Suntrup Hyundai

Hans E. Overton November11, 2006

422 Union St.

Jefferson City, Mo. 65101

To Mr. Craig Suntrup, Please allow me to express my experience when attempting to purchase a vehicle from Suntrup Hyundai at 3705 LeMay Ferry Rd. St. Louis Mo 63125. I will begin by stating that this was the worse attempt at car buying I have ever experienced.

I live in Jefferson City. Missouri. I thought I wanted to purchase a vehicle from a dealership in the St. Louis area because some people I know expressed that I could get a better deal and service in St. Louis. Oh how they were wrong. In reading this letter you will be able to comprehend how the Bait and Switch concept works. Secondly, you will be able to ascertain the disrespect that was shown to me and my wife. The use of false advertisement being used in the St. Louis Post Dispatch. Lastly how we were humiliated, and shown how unprofessional the Suntrup dealership is.

First my wife and I compared makes and models here in the Jefferson City area because we believe in buying locally .My wife and I did research by comparing different types of vehicle to our budget and lifestyle. After much research we agreed on the Sante Fe made by Hyundai. We checked out the Sante Fe at Reagan Hyundai here in Jefferson City, then drove to St. Louis on November 4th of this year to compare prices. We arrived at Suntrup Hyundai sometime around 2:00 pm. After walking around the parking lot for 20 to 30 minutes someone finally came out to speak with my wife and I. It seamed strange that it would take so long for us to get a salesperson, being that the proximity of the buildings entrance and the parking lots entrance are so close.

My wife and I started to leave and return to Jefferson City when a salesman by the name of Fred McClary approached. By this time my wife and I had agreed to test drive a 2005 dark blue Sante Fe Vin # KM8SC73D45U974518 with approximately 13,500 miles Mr. McClary went inside and retrieved the keys, told us about some of the features of the vehicle and allowed us to take it out for a drive. We returned a short time later and began to attempt to negotiate a price for the vehicle. According to Mr. McClary the Sante Fe was listed around $19, 000. We insisted that we would not pay that price. Again according to Mr. McClary who left and spoke with someone and returned with the price around $17,242. My wife and I discussed the price and decided that we would make an offer of $16,000. Mr. McClary again left and a few minutes later retuned and stated that we could indeed purchase the Sante Fe at the $16,000 price, plus $149 delivery, total price of $16,149 plus interest (not known).

We began filling out paper work on the Sante Fe. When finished, Mr. McClary began searching for financing for the vehicle. An hour or so later he returned and stated he had indeed found financing. He returned to the office of someone he said was the dealerships financing officer. He in no way ever explained to us anything pertaining to finance charges, monthly payments or what institution would be financing the vehicle. Even after 2 or 3 attempts from me to inquire he still would not give me the information I requested. His only reply was that we had found financing as he again returned to the

office of the finance officer.

Sometime later, some 40 minutes or so, a man approached and introduced himself as the finance officer (name unknown). He asked my wife and I how much could we put down as a down payment. After discussing it among ourselves we stated that we could put down $1000. He asked us whether or not we could afford $2500 as a down payment. We stated that this was not feasible. He made in known to us that if we could not come up with $2500 as a down payment Suntrup would not be able to help us. After a few words of thanks by my wife and I we exited the dealership and returned to Jefferson City. We did leave Mr. McClary with words that we would think about it.

On Tuesday November 7th, I phoned Mr. McClary and advised him that we had decided to purchase the Sante Fe at the agreed price of $16,149, plus interest to be calculated later. I told him that My wife and I would travel to St. Louis on Friday November 10th to purchase the Sante Fe. I again tried in the phone conversation at attempting to inquire about the finance institution. He stated that we would take care of this on Friday. I also asked him how much the monthly payments would be and for how long. He stated $350/m for 72 month. Told him I would see him on Friday. He told me he would be in at noon and that it would be raining on Friday and to drive safely, end of conversation. So, I calculated the price for the vehicle less the $2500/dp at $13,649 to be financed. Not knowing the interest rate I was not able to calculate the total price for the Sante Fe. But clearly it would not amount to the $25,200 price calculated by me with the numbers of $350/m for 72/m giving to me by Mr. McClary. Unless someone was trying to deceive my wife and me. I discussed it with my wife, looked at our credit record, we decided to purchase the Sante Fe calculated by me according to the monthly payment of $350/m and length of time of 72/m stated by Mr. McClary w/ a $2500 down payment. Which would leave a balance to be financed of $13,649, again interest not known.

I decided to do research on the vehicle that we were to purchase on Friday November10th. So I got a vehicle history report from Auto Check with a $19.99 fee with my credit card. (AutoCheck report attached dated 11/9/2006) I also look at the internet cite for Suntrup Hyundai. I saw that maybe I could even save another $200 if I printed the coupon. I printed the coupon and contacted the internet department at Suntrup.(coupon attached dated 11/10/06) On November 10th around 10:00 am I received a phone call at my home from Donna (last name not know) said she was with Suntrup. Ask for my wife told her she was not in but that she could speak to me. She said that she was trying to e-mail my wife to let her know that a coupon for $200 was on the internet cite if only she would print it out she could save even more. I told her that I had already printed the coupon. I verified thru her that we could use the coupon even though we were not buying the car over the internet. Donna stated that we could use the coupon. At this time I told her that we were working with Mr. McClary and that we would be in later that day to close the deal. She told me that she would alert Mr. McClary to this. I told her that he was aware.

Sometime Friday November 10th I phoned Mr. McClary and told him that I was on my way to St. Louis Told him that I did not know what time I would arrive, only that we would be there in time to purchase the Sante Fe. He told me that the store closes at 9:00 pm. I knew that we would be there long before 9:00 pm. Eventually we arrived at Suntrup Hyundai around 7:15

My wife and I entered the dealership and asked for Mr. McClary. We were told that he had gone for the day. I was at a loss for words because he and I had spoken earlier about my arrival. So, I asked for Donna since I had spoken to her earlier. The salesman told me that she had also gone for the day. One of the younger salesmen stated that they had picked cards to see who would go home early because of the weather and slow day they were having. I wondered why would Mr. McClary leave early when he knew that I was on the way. I would assume that he would get a commission from the sale. This is something that perplexed me. I wondered why, if the card picking thing really happed, why would he even be a part knowing again that I was on the way to Suntrup to settle the deal and he make a commission. This seemed very unique to me.

At this point my wife and I exited the dealership. A man by the name of Mike Weger approached and said he could help us. Although, he stated he was not aware of the sale. He let me know that he was entering this blindly and that I would have to explain the situation. I did not feel right switching salesman. But, as he was speaking one thing he said stood out. He alluded to the $350/m payment that Mr. McClary and I had spoken about. He even stated that he did not think we could get that lower of a monthly payment on the Sante Fe. Now remember he stated when he approached us that we would have to make him aware of the situation. At this time we had spoken to him about the vehicle type and nothing else. But I did remember that Mr. McClary was very ambiguous about expressing information to me when it was about the financing.

Sometime later Mr. Weger decided to look for the paper work on the Sante Fe. I think after pretending to not know were it was he eventually found it. Not one time did he say to us lets sit down and go over the paper work to see were we are. Without looking in the packet he grabbed a set of keys from the key box and dashed out of the door. Again I say we hadn’t spoken to Mr. Weger about a specific Sante Fe. No year, no color, no VIN # nothing, only the model. This was very strange. But he is going to get the car. Mind you the car that he was supposed to be getting is sitting right outside the front door of the building. But he scampers right pass it. By this time my wife and I decide to sit in the Sante Fe that we were looking at since the doors were open. A few minutes later Mr. Weger scampers back into the building and grabs another set of keys. My wife and I are standing inside the dealership at this time. He runs right pass us. He shouts to us that he will be bringing the vehicle right up. A short time latter he drives up with a black Sante Fe. Calls for my wife and I and says here is the vehicle. Without hesitation we tell him that this is not the Sante Fe that we had chosen and that we had never seen this vehicle before. He insisted that this was in fact the Sante Fe that Mr. McClary and my wife and I had agreed on. And all while he is caring around in his hand the packet on the Sante Fe

that we had reached an agreement on. After persuading him that the vehicle that he brought up was not the vehicle we had agreed on, I asked him to turn around and gaze at the Sante Fe behind him. I explained to him that this was the vehicle. He told me that it was not and that the one he in fact brought up was the right vehicle. I wondered again why is this happening All he had to do was to look in the packet that he had yet to look in, which was still in his had.

All of a sudden he tells me that he and McClary are partners. If so, then why did he not know about the vehicle behind him? At this time he tells us that the Sante Fe that we were supposed to purchase is sold. Now I know that one of the first things that a car salesperson does after finishing a sale and vehicle is not removed on the day it is purchased, is to put a SOLD sign on it. This Santa Fe had no SOLD sign on it. According to Mr. Weger, the Sante Fe that we were to purchase had been sold an hour earlier. Which would make it around 6:30 pm when the Sante Fe was sold. This blew my mind. At this point I will make mention of a conversation that would take place with Mr. McClary and myself on the morning of November 11th which would be the day after the catastrophe at Suntrup Hyundai, relative to time. Mr McClary stated to me that he had left at 7:30 pm on the evening of November 10th. If this is true then it would put the sale of the Sante Fe that we were supposed to buy at around 6:30pm give or take a few minutes. I say this because Mr. Weger says that the Sante Fe was sold an hour earlier. It is around 7:45 at this time. Hypothetically, if everything that Mr. Weger is saying about the Sante Fe and the time of the sale is true, this would mean that Mr. McClary is at the dealership at the time of the sale. Which opens another can or worms. Why would Mr. McClary allow this so called sale to happen, since he knows that he will be selling this same vehicle within no later than a couple of hours. I say this was a BIG LIE no sale happened and I will prove it further in detail.

Now the real mess starts. We enter the dealership and I ask for a manager. Mr. Weger states he is the floor manager. I tell him that I would rather speak to someone else. The show room as you know is not that big and some might say that it is compact. So I am sure that everyone in each of the officers are aware of the conversation between Mr. Weger and myself. No person of management comes out at this time. So I try to gather my thoughts to see what I will do. Mr. Weger goes into the elevated cubical and speaks with another man. During the hour and a half long charade, Mr Weger had retreated to this same elevated cubical a number of times to speak to this gentleman. I hear a voice say that if I would give a $6000/dp on the Sante Fe I could purchase it. This is the same Sante Fe that Mr. Weger just tried to convince me had been sold. Mr. Weger returned to me and offered to sell me the Sante Fe for a $6000/dp. Mr. McClary and I had already agreed on a down payment of $2500. Does this mean Suntrup is trying to deceive two customers? Is Suntrup trying to sell the Sante Fe to me although Suntrup says that it had already been sold an hour or so before I arrived? I am sure a person of your status Mr. Suntrup can easily see how this LIE was originated early in the day. It was thrown together by a group of men who work for you who are dishonest. They have but one goal and that is to fleece the customers. It is not their names the byres or future byres will remember to complain about or to praise and tell their friends and coworkers it will be yours. In your established my wife and I were threaten with the police. We don’t know

why but you can rest assure we will tell others about Suntrup Hyundai and its’ treatment of customers. And, if it is going on at the Hyundai dealership, why wouldn’t it be going on at the other dealerships that carry your name.

A few more points and I will discontinue this letter but not the issue of justice .One last deception the people at Suntrup Hyundai tried. They told my wife and I that they could not find financing for us. This was the first and only communication my wife had with your people. She mentioned your weekly advertisement in the St. Louis Post Dispatch. Your advertisement reads in the small print that “$500 if we can’t finance your car” ( advertisement attached). As I stated your people conveyed to us that your dealership could not find financing for us. My wife asked for the $500 out of curiosity and your people in unison turned and walked away. My wife and I left your establishment and we will never return. We will never recommend anyone to your business. In fact we will discourage people from buying from Suntrup. Even if it means the use of the www.

And finally on the morning after without any sleep that night because I was mystified, I called Suntrup Hyundai a little pass 9:00 am. I spoke with Mr. McClary and expressed my frustration. He told me he would check into it and call me back. He did return my call but I was on the phone with a friend expressing anger to them about Suntrup Hyundai. So he left a message and when I finished with my friend I listened to the message. This is what he said and I quote “ Hans, it’s Freddy, there were two approvals there was one on an 04 with $2500 down with 30,000 miles that puts you in the 350s. On the 05 the payments will be in the 430s. It was written on the deal.However I wasn’t here and Jeff the finance guy wasn’t here So you were approved on the 05 so give me a holla back ,by”. The only Vehicle we had an agreement on was the 2005 Sante Fe. I had heard nothing about a $430 monthly payment.

At the time that I am writing this letter to you I have yet to call Mr. McClary back. After all the frustration suffered by my wife and me this man didn’t even have the decency to apologize. All he was interested in was selling a car and making his commission that he could have made if he and your dealership was honest.

I reiterate what I stated in the beginning of this letter, that I believe the Bait and Switch concept was used in this case. False advertisement by the use of the St. Louis Post Dispatch is being used. Also the disrespect that was shown to us, the humiliation that we felt, the unprofessional manner the dealership showed is unforgivable.

Hans and Charlotte Overton

422 Union

Jefferson City, Mo. 65101

E-mail Email User

(H) 573-761-7382

(C) 573-230-7614

Cc. Channel 2 News, St. Louis American News paper, St. Louis Post Dispatch

PS I give permission for this letter to be forwarded to any and all you please

_____

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