Bait and switch at Lexus of Clearwater. Advertised 32k miles, car had 43k. VIDEO HERE
#1
Driver
Thread Starter
Bait and switch at Lexus of Clearwater. Advertised 32k miles, car had 43k. VIDEO HERE
Here is the video:
On Friday 4/30/2024 I went to look at a Lexus IS250C at the dealership; Lexus Of Clearwater. The car is advertised as having 31,077 miles on it. However, in reality, the car had 43,xxx miles on it. The people at the dealership responded when I pointed this out by saying things like: 'It's just a clerical error', 'it's not a bait & switch', 'we are an AutoNation dealership, we are too big to do anything like this intentionally', 'we will get it corrected'. The main reason I went to look at the car was because of the low miles. On 5/2/2024, the advertised mileage on the car was still the same incorrect 31,077. I went back to look at the car again on that day, 5/2/2024. I brought it to the attention of the staff and a manager that the incorrect mileage had not been corrected. This is the video from that day. A manager ended up asking me to leave, kicking me out. This is the second time I have had bad bad / scammy type of experience at Lexus Of Clearwater. The first time was in the service department. They put the incorrect weight of oil in the car, during the inspection they missed a leaky radiator, misdiagnosed a started as being bad ($1500 estimate), lied about having checked the transmission fluid, and some other issues as well.
On Friday 4/30/2024 I went to look at a Lexus IS250C at the dealership; Lexus Of Clearwater. The car is advertised as having 31,077 miles on it. However, in reality, the car had 43,xxx miles on it. The people at the dealership responded when I pointed this out by saying things like: 'It's just a clerical error', 'it's not a bait & switch', 'we are an AutoNation dealership, we are too big to do anything like this intentionally', 'we will get it corrected'. The main reason I went to look at the car was because of the low miles. On 5/2/2024, the advertised mileage on the car was still the same incorrect 31,077. I went back to look at the car again on that day, 5/2/2024. I brought it to the attention of the staff and a manager that the incorrect mileage had not been corrected. This is the video from that day. A manager ended up asking me to leave, kicking me out. This is the second time I have had bad bad / scammy type of experience at Lexus Of Clearwater. The first time was in the service department. They put the incorrect weight of oil in the car, during the inspection they missed a leaky radiator, misdiagnosed a started as being bad ($1500 estimate), lied about having checked the transmission fluid, and some other issues as well.
#2
Lexus Fanatic
Honestly I am certain it was in fact a clerical error. They just didn’t care enough to actually fix it. 43k vs 33k miles wouldn’t net them enough money to make it worth the risk of doing something like this. We’re not talking about 100k miles.
As for them throwing you out. You were behaving bizarrely, filming their dealer and staff (you do not have the right to film people inside a private place of business) and accusing them of committing fraud on camera, I would have thrown you out too.
As for them throwing you out. You were behaving bizarrely, filming their dealer and staff (you do not have the right to film people inside a private place of business) and accusing them of committing fraud on camera, I would have thrown you out too.
Last edited by SW17LS; 05-02-24 at 06:39 PM.
#4
Driver
Thread Starter
Honestly I am certain it was in fact a clerical error. They just didn’t care enough to actually fix it. 43k vs 33k miles wouldn’t net them enough money to make it worth the risk of doing something like this. We’re not talking about 100k miles.
As for them throwing you out. You were behaving bizarrely, filming their dealer and staff (you do not have the right to film people inside a private place of business) and accusing them of committing fraud on camera, I would have thrown you out too.
As for them throwing you out. You were behaving bizarrely, filming their dealer and staff (you do not have the right to film people inside a private place of business) and accusing them of committing fraud on camera, I would have thrown you out too.
Thanks for your response. Please watch the video if you have not done so. I believe is a purposeful bait & switch, not to get more $$ for the car, but to get more people in the dealership looking at the car. Then just say 'oh so sorry, our mistake. But hey, nice car huh?'.
#5
Thanks for your response. Please watch the video if you have not done so. I believe is a purposeful bait & switch, not to get more $$ for the car, but to get more people in the dealership looking at the car. Then just say 'oh so sorry, our mistake. But hey, nice car huh?'.
#6
Lexus Fanatic
Thanks for your response. Please watch the video if you have not done so. I believe is a purposeful bait & switch, not to get more $$ for the car, but to get more people in the dealership looking at the car. Then just say 'oh so sorry, our mistake. But hey, nice car huh?'.
The car will sell if marketed accurately and they know that. I’m in the sales business also, not cars but real estate…errors like this happen all the time and when dealing with third party sites, which we also do, it takes forever for corrections to populate. Sometimes they just never do…
Last edited by SW17LS; 05-02-24 at 07:36 PM.
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#8
Lexus Test Driver
I will watch the video and see.
Where I'm at right now, I don't think I would've spent 5 minutes thinking about it
I'd just whistle Dixie and walk out the door, no biggie to me
Where I'm at right now, I don't think I would've spent 5 minutes thinking about it
I'd just whistle Dixie and walk out the door, no biggie to me
#9
Driver
Thread Starter
Lexus Of Clearwater -- BAD. Bait & switch, kicked me out when I asked about it. VIDEO
On Friday 4/30/2024 I went to look at a Lexus IS250C at the dealership; Lexus Of Clearwater. The car is advertised as having 31,077 miles on it. However, in reality, the car had 43,xxx miles on it. The people at the dealership responded when I pointed this out by saying things like: 'It's just a clerical error', 'it's not a bait & switch', 'we are an AutoNation dealership, we are too big to do anything like this intentionally', 'we will get it corrected'. The main reason I went to look at the car was because of the low miles. On 5/2/2024, the advertised mileage on the car was still the same incorrect 31,077. I went back to look at the car again on that day, 5/2/2024. I brought it to the attention of the staff and a manager that the incorrect mileage had not been corrected. This is the video from that day. A manager ended up asking me to leave, kicking me out for inquiring about this. This is the second time I have had a bad / scammy type of experience at Lexus Of Clearwater. The first time was in the service department. They put the incorrect weight of oil in the car, during the inspection they missed a leaky radiator, misdiagnosed a starter as being bad ($1500 estimate), lied about having checked the transmission fluid, and some other issues as well.
#10
1. why did you go back if you already had a previous bad experience?
2. why are you accusing the dealer of bait and switch where you have no evidence differentiating admin error vs intentional?
3. If you already saw the car, why did you go back again? Just to make a point?
4. Updates are batch fed, takes a day or so between systems
2. why are you accusing the dealer of bait and switch where you have no evidence differentiating admin error vs intentional?
3. If you already saw the car, why did you go back again? Just to make a point?
4. Updates are batch fed, takes a day or so between systems
#11
Lexus Champion
Here is the video: https://youtu.be/zHWjeuhoLXI
On Friday 4/30/2024 I went to look at a Lexus IS250C at the dealership; Lexus Of Clearwater. The car is advertised as having 31,077 miles on it. However, in reality, the car had 43,xxx miles on it. The people at the dealership responded when I pointed this out by saying things like: 'It's just a clerical error', 'it's not a bait & switch', 'we are an AutoNation dealership, we are too big to do anything like this intentionally', 'we will get it corrected'. The main reason I went to look at the car was because of the low miles. On 5/2/2024, the advertised mileage on the car was still the same incorrect 31,077. I went back to look at the car again on that day, 5/2/2024. I brought it to the attention of the staff and a manager that the incorrect mileage had not been corrected. This is the video from that day. A manager ended up asking me to leave, kicking me out. This is the second time I have had bad bad / scammy type of experience at Lexus Of Clearwater. The first time was in the service department. They put the incorrect weight of oil in the car, during the inspection they missed a leaky radiator, misdiagnosed a started as being bad ($1500 estimate), lied about having checked the transmission fluid, and some other issues as well.
On Friday 4/30/2024 I went to look at a Lexus IS250C at the dealership; Lexus Of Clearwater. The car is advertised as having 31,077 miles on it. However, in reality, the car had 43,xxx miles on it. The people at the dealership responded when I pointed this out by saying things like: 'It's just a clerical error', 'it's not a bait & switch', 'we are an AutoNation dealership, we are too big to do anything like this intentionally', 'we will get it corrected'. The main reason I went to look at the car was because of the low miles. On 5/2/2024, the advertised mileage on the car was still the same incorrect 31,077. I went back to look at the car again on that day, 5/2/2024. I brought it to the attention of the staff and a manager that the incorrect mileage had not been corrected. This is the video from that day. A manager ended up asking me to leave, kicking me out. This is the second time I have had bad bad / scammy type of experience at Lexus Of Clearwater. The first time was in the service department. They put the incorrect weight of oil in the car, during the inspection they missed a leaky radiator, misdiagnosed a started as being bad ($1500 estimate), lied about having checked the transmission fluid, and some other issues as well.
#12
Pit Crew
Lexus is extremely careful about their reputation. Because a Lexus Dealer is their customer-facing organization, they will
be horrified to hear of this. Instead of dealing with the Dealership, I would send all your evidence to Lexus, and they WILL
deal with it appropriately.
be horrified to hear of this. Instead of dealing with the Dealership, I would send all your evidence to Lexus, and they WILL
deal with it appropriately.
#13
Lexus Test Driver
I think the market for this car is extremely limited - I doubt it will bring more attention by advertising miles a bit lower.
If you research used cars - there are always many errors between the dealer ad, Carfax and when you actually see the car.
Go search for M cars or 911s lol - the ad will say CS or Comp Package but its a base M3. Ad can say manual but its DCT. For 911s - there are tons of errors bec there are so many different trims and options etc.
If you research used cars - there are always many errors between the dealer ad, Carfax and when you actually see the car.
Go search for M cars or 911s lol - the ad will say CS or Comp Package but its a base M3. Ad can say manual but its DCT. For 911s - there are tons of errors bec there are so many different trims and options etc.
#14
Seems hard to believe it was just a mistake. Unless they got it mixed up with another vehicle...
Lexus dealerships are not what they were in the very beginning. For example, I wanted some genuine Toyota ATF for an LS400; it wasn't in stock (they had to order it), and evidently the service department used Mobil or somesuch, not OEM as strictly specified! (Saving themselves money and possibly ensuring further work down the line.)
Lexus dealerships are not what they were in the very beginning. For example, I wanted some genuine Toyota ATF for an LS400; it wasn't in stock (they had to order it), and evidently the service department used Mobil or somesuch, not OEM as strictly specified! (Saving themselves money and possibly ensuring further work down the line.)
#15
Moderator
Originally Posted by VolumeToo;[url=tel:11717382
11717382[/url]]Seems hard to believe it was just a mistake. Unless they got it mixed up with another vehicle...
Lexus dealerships are not what they were in the very beginning. For example, I wanted some genuine Toyota ATF for an LS400; it wasn't in stock (they had to order it), and evidently the service department used Mobil or somesuch, not OEM as strictly specified! (Saving themselves money and possibly ensuring further work down the line.)
Lexus dealerships are not what they were in the very beginning. For example, I wanted some genuine Toyota ATF for an LS400; it wasn't in stock (they had to order it), and evidently the service department used Mobil or somesuch, not OEM as strictly specified! (Saving themselves money and possibly ensuring further work down the line.)
Mobil 3309 is Toyota T-IV, or T-IV is 3309, however you choose to say it…