This past spring I began to do research on SUV's as I was looking to upgrade from my pick up truck. Through Auto trader I found a listing for a 1998 GMC Jimmy located at Parkwood Auto Sales in Surrey. The listed price was 7975.00. I live in Williams Lake BC which is 6 hours North of Surrey. I was intrigued by the list of features in the Parkwood Auto sales ad listed on the Auto Trader website. In the Ad dated March 15, 2007 along with a picture of the vehicle in question is a listing of the following options. A/C, Alarm, Alloy Wheels, AM/FM Stereo, Anti-Lock Brakes, Anti-Theft, Bucket Seats. CD Player, Cruise Control, Dual Air Bag, Intermittent Wipers, Rear Defroster, Roof Rack, Tilt steering, Tilt wheel, tinted glass and a Tow Package. After making phone calls and arranging for a $500.00 deposit to be made I secured the financing necessary for purchase of the vehicle. I then arranged for a pick up date. It was necessary for me to travel from Williams Lake to pick up the vehicle. I boarded the Greyhound bus at 2am and travelled through the night to pick up the Jimmy.
I arrived on March 27 at the dealership at approximately 11am. I was shown to the vehicle. I requested a test drive before taking possession of the vehicle. Marc told me that due to insurance liabilities that this would not be possible. After receiving the keys I started the Jimmy and proceeded to look the vehicle over. I noticed after starting up the vehicle that there was NO Cd player. There was only a radio. I walked around to the rear of the vehicle and noticed that there was NO tow package on the vehicle as advertised. After returning to the vehicle to confirm that the A/C was working I noticed that the driver's side rear view side mirror was being held on with electrical tape. Marc pretended to be surprised and said that he had not initially noticed the electrical tape. He then said that you could tell the tape had been on there for a long time as it was weathered. He went inside to get more tape which he then proceeded to use on the mirror. I asked if there was any way to have the mirror replaced. He said I would have to talk to the salesman Shawn with whom I had corresponded with when setting up the sale. Marc did NOT at any point represent himself as the Manager/Owner of the establishment. He said that I could talk to Shawn about a new mirror or I could easily find one locally for $50.00 or less. When I questioned why I should pay for the mirror Marc responded by saying would I rather have a free mirror or a free 90 day warranty.
When I mentioned that the vehicle was not as advertised Marc dismissed his responsibility by saying it was a mistake made by Auto trader and that they have misquoted the price of a vehicle once and that after numerous phone class to Parkwood they finally just answered that the vehicle misquoted in price was sold. I went on to say to Marc that I felt that it was false or misleading advertising and he said that I could walk away from the deal or accept the vehicle as it was. Its very important to mention that I had just rode a bus all night long and had spent nearly $100.00 to get there. My option of walking away would mean another long bus ride home... another $100.00 and a forfeiture of my $500.00 deposit. The vehicle seemed in running order so I decided to accept it as it was and to try and get restitution for the broken side mirror. I was to call Shawn to make any arrangements for the new mirror. I managed to get a hold of Shawn the next day and he assured me that he would call back. He did not. The day after returning to Williams Lake I phoned and was told by Marc that Shawn was on the lot with a customer and that he would call me back. He did not. In fact my calls then went unanswered until I *67 the call. Marc again said that Shawn was not present that day..
Another odd thing occured after I returned to Williams Lake. March 28, I went to the website where I had found the Jimmy and was struck by 2 things. 1 it was still listed as available for purchase. Secondly I noticed that the ad for the Jimmy had been altered. The following features had been edited out of the ad; the tow package, the cd player. It is now September and I have still not been reimbursed in any shape for the broken mirror or the missing/misleading features in the ad. Marc's only offer was to send a cd player (COD) to myself.
Marc has been very shady and extremely unprofessional in dealing with the obvious misrepresentation in the ad and any attempts to have the broken mirror fixed. I feel it is my responsibilty to warn other potential car buyers whether in the Lower Mailand or the Interior that Marc at Parkwood Auto is missing honesty and integrity in his business dealings and that should they have any complaints about their dealings with Marc to contact the Motor Vehicle Sales Authority... www.mvsabc.com
Trent
Williams Lake, British Columbia
Canada
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