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Cornerstone Auto in Elk River

Butterybunz

New Member
Hey guys, just wanted to share my story with you in hopes that it will prevent anyone else from falling for this.

Last Friday I received a call from a guy named Gavin about my 2008 Caliber SRT4 I have for sale on Craigslist. He left me a message saying he is seriously interested in it. I call him back and it turns out he works for Cornerstone Auto in Elk River off Highway 10. He says they are in desperate need for used vehicles and that he thinks my price is really good and that he wants to buy my car. I was very hesitant because I didn’t want to show up and get offered trade in value. I ask him how much he is offering and he says that my price is good and “in the ball park.” I wanted him to provide me with a number that he would pay me for the car because “in the ball park” could mean anything. We exchange texts and I tell him that I don’t want to waste my time driving there just to get offered trade in value and he says that this wouldn’t happen. I finally just tell him “If you can do $12,500 I will drive the car up there and sell.” And he responds “Bring it on up!”

I get the car ready for sell by cleaning it, washing it, get the title from my bank, ect ect… I get to the dealership and explain to the manager that Gavin contacted me and wanted to buy the car. He kind of gets a weird look on his face about it… anyways he looks at the car and says it’s in fantastic condition. We go back to the office and he says he can offer me $10,800 for the car… below kbb trade in….. and I show him the text from Gavin about the $12,500 and he tells me that Gavin is just the internet sales guy and has no authority to offer money for cars… he also says that this is a performance model car and they don’t usually buy this kind of car… He says he will fill up my gas tank for my hassle… I decline and leave.

I text Gavin saying “What the hell man?” and he calls me. He acts so surprised that I didn’t get offered over $12,500 for the car. I tell him that I specifically said I didn’t want to show up and get offered trade-in value and that I wouldn’t take less than $12,500, and that he told me to “Bring it on up!” He tells me to not get mad about it… and that he will talk to his boss tomorrow and call me back. I said okay please do that… He then responds by saying “But don’t feel like you’re entitled to anything, we are a dealership trying to make money….”

Long story short I got screwed out of my time and money. They have not contacted me back to resolve the issue. Avoid this dealership! They have multiple complaints on the BBB, and they are about to have another one! In my opinion they use their Christian advertising and a scheme to sell more cars…
 

YSOSLO

is the word, beotch
You should have taken the free gas at least
Exactly...sounds like the sales manager at least tried to give you something for your trouble. I doubt the internet sales guy will be around long if he keeps bringing people in all fired up to sell only to discover they're going to be low-balled.
 

Butterybunz

New Member
At the time the gas just seemed like a slap in the face. I came in expecting to sell my vehicle. I also didn't think the sales manager was that great of a guy, he offered me over a $1000 less the the KBB Trade-In value... At that point I didn't want them to think they could resolve the problem by giving me a couple gallons of gas.
 

mndsm

I'M OFFENDED!
Exactly...sounds like the sales manager at least tried to give you something for your trouble. I doubt the internet sales guy will be around long if he keeps bringing people in all fired up to sell only to discover they're going to be low-balled.
Pete- I have a feeling this isn't the first time they've tried this. I read the BBB on them..... they seem to be sketchy as hell.
 

AJ

110 HP of FURY!
Hard time mean hard tactics. Think about it this way... first, who looks up a company's BBB BEFORE dealing with them? Not many at all, so they likely don't care about that in the grand scheme of things. Second, it's a volume tactic. The manager is playing the good guy, but the other guy probably got a kudos internally just for getting you to come up there and give them a shot at undercutting the market in an effort to get a good car at a great price. They are hoping a certain % of people take the bait and get them to take their low ball offer just to get out of the payment.

The used car market sucks for dealerships compared to recent years past, so it's not surprising some will go to the trouble here. It's business and about profit. I agree, shady, but if it was too good to be true, it was.

And in the end the BBB means nothing when a small dealership like that can simply sell to "new management" and promote a new message and vision of business when their model changes.

I'm not condoning what they are doing, simply saying it's just part of business, what they are likely doing to keep revenue streams open.
 

dmention7

Hater
The manager is playing the good guy, but the other guy probably got a kudos internally just for getting you to come up there and give them a shot at undercutting the market in an effort to get a good car at a great price. They are hoping a certain % of people take the bait and get them to take their low ball offer just to get out of the payment.
Unfortunately this is almost certainly true.
 

YSOSLO

is the word, beotch
This thread makes me want to test drive something and waste a bunch of THEIR time and then end the visit with 'Geez, I'd buy this in a heartbeat if you guys didn't make it a habit of luring people up here to sell you their used car and then low-ball them.'
 
This thread makes me want to test drive something and waste a bunch of THEIR time and then end the visit with 'Geez, I'd buy this in a heartbeat if you guys didn't make it a habit of luring people up here to sell you their used car and then low-ball them.'
We should make it a day and all do that...haha.

On a somewhat serious note, I would consider going there just to test drive the vehicles I'm considering, then play games with them on pricing...and in the end, just turn them down and go elsewhere (Morries, Polar, Friendly, wherever depending on what car I decide to buy).
 
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Big Nate

Chaos Engineer
I agree with AJ. Dealerships will try and sell cars no matter what. That means getting cars on the lot for as cheap as possible and off the lot for the most they can.

Like was said to good to be true is almost never true. But this a great thing to post here. I agree with the OP that this is a shitty thing to do and just hearing about this will make me never go to that dealership.

Also this is just one more reason to only deal with a our site sponsor Morris. They will give you strait talk and legit information be it what you want to hear or not.
 
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