Easter's, Inc

Review: I have been calling for going on three weeks about a particular vehicle. I have called everyday sometimes twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. I was told by sales person [redacted] that they would hold the 4 door navy blue lifted dodge dakota pickup for me. I even offered a cash deposit to hold the truck for me because they had to take it to the shop to change the sensor and lift., he said, "not neccessary...word of mouth is good enough. I'll hold it for you." They told me that they had to work on the lift kit and it would be in the shop and he would call me the day it came out of the shop, he took my name and phone number and wrote it on a business card. he said ill post it on the board for you, and ill call you when its ready. I told him ok and I left. That was three weeks ago he promised me that. I called and talked to bobby, the owner. he said he would call me when it was ready I explained that I had been waiting and would like to know something as soon as he could let me know it would be great, he then rudely said to me, and I quote "IM NOT FREAKING JESUS, I CANT FIX EVERYTHING FOR YOU BROTHER.". he even gave me his personal cell phone number and told me hed call me the next day with some more information. he never called. I called him back two days later, he said he was busy hed call me back. never called. I called just yesterday, and spoke to [redacted] again! he told me, "you are top on the list for the truck." He told me he would call me back yesterday evening. NO phone call was made back to me. I called today at 5 o'clock and the lady answers the phone, I asked her about the truck, she said it was sold. I asked her what happened to me getting top priority, she said well one of our employees wanted it so we sold it to them. I have been calling for this truck ever since they went on vacation 4 weeks ago, they were out that week, so ive talked to an individual mostly [redacted] and bobby for 3 weeks straight. was promised by both [redacted] and the owner bobby. and then now I found out it was sold and I was lied to for three weeks. thats unfair to the consumer and I am not happy about it. I think it was extremely unethical and should be addressed.Desired Settlement: I would like an apology and for an opportunity to at least have an opportunity to buy the truck and have another truck of equal value and characterisitics of that truck for the same price. I have been looking everywhere for a four door truck, automatic and high off the ground for that price.

Business

Response:

This letter is written in response to the complaint filed by[redacted].Please be advised- this truck is still at the dealership. It has not been sold. The vehicle Mr.[redacted] is talking about is a 2002 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab 4X4 Pickup with a lift kit. Mr. [redacted] has not purchased this vehicle. It hasn't ever been ready for sale. The vehicle has had a yellow, state required sticker on the windshield that states " This Vehicle Is Not For Sale. This form must remain in place until a FEDERAL USED CAR BUYERS GUIDE is affixed to this vehicle." For the reason that it must have work done in the shop. The lifters are rattling and need to be adjusted. This has not been completed as we have not received the parts to fix the problem. Mr. [redacted] was told that this vehicle was not ready for sale. He has been told by both Bobby Easter and [redacted]. Mr. [redacted]asked if there was a price on the vehicle, and since we did and still do not know how much the cost would be of repairing the vehicle. Mr.[redacted] asked if there was any price for the truck as is and was told $5995.00. This again, was with the truck being sold in the condition it currently is, "AS IS". Our entire dealership was closed for vacation July 30, 2013thru August 04,2OL3. There was no way for Mr. [redacted] to have contacted the dealership on AugustO1.,2O13, as me and my entire family that works at the dealership were departing Port Canaveral on August 01, 20i.3 leaving on a Disney Cruise that day. All of our dealerships were closed. All dealership phones were forwarded to our company voicemail, not a live answering service, but a [redacted] set up voicemail box. All buildings were locked down. There were no employees present during the entire week we were closed.NO dealership is going to turn down a deposit on a vehicle. If Mr. [redacted] had agreed to purchase the truck in the exact condition it was, then we would have taken the deposit, but if a vehicle is not ready and has the sticker on the windows states that it is Not For Sale, we cannot take a deposit to hold it. By taking a deposit that locks you in to a price and a time schedule. On this truck we do not have a complete price to fix it nor a time frame of when that will be done. Again, the truck is still here. It has not been sold. I find it suspect that Mr. [redacted] claims he was told by a lady that the truck had been sold, as anyone who answers the phone would not be privy to that information. That information can be provided by a salesperson only. There is no conspiracy to prevent Mr. [redacted] from purchasing the vehicle, as we would be happy to sell it to him. However, I would think a customer would appreciate a dealership/salesperson being honest about a problem with a vehicle, and not wanting to sell the vehicle until the problem is fixed. Had the vehicle been sold to Mr. [redacted] and not been fixed I am sure that you would have received a letter of complaint regarding us selling him a problematic vehicle. In the car business , I suppose this is a Catch22.Should someone need to verify that this vehicle is indeed here at the dealership ,'we are more than happy to provide either physical evidence by having a deputy sign an affidavit that the vehicle is still present, and still has not been sold. I am also going to provide the VIN on the vehicle so that it may be pulled by CARFAX and the DMV to verify that it has not been sold, and is indeed still in our dealership name. VIN# [redacted]I will be happy to show the vehicle to a representative of the Revdex.com that the vehicle is still here, and is still not fixed. They are welcome to inspect the Not For Sale sticker in the window as well as crank the vehicle to verify that there is still a loud knocking noise when it is cranked, and that has not been fixed. I would also welcome someone to contact the Dealer Board to verify that our dealership was indeed closed July 30, 2013 thru August 04, 2013and did not re-open until Monday, August 05, 2013. As a dealer we must fax a note to the Motor Vehicle Dealer Board any time our offices are closed and I am sure that they still have a copy of the notice we sent in regarding our closing for the given dates on file. Once again, I would be happy to sell the vehicle to Mr. [redacted],but it is not ready. No one in the office has told him anything in a hateful or heated manner, why would we want to run off business and customers? No one has lied to him, as first of all- It's not Ready, and secondly- It is not Sold. We would be happy to sell the vehicle to Mr. [redacted] at the price of $ 5995 "AS IS" which means, no warranty, either written or implied. We will not be fixing any pre-existing problem at that price. However, should he chose to wait for us to complete the repairs on the vehicles and get an accurate amount of the repairs ( parts and labor) we would still sell him the vehicle. But please note, this vehicle has an altered suspension, a vehicle modification that we do not usually deal in, and there is no warranty whatsoever on the suspension/lift kit. Should you have any questions or wish to send someone out to verify the location of the vehicle you are welcome to contact my office at###-###-#### Mon-Fri10 am- 5 pm. Thank you, [redacted]

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response offer made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.This email they sent back is an utmost lie. I may have had the dates incorrect, however the fact of the matter is 1. I did offer to make a deposit on the truck just to hold it until it is fixed. I spoke with [redacted] myself standing in front of the dealership, should they have video cameras, pull it up. it was the day that a gentleman had placed a deposit on a grey dakota, and [redacted] stated that the gentleman had until that next friday to make the full settlement. I then asked him, and I quote. "Well, could I make a cash deposit and then you hold it until it is fixed, and then if I like it can I pay the rest,?" and I quote [redacted], " Nah Man, word of mouth is good enough here, we'll hold it for you." I can play this in my mind, because I can still recall the whole incident, to a T. 2. Bobby Easter did make the comment, "Im not Jesus, I cant fix everything." on 21 August at 5:09 PM because I called his dealership and he spoke to me, thats when he gave me his personal cell phone number. 3. They told me there was a problem with the suspension, that is true, but that is not the point im upset about. I called on 28 august 2013 at 4:59 Pm, and the lady who answered the phone said, and I will quote the whole conversation here. She said "HELLO.....EASTERS." I said. "Hey Just calling to get an update on the blue 4 door dakota?" She said "Its Sold." I said, "What? I've been calling about this truck for almost a month now." She Said "Yep, one of our employees bought it." Me "Oh I cant believe that Ive been calling for a month and nobodys not once returned my call.she said "well Im sorry." I then hung up the phone, so how in the world, would it not be sold now, when I called and she flat out told me it was sold. And this is not just anybody answering the phone, Because I have spoken with the same lady almost everytime I call, she is always the one that answers and when I ask to speak to [redacted] she always says the same thing "Let me page him, may I ask whos calling?" and every time, every single time I tell her my name. Thats when I talk to [redacted]. The one time I spoke with bobby is when he answered the phone. 4. They have never, not one time offered for me to buy as is, not once. not a single time, so that statment is untrue. 5. And im not the only one who has called, because one time I was trying to call, and nobody would answer the phone, so I thought they werent answering because it was me, so I then asked a friend of mine, who I work with and was standing beside of called and he asked about it, and they told him it was "ON HOLD" for someone.... The next day is when I called [redacted] and asked him was it on hold for me, he then told me hed find out and call me back. I asked him did he still have my number, thats when he said it was hanging on the board on the business card he wrote it on the day I was standing in the parking lot talking to [redacted]. of course, no call back ever. not even to this day. 6. I do not want the truck, it has left a bad taste in my mouth with this dealership. I went to the reputable car dealer down the street named [redacted] and purchased a truck from them. I am just irate at how they did business with me. A friend of mine went into their dealership the other day to inquire about a car, and the owner was sitting in his office drinking a bud light and smoking a cigarette. REALLY? but I, the consumer, dont even matter to them enough to call me back. --- one of the main reasons I am upset just because nobody cared enough to call me back and speak with me. 7. I just wanted an apology for how they treated me. I bought a car from them one time before, about 5 years ago, it was a good car, I will admit, but now they are not a company that I will do business with again. As a consumer, I felt that it was not right how they did me, and I am sure they will do it again, but not to this consumer, and anyone within hearing range of me, because , this company as a whole has just upset me beyond belief. 8. I knew they were on vacation, they told me that, so that I am not disputing, but on that voicemail there is 2 messages from me regarding this situation. I waited for a response from this company before I bought my other truck, but they never called me back, not one single time. Even when I called and they told me they would call me right back,.....nothing. 9. The lady who emailed you back, I feel strongly that was the lady who answered the phone each time I called, because everytime I have ever been in there theres [redacted], bobby, and the lady in the first office. They knew I was interested in the vehicle, I mean who calls every day trying to get some information, and for them to belittle me and push me to the side, just so they could sell a truck to an employee? thats wrong. I understand that the vehicle might be listed as owned by Easter's, but do you really think that if an employee buys it, they will change it right away? I think not. 10. They emailed you and told you that it was a 2002? Thats odd, because [redacted] first said it was a 1999... I did research and found that dodge did not make a dakota quad cab in 1999 , so they next time we spoke, I asked him about it, and he said oh well its a 2000 then, my bad. 11. Not only I, but others who have been by to look at the truck, have not seen a not for sale sticker anywhere on the vehicle. I opened the vehicle doors looked inside, seen also that the center console was broke, when it was parked right out front as the first vehicle you see when you pull in the dealership, sat in the seat looked around, and nowhere, absoultely nowhere was there to be found a not for sale sticker. not even the sticky residue where the sticker had been pulled off, this is a lie, and if it deems to be true that it is in the window now, then it was put in the window since this dispute started. 12. The vehicle was sitting out front for a week after we spoke the first time, then it was moved to what [redacted] says is the bus garage. I drove by and seen people working on the truck, had the hood up and working on it so it may not be ready, but if you have people working on it, they should have had someone at least tell me a time frame. 13 I did offer to make a deposit just to hold it for me, that is true, so if she states that they would have taken if I had offered, that is also not true because I did. 14. This company has a bad reputation in henry, patrick, and franklin county, I should have known better. 15. I believe that I may use my first amendment right, freedom of speech and contact the local newspapers to let everyone know how they did business with me at easters, this would not be considered defamation because it is the communication of a true statement on my behalf of how I was treated. 16. I also find it justified of my complaint to you by the first amendment as well, I feel that I have a right, as a consumer, to speak my opinion and let higher authorites (Revdex.com) know how I was treated, what do I expect from easters? Nothing. I just do not want the next consumer to be treated as I was. An Apology for not calling me back any time would be nice also. Regards,[redacted]