I have tried to work things out with Joe Tajik at Stevens Creek Showcase auto dealership. They sold me a 1992 Mercedes Benz that is rife with problems ( Only God knows what the true mileage on this car is, because the speedometer is not correct). Each time I speak with Joe, it is one after another attempts to rip me off.

Having encountered financial difficulties, I had to sell my 2002 Jaguar X-type. It had low mileage (under 65k miles) and was in excellent shape. Joe low-balled me by saying that it was only worth $9000 when KBB was clearly $14, 000 for a trade-in with my mileage, Trim and options package. I asked for $11K. He allowed me $9K out of which I purchased the 1992 S-Class Benz for a total of $6425 ($5795 plus tax and license). I received $2500 in cash. As you can see, there is $75 dollars outstanding that they owe me, which was just brought to my attention when I went through the paperwork.

He had two cars that I was willing to take. I test drove the 740i BMW (1998) and the other was a 1996 Black Benz S-Class. He told me that I could have either of them at first. Once the deal was struck suddenly my only choice was a Benz that he had that was "coming in" It was brought in on a flat-bed tow truck. I was mortified. It was closing time and I had no alternative. We had waited all day in 100+ degree heat.

The Benz was problematic from the moment I received it and Joe has agreed to address these issues. However, the transmission is gone and I have NO REVERSE - This was a pre-existing issue for which he is trying to penalize *me* by giving me an even LESSER vehicle in trade!!! -

His business practices are deplorable. He SEEMS nice but it is simply veneer as he gets the most for your vehicle while giving you the dregs. He now expects me to accept a 1995 Kia that he is selling for $2995 as a trade for my Benz! Clearly, he wants a total annihilation of my esteem and pocket book.

Mind you, I *never* received the registration! He sold me a car whose title was not available.

Here is what Edmunds has to say about the Kia he wants to give me:
The Kia Sportage has come a long way. When it was first introduced in the U.S. in the mid-1990s, it was a cute but relatively unimpressive mini-SUV. It was underpowered, its interior was cheap and it was plagued with quality issues. Although Kia revised and updated the Sportage through the years, the modest changes weren't enough to keep it competitive. In 2002, Kia dropped the model from its lineup and went back to the drawing board. http://www.edmunds.com/kia/sportage/review.html

There seems no end to the rip-offs. He alternatively offered me a huge "pimp- mobile" cadillac with over 120k miles on it. Or, a broken down Toyota with cloth seats. I have never owned a car with cloth seats...I have a seven year old - that's a disaster in the making.

Joe had cars on his lot that I was willing to look at, with leather trim just as I had given *him*. He refused to let me have them.

Please read my letter to Joe below for the rest of the mayhem.

Michael, what I want at this point is *all* of the money back that I paid him for the Benz plus the $75 dollars that they owe me in cash. If not, I want a check that I can take to *his* bank so that I can get it cashed and get another car as, I have NO OTHER TRANSPORTATION.

When Joe proposed money-back resolution to me earlier today, I agreed but I told him that I needed cash or at least the ability to cash it at his bank, because I have to immediately purchase another car at another dealership to get home to San Francisco. Joe wants me to wait until the end of the day (again so that everything is closed) before he can let me know IF he can write me a check. This is insane.