Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:02/09/2023

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  UnresolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I purchased a **** **************** LSC from out-of-state and over the telephone. My company is in ******* and this dealer location is in ******. I agreed to pay $17k for the car. No video of the driving was on the website; only the engine running. There were many pictures of the car. A list of owner repairs and various parts were pictured and in the trunk. After signing the electronic paperwork and paying a deposit, I had a 3rd party wire the funds to the corporate office bank. The wire arrived the following day. I then flew over to ****** the next day and upon arrival the salesman gave me the keys and pointed to the car. The car was empty. I drove to a c-store, approximately two streets over, to fill up the car and test drive it. The transmission would slip and only whine once you got to forty-40 MPH. After leaving the gas station i returned to the dealer. As the sun had set, I also showed them that the headlamps were not properly working. As such, I asked that they call the owner and have him agree to repair it or I wouldnt purchase the car. After a lot of ridiculous excuses they claimed the owner said no and their corporate office said no. They claimed it was bought As-is and it was working fine before I got there. As-is is waived if there were explicit representation of the condition in advertising and over the phone and such representation and advertising was intentionally misleading. Under ******** statute, a dealer may not sell a car as-is if the car is unsafe to drive. The fact the car would stop moving at 40 MPH on a highway is unsafe, as well as headlamps not working. I also learned that the dealer had yet to purchase the car from the consignor and pay for same, even though they sold it to me two days earlier and requested a wire. This, too, is a violation of ******** statutes regarding dealerships. I flew back home today (the next morning). I received an email claiming the dealership claims the car to be mine and abandoned.

  Business Response

  Date: 01/21/2023

  The business believes some of these statements were inaccurate to the facts. The **************** has been in contact with the consumer to discuss the situation in depth and are working towards a resolution.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 01/23/2023

  My name is ***********************, CEO

   

  Avid car collector or exotic and classic cars.  I found a **** **************** LSC a few days ago on Gateway's ****** website.  I owned a new one back in **** and have always had an affinity for them.  That being said, I phoned and was told the car was in amazing condition and that the owner was a collector, himself.  I made an offer and they immediately accepted it.  That same day and time (around 4 p.m.) Gateway sent the electronic documents  and I immediately returned them the same day. The next day (Thursday) I wired $17,000 to Gateway and told them I would be flying in on Friday to drive the car back to ******.  I arrived after 4 p.m. and close to closing time.
  
  The salesman (*****************************) didn't offer to send someone to the airport for a ride, so I took a $96 Lyft.  I arrived at approximately 4 *************** (salesman) remained on the phone and just acted as though I was wasting his time.  Fifteen-(15) minutes later I was taken to the car and ***** didn't walk around the car with me, ask me if I first wanted a test drive, or anything. Just here's the keys and that's all.  He was very rude and just put off for no reason.  I asked for the title before he showed me the car and ***** and **** (Showroom Director) stated that they didn't own any of the cars and that the consignor/owner of the car would be coming in next week, from out-of-town, to sign all of the documents effecting a sale of the car from him to the dealership and to collect his money from Gateway.  Then, and only then, would Gateway send me the title so that I could register the car out-of-state.
  
  Finally, ***** pointed towards the warehouse and shoved the keys across his desktop. I went to inspect and test drive the car and it was bone dry empty of fuel. Not offering to ride with me to test drive the car, or do a walk around, I took off to a gas station, literally a couple of blocks away, to again  get gas and test drive the car.  As soon as I got up to 40MPH, the transmission starting slipping and the transmission stop moving the car forward.  You could smell a burnt smell inside the car.  I filled it up and took it right back, asking that they contact the seller and demand that he repair the powertrain or I would not be purchasing the car.  I had not yet gone a mile and had been gone for about ten-(10) minutes.  I recall looking at my watch and at this time it was 4:25 p.m.
  
  ***** (again, salesman) demanded that I go around the block and prove what I was alleging, because the car arrived in working condition, but had never been inspected by Gateway, and claimed they had no mechanics onsite.  When I took ***** around the block he agreed the transmission was out and it was unacceptable.  At this point it was dusk and I pointed out to ***** that the headlamps didn't even work.  
  
  Upon returning to the dealership, ***** claimed the headquarters was closing in 25 mins and it was too late to call anyone. He didn't propose any solution or action.  I asked that he call the owner and have him agree to repair the car or I was not taking delivery and not going to purchase the car. He claimed to call the owner and further claimed the owner refused to do anything.  
  
  ******************************* represented himself as the "sales manager" and said he called his boss and his boss said I had I purchased the car "as-is" and they would be doing nothing.  I pointed out that "as-is" isn't a free pass to falsely advertise a car, make explicit and implicit representations as to the condition of the car, and/nor make it lawful for a ******** to sell a car that is considered "unsafe to drive." If you sell a car an unsafe car with a slipping transmission, as-is, you must tell them that the car doesn't have a transmission or working headlamps.
  
  As they then started locking up and ***** drove off, I left the car and told them I was going back to ****** and the keys were in the car.  After a short argument about me leaving the car, I had Lyft pick me up and take me back to the airport.
  
  Today, as I flew home, I received an email from ******************************* which informed me that I had abandoned the car and needed to remove it, immediately.  He further made false claims as to what had transpired less then 24-hours earlier.
  
  Facts:
  
  1) The dealership sold me a car that they had yet to purchase.
  
  2) The dealership fraudulent advertised and made representations that would lead a reasonable person to believe the car was in excellent working condition, not needing any repairs.
  
  3). Notwithstanding the above, the dealer fraudulently attempted to sell a car that, by way of it stalling at a speed of 40 MPH or more and no working headlamps, was "unsafe" and could have lead to one being rear ended or caught on the highway with no working headlamps--all of which is in violation of ************** statutes which are governed by the ******** ***** of *********************** Civil Action and more are imminent.