ClearLake Nissan in League City, TX are Crooks and cheats. Illegal sales tactics

[anup]

This dealership employs "Bait and Switch" in advertising and sales. It puts ads for a couple of vehicles at online sites like Autotrader.com with prices below Blue Book. These vehicles are just baits to get the customer into the store. Eg: Look at Autotrader car ID (AT Car ID: AT-E75EC29). I suspected a scam and called them up numerous times to alert them that I would have to drive more than 100 miles to get there and not to waste my time and gas if they didn't have the car or could not seel it at that price. They assured me that this was legitimate and even promised to provide me a tank of gas for the mileage I incurred if I was willing to make the trip. Of course on reaching they told me that the "Car was just sold" (even though I had called them 40 minutes before reaching and they has said that it was still there). The salesmen were actually smiling and giggling when they said that. They tried to sell me other inferior cars at overprized prices. In the end I wasted 1 whole day and drove 100+ miles because of these cheats (and of course no tank of gas as promised). Stay Clear of Clearlake Nissan.

[fjwagner]

I think you should both write and call Nissan USA with those details and names of any and all people you talked to. Make things uncomfortable for them. If you are still interested, I like Mossy Nissan on I10 just west of BW8. I bought mine at $100 less than invoice plus the rebates at the time. Any better deal SIGNIFICANTLY less than that is probably a scam. Fred

PS: On the other hand, there is always the Honda Fit but no rebates and will cost you somewhat more.

[BlueMango]

I had a horrible time with Capistrano Nissan here in CA. I went there because of the Costco fleet program. You're supposed to buy the cars at $500 over invoice no haggling and be done. The person I made an appointment with was busy with another customer. I got shown cars by the receptionist. I had my own financing and was excited to just go in and sign the paperwork and be done. The finance manager was super rude, insulted my intelligence and even admitted to treating me poorly because I was a woman and "most women do not know what they are doing when it comes to cars". I won't even elaborate any further on the poor treatment. In the end I left and purchased my V from another dealership. I wrote a letter both to Costco and to Nissan USA about my experience there. The dealership is no longer part of the Costco program and has come under new management.

On another note I would also like to give credit where it is due. OC Nissan in Irvine, CA is spectacular. If you live in the area and are looking for a nissan hit me up cause I would love to refer you to my Salesgirl. She was awesome and still continues to provide excellent customer service and follow up. She deserves every commission penny she gets.

[Johniboi]

wow- to be honest i never expected a car salesman to be rude, i thought they were always nice cause of the money lol but srry to hear that man, try another dealership??

[srellim234]

They've been pretty thoroughly ripped before here. Here's one negative thread about them that started way back on 4-1-2007 and continued through April of this year:

zer...26727

As indicated in some of the posts in the above thread there have been other complaints about them on this forum, too.

On the positive side, West Covina Nissan has been excellent on the customer service.

[BlueMango]

Maybe we should start a "buy your versa here" thread where we talk about the good experiences we've had to guide them to the good places.

[Woody64]

I had a similiar bait and switch tactic with Maguire Nissan in Ithaca NY. I test drove a Versa S, but wanted an SL, they told me an SL was coming in, when they asked me my color preference, I said grey, and then they said they had a magnetic grey versa SL coming, I put a deposit down. Of course, three weeks pass, no Versa ever comes, they keep telling me they have 9 Versas coming on a truck, yet, they never came. They then fabricated a story about it being damaged in Maryland, in transit. But later found out, the cars don't come from Maryland. They brought me in and offered me a deal I couldn't pass up, or so they thought, on an 08 Sentra, absolutely base, no options at all. $15,400. I drove it for a week out of spite, took it back with an empty tank and walked out. I drive by the dealership, daily, and have yet to see any new Versas, that were supposed to come on this mystery truck.....

luckily Williams Nissan in Sayre PA, found me the car I wanted, had it shipped up from North Carolina, and have taken care of everything, along with giving me a pretty good deal.....I guess it all works out in the end, but these shifty dealerships give all car salesman bad names....

[Great White Versa]

I was considering buying an Altima SE-R recently and had a similar experience. I saw an 05 SE-R show up on Auto-Trader (I think) and called to make sure they still had the car. Of course, they said. I called the next morning, "still there". 5 min before leaving (and about 20 before arriving), "still there"... I show up, gone. Even worse is that I sat in there for about 30 minutes before anyone even talked to me (after checking in with the front desk). Finally they send me some lady who, 1) doesn't listen and 2) didn't know that Nissan had ever sold an SE-R version of the Altima. About 5 min later she went to go get something so I asked to be helped by someone else. The second individual was convinced that I didn't know what I was talking about because, as he said "manual transmissions are hard to resell, so you shouldn't buy one".

Why do dealerships employ people who know nothing about interpersonal skills or the cars that they are supposed to be selling?

[BBISHOPPCM]

I've had pretty good luck with both of the large Nissan dealers in southern NH; Peters Nissan of Nashua (bought two used Nissans there) and Team Nissan of Manchester NH (where I bought the Versa). Neither dealer went out of their way for me, and they both fare equally in the customer service aspect, but as with any dealer, you need to watch out for cost-cutting measures and "card tricks." I discovered Team was using a bargain-brand oil in my Versa, when they were in fact telling me it was Mobil conventional oil. That "mistake" might cost them my business. Otherwise, they've been about average. No free coffee, no donuts... I guess those days are dead?

[BBISHOPPCM]

..

I was considering buying an Altima SE-R recently and had a similar experience. I saw an 05 SE-R show up on Auto-Trader (I think) and called to make sure they still had the car. Of course, they said. I called the next morning, "still there". 5 min before leaving (and about 20 before arriving), "still there"... I show up, gone. Even worse is that I sat in there for about 30 minutes before anyone even talked to me (after checking in with the front desk). Finally they send me some lady who, 1) doesn't listen and 2) didn't know that Nissan had ever sold an SE-R version of the Altima. About 5 min later she went to go get something so I asked to be helped by someone else. The second individual was convinced that I didn't know what I was talking about because, as he said "manual transmissions are hard to resell, so you shouldn't buy one".

Why do dealerships employ people who know nothing about interpersonal skills or the cars that they are supposed to be selling?

...For the same reason the electronics stores no longer employ knowledgeable sales staff; these people cost money, and spend more time with individual customers than someone who can work for less money, spend less time with customers, while selling more products to more customers. So, what you end up with is a "parrot," someone who knows only what the sales manager tells them; "Sell the pink 4X4s, they have V10 engines, leather, 8-track, bias-ply tires, get 6 MPG, and we need to get them the hell off our lot."

[repind39]

Had a similar experience with Cherry Hill Triplex in NJ, although the trip was a lot less than 100 miles it still frustrating getting there and knowing you've been baited by a cheap car.

Only thing you could have odne is leave a deposit down on the car you were looking to get so they couldn't sell it, most dealerships hold the car for a deposit and return it if you decide not to buy.

[Bubs daddy]

As much as I detest bait and switch tactics, it is dishonest and unethical, but not illegal. Unless TX has deemed it illegal.

[srellim234]

I haven't checked lately, but here in California it used to be illegal. The dealer had to show documentation on the transactions. Guilty until proven innocent.