It's a given that when folks take their car in to get an oil change, the lube tech is going to talk them into wipers, an air filter, etc. But when Audrey McKnight took her 2006 Hyundai into the dealer for one, she left eight hours later with a 2009 model. She basically accepted it after being told she could return it the next day; plus, it was the only way to stop the sales pressure.
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009911300323 via The Obscure Store & Reading Room. Photo: Mary Chind
McKnight said a saleswoman pressured her to "try out" the 2008 Hyundai Azera with promises that she could return it the next day. A sales manager at Holmes Hyundai secretly checked her credit while she waited for service on her car, McKnight said. The sales team also allegedly suggested that she could afford the newer car if she stopped paying on her Medicare supplemental insurance.
McKnight said she owed $7,600 on her 2006 Hyundai, with 21,000 miles. Her $329 monthly car payments are set to increase to more than $400 per month with the new car, and will continue until she pays off the $26,000 she now owes.
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009911300323 via The Obscure Store & Reading Room. Photo: Mary Chind
After reading the article.... meh.. I have no sympathy for this woman.
It's a shame that some people feel too constrained by societal expectations of politeness to simply say, "The answer is no; now shut up and leave me alone."
People prey on the elderly for one good reason: they're easy targets because they get confused/tired/forgetful.
Shame on the car dealership.
This lady is 77, she lives in the Midwest, she is bound to be one of the politest people around. She probably doesn't return things she doesn't like to stores because she "doesn't want to bother the clerk." I have relatives just like that.
Several years ago, we were looking at leasing a Jetta; it was when they first started doing the $199 a month lease. I was pregnant, our car was dying, and we needed something sooner. My husband and I went to a few dealerships and had decided on this one dealership, that is, until they called to tell us that the payments were going to be over $250 a month. I was surprised, as we had already been told the payments would be about $215 ($199 plus local taxes). We told the dealership we weren't interested. They actually called us twice, threatening to use legal action, until my husband pulled his hole card, which is the true fact that his mother is a lawyer and he'd be happy to refer them to her for her opinion of their threats. I owe my mother-in-law many times over, because her being a lawyer has gotten so many people to back off or to take care of things by just mentioning her profession.
If I had been old, easily tired, ignorant etc then I might have believed all their scare talk and paid it.
They wouldn't do it if it didn't work.
Considering how the selfish generation treated my generation 20 years ago I have no sympathy at how those in the Selfish generation are being victimized now that they are beyond Middle Age and are Elderly.
I saw how this generation treated their parents 20 years ago too.
Remember, this is the generation that invented the idea of locking their elders in a home and not visiting.
When ever I hear an old person complain about being targeted i always wonder what what in the wide world of selfish they were doing 30 years ago when the elderly were being targeted.
Oh that's right, this generation was voting for Reagan and all his cuts to protection for the elderly, children, homeless, mentally ill, and others.
You reap what you sow.
Have a nice day...
Sure, the guy who sold her the new car got the sale, but what damage has been done to their reputation?
I fall in between the two, so will take my car for "second opinions" and (now) hit the Internet and find a car club for my car and ask questions there.