SALESMEN

[lumberjim]

i just think right is right, zip. and if you saw the error, you should have been the one to point it out. That, from a purely ethical position. In the REAL world, the dealer made the mistake. The Finance Manager that did your paperwork, or the Sales Manager that signed the buyers order will endure a tongue lashing, and a mark in the memory of the GSM or GM or Dealer Principle, and they'll move on. You have to wonder if the dealer made that $500 on the sale of the car. Probably, but not definitely.

You said, yourself that you had the money set aside. This tells me that you knew keeping it was wrong.

I agree that a dealer that even has a collections department or "collections girl" must have some issues, and the treatment you received on the phone was unacceptable. But if you don't like the way a business treats you, you stop patronizing it, tell your friends to avoid them, or, if it's really bad, you write the BBB, or picket the freaking place, but you don't steal from them.

The Sales Manager that called you and offer to waive the nickel for a good survey ( what does that cost you, really?)(and don't say "it's wrong to lie"), and you agreed. So you kept the $500 and put it good use, I'm sure. Then you went back on your word and hammered them on the survey anyway. As far as I see it, you now owe them $500 again. You broke the deal. Pay up.

It might even be worth the $500 to you to be able to walk into the dealership, hand the salesmanager a check, and tell him that your morals are worth more than $500, and you decided not to lie on the survey.