April 17th, I bought a 2007 Jeep Commander. I told the salesman straight up that I needed a safe vehicle that could accommodate 4 infant car seats. Upon driving off of the lot and placing the car sets in the vehicle, I realized that one could no longer see out of the vehicle's windows. I immediately called David W. the salesman and explained the car seats the vehicle was not safe, that you could not see out of any window. Mr. W. agreed, stating that he himself had tried driving that model and had turned it in for the same safety concerns. I asked to bring it back and he transferred the call to Anthony (used car manager) who informed me that it would cost me $4,000 to bring it back even though I was calling immediately that same day. He advised me that he, too, had driven a Jeep and the lack of visual field was a great concern, but that he "learned" to compensate not being able to see out of the windows by turning his head a certain way and that he was sure that if I drove it another 2-4,000 miles, I would in turn "learn to adapt."
When I again reminded him that my concern was for the safety of the children, he stated that I was not to mention the grandchildren's' safety again! I then approached the manager of Hubler, Brooke **, who stated that she would be agreeable to 'rigging' the Jeep with 'camper mirrors' and that I could again learn to 'adapt' with the no-view from any window. I informed her again that I would not be willing to risk the safety of my family. She then agreed to take $2,000.00 off of the 'return' fee of $4,000.00, find me a vehicle and sell it to me 'at cost' plus the $2,000. Almost two months later, she found a 06 Trail Blazer with almost 60,000 miles and obvious damage to the passenger side that would require repainting that side. She agreed to all repairs and again selling the vehicle for 'cost,' which was reported to me to be right around 15,000 dollars. More money and more miles than the Jeep, which sat on their lot from around 7 days after the sale. When yet a third salesman called to go over the paper work on the Blazer, he straight out told me that the price included the original $4,000 return fee that Brooke had told him to raise it back up.
I know that the buyer needs to be aware, but some of us, even professionals, are not 'up' on all of the deceitful practices from the public. I am now coming to find out that my Gap and extended warranty cancellation checks, that I took out on the Jeep but refused on the Trail Blazer, have been returned to Hubler. Hubler refuses to forward the checks to me and in fact have added that cost to my existing loan and now I owe $25,000. When I approached Brooke ** and begged her not to do this to me, she stated, "I could reverse this. I could let you out of the penalty. And yes, it would be the right thing to do. And yes, I would feel better if I did. And yes, this whole thing will haunt me for the rest of my life, but I am not going to."
When I went to pick up the Blazer, the damaged passenger side had not been fixed, only an attempt at 'buffing' with huge round circles apparent ingrained in the finish. I saw it going into the dealership and yet when I came out, they had turned the vehicle around so the driver's side was 'to me'. How cunning and deceitful! It will be any where from 1,200.00 to 2,800.00 dollars to have that side fixed the right way, something they promised me in the beginning. Please help not only me, but others that may follow me to not have this happen to them. Others who like me may not be 'up' on the dishonest practices out there. Any help that you can give me to rectify this would be greatly appreciated. I am out $8,000 more than what I was told in the beginning. I have been lied to, mistreated, degraded. Please help me!
