Big Two Toyota of Chandler

SATURDAY 5/10/08. With a 2007 Prius to trade in for a 2008, I finally settled for an $18.5K trade-in figure with the sales manager, suggesting that I needed to remove my Sirius equipment and return on Monday to clinch the deal. However, the dealer offered to remove the system free of charge (let's not let this one get away) and have the items ready for me to collect on the Tuesday. Fortunately I removed the receiver and base before leaving, for I learned on the Wednesday that they had removed and discarded the kit "in error", but agreed to order a new kit and install it free of charge. By then I was well into a dispute with them over my trade-in figure, having stupidly signed all the paperwork without checking all the figures and finding the next day I had been short changed about $1400. It appears the sales manager had written a trade-in figure of $17.2K, a figure unknown to me. At first I took this to be an error, but after several unreturned voicemails and visits to the dealer, I met with the sales manager on 10/15 and he denied our verbal agreement. Management weren't interested as I had signed the contract. Toyota Corp. wouldn't do anything because Big Two are a franchise. The sales person who I awarded 5 out of 5 in an immediate survey, later confirmed on my enquiry, that the trade-in agreement was indeed $18.5K and to date (6/5), that hasn't been refuted. On 5/29 after many unpleasant exchanges, I faxed a letter to Big Two complaining of the trade-in fiddle and the whereabouts of my Sirius system. The next morning at 9am they call, and Lo and Behold "Mr. Godfrey, the parts have just come in", and now 3 weeks later, they've finally done the job. Having cheated me out of about $1400, admittedly allowed by my own negligent naivety, they then offered to buy the car back (having already sold my trade-in, at what price I wonder?). I gave it some thought and realized if I did, I would have no car, even to return the 18miles from the dealership, I would lose about $2.5K in tax allowance buying a new car elsewhere, then to top it all, the sale manager would do more of his devious, creative trade-in dealing and ensure that I departed a total loser, whilst they had achieved a "double dip". What was it the dealership manager said in a letter? His assistant manager "will typically go to great lengths to ensure our guests are satisfied". I should point out that they sold me the car at invoice price, so maybe this was their way of overcoming that "loss". Will I shop there again? Not on your nelly!!