MISLEADING ADVERTISING

CARS.CO.ZA complicit in misleading advertising of CMH?

From: C...........@gmail.com Sent: Monday, May 27, 2024 7:28 AM To: info@cars.co.za Subject: CMH PROTON, Cape Town Importance: High

Dear Sirs,

First of all, I would like to thank you for the care and assistance you gave me when, through your site, I decided to delve deeper into the adverti*****ts of CMH Proton of Cape Town relating to the SAGA cars referred to in the links:

• https://www.cars.co.za/for-sale/used/2023-Proton-Saga-1.3-Premium-Auto-Western-Cape-Cape-Town/9480706/ still advertised for sale today for R164.950 • https://www.cars.co.za/for-sale/used/2023-Proton-Saga-1.3-Premium-Auto-Western-Cape-Cape-Town/9427664/ still advertised for sale today for R169950

Well, a few moments after my declaration of potential interest through your site, I was contacted by a CMH salesman who, after assuring me that they were both "demo" cars, offered to take me to view the first 27,000km car at home. However, being potentially interested in viewing and trying also the second one with 20,000km, I decided and agreed with that salesman to personally go to their branch.

When I arrived at the branch the next morning together with my wife, that salesman was not present, the 27,000 km car was not available (but it was the one that the seller was supposed to bring me home for testing that same morning...) and the one from 20000 has over 23000km.

Apart from this, they informed that both cars, despite being CMH property, are actually reserved and used by customers in case their cars are in the workshop for a long time for services.

The one available with over 23,000km, despite being priced at R16,990, had widespread bodywork defects, a ruined, dirty interior, even holey mats and a widespread unpleasant smell, so much so that we decided to avoid even getting on board.

Therefore, my wife and I turned our attention to the possible purchase of a new SAGA manual basic available on the floor, advertised at R 179,900. Well, after the road test of a similar one they have available, we asked for the final quote for the purchase expecting confirmation of the "all-inclusive" cost of R179,900, as we had been told and confirmed several times during the viewing of the car and the test of the demo.

In addition, we had also asked if it was possible to get a discount on the purchase as we would not be offering trade-ins as we had already committed to selling our car to GetWorth for R135,000 and they would come in afternoon to pick it up and pay for it. We were told that the CMH manager was refusing to negotiate because the advertised price for the car we were interested in was R179,900 on special and nothing would be taken away!

Well, the final reality was that the available “base model” advertised for sale everywhere at… just R179,900, (https://cmh.proton.cars/specials/ PROTON SAGA 1.3 STANDARD M/T) in reality it costs "turnkey" the beauty of R 195,232! As the attachments shows without any possible mistake and/or misunderstanding, on the quote CMH Cape Town issued to my name, there is NO mention about the advertised cost of R179,900.00 for the basic manual SAGA I was interested in buying thy same morning paying cash…!!!

Despite our complaints and having reminded to the sellers who had repeatedly assured that the final price for the car under negotiation was R179,900, they denied it, hiding behind excuses that were simply absurd and clearly offensive to our intelligence.

In addition, having canceled the purchase of the Saga due to such a completely unacceptable price, we consequently had to renounce the offer to purchase our car from GetWorth which, if we were to ask to confirm that same offer today for another purchase, would not be reconfirmed. Therefore, the experience with CMH Cape Town also created us unexpected and, above all, UNFAIR economic damage due to their unfair behavior bordering on commercial *****.

We have already reported the fact to your representative who called us yesterday to have a report about our experience with CMH thanks to your adverti*****ts but we wish to officially INFORM that CMH discloses MISLEADING information about the SAGA’s price and adverti*****ts aimed at misleading the recipients of such adverti*****ts attempting to undermine their economic behavior, even potentially. A practice, therefore, contrary to the Law of Consumers who see themselves as recipients of misleading advertising.

Misleading advertising is a form of advertising which, with a false and distorted message, extols qualities that the product does not possess and/or prices that are not respected and/or app****, deceiving the consumer. In the EU, such attitudes and behaviors have ******** relevance and serious sentences are imposed against those who apply such behaviors that are harmful to the market and competition.

Since CARS.CO.ZA is a serious and important public institution for the Country and a purchasing guide for Consumers, I consider it useful and important for you to take cognizance and note of these facts of such serious importance in order to take adequate measures: if necessary including blocking such adverti*****ts.

Regards