Saw a 2014 Mercedes CLA 250 on the lot. I stopped to inquire and spoke to a person by the name of Fernando.I inquired about the vehicle and asked if he could print me up a data sheet on the vehicle.Well, there was no ink in the printer. So, then I asked if he could email me information on the vehicle of which he said yes.Of course,his first question was about financing.I advised that I was from San Antonio and that Randoph Brooks Federal Credit Union has financed all of my vehicles.Of course, he lost interest at that point. I returned home and went to work on doing my research and purchased a CarFax report.I had all the information documented on this car. After not receiving a call back from Fernando, I decided to call one of the other lots since Zapata's has 3. I asked if their salesman was able to sell a vehicle from one of the other lots. Approximately 10 minutes later I get a call from a Victor Alvarez.We spoke about the vehicle I was interested in and the very first thing he said to me was a lie. He stated that "this vehicle was a ONE owner vehicle". I had the CarFax report in front of me which I said I already knew that this car was two owner vehicle. Also knew that it had had been in a minor front end damage accident shortly after the second owner purchase.Of course, he was pushing for me to give him my personal information so that they could do a credit application for financing. After a few days I decided to just have them do the financing (BIG MISTAKE) to speed up the process and I would later have my bank re-finance. He further states that 20% is the norm.My top two credit scores were 764 & 752 so I figured I can get by with ZERO down but could possibly do $2000. We made plans for me to travel back down to Laredo and take a test drive and look over the vehicle a bit closer on Monday. After a few back-and-forth calls and text messages, Alvarez decides that it would be better if I come down on Tuesday rather than Monday. Granted, I had taken Monday off work for the transaction. So now I had to also take Tuesday off. Coincidently, he wanted me to come down on Tuesday because HE was in San Antonio purchasing a KIA. I had a few issues like a 4-inch dent on the rear passenger side door, a bullet size hole on the front bumper, no spare tire and the oil dipstick was missing the top ring used to pull it in and out of the engine.I make contact with Alvarez and he immediately starts to school me on the "value" of such a vehicle. Now, my wife and I have matching Mercedes C300's in our driveway but I will take the word of my CarFax report not Alvarez.The vehicle's asking price was 19,864. But they were offering it to me at 17,500. My CarFax report had the retail value listed at $17,090. Now after I take a test drive and I tell them that I'm willing to try and work a deal.Here came the bait and switch.He originally told me 20% down which was approximately $3,400 and I had said I would be willing to put down $2000 but now he says...I spoke to the owner, he wants $6000 down. My response was...no way.I told Alvares I would do 2 but I had $3500 cash on me but wasn't about to tell him that. I said If you CAN'T make it work with $3000 down then I'm out. Again, he wanted to tell me about what I was buying. Again, I said if you can't make it work with 3, I am leaving.So, he let me drive away. The next day, I get a call and a text message stating "I HAVE GREAT NEWS". My response to him was as follows. I have a brother that sells cars, and I am retired law enforcement after 30 years of service.I know the dance of the car salesman and MY bullsh!+ meter is pretty good.YOU let me drive away so you wasted not one but two of my days.You can inflate the price of the car but that doesn't make it worth what you are actually trying to get for it.CarFax report had all of the pertinent information I needed to know. NOT doing business with a shady operation.BUYER BEWARE when doing business with Zapata Auto Sales in Laredo, TX. SHADY OPERATION
