Beware Woody Anderson Ford in Huntsville
Created July 1, 2005, at 3:29 pm by Anonymous
My CRV is all fixed up to sell, can't afford to drive it much more without hurting the trade-in value. While I still have a Toyota Highlander ordered, the dealer is really vauge about the arrival date (sometime in the next few months??) and I can't wait much longer.
So, while my refundable deposit continues to hold my Highlander, I went shopping online. Was originally set on the Toyota, but decided to check into Ford Escape Hybrids as a possible alterantive. I need 4WD for my work and was initially discouraged the find no 4WD models available here in Middle TN. Then I discovered that Woody Anderson Ford in Huntsville, only 90 minutes away, had more on their lot than all the dealers in Middle TN combined! So I quickly inquired about several different models. That was Wednesday Evening. After 24 hours of intense research and discussion, it's over.
I did NOT buy. VERY unpleasant experience. They have 6-8 FEH 4WDs on the lot, more than any other dealer around, but WARNING: The prices listed on their own website, www.vehix.com, and the copious notes I kept during our phone negotiations are indeed MSRP (or at least fair), but NOT what they're actually charging. Finally, at 6PM last night, after over 10 phone calls, the salesman called to decline my final offer, saying that he was "new" and he'd "just been told" that they wanted MSRP + $1000-2000 per vehicle. He said they bought up all the FEH 4WDs from other dealers at MSRP and had to mark them up over MSRP to make a profit. So, after 8 hours of negotiations the price went UP nearly $2,000!!!! I will NEVER shop there again and can not recommend strongly enough that all sane buyers stay away.
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Oh yea, I almost forgot about the initial bait in their little game.
The most loaded model in stock they priced at $32,375. BUT... they said it had been a demo and had over 2,000 miles AND had been in a wreck with over $1,400 worth of rear-end damage. Since it was the only model they had with navigation, which I really wanted, I was intruiged but cautious.
Using the "value your trade-in" menu tool on THEIR OWN WEBSITE, I came up with a trade-in (wholesale) value on that in that condition: $24,090. So I figured $25,000 would be good lowball opening offer.
Of course, they declined, as I expected, but their counter floored me: they wanted the FULL $32,375, period! For a used, wrecked car??
That was the first time they fed me the "bought at another dealer for full retail" crap.. but only for that one car. They steered me towards another model and cost me a full day of negotiations and research before revealing that ALL of their cars were "bought from other dealers."
OK, a little sleaze and dishonesty from car salesmen is to be expected. Hell, its even a little endearing, a tradition, a game. But these antics were insulting and disgusting. Don't know how they sleep at night.
They are all over the Detroit area and you will find someone to sell at invoice!
Dean Sellers in Birmingham, MI (Detroit) sold me mine for 1,000 under MSRP. Ask for Scott Danbert, he is the hybrid specialist. He got me one from another state (with no extra fee) in three days when my other car bit the dust.
I am the General Sales Manager with Woody Anderson Ford and although I may not change anyone's mind with this response, I must proceed. We did purchase the Ford Hybrids from dealers around the country who needed to move some distressed inventory and for the reason that our Ford region would not get any for at least another 6 months. We paid over MSRP for each Hybrid purchased because of availability, and they were
marked up over MSRP, not for profit, but to get back what we had invested in them. At this same time, dealers in Atlanta were actually marking them up $2000 or more over MSRP. I am sorry for this gentleman's perspective of the situation, but the market determines the value of the vehicle. We currently have one in stock and it is not marked up over MSRP.
Thank you,
Rod Roddy
General Sales Manager
Woody Anderson Ford
Woody Anderson Ford continues to act sleasy as I try to purchase my new car. I have to say I think a drive to a different city is worth it. But aren't ALL car sales people this way? The best way to fight this is let people know when it happens > like on here and just walk away. There is always another deal ..........
RB. If they are being slimy.. just walk away. Its rather simple. If you really want a certain vehicle.. go to another dealership. Even out of state. Saving thousands is worth a few extra hours plus the expense to travel to the other location. Really.. it is. Even though I live nowhere near you.. its good for customers to share their opinions and experience. An educated consumer is a wise consumer. I recently had a few dealerships try to gouge me. I went to a neighboring state and saved in excess of $2,000 on my Civic Hybrid. I'm sure someone did business with then eventually.. but it is their money and theirs to lose. Toyota wouldn't work with me on Prius pricing... so I went to a competitor and am now actually better off in the Civic.
Just noticed Woody Anderson's response.
It is the dealerships prerogative if they want to overpay for their vehicle inventory. If they did overpay and try to pass the additional expense on to the customer.. then that is their business.
But.. in my opinion.. I think the dealership got itself into a bind if they paid MSRP, or near MSRP for new vehicles from another dealership.
Its their inventory now and they'll need to price it accordingly to sell the inventory off. If you skip them and let them know they are overpriced. Eventually the market will force them to adjust down.
Though there is always at least one impulse buyer who shows up on the lot and pays sticker without question. Thats who they are waiting for.
They bought “distressed” inventory & paid “over MSRP”. Who buys that fib .
Sounds as if they bought something at the top of the sellers market price. Not much different than the housing market now and the internet bubble in 2000. Also sounds similar to ticket scalping. They buy the cars to control the market and set the higher price. Let them sit on those cars for a while. If they did pay over MSRP, they will lose there money in TN. It's not like they have the high gas prices and higher average household income like they do in California and NY.
Rod,
You guys are sleazy, and you are no exception. Don't diss the poster because he had a bad experience at your dealership. There are many people around Huntsville that have similar stories about Woody Anderson Ford, and Bill Heard Chevrolet, to be fair. Examples include asking a potential buyer promising to make a sale "today". The crap comment about marking up "not for profit" is just that, crap. You guys are a business to make profit, so just say it so. You need to work on your work ethics.
In the past, My wife and I had bought at least 10 cars from Woody
but that all ended after Woody, the man, died. His wife and family have run this dealership into the ground. they are now shady and unethical. I have gone to Ray Pearman and had great dealings. they treat you like a family member and they are still in the business of selling themselves as well as a car. if you have any problem talk to one of the many Pearmans that work there in every department. They will make sure you have a great experience.
where i work ordered a 1/2 van from woody anderson back in november of '07 and we are still waiting on it. since i work at a school system we have to go with the lowest bid and unfortunately woody was the lowest bid. it was suppose to be in the middle of May now and it's done past and we still haven't gotten it. the sales person won't return none of the calls and won't answer the phone when we call. it's just a generic van nothing special about it. we also ordered a truck from them and it almost took as long and it was suppose to be a long wheel base truck but he ordered a short wheel base but we decided to keep it anyway. it's a shame when i special ordered my 2007 MINI Cooper S it was built, painted and shipped from the Oxford England in 6 weeks and woody anderson ford can't get me a ford fan in 6 months. i've been telling everyone i know not to buy a car from woody anderson ford.
^ i meant to say we ordered a 1/2 ton van from woody anderson
This is a really helpful thread you just saved me alot of grief I almost bought their TV AD but decided to research online before I contacted them Ill try the Pearmans once again Thank You!
It's really not unusual for a dealer to purchase from another dealer, if the local market will bear it.
I have had nothing but great dealings with them. Been going there over 12 years and I always research a purchase before I make it. So far they have always been great to deal with.
I'm sure glad i read these comments......I've been searching F-150s online here but havn't contacted anyone yet. Thanks to you guys, it aint gonna happen.........I bought a 2005 Siverado from Bill Heard. They were gonna charge extra for undercoating and factory bedliner.$600 bucks total, while signing papers. I told them to take it off, i wasn't gonna pay for this factory item. They didn't get paid for this....See where Bill Heard is now???????????
I've bought from Woody Anderson several times and have never had a problem with their pricing or business practices.
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