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FireRob's avatar
FireRob
Explorer
Sep 11, 2014

PATRIOT ACT required personal info before you can negotiate?

Any one ever told you they can not talk price until they have your name, address, and phone number? Then insist its the law cause of the Patriot Act? One told me this and I couldn't believe they were even saying it.

So I go to the dealership that happens to have the trailer me and my wife like the most. Want to start to find out what they will "really" sell the trailer for and when they start asking questions about me I give them the same answer I give them all. "I will give you my email but, Your not getting my address and phone number until we agree to buy" My main reason is I refuse to give any dealer my phone number because I will get a bunch of unwanted phone calls. I tell each dealer, "Look, I am serious about buying and will be making a purchase in the next couple weeks. This is your one shot to give me your best price. If you don't hear back from me in one week, it means I bought from some one else with a better price then you. I do not want you calling me"

The previous seven RV dealers did not have a problem with this and this is my same technique I used when buying my truck six weeks ago.

They told me it is against the law to talk price with out my info....So does that mean they need the personal info of everyone who looks at their web site or reads the window sticker on a trailer in their lot??? I don't think so!

I was on my way out the door when the manager tried to explain the same thing the sales rep said. I told them how ridiculous it was and that the dealers I talked to earlier that did not mention it once. His response was "their breaking the law and could get a heavy fine"

I told them "OK Ill play along. But once I leave here if I get one phone call I will never set foot on your lot again and I will tell everyone about my experience here" (how's it go? Make one customer happy he tells a friend, Pi$$ him off he tells everyone)

OK so after this long rant any truth to this? I am now well aware of what the patriot act says about paying cash for a car over $10K and what the dealer is required to do but it says nothing about in order to negotiate price??? At least I couldn't find anything.

Should I just let it go or do something about it? (besides go on this tirade on a public forum?)

Thanks for letting me vent and I do want to hear your ideas on the matter.
  • That dealer might also be your "service" dealer after the sale and their actions reflect of how you will probably be treated in their service dept. Walk away, no run!!!
  • I'm sort of with OP on not wanting a bunch of calls when I'm only at the looking around stage. Some of these guys are really persistent.

    I have a simple solution -- I give them a cell number that I no longer have. They're happy, and I move on without wasting my time arguing.
  • What you learned is that the dealer's sales department, or at least the on duty personnel, are willing to blatantly lie in order to get contact information to follow up in an attempt to make a sale. Whether you want to do business with liars is a decision only you can make.

    Having said that, you are removing yourself from a powerful negotiating tool by not allowing the dealer to call you after you leave the dealership. Walk out when you cannot reach a price, and for sure you will get a call from the dealer with a new, lower price. Once they do that, you now have a stronger position in the negotiation.