To: bovik@ROBIN.WARP.CS.CMU.EDU
Subject: Century III Chevrolet
Return-Receipt-To: davide@b.gp.cs.cmu.edu
Precedence: special-delivery
Work-Phone: +1 412 268 8101
Work-Fax: +1 412 268 5576
Home-Phone: +1 412 344 9540
Reply-To: David.Eckhardt@B.GP.CS.CMU.EDU
Date: Tue, 15 Nov 94 14:04:31 EST
From: David_Eckhardt@ROBIN.WARP.CS.CMU.EDU

"Auto dealer pays $15,000 fine to settle ad charges"
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 11 1994

A West Mifflin automobile dealership has agreed to pay $15,000 in civil
fines to settle allegations that it ran deceptive TV and newspaper
advertisements.

Century III Chevrolet on Lebanon Church Road did not admit wrongdoing
in signing a consent agreement with the state attorney general's office
yesterday.

The state had accused the dealership of running ads falsely claiming
that it was "overstocked."

The ads also misled customers into believing that advertised prices
applied to its entire inventory, when in fact they applied only to one
or two specific vehicles, which weren't always available when customers
went to the dealership, the state contended.

Century III advertised new Chevy S-10 trucks for $7,994 and Cavaliers
for $6,994, but only for two specific vehicles, identified by their
stock numbers in fine print.

Other conditions of sale imposed by the dealership made it impossible
for customers to buy at the advertised prices, the state contended.
Deputy Attorney General Mark Pacella described the ads as a
bait-and-switch.

The dealership denied the state's allegations but agreed to settle the
case.

In addition to the fines, the dealership agreed to pay $1,588 to cover
investigative and court costs.  It also agreed to comply in the future
with the state's consumer protection regulations, a promise similar to
one the dealership made in June 1993 to settle an unrelated complaint
by the state.

Francis H. Auffenberg Jr., the dealership's vice president and
secretary, said he had no comment yesterday.