The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-23
AUTO DEALERS TRAP
} "JOY RIDING" PEST
Man Who Has Stung Many
Firms Is Met Up With
at Last.
TRIES 1T ONCE TOO MANY
And Is Confronted With Other
Statesmen He Has Swindled
and Fooled.

Joy riders" folks who have q habit
Of taking demonstration rides but never
buying oars. are not so many now A.
they were when automobiles wore new.
but there are still some OF them Ono Of
tho dealers trapped Joy rider Of this
sort the other day and he has written
TO THE SUN to tell how he did H.
This man wrote to the Stewart Auto
mobile Company under date OF August 10
asking. to have a representative call Mon
day morsing at 10 o'clock sharp to talk
over the purchase OF a Pullman car. The
representative called and was shown into
an elaborate apartment In the music
room the salesman and the prospect"
discussed the mechanical features OF the
car. The salesman was informed that
the buyer had seen a number of Pull
man cars on the road OF late and that
he liked the car very much He talked
very intelligently about tho mechanical
features and arranged for n demonstra-
ton.
After going over all the details caro-
fully he stated that he was ready to
sign the order Immediately after the
demonstration was received Realizing
that prospects do not purchase 30 quickly
an investigation OF the prospect was
started This investigation started by
asking questions OF the employees OF the
house. The salesman was Informed that
about two dozen other companies had
already given rides to this man. In
vestgaton was carried further and a few
dealefs asked about the prospect. II was
learned that several prominent dealers
had obtained signed orders after giving
extensive demonstrations. II was not
possible. however. to obtain any deposit
with the order. The prospect in ques-
ton was purchasing cars ranging in price
from $500 to $4,000 In fact. one sales
man OF prominent company had an
order for car approaching $4,000. This
particular salesman spent most OF last
Sunday entertaining and waiting on the
prospect
When an these facts were ascertained
the Stewart Automobile Company made
an appointment with the man at the
salesrom so that he might look over the
mechanical features OF the car more
carefully and decide upon tho color OF
paint. slip Govern. &C The man kept the
appointment. In the meantime the other
statesmen of the other companies were
asked TO call and confront the protest. nal
Joy rider. After the man had given a
signed order amounting to several thou
sand dollars, even before he had received
a demonstration. the automobile dealer
called In a policeman and laid the facts
] DelOre MIN with view 10 prosecuting
the Joy rider. The whole matter was
staged and timed so that the professional
JOY rider would be at once confronted
/ with the officer and his various friends
the statesmen. He tainted and could not
talk or offcr any explanation. II was
necessary TO call An ambulance Then the
JOY rider realized that the taking could
not be carried any further. Previous 10
the ammonia treatment considerable Ice
! water was used freely. but needless 70
say, tho buyer" was not ready TO take
the demonstration. He promised faith
fully not to bother any other companies
or to ask for any more demonstrations
II not prosecuted. All the statesmen
agreed that they were fully paid for
their trouble although some OF them had
already spent part of their commissions
anticipated from the large order in hand
from the man
He has been posing as rich South
American and lives in a very elaborate
apartment. He has worked practically
every automobile company along the line
during the last several months.