Used Car Dealer Sues Customer for Paying Stated Price

[The Straight Story]

Used Car Dealer Sues Customer for Paying Stated Price


Sometimes a deal is not only too good to be true, but it also will get you sued. In 2007, Tammie Townsend of Hopkins, Minnesota, leased a Chrysler Pacifica, before later asking the dealership, Walser Chrysler, if she could buy it. A salesman told her she could have the car for $11,639, or about $6,000 below Blue Book value. On her way out of the dealership, the salesman told Townsend, “You’re getting a great deal.”

Too great, it turned out. The dealership came back to Townsend saying that due to a clerical error on their part, she couldn’t have the car for the agreed price, and either had to pay more money or return the vehicle. Townsend refused, dodging two repo men before locking the car in a friend’s garage. Walser Chrysler is now suing Townsend to reclaim the Pacifica.

http://www.allgov.com/ViewNews/Used_Car_Dealer_Sues_Customer_for_Paying_Stated_Price_100121

[MrCoffee]

1. Fun! Good times with contracts

I'd be interested to know what Minnesota law is regarding oral contracts.

[subterranean]

6. I don't think it was just an oral contract.

The article states that papers were signed. In that case, I don't see how the dealership can win this.

Anyway, it's a stupid move on the part of the dealer. They will probably lose more money from the bad publicity than they lost on the sale.

[Oceansaway]

2. i'd buy me a few dozen eggs

and unleash them on some HOT AUGUST night on every car in their lot...

pricks....

[bluestateguy]

3. As long as all of the contracts have been signed, the dealership is screwed

nt

[Cronus Protagonist]

4. I used to be a manager of a Ford dealership

The rubber has to meet the road for the contracts to be valid. That's why we always have the vehicle gassed up and ready to go right after the contract is signed. Once the rubber of the tires meet the asphalt on the road, the car is theirs. Until then, it's just a pile of paper.

Of course, there can still be unwinds if the check doesn't clear or the customer invokes the 72 hour rule and things like tat, but for most purposes, once they're in the car with the contract signed, it's theirs.

[Liberal_in_LA]

5. The dealership would have held the customer to any contract she signed. Sore losers.