The US car dealerships that have survived, aren't always the most honest. Bob Rountree, who owns Brattleboro, Vermont Ford, and Kia of Keene in New Hampshire has "Bank Financing Sales" with balloons and signs saying "Big Sale". Bogus car keys are sent out in the mail. The prices of cars are taken off stickers, prices are taken off the internet, and only the price per month is shown. Interest rates go higher during a "sale", the actual prices are raised, and customers are completely screwed over, they become "upside down", meaning they have a car that when they go to trade it, might be worth 1/3 of what is left owed on it after the car is driven only a short time.

There are kickbacks and other sleazy backroom deals to do with financing. Those working at banks, don't make much, they make a lot in secret commissions paid in cash by dealerships, "You're approved". Rountree Brattleboro Ford and Kia of Keene call in national "closers" who are professional at making numbers. Fliers where you "win" something are sent out by the 10's of thousands. Binoculars are the main gift. There is an insurance policy taken out to pay for a vehicle or big screen television if it is actually "given" away. There is only one wining ticket given out for a big prize, and most fliers are thrown away. Rountree counts on potential "winners" to throw away the flier, maybe only paying $800 to "insure" big prizes if they are actually awarded.

Mark Lanoue of Mark's Motors Inc., of Brattleboro, Vermont, is another parasite on the food chain of selling cars. By selling cars to a sales manager at Rountree Ford, he gets his asking price, marks it up whatever he can, and splits that additional gouging with the sales manager at Rountree or another dealer. Let's say he marks up a vehicle $3500, and then another $2000 additional mark up to go to Rountree who marks it up another 3 to 5 thousand, makes more on interest, and on the "back end" with extras, warranties, and other crap to totally screw a customer?

Those who "work" at these used, and new car, dealerships may work everyday, long hours, and make less than minimum wage under very abusive and demeaning conditions. There is male on male sexual harassment. There is male on female. Cars can even be bought with sex acts. It has gotten that sleazy.

Mark Lanoue learned how to "tuck it in the ___" from his former boss, Robert Rountree.