ComplaintsforGreat Little Cars

• Initial Complaint

  10/26/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  I purchased a 2011 ****** Forester on 7/17/21 & was specifically told the vehicle was “checkedout” and in good working order. I tried the CD player and found it was not working and took it back the next Friday-I was told to bring it back next week so the unit could be inspected. Approx an hour. I was told the unit was not repairable and a new one was needed. I spoke with TIm the owner no less than 6 times. He told me the item ws not under warranty but he would replace “in good faith & customer service”. To date I am still waiting for this to happen. First I was told it was ordered, then Tim tell mes “I’ll check on it” Clearly, the issue has not been addressed and he has no intention of doing so. I bought the car under the assumption the CD player was opeable. Had I been told otherwise and purchased the car knkowing this, there would be no issue. Also note I was offered $6000 for my trade-in vehicle and negotiated $7000. We agree and was quoted a selling price of $14,500 for the ******. Later that day, I got a call from Tim telling me the sellling price was $15,500. He gave me $1000 more on trade-in. Strange the sale price mysteriously changed by $1000 also.

  Business response

  01/25/2022

  Hi ******,
  
  We are very short staffed lately and we appreciate the patience you’ve extended. 
  
  Following is my response to the complaint from:

  It is regretful that the CD player in Ms. *******’s 2011 ****** Forester is not working. Had we known this we could have told her. Coincidently, Ms. ******* stated in her letter had she known at the time," there would be no issue.”

  I’m pretty sure this is probably the original factory CD player and is more than 11 years old. It’s simply a matter of age and normal wear and tear to a mechanical system that has become somewhat obsolete.
  Most of our customers have upgraded to digital technology and rarely is there a need for a CD player verification. Had we known at the time that a CD player was important to her, we would have been happy to try the system for her. Alternatively, she could have inserted one of her own CD’s while on her test drive, knowing it was an essential feature to her. Unfortunately, it never came up at the time of purchase. 
  
  Understandably, we can not warranty older technology such as cassettes players, CD players, older key fobs. Etc..
  As a matter of goodwill and only goodwill I agreed that if we got another Forester with the same kind of CD player that we would exchange it for her.
  Because of Covid we had to shut down and shorten our hours on several different occasions making it even more difficult to come up with an exact match.
  
  I hope this explains the situation at the time. We are well known for our quality cars and customer service. Most of our customers have been regulars for many years and recommend their friends to us. 
  In fact, Ms. ******* was referred to us by one of our regular customers.
  
  If the CD player is still not playing, we would still be willing to be on the look out for such an exchange.
  
  Best Regards,
  
  Tim J****** 

  Customer response

  02/01/2022

  Complaint: ********
  
  I was never offered a replacement..EVER!  They knew the unit was not operable because on the test drive the owner offered to show me how to hook up to blue tooth which seemed odd at the time but I understood why after I found the unit didn't work. I was never told the cd player was inoperable. If I purchased the car knowing this it's a different story. I was deceived. These people continuously get a"best of" award in SFe. I want a new unit and not whenever they can find one. 

  Business response

  02/18/2022

  Apparently, car stereo systems with CD players are much less expensive than they use to be. Quality brands such as Pioneer, etc., are on sale for less than $100.00. As a gesture of good will and without implying any warranty of any kind, we will donate $100 toward the purchase of a new system. Again, this is a goodwill effort to resolve an issue with an 11 year old CD player. We are not implying a warranty of any kind nor are we accepting any responsibility for the CD player not working.

   

  Additionally, if you are not happy with the car or regret the purchase, please let us know. Providing it is still in clean condition, we would be interested in buying it from you.

   

  Sincerely,

  Great Little Cars

  Customer response

  03/02/2022

  In response to the offer from GLC, I will accept the $100. It will possibly pay for installation. Please have them mail me the check at my address, * ****** ***** *** SFe 87508. Thanks

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