The province’s car sales regulator, the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC), says the advertised price in a dealership ad must include all fees the consumer is expected to pay, except HST and licensing. In fact, it’s been Ontario law since 2010 that dealership ads must set out the total amount.

The investigation found six of the 15 dealerships charged more than the advertised price. Four of 15 dealerships showed a photo of a more expensive version of the vehicle in the ad than the one they were actually selling. And six of 15 included extra features the undercover shoppers didn’t ask for — though most of the extras were built into the advertised price and some dealerships agreed to remove them when we asked.

  • GrindingGears@lemmy.ca
    4·
    20 hours ago

    To the shock and awe of no one.

    I started my career in dealerships. OMVIC needs to be three times the size it is, and it needs to be independent. A lot of their board members and whatnot are dealer principles, its basically self policing.

    Advertisements have been a problem for 30+ years.

  • LoveCanada@lemmy.ca
    9·
    1 day ago

    A news team did this check in Calgary many years ago. There was a Mazda dealer advertising a basic model at an unbelievably low price under $10,000. After a reporter with a hidden camera tried to buy that car the dealer eventually admitted that they not only didnt have a car at that price on the lot, but they couldn’t even order one. It was a scam to get people in the door.

    Here’s looking at you Sunridge Mazda. We remember.

    • GrindingGears@lemmy.ca
      1·
      20 hours ago

      Sunridge Mazda is still a sleaze den. Orangeville Mazda set the bar though. I think it was the first dealer, or one of the first that OMVIC moved to shut down, I can’t remember if they got to it or Mazda pulled the franchise first.

      There’s been some real memorable ones in Canada. They put a guy in jail for awhile a couple years ago. It’s an industry that attracts the fraudsters.