JD Motors reviews and complaints

I was out car shopping in the North Syracuse area on Tuesday, January 14, 2013 when I stopped at JD Motors. My former vehicle was deemed a total loss, so I was without one and wanted something soon. I had already been shafted by one dealer, so I was hoping to find something I like and feel good about it. Car shopping is stressful as it is, because it's a total crap shoot. Anyway...after stopping at a few other used car lots, JD Motors appeared to have a promising inventory. I was quite excited to come across a nice looking 2003 Buick Rendezvous near the front of the building, so we went inside to inquire about it. There was a girl at the desk and she provided a printout of the Kelly Blue Book value, which was $4, 149. She explained they had just bought it from the auction at Drivers Village the Saturday before. We asked how much it would be and she said probably around $3, 900 if we were paying cash. It was definitely doable, so I asked if I could drive it. She then informed me that the owner had left on vacation that morning, they had no idea where the keys were, and that they hadn't had a chance to go through it yet to see what it needed. They would have to wait until he called when he arrived in Aruba. I was a little skeptical, but willing to give it a chance, so I made arrangements to return two days later on Thursday to take it for a drive. When I arrived on Thursday, the vehicle was sitting in the same spot with the hood up. This time there was a guy there (Jason?) to explain what was going on with it. They claimed they had to have a key made and that it needed to be programmed in order for it to start and run properly. Once again, I was a little skeptical, but I liked it so much that I wanted to believe them. We were then told that the price was not what she had told us two days prior, but that it would be $5, 995, which would require financing. They explained there would be a two year warranty that would cover just about anything that could go wrong with it and not thinking it through, I decided to discuss the numbers with them and see what could be done. I was also told it had had only one owner and that it had originally been purchased brand new at Drivers Village. All of the service records would be available as well, which sounded good to me. I hadn't committed to buying it yet, but was willing to discuss options. We came up with some numbers that could work if I decided I definitely wanted to purchase it and set the wheels in motion. The person that would be handling it from there would be Jeremy whom I had not met yet. I should have paid attention to the red flags, but I really wanted this to work out and the people I was talking to there seemed very nice and friendly. When we returned on Friday, I met Jeremy and was able to take the car for a drive and I fell in love with it immediately. It was in fantastic shape for an 11 year old vehicle. When we returned from the test drive, we set the wheels in motion with a down payment and I signed the retail installment contract among all the other documents, which included a price guarantee with an approval number. It appeared as though it was a done deal; I just needed to provide proof of income and proof of residence. I was going away for the weekend, so I told them I would scan and email the documents they needed, so I wouldn't have to arrange another ride out there until I was there to pick up the vehicle. I did all that on Monday. That was arranged for Thursday and I was told that it would be all ready to go by then. I just needed to make a trip to DMV, because the registration I was transferring was expiring on the 20th and it wouldn't be possible to just have them do it. I actually spoke with Jeremy on the phone Tuesday and he told me he had sent all the paperwork via overnight (FedEx, I'm guessing). As long as the bank accepted the documents I provided, it would go through and I would be able to pick up the car on Thursday as planned. He said he would call by the end of the day Wednesday, if there were any issues. When I was at work on Wednesday, the bank called to verify employment, so it looked as though it was going smoothly. I did not hear from Jeremy at all, so I assumed we were good to go. At nearly 6:30 that evening, I received a call from the owner, Len DiMaggio, who had returned from vacation. He was irate about the deal and said it could not be done as written. I immediately began crying, which upset him even more, but this whole business had drained me and I lost it. He said the deal should never have been made and that car should never have been sold while he was away. He said so many things in such a short period of time, but he said the term would need to be six months shorter, claimed he would lose a lot of money; $3, 000 was mentioned more than once. He told me Jeremy is his fiancee's brother and he went off on him, which was causing problems in the family, and he kept saying he would make it up to me however he could. I can't remember all of the crap that came out of his mouth, but I recall enough to know he was talking out of his ###. I told him I would be in Thursday as planned to discuss this and that I would be there between 11:00 and 11:30 AM. I had no expectations of that going well. Once I calmed down, I began to ask a few of my attorney friends if it was possible for him to do this. I was told the contract should be binding and by all rights, he should have to honor the deal. I was also told to file a complaint with DMV, Consumer Fraud, BBB, and possibly other offices. When we arrived at JD Motors at approximately 11:20 on Thursday morning, he immediately said he needed to go somewhere, but would be back shortly, I said I would be willing to wait, but I also explained that I expected him to honor the deal. that opened up a whole can of worms. Oh, by the way, the DMV signs for auto dealers and inspection stations were not anywhere within sight. Those are usually posted on the front of the building. I have pictures. He said if I wanted to pursue legal action, so be it, but it would be dragged out and blah, blah, blah... Of course, he said he thought I would be there sooner. Even if I was there earlier, it would not have been handled within a matter of minutes. I could see right through his stereotypical sketchy behavior immediately. His fiancee was there and standing up for him, which was not surprising. What a dog and pony show this was. After a bit of back and forth, I told him to go ahead and do what he had to do and I would wait. While he was gone, his fiancee was going on and on about we should give him a chance and that he's helped a lot of people and just let him talk. Seriously? I had no problem mentioning my media contacts and attorney friends in front of her and she stepped outside to talk on the phone at least twice while he was gone. Not surprising at all. The only other person we saw while we were there was a mechanic that popped in a couple times. Len returned within half an hour and we began going back and forth again. Mind you, I never raised my voice, but he did. Some of the things he said were so far-fetched, so bizarre, and twelve-year-old boyish. He gave me a ### and bull story that there was a lot more wrong with the car, whined about not being able to contact anyone while he was in Aruba and that he had to spend a hundred dollars on a phone to call the US, but still couldn't, waited in line on his vacation, and more blah, blah, blah with a lot of whining. Gee, I'm so sorry... NOT. It was all about him. While sitting there, I received a message that he had been in jail for fraud. I decided at that moment, I was not doing business with him, but I was waiting for the right moment in the conversation to mention that. I finally had a chance when I asked him what his idea of a compromise was. He said he would be willing to sell me another vehicle (what a shock) and that he was not willing to sell me the Rendezvous. I said no thanks and I asked for my plates back and any documentation that had my personal information. I was relieved I didn't buy that car after all, no matter how nice it seemed. As I walked out, I told him to have a nice day. I would warn anyone to stay as far away from JD Motors or Lyncourt Car Care as possible. This guy is total [censored]bag. Spread the word.