and ask him to either bring Ana who I've already worked through every detail with, or her paperwork that clearly shows exactly what I'm looking for. He acts as if I never said a word. Please keep in mind I'm not a young kid. I'm a 45 year old executive director for a large corporation, dressed nice & well spoken. Badger however thinks I'm a stupid 9 year old and treats me as such. He asks again what I'm wanting in a vehicle, "is it quality and reliability?" I open my folder and hand him the printout showing the exact car, what they offered, what I offered. He starts telling me how they are selling so many cars he isn't sure if he'll be able to get me the car I want, but he'll try. I pull out a paper showing him what date the exact car I'm looking for will arrive on his lot. He ignores me. He starts in on how the car I want is in tremendous demand right now. I ask him to stop the sales pitch and let's just look at the deal I was offered, what I need them to come down to, and that I have my car here for the Cash for Clunkers trade so let's finish this. Badger leans back and starts in on the Cash for Clunkers program problems and how they will eventually run out of money so we really can't go by that program. I pull out the report showing how much longer the program is guaranteed for which clearly puts us in a safe position to make a deal that evening. He then tells me they aren't signed up for the Cash for Clunkers CARS program because it's such a bad program. BIG RED FLAG, as if Badger himself wasn't a big enough one. Last time I was in Lexus of Orlando (one week ago) they took all my vehicle information, went through the data base and approved my vehicle through the program and gave me an exact amount of $3,500 that they would be able to give me through this program. Now suddenly they've never signed up to be in the program? I ask him to stop messing around. I have a price and that's what I need to make the deal. I don't care what program he uses, I have the vehicle here and I want 3,500 for it. He says he will be right back. He comes back with a print out loaded with info. Bottom line is he is offering me the car at $200 MORE than what Ana had offered before she said she could get me close to 28k. We're now at $29,700. I should have asked for another salesperson, but seeing his name tag said Sales Manager it didn't seem worth it. Turns out by the way that he is just a regular salesman. I guess that's just another trick Lexus of Orlando uses to fool customers. Anyway I laugh and say that's not going to happen. He says "Ok, it was good meeting you." shakes my hand and walks away. Gee... I wonder what will happen next Mr. Badger? 30 seconds later he walks back and says, "Are you crazy? Why in the world would you walk away from an incredible deal like that?" Now he's standing over me trying to intimidate me. I've had enough. I reply, "It's not an amazing deal and I'm tired of these sleazy games. I left work early and drove all the way across town because I was promised you would come close to my price. Instead you play games and offer me an even higher price than a week ago. This is truly unethical and I expected better from a Lexus dealership. His reply...wait...what would you expect Mr. Badger to say?..."Well the offer's only good until 7:00 and then it's off the table." I shake my head and walk away. What a joke this guys is. They lost a sale, lost any chance of having me or my family as future customers, and abused someone who spends his life speaking to hundreds and hundreds of executives a month. Lexus can keep their car. I'll never be back.

I'm actually thinking about contacting the dealer in NC from that hilarious youtube link I posted. They say they have non badger dealers here in Fl, but I haven't been able to find any. Probably same name, different product. But hey, if they can give me a good price and not waste my time then I'm game. Honestly, the only thing worse than lying to me is wasting my time. That's the part I was really steamed over. Well...that and being treated like a fool.

I've been doing my homework for weeks now to make sure I'd be happy with my first Lexus. I've owned BMW's & Porsches but never a Lexus. I needed something small & classy that had good gas millage for my trips back and forth from Orlando to Tampa. The IS250 seemed perfect. I emailed the internet department at Lexus of Orlando and received a fast reply from their internet man. He had me working with Ana in their sales dept. We went back and forth in emails finding the right vehicle. In the end we were $1,500 away from each other on price. I knew we could both budge a little and pin this down. BTW~ it was an IS250 with the premium package, black on black. Not AWD and no Nav. I was doing a trade in worth $3,500 and asking for 28K out the door. They were offering $29,500 OTD including my trade. Last evening I get a call at work from Ana in their sales department. "Look, I know we're close and we both want to do this deal. It's the last day of the month so if there's ever a time to do this it's today. Come on down. With your Cash for Clunkers trade at $3,500 I will get well under what we've offered and extremely close to 28k. I know we can do this." I agreed to leave work early and head across town to see her so we set an appointment time for 6:00. I arrive at 6:00 to discover Ana is not available but they are putting me in the good hands of salesman Dan Webber. Let me show you what type of sales treatment I was given; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-SK1-iILlY In fact let's call Dan "Badger" from now on because after all the abuse I took I believe it truly fits him. Anyway, Badger come in and says, "So tell me what you're looking for in a car." I politely decline and ask him to either bring Ana who I've already worked through every detail with, or her paperwork that clearly shows exactly what I'm looking for. He acts as if I never said a word. Please keep in mind I'm not a young kid. I'm a 45 year old executive director for a large corporation, dressed nice & well spoken. Badger however thinks I'm a stupid 9 year old and treats me as such. He asks again what I'm wanting in a vehicle, "is it quality and reliability?" I open my folder and hand him the printout showing the exact car, what they offered, what I offered. He starts telling me how they are selling so many cars he isn't sure if he'll be able to get me the car I want, but he'll try. I pull out a paper showing him what date the exact car I'm looking for will arrive on his lot. He ignores me. He starts in on how the car I want is in tremendous demand right now. I ask him to stop the sales pitch and let's just look at the deal I was offered, what I need them to come down to, and that I have my car here for the Cash for Clunkers trade so let's finish this. Badger leans back and starts in on the Cash for Clunkers program problems and how they will eventually run out of money so we really can't go by that program. I pull out the report showing how much longer the program is guaranteed for which clearly puts us in a safe position to make a deal that evening. He then tells me they aren't signed up for the Cash for Clunkers CARS program because it's such a bad program. BIG RED FLAG, as if Badger himself wasn't a big enough one. Last time I was in Lexus of Orlando (one week ago) they took all my vehicle information, went through the data base and approved my vehicle through the program and gave me an exact amount of $3,500 that they would be able to give me through this program. Now suddenly they've never signed up to be in the program? I ask him to stop messing around. I have a price and that's what I need to make the deal. I don't care what program he uses, I have the vehicle here and I want 3,500 for it. He says he will be right back. He comes back with a print out loaded with info. Bottom line is he is offering me the car at $200 MORE than what Ana had offered before she said she could get me close to 28k. We're now at $29,700. I should have asked for another salesperson, but seeing his name tag said Sales Manager it didn't seem worth it. Turns out by the way that he is just a regular salesman. I guess that's just another trick Lexus of Orlando uses to fool customers. Anyway I laugh and say that's not going to happen. He says "Ok, it was good meeting you." shakes my hand and walks away. Gee... I wonder what will happen next Mr. Badger? 30 seconds later he walks back and says, "Are you crazy? Why in the world would you walk away from an incredible deal like that?" Now he's standing over me trying to intimidate me. I've had enough. I reply, "It's not an amazing deal and I'm tired of these sleazy games. I left work early and drove all the way across town because I was promised you would come close to my price. Instead you play games and offer me an even higher price than a week ago. This is truly unethical and I expected better from a Lexus dealership. His reply...wait...what would you expect Mr. Badger to say?..."Well the offer's only good until 7:00 and then it's off the table." I shake my head and walk away. What a joke this guys is. They lost a sale, lost any chance of having me or my family as future customers, and abused someone who spends his life speaking to hundreds and hundreds of executives a month. Lexus can keep their car. I'll never be back.