Viking Dodge - Today's Lies

Topics:  Viking Dodge

Gus Philpott
Woodstock Advocate
July 17, 2008

If you have been following Wayne, of Viking Dodge vs. Wayne Beto, then you know he is still around. Wayne is the man with the signs in Crystal Lake who has been, and is, picketing Viking Dodge at the corner of US 14 and IL 176. You can read the whole story here [search (upper left) for Viking Dodge] or you can go to www.ripoffreport.com and search for Viking Dodge. There are 34 entries there.

Wayne asked me to drop by today at 3:30PM, because he planned to picket. I met Wayne and his son in his favorite parking spot, and we walked across the street to the grass along the curb in front of the dealership.

When Wayne is in Crystal Lake, many drivers honk and wave as they pass. Frequently, a driver will stop and talk with Wayne. If you wonder what's going on, stop and ask Wayne why he is there.

We were there for about 45 minutes and stayed near the curb. The right-of-way extends for 20 feet from the curb, and it is legal to be there. Wayne has already fought off Crystal Lake about the signs on his car. The City Attorney for Crystal Lake finally agreed with Wayne that his right to picket there is protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

While we were there, two Viking Dodge employees walked to the front of the lot and within about 25 feet of us. Their demeanor was pleasant enough, and they did not attempt to engage in any conversation. About 4:15PM Wayne's son and I walked back across the street to our vehicles. His son pulled out and circled around to pick up Wayne. I later wished I had waited for him to pick up his dad.

About 6:30PM Wayne called to tell me that someone at Viking Dodge had called the Crystal Lake Police and reported that Wayne was "on their property" and had been blocking vehicles from using their driveway. Two officers showed up and talked to Wayne and his son. A police department report now exists with an assigned number.

Since I was there, I know for a fact that none of us was on Viking Dodge property and none of us blocked the driveway.

I went to the Crystal Lake Police Department this evening and offered information about exactly how we conducted ourselves this afternoon. I stated to the police sergeant that it is a serious matter when a person files a false report with a police department.

Our courts are already clogged enough with cases, but it is my hope that Crystal Lake PD will be closely monitoring all future reports by Viking Dodge management.

An employee of Viking Dodge was convicted of stealing one of Wayne's signs. One day Viking Dodge employees boxed in Wayne's car with three big pick-up trucks, until the police showed up and took control of things. On another day Wayne was challenged in the bowling alley parking lot by Viking Dodge employees.

On another day a box of nails was scattered throughout the highway shoulder where Wayne usually parks. Now who would have done something like that? IDOT cleaned up that mess; at what cost?

Viking Dodge is suing Wayne. The case has been continued 11 times. That's ELEVEN times. They can't seem to get ready. Why a judge would ever allow a case to be continued ELEVEN times, I'm having a hard time figuring out. I'd be screaming, "Try this case or dismiss it!"

If you are thinking about doing business with Viking Dodge (or with any car dealership), do your homework. Read the horror stories of buying experiences of others. Remember: car salesmen get a lot of practice selling cars; you get hardly any experience at buying them. Who do you think is going to win in the deal?

The car salesman is not your friend. His job and that of the Finance Manager is to get as much of your money out of your pocket as possible. Your job is to keep as much IN your pocket as possible.

Read everything. Read it twice. Do not leave any blank spaces empty. If there is a blank space in a contract, either a number goes into it before you sign it, or you put a line through it or an "x" and then initial it. What do you think is going to happen if you leave it blank? Right!

And get a copy of EVERY form you sign, no matter what the Finance Manager says about the copying machine's being broken or that he'll mail it to you the next day. Tell him to send the salesman over to Kinko's for a copy; many Kinko's are open 24/7.

Don't get rushed. Don't allow yourself to feel pressured. There is nothing inherently wrong with buying a car on the day you are there, but you don't have to. There will ALWAYS be another car. In fact, probably the same car! If you feel you are getting pressured, just get up and walk out.

>>>>> Caveat emptor. Let the buyer beware. <<<<< Print that and staple it to your checkbook before you head off to a dealer.