[marcus83]

I went to a car dealership, Negaotiated a price, closed the deal for $23,000, I went on their website an hour later and saw an " internet price for the same car, with the same VIN # for 17,588...... they have called me all day long offering me the price listed on the internet and have apologized up and down.... can I sue for "bait and switch" or price gouging? - M

[letmetellu]

You will have to check with an attorney to find out the answer about the suit. But what you wanted was a new car and you were willing to pay the price they asked and now they are offering it to you for a lesser price I think I would take the deal and be happy with five and a half thousand dollars in my pocket.

[Fr_Chuck]

First it is not uncommom to have two prices on the same item, one from the internet special and the other for people who just walk into the store.

Many companies do this, companies I have worked for in the past and even places like office depo or home depo have sales only available on the internet.

It is not bait and switch since you did not go in there looking for the cheaper car and they take and sell you a more expensive car.
It is bad business practice but does not sound illegal.

[marcus83]

No,. you don't understand, I was talking about the same car, not something similar, the same car... the VIN matched and everything, for $5,000 less!!

Anyway, I met with the owners of the dealership, they honored the price that was on the internet and I signed a new contract,. let this be an example to all of you... be very careful when buying a car!!

[froggy7]

no,..you dont understand, I was talking about the same EXACT car, not something similar, the same exact car....the vin number matched and everything, for $5,000 less!!!

Anyway, I met with the owners of the dealership, they honored the price that was on the internet and I signed a new contract, ...let this be an example to all of you....be very careful when buying a car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But still, you originally negotiated a price, and were going to pay it. If you hadn't seen the internet ad, would you have been upset at the price you negotiated? If the internet ad had been for 23,000, and you negotiated a price of 17,000, would you feel that you owed the difference when saw the ad?

In most cases, an advertised price is merely a suggested starting point for negotiation. You can offer less, and see if they take it. If it is a highly desirable item (like houses in some areas), the final selling price can wind up being much higher than the initial advertised price. There's nothing illegal in the seller taking an offer that is higher than the posted price.

[Fr_Chuck]

Yes and 3 exact cars on the lot, will never sell for the same price, each person makes a separate deal. Some 1000's less. If you are a member of SAMS wholesale you get cars a lot cheaper or if you work for certain companies, they allow special car pricing and so on.