Merriam Webster New Collegiate Dictionary 7th Edition, defines this Latin phrase as “let the buyer beware: a principle in commerce: without a warranty the buyer takes the risk of quality upon himself.”

I learned this phrase 40 years ago in a business/economics high school course. In those days, it was an appropriate phrase, because it was a time when the business community had an advantage over the consumer and took advantage of the consumer whenever possible. In today’s world of the Internet, instant information, it would appear that the consumer is on a more equal footing with businesses. Businesses’ today attempt to make the consumer happy through their transactions. Within reason, the consumer can return items and work intelligently with a business when the consumer is dissatisfied. This is done because numerous research studies have indicated that it is very costly for a business to obtain a customer, thus it is less costly to maintain a customer than continually find new ones. Secondly, when a customer leaves a business dissatisfied, they will tell at least 20 people who will tell 20 more, thus spreading a virus of dissatisfaction which can be very costly for a business. Therefore, this new information linked world has created a more quid pro quo (something given for something else) business relationship, a more equal relationship developed between customer and business. This makes business relationships fairer for both sides, both the consumer and the business.

I bring this up because I thought the days of caveat emptor were over, but I ran directly into a dying breed of old business the other day. I purchased a car from Budget Resale, Inc. and the people were very nice while I was buying the car. The day after I signed the contract, purchased a car, I lost my job. I called the Budget dealership, talked with the finance manager and asked for their help. He said he was with a customer and would call me back. I never received the courtesy of a call back. My first inclination that something was wrong was striking me quickly and coming to fruition. I attempted to return the purchased car and was rudely treated and literally thrown off the property with the threat that if I left the vehicle there, it would be towed at my own expense. The contract states that the buyer has the right to rescind the contract, but the seller must accept that rescission. After talking with the Attorney General’s office, the dealership has the right to rescind the contract if they wish, but instead of trying to help a customer, look for future sales and referrals. No, this dealership wants to shove the contract down the customer’s throat and make them live with it. This makes no sense to me as an intelligent person. If a customer is out of work, then that consumer can not make the monthly payments and will lose the vehicle within three months. But again, I do not think like an antiquated firm who is only interested in their own best interest, and not the customer. The dealership gets the trade-ins and deposit for nothing and will probably get the sold car back to re-sell again, all at the consumer’s expense. This one way street transaction would be enough if this was the end of the story, but it is not. When I talked with the sales manager, I was lied to on three separate occasions and agreements they bound themselves to, he broke. When I asked the sales manager what was I to do, he was callused enough to state “That’s your problem!” He offered no help and was in fact, extremely rude and resorted to screaming at me on the phone. The dealership, I think in his case the Sales Manager, resorted so low as to hire someone to come to my home in the middle of the night, while we and the neighborhood were sleeping and towed away our car that they had agreed we could keep until my truck with no transmission was repaired. They had every legal right to do this, but morally and ethically they should not.

I can not believe any upper management of Budget Rent-A-Car or Budget Resale, Inc. would condone these actions, but seeing this sales manager is allowed to carry out these actions, it must be assumed that the whole company does business in this manner.

There is no place in this marketplace for this type of callousness and rudeness to a customer. Instead of helping a customer, they flaunt the law in their face and laugh about it.

I write this because, this is one firm you need to know their business practices, and avoid at all costs. As soon as you enter the car lot, you will be at their mercy. They are not there to work with you the customer, only work on you, or work you over. They are there to take advantage of the customer and get the sale at any cost to you the consumer. Do not let this happen to you. In this world of instant information, you need to be informed of your rights as a consumer and do business with firms who respect that right. Such firms as Budget Car Rental or Budget Car Resale, Inc. should be avoided. Look for reputable car dealers who are willing to honor you as an individual, legally, morally, and ethically and assist you when in trouble, and do not take advantage of you. This transaction could happen to anyone. Are you comfortable that you can arrive at a reasonable response to your needs from the people you do business with?

So, Budget Car Resale, Inc or Budget Car Rental should be avoided as a reasonable choice for buying a car—CAVEAT EMPTOR. Look for more reputable dealers.

Signed,
Consumer Du Rite
Looking for a fair transaction.