Mazda dealer said the car was there… drove an hour just to find out it was sold

Empire Mazda NY.

They confirmed yesterday that the car was available and scheduled me for 11 AM today. I couldn’t even call to confirm because their phone kept going to voicemail. Got there, and they told me it was sold. The salesperson even tried pushing a Jeep Wrangler on me when I was trying to leave. Seriously?

Classic bait and switch. Don’t buy anything from these guys—they’re just scamming people.

Peyton said:
Classic bait and switch. Don’t buy anything from these guys—they’re just scamming people.

Yeah, make sure to leave reviews so others know to avoid them.

Peyton said:
Classic bait and switch. Don’t buy anything from these guys—they’re just scamming people.

I don’t think this counts as bait and switch though.

Lyric said:

Peyton said:
Classic bait and switch. Don’t buy anything from these guys—they’re just scamming people.

I don’t think this counts as bait and switch though.

Lol, you sound like you work there.

I’ve bought cars out of state before and haven’t dealt with this. I always confirm a couple of times before making the trip, but this sounds shady. Avoid that place at all costs.

Go leave a detailed review online about what happened so people know what kind of place this is.

Voss said:
Go leave a detailed review online about what happened so people know what kind of place this is.

Don’t forget Yelp too! The more exposure, the better.

We had similar issues with them. They’d tell us a car was available, and when we showed up, they’d say it was at another dealership. Plus, the cars we test drove were dirty and poorly maintained. It’s obvious they don’t care about customers.

@Uma
Honestly, if they waste your time, waste theirs back by pretending you’re interested in something you have no intention of buying.

Try Mazda 112 and ask for Declan. Empire Mazda is awful. I’ve had bad experiences there too. Feel free to DM me if you’re in the same area and need recommendations.

Wayne Mazda did this to me. I was furious and made sure to cause a scene before leaving, lol.

Zen said:
Wayne Mazda did this to me. I was furious and made sure to cause a scene before leaving, lol.

I’m in Pennsylvania and wouldn’t bother driving to New Jersey for a car. I looked into one there, and the fees were ridiculous—like $2,000 extra, not including taxes. I ended up finding a better deal closer to home.

@Lyric
You’re not supposed to pay sales tax to the dealer if you’re buying out of state—it’s only paid to your state when you register the car.

Okay, but what if the previous owner of the Jeep was someone famous like John Voight?

Might as well head to Wayne Mazda in NJ if you’re going to deal with this kind of nonsense.

I had a similar experience. Made an appointment, paid a $500 deposit to hold the car, and even confirmed with the guy multiple times. Drove three hours only to find out they sold it 10 minutes before I arrived. Then they had the nerve to try and sell me a more expensive truck. Luckily, I found a better deal at another dealership down the road. Had that truck for 10 years.

Sounds like another bait-and-switch story. Walk away and don’t look back.

Did you put a deposit down? That’s usually the only way they’ll hold it for you.

Reviews hit dealerships where it hurts. Be sure to leave one about your experience.