if so, i'd like to hear your thoughts/comments on this:
short version: paying cash for a new prius, dealer insisted on ssan and 3 references to complete the deal.
long version:
today after waiting 4 months, my wife and i went to pick up her new, 2006 prius.
when we sit down, the sales manager says, "ok, we need you to fill out this credit app". i said, "we're paying cash". he said, "that's ok, don't fill out the credit stuff, just complete the personal info, ssan, and give 3 references." i said, "you can have my name/address/home phone, but you ain't getting my ssan and you sure as hell don't need 3 references if i'm paying cash." he says, "yes, it's required that we collect that info because how do i know you are who you say you are (i said, "you've got our driver's licenses" for ID) and how do i know your check is good?" i said, "well, how 'bout if i give you my passport - is that valid enough for you (?) and if you'll give me 10 minutes, i'll walk to the bank, get the cash and put it on your desk."
Nope, still gotta have the data. so i said, "well i guess we won't be buying a car from you, this is a commodity, not a relationship purchase."
he's getting flustered & we're getting PISSED because we ordered this car 4 months ago and they gave ours away somewhere in the process, so... now we're seeing another wait unfolding if we go to another dealer. so he excuses himself to get his manager and when the guy comes in, he says, "look, we usually collect that info for our records but we don't have to if you object to it." (and you just raised our bp 40 pts cause... why?)
my question for you dealership folks:
what's up with the ssan / references for cash purchases? i'd prefer the non-marketing spiel, please: is there some massive requirement by the fed/state that i'm unaware of (apparently not since we ended up with the car and didn't do that)
thx.
hal
short version: paying cash for a new prius, dealer insisted on ssan and 3 references to complete the deal.
long version:
today after waiting 4 months, my wife and i went to pick up her new, 2006 prius.
when we sit down, the sales manager says, "ok, we need you to fill out this credit app". i said, "we're paying cash". he said, "that's ok, don't fill out the credit stuff, just complete the personal info, ssan, and give 3 references." i said, "you can have my name/address/home phone, but you ain't getting my ssan and you sure as hell don't need 3 references if i'm paying cash." he says, "yes, it's required that we collect that info because how do i know you are who you say you are (i said, "you've got our driver's licenses" for ID) and how do i know your check is good?" i said, "well, how 'bout if i give you my passport - is that valid enough for you (?) and if you'll give me 10 minutes, i'll walk to the bank, get the cash and put it on your desk."
Nope, still gotta have the data. so i said, "well i guess we won't be buying a car from you, this is a commodity, not a relationship purchase."
he's getting flustered & we're getting PISSED because we ordered this car 4 months ago and they gave ours away somewhere in the process, so... now we're seeing another wait unfolding if we go to another dealer. so he excuses himself to get his manager and when the guy comes in, he says, "look, we usually collect that info for our records but we don't have to if you object to it." (and you just raised our bp 40 pts cause... why?)
my question for you dealership folks:
what's up with the ssan / references for cash purchases? i'd prefer the non-marketing spiel, please: is there some massive requirement by the fed/state that i'm unaware of (apparently not since we ended up with the car and didn't do that)
thx.
hal
