Posted 2018-06-05 9:56 AM (#171648) Subject: Bait and Switch
Location: Georgia
I inquired about a trailer that is posted on this site two weeks ago by a national dealer and rep. I was told it was sold and was asked if there are any other trailers that I would be interested in. I spoke with the manager and was told the ad would be taken off. The first ad was never marked as sold or removed. Last week the same trailer, same sku #, was reposted as "new." I called to see if the original sale had fallen through, was told the trailer was sold, and was asked if there are any other trailers that I would be interested in. I told that salesperson that the ads (there are two for this same trailer) should be taken down. As of two minutes ago, both ads are still up. They have gotten more than 300 hits but the trailer has been sold for a while.
This is not an ethical sales practice. Any advice on how to make them follow the rules?
Posted 2018-06-05 11:44 AM (#171651 - in reply to #171648) Subject: RE: Bait and Switch
Location: Georgia
I flagged the post over a week ago and gave a reason. In an email exchange with one of their sales reps Saturday, I said that I wanted the trailer but was told it was already sold. How long does it take to post a "sold" sign on an ad or to remove it?
Posted 2018-06-05 4:01 PM (#171652 - in reply to #171648) Subject: RE: Bait and Switch
Veteran
Posts: 108
Location: Lawrence KS
Unfortunately this is a tactic that the used car market has used for years, they post a variety of sought after used cars at reasonable prices to spur phone calls and then as you found out ask if they may have something else you are interested in. All along they never even had this car to sell.
Posted 2018-06-09 6:59 AM (#171658 - in reply to #171648) Subject: RE: Bait and Switch
Location: Georgia
Two ads for the same trailer that was sold several weeks ago are still up as of this morning. Numerous emails to the manufacturer's sales rep and to the admin of this board resulted in no change. After years of getting excellent advice from this forum, I was expecting a resolution that protected the little guy over advertising dollars. I would like to see an explanation on this site from the admin on why this has not been addressed.
Posted 2018-06-11 3:03 PM (#171660 - in reply to #171648) Subject: RE: Bait and Switch
Location: Georgia
There is a place on every ad where you can flag the post and give the reason for flagging. I did that twice and emailed the admin to let them know. It would not take much effort to just mark the trailer as "sold." It is done hundreds of times on this site. I guess everybody just accepts bait and switch as the normal way of doing business. Not a problem for me. I was just trying to help the next guy out that came across the ads.
Posted 2018-06-12 1:34 PM (#171661 - in reply to #171648) Subject: RE: Bait and Switch
Veteran
Posts: 113
Location: Wi
Southernboy - I think you did your part. Are you willing to share to the group which ad? Might give a new buyer a look into how that orgainization runs their business. Thks.
Posted 2018-06-13 7:16 AM (#171662 - in reply to #171648) Subject: RE: Bait and Switch
Elite Veteran
Posts: 690
Location: missouri
I know several people that have had dealings with Dixie Horse and Mule that have been lied to and switched to a more expensive trailer...or, traveled clear to 'Bama to see a bad rig..
Posted 2018-06-14 4:42 PM (#171666 - in reply to #171648) Subject: RE: Bait and Switch
Regular
Posts: 56
Location: Shawnee, Oklahoma
I'm a dealer and when we sell a trailer, we mark it sold or sale pending. Normally, we delete the ad as soon as the trailer leaves the lot. If it's something we order over and over, we say in the ad that the trailer advertised is sold but we have more ordered and can hold it with a deposit, but it's almost always an exact duplicate of what is advertised.
Posted 2018-06-15 8:29 AM (#171671 - in reply to #171666) Subject: RE: Bait and Switch
Veteran
Posts: 113
Location: Wi
Cindy Trailer Depot - 2018-06-14 4:42 PM I'm a dealer and when we sell a trailer, we mark it sold or sale pending. Normally, we delete the ad as soon as the trailer leaves the lot. If it's something we order over and over, we say in the ad that the trailer advertised is sold but we have more ordered and can hold it with a deposit, but it's almost always an exact duplicate of what is advertised.
Cindy - that is perfect. Lets someone know that one is gone and a replacement is on its way.
Posted 2018-06-19 2:18 PM (#171675 - in reply to #171648) Subject: RE: Bait and Switch
Veteran
Posts: 183
Location: riverside ca
I personally have delt with Dixie horse and mule, and my dealing where 100% on the up and up and they went above and beyond on the transaction. just want to throw it out there, I am not even sure where the quote was from, but I want to share my expereince since their name was mentioned.
Posted 2018-06-19 8:41 PM (#171676 - in reply to #171648) Subject: RE: Bait and Switch
Elite Veteran
Posts: 690
Location: missouri
Apology...I said I know a couple of people who had been dissapointed...maybe because they actually thought you could get an awesome LQ for about $15K...and..they got what they paid for.
Posted 2018-06-22 1:16 PM (#171678 - in reply to #171648) Subject: RE: Bait and Switch
Elite Veteran
Posts: 720
Location: Never miss a good chance to shut up.
Dixie Horse and Mule has been advertising here on this site for over 16 years and I've never had a single complaint. I know them personally and they go above and beyond to help people.
Back to the other issue, We have no way of knowing which trailers have been sold unless the dealer marks it or tells us. If we are given emails containing "flagged" ads that supposedly are sold, we forward them to the dealers. Horse Trailer World cannot start deleting trailers because an email told us to.