Question for business lawyers

[curt93t/t]

So I bought a new truck from a local dealer a few years ago and they had a "Customer for life" program where you got free oil changes, batteries and if the engine failed and wasn't your fault they'd fix it. Anyway, fast forward 4 years later and the Nissan dealership next door bought the dealership out, but it is keeping the name and everything. Everything except the customer for life program and they are no longer honoring it. If I have a signed contract shouldn't the new owner have to honor? I talked to one person and they said the new owner could have signed something negating, but I don't see how that is if I have something in writing.

[j2k4]

Somehow I don't see you getting a reliable opinion on that question without spending legal money, which kinda defeats the purpose.

Perhaps take out an ad for respondents in the same boat as you?

Drum up some of this outfit's customer-base to lend weight to your concern?


Of course, I'm not a lawyer, so.

[stealthee]

There may be fine print on that very contract you signed that allows this. I'm also not a lawyer, but just because the dealership is keeping the same name necessarily mean anything. If they got bought out and changed names, or if they just closed up would you be here asking this question?

The argument could be that this owner isn't who guaranteed with customer for life program so they have no requirement to honor it.

[anyonebutme]

I'm not a lawyer but I did stay at a holiday inn last night.

No, they don't have to honor your warranty. That being said, different states have different consumer protections.

[curt93t/t]

If they got bought out and changed names and or sold different brand of cars then no. With them keeping everything the same I believe they are keeping all the same files and records of previous clients/customers. My way of thinking may be off, but if they went and started selling Chevy's nothing that was sold by the previous owner would be warranted under Chevy. Like I said, I talked with someone who said the new owner "could" have signed a deal with the original owner negating all previous incentive programs, but who am I or anyone else to know? Is this something of public record? I mean who is to say this person is just relying on people to cave and not question it?

[j2k4]

Find a bit of weight - in the form of other customers.

What you want to know is if they're similarly curious, then get a bunch of them to to sign on to a written inquiry.

Copies to all who sign, and forward the inquiry to the dealer.

Strive to be civil yet stern-with-a-hint-of-legal in the language you use.

[UTRacerX9]

Stealthee is correct. Sorry, but unfortunately they are not obligated to honor any previous warranties. I saw this all the time when I worked in finance and companies would buy another company out. That leads to all new contracts and all previous contracts are null and void, because you now have a contract with a defunct organization. Keeping the name doesn't mean anything unfortunately. Now, in this day and age you could possibly raise a stink and if you were lucky enough to get a local news channel to hear your story and do a segment on this company, they would probably cave if they wanted to avoid any negative publicity. But they are not legally bound to honor a contract made by a previous entity.