As always, it's 'buyer beware' - or in this case, 'seller beware'. Dealerships have the motivation to get your trade for the lowest price possible.............sometimes without much regard to the tactics used.
I once sold a car outright to a dealership - didn't buy anything new from them in the deal. I had virtually new Michelins on it (less than 5k miles): "When was the last time you had the car aligned?" (Never - car drove fine, tires always wearing perfectly - low miles......why align it?) "That will cause a problem with your new tires!" (Really???
) Someone had also bumped one of the fenders in a parking lot hit-and-run deal previously - and I'd had it fixed/replaced at arguably one of the best body and paint shops in the area.....and excellent job. But the dealer asked if the car ever had any paint/body work done so I told them what had happened. "Oh, we won't be able to sell that as a factory Certified used car, then!" (Saw an ad later on where they were marketing it as Certified............) But I got what I felt was a good, fair price out of the car......and I was ready for their "stories" about what wasn't good about my car......so I was o.k. with the deal. I knew what to expect about the process going in.
Moral: ALL dealerships will do pretty much whatever it takes to beat you down on the price of your trade. That's the name of their game - to help maximize their profit. It's been that way forever and it's never going to change. Selling your 'old' car yourself is the best way to get the most money out of it in most all cases.......if you want to hassle with it.
I don't blame you for not being happy, though. It's generally never a pleasant process in situations like that.
Bill