Jessica S.
Yelp
If you enjoy deception, misrepresentation, and time-wasting games disguised as "luxury service," then Cadillac of Beverly Hills will not disappoint.
I initially contacted this dealership on Sunday regarding a lease for a Cadillac XT5. After extensive negotiation with Faisal (salesman) and Bill (the General Manager), we reached mutually agreed-upon terms -- or so I thought. Immediately thereafter came the predictable high-pressure tactics to "come in right now" on a Sunday to sign, as though my professional schedule in the legal field were irrelevant. I made it explicitly clear that the only feasible day would be Wednesday, and they confirmed the arrangement.
Fast-forward to Tuesday evening: suddenly, our "agreement" was unilaterally modified by them. The brand-new XT5 I was supposed to lease had magically transformed into a loaner vehicle, one already driven 5,000 miles, conveniently offered at the exact same price as the new model. I suppose they assumed I'd confuse "pre-owned" with "premium."
Then came the Cadillac Circus.
Both Faisal and Bill emphatically represented that the car was "on their lot," simply awaiting detailing. They promised a 9-10 AM call Wednesday to confirm my pickup time. Of course, that call never came. When I finally reached Faisal around noon, he casually admitted he was "working on getting the car back to the dealership." Translation: every prior statement about the car's availability was false.
Over the course of the day, I received no fewer than fifteen calls from them, during which the supposed pickup time changed from noon five six seven after hours and finally, Friday. Throughout this ordeal, they repeatedly requested my ETA, when I was 40 minutes away, 10 minutes away, 3 minutes away, as if I were approaching an actual car. Spoiler: I wasn't. It was all smoke and mirrors.
Upon arrival, I was informed that I could sign the lease, pay the down payment, and leave without the car, which they would "deliver Friday." When I declined to sign a contract for an asset that did not exist on-site, I was told, and I quote -- that even if I did sign and pay, the contract wouldn't be binding until I physically had the car.
For clarity: that statement is legally false and constitutes a material misrepresentation under California contract and consumer protection law. In layman's terms, that's potentially actionable fraud. Misleading a consumer about the binding nature of a financial contract isn't a "mix-up", it's a violation of basic legal standards governing fair dealing and reliance.
After losing an entire day rearranging my legal calendar, returning a rental, and commuting across Los Angeles, I walked out with nothing, except a front-row seat to one of the most disorganized, unethical, and deceptive sales operations I've encountered in my professional life.
If you enjoy bait-and-switch tactics, false representations, and time theft dressed up in Cadillac branding, by all means, pay Faisal and Bill a visit. For anyone who values integrity, good faith, or the law, you'd be better off leasing a scooter from Craigslist.