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| $1,000 to test drive a used Nissan??!!??; Is Blackburn Nissan scamming people? | |
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| Topic Started: May 10 2008, 09:32:38 PM (601 Views) | |
| pastrycook-136 | May 10 2008, 09:32:38 PM Post #1 |
True Blue Mate
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I am thinking of buying a used Nissan X-Trail. I took the train to Blackburn to look at used X-Trails at Blackburn Nissan today. I had a good look at several and told the salesman that I might buy one once I had an apartment and the money from the sale of my condo in Miami (the closing should be this week). I asked to test drive one and the man said ok and that I would have to leave a $1,000 deposit to do this. I told him I would think about it and he said to wait inside. He then told me that it was non refundable and I would not get it back even if I decided not to buy the car. I explained to him that in the USA one can test as many cars as one likes and you only need a license to do this. He said that "this is how things are done here". I asked him if the deposit to drive a car was just at this dealer only or customary at all places in Australia. His reply was the same. I decided I would not do this as I am not ready to buy a car now and I really was put off by the thought of a $1,000 test drive. Before while I was looking at the cars I was chatting with a Chinese couple. As I was leaving I went to look at the cars once more and mentioned to the couple about the deposit and how in the USA this is not done and how strange I found it etc. The other salesman who was waiting on them came storming up to me and demanded I not talk to his customers. I told him he did not own them and I could talk to whoever I wanted to. He threatened again and looked like he was angry enough to hit me. I told him that I was a customer too and that if he continued I would have a talk with his boss. He angerly said "go ahead, he's right there" and pointed to the salesman who had talked to me and who was now talking to someone else. I told him that he was threating me and his reply was oh? and seemed ready to join his employee with the threating behavior. After this I angerly said as I stormed off "you can be sure I will not be spending any of my money at this dealership, you just lost a sale!!!" :arrgh: :arrgh: :arrgh: :arrgh: I hardly ever get boiling mad but I sure was mad now and bewildered with the sudden hostile behavior of the salesman as I walked back to Blackburn station. When I got back to Richmond went to a pub "hotel" and had a beer and I asked the bartender (bartenderess?) if a $1,000 deposit was customary and she said she never heard of this and that no you don't need any money to test drive a car in Australia. She also thought the threatining behavior was appalling. The lady at the front desk of my hotel agreed and she was also going to test drive a car tomorrow with no money required. Perhaps this was a scam and they thought because I was American I might not know better. Perhaps when the other salesman overheard me talking to the couple he realised I was unwittingly exposing something very damageing to his sale. Thanks for letting me rant about this and do not do business with Blackburn Nissan. I would like to read your replies to this and if indeed this is a scam should I "dob them in" to Nissan Australia, drive.com.au, the Australian version of the Better Business Burough etc. I generally don't like to make trouble for others because I don't like bad karma to come and make trouble for me and I certianly don't need the wrath of a whole dealership of people and their lawers. I also believe that reprehensible behavior like this is not to be tolerated. Jed |
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| Jaffas | May 10 2008, 09:49:47 PM Post #2 |
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True Blue Mate
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I agree Jed, that's not right. I've never been pressured to leave a deposit before test driving a car. I can't imagine it's legal - but I don't know for sure. They don't deserve your business or anyone elses - but it'd be up to you how far you want to take it. I wonder.. if you took an "Aussie bloke" in, would they be charged the $1,000 deposit too? They're creeps. Thumbs down to Blackburn Nissan.. booo. 
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Manda from Victoria, Australia Marty from Michigan, United States Together we're in Stawell, Victoria  See what we're up to: Our Old Miners Cottage - A blog for our house | |
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| TerritorianTori | May 10 2008, 10:00:43 PM Post #3 |
It couldn't happen here
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Wow Jed... I have NEVER heard of leaving a non-refundable deposit to test-drive a car in Australia. I have, however, heard of dodgy dealers who prey on unsuspecting migrants. Not saying that this definitely happened here, but it sure looks suspicious. Especially after they threatened you because you "warned" the other customers! :eek: :eek: Definitely write to Nissan Australia and tell them why you won't be purchasing a car from them. |
 South Texas to the Northern Territory - since 2004 I'm a huge fan of... Angry Video Game Nerd | The Big Bang Theory | Doctor Who | Pet Shop Boys | Yanks Down Under ~ Americans living in Australia Avatar by Sketch Shop Boys I don't do Facebook, sorry. | |
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| anater | May 11 2008, 01:54:30 AM Post #4 |
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True Blue Mate
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This is terrible. It sounds like this is a Nissan dealership , not a small mom and pop car lot? It sure sounds like they are trying to take advantage of a situation. I would definitely report them to Nissan if they are affiliated with them and using their name. Bad news travels and I'm sure Nissan would want to do some damage control before it's too late. |
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| rambleonrose | May 11 2008, 09:29:28 AM Post #5 |
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True Blue Mate
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Wow I'm sorry this happend to you!! I've never heard of this before!! I'd be complaining writing letters to ACA,SUNRISE,Today everywhere this is totally unjust, wrong and disgusting!! |
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| SanDiablo | May 11 2008, 09:40:59 AM Post #6 |
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True Blue Mate
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Definitely ACA material! Or, at least send a letter to the office of fair trading, and possibly to the local police (if you felt threatened, there should be a record of it so in case they ever do harm someone, there is precedence.) They really should be reported to some authority for such horrendous business practices. |
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| (gordon38555) | May 11 2008, 11:07:35 AM Post #7 |
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Piker
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What they did to you was illegal. I recommend getting in touch with a newspaer. I'm sure they would love to name and shame that mob. They can get someone with an accent and pretend to be interested and record the whole event. If it were me, I'd definitey pursue it further. There is no way you ever put a deposit down to drive a car, never mind a non refundable deposit. At the very least I'd write to the local newspaper. |
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| Volcane08 | May 11 2008, 11:19:45 AM Post #8 |
True Blue Mate
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I never heard anything so preposterous in my life (well...i have, actually...but this is up there in the top 10 for sure). They need to be reported. I like the idea of an undercover media person visiting them for a test drive, and getting that mob's scam all on video. Brilliant. |
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| (gordon38555) | May 11 2008, 12:02:06 PM Post #9 |
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Piker
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:bow: Wow it's been a long time since I've been called "brilliant" |
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| dave2006 | May 11 2008, 02:24:58 PM Post #10 |
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True Blue Mate
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The problem is with their shakedown is that its not even remotely believable. I mean, how many people are going to give them a non-refundable $1000 for a 15 minute test drive? At least if you are going to do something so blatantly illegal and unethical, make it believable enough that you have a fighting chance of actually pulling it off. Agree with everyone else who has said to report them to as many agencies as you can think of. I'd love to see them getting busted on hidden camera some day soon. |
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| lilhermiejobo | May 11 2008, 03:17:14 PM Post #11 |
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True Blue Mate
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not any different to anyone else's replies....This is HORRID. It really sucks that your experience went this way. Hopefully no one else here has to deal with anything similar. |
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| TerritorianTori | May 11 2008, 05:56:02 PM Post #12 |
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It couldn't happen here
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Hate to say, I had the same thought too. :mrgreen: |
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South Texas to the Northern Territory - since 2004 I'm a huge fan of... Angry Video Game Nerd | The Big Bang Theory | Doctor Who | Pet Shop Boys | Yanks Down Under ~ Americans living in Australia Avatar by Sketch Shop Boys I don't do Facebook, sorry. | |
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| Dev | May 11 2008, 06:01:04 PM Post #13 |
"No day but today."
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Yeeeeaaaah...I've never heard of that before in my life! That's ridiculous. Nick and I have test driven a number of cars, and we've never once been asked to do that. They were just trying to scam you for money. I'm sorry that happened.
 You should definitely report it! I wouldn't let those tools get away with that!
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Devon ----------------------- "What a shame that bitter irony has no nutritional value." 
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| Silver | May 11 2008, 06:57:41 PM Post #14 |
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True Blue Mate
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I agree with the above. Turn the lousy people in. That's just rude. |
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| Dev | May 11 2008, 07:57:54 PM Post #15 |
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"No day but today."
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Nick said that you should write to the head office of Nissan. He said that they were definitely trying to scam you. |
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Devon ----------------------- "What a shame that bitter irony has no nutritional value."
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| pastrycook-136 | May 11 2008, 08:04:28 PM Post #16 |
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True Blue Mate
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Hi, thanks for the replies. I do have the number for Nissan Australia customer service but I don't know what the ACA is. I really don't know who to call or how far I want to persue this. I am a bit busy now with the new job and apartment hunting and really can't invest too much of my time in this matter but I do want to report it. I did talk with a used car salesman at a Toyota dealership and he thought the Nissan used car salesman must have been joking with me. I told him he was not. The sad thing is this Nissan dealer has a 2007 Nissan X-Trail with 16,000 KM (about 10,000 MI) in excellent condition for about $25,000AUD with just the features that I would like. I had carefully examined every part of the car for over 15 minutes. This is the car I wanted to drive I am sure this person would screw around with the negotiations, taxes, and price too. The X-Trail seems to be a popular model here and I am sure I can find one elsewhere. Does the price for this model in this condition sound like a good deal to anyone who has lived here longer? Thanks, Jed |
| "If you want to gather honey don't kick over the beehive!" | |
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| (gordon38555) | May 11 2008, 09:30:14 PM Post #17 |
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Piker
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Jed, Are you planning on doing heaps of traveling? Do you really need a 4x4? Remember, a 4x4 does not hold the same status as it does in the US. Without trying to sound like your mum...do you really need an X trail? If you're planning on doing any serious 4x4 traveling...an X trail is nothing more than your average all wheel drive vehicle and there are certainly other alternatives available. But with that said, if that's the car that floats your boat...I highly reccommend trying to buy from a direct sales rather than a dealership. You can find out the whole history of a care fairly easily. And remeber just because you buy from a dealership doens't mean it hasn't beee flood damaged or anything else. |
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| Dev | May 11 2008, 09:49:22 PM Post #18 |
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"No day but today."
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ACA is "A Current Affair".
 It's one of those tabloid type shows that does stories on a number of ridiculous topics. I think it's ACA that's doing a story this week on the stores in Australia's major cities that rip of "White Australians". :mrgreen: It's quite amusing to watch, yet infuriatingly ridiculous at the same time. ACA and TT ("Today Tonight") are running jokes in this country.
Nick said that a 2007 Nissan X-Trail TI Automatic would yield a $27,000-$29,000 via private sale. Have a look at the website www.redbook.com.au when you get a free moment. You can look up the average price of any car from any year with any amount of kilometers on it. That's where he looked it up. Honestly, though...I reckon all you need to do is write a letter to the head office. There's not too much more you can do in the situation. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for people to attempt to charge you for stuff that they shouldn't be charging for. In my own personal experience, not too much comes of complaining anyway unless you're complaining to the head office. |
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Devon ----------------------- "What a shame that bitter irony has no nutritional value."
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| rambleonrose | May 12 2008, 10:45:28 AM Post #19 |
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True Blue Mate
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Some banks/credit unions have car buying services which also look for the car you want (they do the leg work) bargain the price you want and you go look at there offices (they usually have 3 cars to look at) test drive them and pick the one you want. You might want to look into that... Good luck with apartment hunting etc. |
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| NY'ker | May 12 2008, 11:08:45 AM Post #20 |
True Blue Mate
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Wow, so much has changed in the last 8.5 years. ACA used to be a serious current affairs and news program when I was last home. I guess I am going to be in for my own culture shock. Jed - big time a-holes by the sounds of it, their moral compass is way off. Glad you had the sense to walk away and kudos to you for warning the other customers! :goodonya: |
 Natalie (Aussie) and Greg (American) and our two kiddos - Mackenzie (5) and Jack (2) | |
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8:05 PM May 19