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Dead Jetta! (Not the actual dead Jetta.)

My friend's father-in-law's 2009 Jetta just died (engine blew up).

So my friend called me up to talk: "He just wants me to find him something simple, inexpensive, with decent fuel economy and a warranty. Tell me about the Micra."

So I did.

A few days later he calls me back. After researching prices, trims, used options (ex-rentals), he found a new 2016 SV automatic for a good year-end price. He confirmed the "all-in" price with the dealer over the phone. "Want to come see the Micra? I'm going to the dealer to do the deal."

Sure!

So we're in the sales guy's office for 3 minutes when another dealer person comes in with a printout, apologizes for the interruption, hands the printout to the sales guy and says something like, "I found the amount we were missing."

Oops!

Sales guy says, "Sorry, but we forgot to include the shipping amount in the figure we told you on the phone."

$1600 + tax = $1808 price difference. That's a big "oops" on the total for an inexpensive car.

"$1800 for shipping?" My friend asked? I joked: "It's a long train ride from Mexico!" And the sales guy replies: "no, the Micra is built in Japan." Oh, I see.

So my friend put his cheque book away and we left. The used option is looking a bit more attractive, but he wants to run the numbers again.

Bait and switch?

It sure felt like it! Anything to get the mark into the sales office?

Even if my friend gives them the benefit of the doubt that it was a genuine mistake, it has soured his opinion on the dealer. Because he explicitly asked on the phone before coming in: "that includes shipping and all the taxes and fees?"

Yes, sir!