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| - On 1/18/2014., my wife and I visited Coulter Nissan in Surprise after seeing their 1st Year Anniversary Sale at their online website. The website specially advertised a 2014 Nissan Altima 2.5 (#13014) for "$15,977 Plus Fees". The advertisement stated that there were "2 at this price" and two stock numbers were listed: 94067 and 94123. There was nothing in the advertisement that stated any package or additional items were applicable to the advertised sales price other than "Plus Fees".
The advertisement also broke down the sale price as follows: MSRP $22,800-Nissan Rebate $1000-NMAC cash $1000-Coulter Discount $4823".
After being assured that both advertised cars were available when my wife and I left home, and after driving the one whose color was acceptable, we decided to make the purchase. We were not sure if we would finance using NMAC cash (i.e., taking a loan through Nissan's financing company) or finance separately using our Desert Schools Federal Credit Union. We knew that that choice might mean a $1000 difference in the price of the car. We also knew that a documentary fee, sales tax, title, registration and license would be added to the sales price. Accordingly, we asked for a workup sheet of the total out the door price.
When the salesman returned with his worksheet, the amount exceeded $20,000---far more than possible after adding doc fee, sales tax, title, registration and license. When we expressed dismay at his worksheet, the salesman stated that the price included a required Coulter Value Package that was added to every car on the lot.
Feeling duped and the victims of a clear "bait and switch" scheme, as well as the victim of false advertising and unfair business practices, we left the dealership as the salesman stated that he would "talk to his manager". In short, we refused to negotiate up from a sales price that had been advertised without any disclaimer other than "Plus Fees".
We have since filed a formal complaint with the Consumer Division of the Arizona
Attorney General's office about our experience. From comments we have since read here, the practice appears to be rampant and we feel that many customers either leave the dealership in complete frustration (as we did), pay the additional charges, or attempt to negotiate some realistic reduction to the Coulter Value Package. To us, window tint is reasonable in Arizona but I would prefer to do it myself at a cost of $100 to $150. (The salesman told me that customers like this and subsequent emails from managerial employees tried to justify the practice because Coulter's add ons were "real" as opposed to those used by competitors)
Every new Nissan on Coulter Nissan's lot contains something that Nissan (the manufacturer) found no need to include when the car was built.. Called the "Coulter Value Package", it consists of Window Tint, Nitrogen Filled Tires, Window Etch, Wheel Locks, and a 3 Year/36,000 Mile Maintenance Pkg. The cost of these "Dealer Installed Options" is $1,977. Taken to its logical extreme, if you want to buy a new Nissan as built by the factory, you can't get one at Coulter Nissan. You are forced to buy this package. I wonder out loud if that violates the terms of any authorized dealership agreement Coulter has with Nissan. In other words, how many people wanting to buy a Nissan as built by the manufacturer can't do so because of the forced impediment caused by Coulter Nissan's added "Coulter Nissan Package".
The reaction from Coulter Nissan to my complaint? Polite and sugar coated defiance. Can you imagine if you were the victim of a theft and after the thief was apprehended he apologized to you not for what he did, but for the "way you feel"? That was the response (so carefully contrived) by those at Coulter Nissan. Transparently insincere and lacking any remorse.
My hope is that the Attorney General issues a "cease and desist" order requiring Coulter Nissan to include any fixed dealer packages (i.e., that are the same price on every car without exception) as part of the advertised price or clearly and just as prominently disclose that it is not included as part and parcel of the advertisement. My hope is that the Attorney General also institute charges to hold those in management criminally responsible (statutes in Arizona make this type of conduct punishable as a misdemeanor). This false advertising and unfair business practice must end. If the Attorney General's office lacks the time and resources to investigate and take action, I will resort to other peaceful measures to hold Coulter Nissan responsible. This review is my first start. Unless and until Coulter Nissan is economically or otherwise negatively affected or held responsible, there is no disadvantage to them from continuing this practice.
If anyone else has shared any similar experience, please let me or the Attorney General's office know ab
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