False Advertising: Bait and Switch

DEALERS USING BAIT AND SWITCH

ADVERTISING FRAUD BY CAR DEALERS

Bait and Switch Advertising fraud is not allowed by car dealerships.

New Jersey has specific regulations prohibiting bait and switch advertising as applied to car salesmen: advertising a car with no intention of selling it at the advertised price, which is shown by the refusal to show, sell or display the car as advertised; or taking a deposit on the advertised car while switching the customer to a higher-priced car.

This is a common dealer tactic. Many times, they will start talking the car down even before you see it. Many times, the car will never be shown to you as they are very clever to steer you away from this advertised priced car. This car either 1) does not exist; 2) has already been sold; or 3) provides little if any profit for the dealer so they put in another "deal". Do your research and be smart. If this is the car you want, insist to see the car and insist on purchasing the car. If the car has been sold insist on getting this in writing from the salesman. Document your conversations.

In short, when a car is advertised at a specific price you must sell the car at that price or have written permission switching the consumer to another car.

The point of these regulations is to address the volumes of advertisements you see in every newspaper, each advertisement being bigger and containing grander promises (e.g., $99 down and $99 per month).

If you look carefully at these newspaper advertisements you will see many times that they are for one specific car, and not on all cars. Maybe the special deal is only for customers who have 50% to put down on a car or have fantastic credit, all probably disclosed in small print on the bottom of the page with an asterisk or some other insignificant notation.

The dealer’s intention is to drive traffic to the dealership at any cost before you go to another dealership and buy a car from somebody else. They assume that once they get you down to the store they can get you into any car. This is part of the sales process.

Bait and switch advertising fraud is specifically prohibited under New Jersey law. New Jersey law does not condone, encourage or otherwise permit this type of deceptive business practice and this type of deceptive advertising.

New Jersey law recognizes and accepts that advertising is a significant portion of the automotive industry with regard to the marketing of used and new vehicles. There are very specific limitations and prohibitions on advertising for new and used car dealers.

Legislative oversight is significant and codified in the Administrative Code. The Administrative Code places exhaustive and numerous limitations on the types of advertising that dealers can undertake to sell, and market used and new vehicles. These regulations work on the assumption that the selling dealers are fully familiar with the nature and extent of their obligations under New Jersey law. New Jersey courts have recognized that the seller of used the new vehicles must be fully familiar with the nature and extent of that the administrative code and the rules with regard to advertising and marketing of vehicles. This is the reason that if a selling dealership who was selling either used or new vehicle violates the administrative code they are deemed strictly liable or responsible for any loss occurring as a result of that advertisement. The Administrative Code provides an authority for consumers upon which they can rely to demonstrate that the dealer’s conduct is inherently deceptive and inherently illegal. The consumer need only demonstrate an ascertainable loss associated with the deceptive or misleading advertising for which they purchased or attempted to purchase the vehicle. It is this ascertainable loss which is recognizable and recoverable under New Jersey law in addition to triple damages and attorney’s fees and costs. As previously stated the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act provides extensive remedies including injunctive relief for dealers that engage in deceptive advertising practices. Pain switch advertising practice is deemed a deceptive practice under New Jersey law and specifically defined. However definition under New Jersey law and the administrative code is not the only method by which a selling dealer can advertise in a deceptive fashion.

If you think you have been caught in a bait and switch advertising fraud scheme by a car dealership call a lawyer that can sue a car dealership and has experience suing car dealerships in New Jersey.

Bait and switch advertising fraud can be a very complicated scheme. Many car dealerships use all types of the bait and switch advertising across many platforms including their own website, newspaper advertisements, cars.com, auto trader.com, and other resources upon which car dealerships rely. To sell cars. Then when you go to the dealership there could be a separate posted price on the vehicle which could be separate and apart from any online price. There are terms and conditions all over the place including on the website, at the dealership's place of business, or on the vehicle. These can be very difficult cases and bait and switch is very complicated and sophisticated scheme used by car dealerships to lure customers into the dealership and make them pay either a higher price or by another vehicle.

In order to protect yourself from a bait and switch scam by a car dealership you should take notes, take screenshots, keep track of emails, and do your research to determine what the fair prices for vehicle. If you have all your notes in front of you you are aware of what the market value of the vehicle is neither the dealership protect yourself and use the advertisements and the dealership tactics against them when purchasing the vehicle. Do not take no for an answer use the online price use whatever price you have printed out with you presented to them and make them offer you the price. If you are persistent you can defeat a dealership bait and switch scam but you need to have your research with you and done a significant amount of research on the bait and switch.

BAIT AND SWITCH

Bait and switch is a form of auto fraud in New Jersey that involves dealers misrepresenting or failing to disclose certain information about a car. Consumers who unknowingly become victims of bait and switch may be entitled to damages, including reimbursement for the purchase price, attorney's fees, and other costs incurred as a result of their loss. A reliable bait and switch lawyer can help ensure that consumers receive the compensation they deserve. A knowledgeable attorney can provide guidance throughout the process of filing a claim, litigating a dispute, and obtaining an outcome in their favor. With an experienced bait and switch lawyer on their side, consumers can rest assured that their rights will be protected.

 Bait and switch advertising is a type of consumer fraud, where businesses offer a product or service at an extremely low price, making it appear as though it is an unbeatable deal. However, once the customer arrives at the business, they are told that the advertised item is no longer available and are instead pressured to buy a more expensive item. This deceptive practice violates consumer protection laws in many jurisdictions and can be considered unfair or fraudulent business practices.


One example of bait-and-switch is when car dealerships advertise a car for an incredible price without disclosing any details about the actual vehicle. When customers arrive at the dealership expecting to buy the vehicle, they find out it was already sold and are then encouraged to purchase a much more expensive one. This type of marketing is designed to lure customers into cancelling current plans and purchasing something from them instead.

Bait and switch advertising can have serious consequences for consumers who fall victim to this scam. They may end up paying significantly more than what they had originally planned for, while also having their time wasted by being subjected to aggressive sales tactics. Additionally, consumers may be misled about important details such as warranties or financing options which further increases their risk of incurring losses when purchasing items through this method.

To avoid becoming victims of bait-and-switch tactics, consumers should always be aware of common red flags such as suspiciously low prices or vague descriptions about products being offered. It’s also important to research companies before doing business with them so that you’re sure you’re dealing with legitimate businesses who are honest in their dealings. Finally, always keep track of all documents related to purchases so that you have evidence in case anything goes wrong during the transaction process.

By seeking legal counsel, consumers can potentially avoid costly auto frauds like bait and switch. A qualified attorney with experience in NJ auto fraud cases can offer sound guidance on how to best protect yourself from becoming a victim of unscrupulous car dealerships. The right lawyer will also be able to provide advice on filing a complaint against any business that has engaged in bait and switch

Consumer Lawyer The Law Office of Jonathan Rudnick LLC