Dealer sells scratched car?
 

Quick question, if a dealer is selling a new car that has a significant scratch on it, are they required to literally tell you about the scratch? Or is allowing you to view the car, but not say anything explicitly about the scratch fine? The dealership certainly knew about the scratch in my opinion because of some lightly faded paint (from buffing?) around the area in question.

caveat emptor

Don't like it, don't buy it!

A dealer is only obligated to disclose significant damage. This varies by state.

If you still want the car have them repair it to your satisfaction before consummating the deal..

Got it, I agree I could have inspected the car more closely. Pouring rain on the date of my purchase didnt help, but whats done is done. The scratch isnt enough for me to threaten lawsuit (not that I would get anything anyway) I was just hoping the professionalism I was treated with when I bought the car would persist into my disclosure of my discovery to the dealer. If they tell me "sorry, but buyer beware" then at least I tried rather than not bringing it up at all.

yea they probably knew about it and just didnt say anything to get the car on the road.. say something to them and they will probably fix it for you. if not they are jerk offs.

yah, it's also possible that your salesman was innocently not aware of the scratch. i find often that these car sales people really dont know much about cars or even really care that much. some of them can't even tell there is a ding on the door...

if your nails cant catch the scratch you can polish it out. if your nail can, then either have to live with it, or try those spot-touchup airbrush folks. but no guarantee how it will turn out but your dealer probably has a guy contracted to do their used cars.

I found two pretty significant scratches on mine, but since its PG its really hard to see. But I doubt they would even tell you, their job is to move cars, and we all know how sleazy some of them can be. So it is your job to thoroughly inspect a 30k+ object before you buy it.

Agreed, but theres no use in kicking myself over missing the defect originally, I cant change that. The salesman legitimately seemed like a good guy so my hopes are that they will uphold that reputation with me and offer a remediation of some sort. Again I am not expecting them to do so, hope is the key word here.

Have you contacted the dealership about it? And how have they responded? Time-is-of-the-essence so I would move on matters.

I informed the dealer about 5 days after the purchase, that was on a Friday I believe. I told the salesman I can send a picture, which he told me to email to his manager. The manager got those pictures on Sunday, and they were "very busy" Monday, then neither salesman nor manager was in on Tuesday, and so I spoke with the salesman again today Wednesday, and he said he would get right on it. I am awaiting reply.

Whatever you do, don't let them try and buff it out.

Im afraid they made a minor attempt to do that already, before I ever came in. This assumption is based off the fact that the black paint around the scratch very lightly cloudy/hazy.

There is actually a pretty good chance that your sales guy didn't know it was there. I'm sure the detailers know, but a lot of times they wont say anything unless it is really bad.

This is why when I was in sales full time I would do a walk around of the car myself, and try to get customers to take delivery during daylight so we can do a walkaround together. I'd much rather a customer not take a car and then find another than them leave with it, and come back angry.

get some scratch-x and a foam pad and work it into the paint. should polish the haze out nicely. wax afterwards. if it's shiny it'll be harder to tell it's scratched.

might even put on some Prima Amigo on there to fill it and then wax.

Thanks man, will do. I am under the impression, at least for now, that the salesman didnt know about the scratch. Two facts are beginning to make me think otherwise: 1- I got the car at a great price (though it is an 09 and I had to travel 150 miles for it) 2- This salesman was ON POINT throughout the duration of the initial call-sale process always returning my calls ASAP, but since I have brought up the scratch hes all nice when I can get him on the phone, but its pretty hard to get him on the phone...