Bait and Switch

[Wendy Love]

I found an ad online for a manufactured home and called about it. The ad price was 7,900.00. When I called the salesperson told me that it was having new carpet installed and this would affect the price but only a little. I went there (drove 30 miles) and met the salesman who showed me the home and gave me a price. He "checked the invoice" twice while negotiating with me and gave me a final price. He asked me for 500.00 earnest money, which was given to him. I got my reciept and he put a sold sign on the home. Monday he called me and told me that his boss would not let him sell the home for that price because "he wouldn't make enough money off of it." I told him I didn't understand. He explained that the ad on the internet was not the mobile home we looked at and that he did not have that mobile home at all. I told him regardless of what was advertised we looked at the one on the lot and agreed upon a price and I gave him money for that one and agreed on a date to close. The owner then offered me the manufactured home for 2000.00 more than the agreed upon price. Do I have any recourse at all? I reported them to BBB but I am so upset that they can take your money and then change the price.

[rmurray]

You might also contact the agency that licenses manufactured home dealers in your state...Many states have rules against deceptive sales and advertising...Some states also have agencies of the government that deal with deceptive advertising...The federal trade commission has a small division devoted to deceptive advertising....but they stay busy with much larger fish...but I think you can file an on line compliant..cost nothing to try..

Since set up and delivery is so important to a successful manufactured home purchase...be glad this fellows real stripes came out before the delivery..Get your money back and move on..

[Eric S]

Did you sign a contingency contract or an actual order for a home? There is a difference. A contingency contract allows the dealer to change many things and raise the price for legitimate reasons, such as a price increase by the factory, adding options, etc. A contingency contract also allows you to get your money back. Once the order is in the factory and 20% has been paid down on the home and the home is being built, there should not be any price increases.

Bait and switch is not allowed in any industry. If you saw an ad with a serial number on it with a specific price, the dealer has to sell it for that, unless you ask for options to be added in such as carpeting. Adding things to a lot model will increase the price.

Other things that can raise the price from one week to the next are surcharges added by the factory for a new, not built home, escrow fees, HCD fees, lender fees, etc. Prices for some materials are rising 50% in a matter of weeks, so price changes are to be expected.

Installation and delivery is not included in some home prices, so make sure you know what you are buying and what is included, or not, as the case may be. A new home price generally does not include any options, unless it is on the sales lot and has a list attached detailing all of the options and the prices for them.

Some dealers will not sell a home without doing all of the work to deliver and install it as well. Some dealers make most of their money there. We sell homes only, and let homeowners do all the rest, (anywhere in the Western US). This is a good way to save thousands of dollars. We also do home and land packages. We sell in park homes and we provide family parks with spaces available near Sacramento, for those who need a home on a leased lot for around $100,000. We can provide four different manufacturers of homes, as well as all of the labor to develop, install and finish a new manufactured home in most areas of California.

If you need help with purchasing a manufactured home, feel free to call Eric at
1-888-676-8105

[rmurray]

Eric...the webmaster here would be more than happy to sell you advertising space on this site...

Spam posting is not what these forums are for..