Fred Beans Toyota of Flemington

Several years ago, I purchased a Cadillac from this dealer's used car department, via an auction they had posted on eBay. While the car itself was quite nice and is still a gem, the process I had to endure to get the car was horrific and now, after a friend of ours had a recent, similar experience trying to purchase from James (despite our warnings) I felt it appropriate to post a review to help other buyers avoid an awful car buying experience. I found the Cadillac while searching eBay one evening and since James Toyota is so close to our home, I thought I'd give the car serious consideration. I drove to the dealer and the car was on the lot for $17,999. It was listed on eBay with a starting price of $10,700, and no reserve. I thought the auction price was worthwhile since the trade-in value on the car was $11,500! We arrived at the dealer on a Tuesday night, so business was slow, and a saleswoman approached us and answered our questions and helped us to test drive the vehicle. Following the test drive, she invited us to her desk to talk numbers. Of course, we weren't going to deal then and there since the auction had 3 days until it ended. She called the sales manager over after not getting anywhere with us and he started his routine on what we wanted to pay, etc. He asked point blank, "What would you think was a fair price to pay?" We said, considering the auction price, $12,000. He burst out laughing and said, "If this chair didn't have arms, I'd be on the floor." He proceeded to get up and said, "When you're ready to deal let us know." We left, thinking the saleswoman who seemed embarrassed by the managers behavior. She was, in the end, very professional and the only bright side to this ordeal. So, the auction ended with us being the high, and only, bidder with a sale price of $10,700. Remember the car was for sale on the lot with a price of $17,999 - so we felt we got a great deal. We emailed the dealer through eBay to say we won and to get instructions on how to take delivery of the car. The same manager that had laughed at us at the dealership earlier in the week replied promptly, forgetting who I was of course, and said that he could meet us the following Monday evening to get the car. I told him we were paying with a check and asked if he would like us to send it in advance so that it would have time to clear. He said not to worry and that James Toyota trusted all their clients! We could bring the check with us when we came to get the car. Monday evening rolled around and we arrived at the dealer. The saleswoman greeted us and took us to the manager's office. He stood up and said, "Oh I remember you so you've come back to make a deal on the Cadillac - well, it's too late - I already sold it!" I replied, "I know, I'm the one who purchased it on eBay!" This put him on the defensive and it was all down hill from here. He sent us to his finance department where they accepted our check but immediately started with questions such as, "What bank is this?; Why isn't your address correct? (the zip code was missing the extra 4 digits); You will have to complete a credit application!"; and so on. I refused to complete the application and said that they could take a day or two to cash the check and we would come back when it cleared. After sitting in the finance office for at least 20 minutes, being made to feel like criminals, they came back and said they would accept the check and we could have the car. This was totally unnecessary as I am sure they have several means of verifying that a check is good. We also offered to pay with our American Express card, but they refused to accept credit cards as payment. As we completed the paperwork, the finance manager's tone changed as he tried to sell us various after market warranties. We politely refused them, as the Cadillac still had much of the manufacturers warranty in effect. This made the finance manager grouse more and he shuffled paper