A bad experience yesterday with a Dodge Dealer

[Guest RevScottie]

"but their feelings are going to be hurt more after 6 PM today, and their feelings are going to be hurt even more if I have to go see my attorney tomorrow morning."

 

Sorry if I misunderstood the above as a threat to take legal action..
.

 

Being treated like crap by someone who has a different skin color from you does not make them a racist. 

 

 

They weren't as bad as this place but you already mentioned another one that had the "lot boy" deliver your paperwork and what a problem that caused.

 

I'm not saying that you have to accept poor customer service but I am saying to play the race card in this situation is way out of line. 

[Guest TankerHC]

Attorneys skills are not always used for lawsuits. I have never sued anyone. Never will (Unless they did something like what happened to a family member and killed her in a hospital), but they know how to give up wakeup calls.

 

Have to ask. What would you do if someone handed one of these lot boys all of your personal info and he was just allowed to walk off with it. SSN, Drivers license number, home address, home and cell numbers, credit report, everything?

 

Finally, not playing the race card, saying that someone did something because of race isnt playing that unless you say it for personal benefit. (Which happens all the time). I can only assume you have never heard about Jackson, MS.  Believe it or not it's a regular occurance. But I just ignore it for the most part. They have every right to their personal opinions. What they do not have the right to do is represent a major Corporation like that when a customer comes in to spend money. (Me).

Edited May 24, 2013 by TankerHC

[LagerHead]

I don't understand you folks that will not buy a brand due to a bad experience with a dealer. You all know there are myriad personalities out there and to pay (possibly) more for what you consider an inferior brand just because some guy at a random dealership was pissy to you doesn't make sense. Do you honestly think your chosen brand has nothing but outstanding salesmen and no a*holes? 

[Guest TankerHC]

Do you honestly think your chosen brand has nothing but outstanding salesmen and no a*holes? 

 

 

Yes! (JK), :love:

 

Actually, I would not use that dealer again. So let me clear a few things up.

 

First, when I went back yesterday, yes, everything had changed from service on up, and to put it honestly, they bent over backwards to assist me. But I have no doubt that was not because they wanted to, that was because of corporate. We were all three on the phone together.

 

Secondly, when I arrived at the dealership, the other Service Manager who I had spoke with was standing in the parking lot waiting for me (He didnt have to wait long, I was there in 10 minutes). When I got there we spoke for a few minutes and he said he could not understand what got into "the salesman" because he is never like that (I know 100% what got into him, but like I said, I normally just ignore it). I told him no problem, and I understand that is how the man makes his livelihood and if he really wanted to I would deal with him. He said naaa, I have someone for you. So he hooked me up with a young Vet salesman and he was very knowledgeable and helpful. I fully intended to buy from them.

 

But then, when I left and was coming back to make a purchase and the receptionist just straight out lied, 1000% straight up bold faced lie, because she didnt want to do her job. That was enough for me. I try to hold myself to somewhat of a higher ethical standard. If someone deals with me they can be sure I wont rip them off, and certainly wont lie to them. And if something is not to their liking, Im always willing to make adjustments. I am not claiming to be perfect in any way, I have screwed up before and I know, having worked in a service industry that some customers can be a PITA. I try not to be one of them. But if you want to keep business flowing, you deal with it and move on, and if its a corporation, you should do it keeping in mind that it will not only affect your business, but others as well. I feel businesses should be held to the same standards. Poor treatment of customers, bad service all around and lying are things that will make me discontinue use of a business.

 

I gave these people three opportunities to sell me a truck. I think thats more than fair. Thats their fail, not mine. I didnt go there to kick tires, I went there to buy.

 

Having said all that, at this point I still haven't made up my mind now 100% on a Tundra or a Ram (I keep calling them Dodge Rams but they are no longer Dodge). Because I see within 30 miles of the center of Chattanooga there are SIX Chrysler dealers and FOUR Toyota dealers (2 are the same with 2 different locations). That's a LOT of trucks to look at. And as I mentioned, from here on out I will only be spending my money in TN.

[Guest Lester Weevils]

Bought the wrangler by internet/telephone, from a dealer 150 miles away who really wanted to sell cars. Deal went lowest hassle of any vehicle I ever bought. Called em 10 am saturday morning and they drove it up into my driveway by 5 or 6pm that evening. Zero hassles, zero problems with the truck except had to get one of the keyfobs replaced free under warranty (it failed after 2.5 years), and a couple of free recall service thangs via the local dealer.

 

Went so smooth, I don't mind and would prefer to deal with local dealers, but if i ever buy another vehicle, will see about buying it from a local dealer by phone. If local dealers can do it as smooth as dallas dodge did it, would be lots slicker than having to go to the dealer and hang around for hours.

Edited May 24, 2013 by Lester Weevils

[Murgatroy]

Just kinda confused here, but are 'lot boys' thieves? Are they automatically less reputable than the salesman? Salesman can't be thieves?

 

 

 

 

 

That really rubbed me the wrong way. I am a mid level manager for a massive corporation. I have a degree, a nice corner office and tell lots and lots of folks what to do on a daily basis. 

 

I also started out dead dick last on the totem pole throwing cases in the warehouse. Through a damned fine work ethic and integrity I moved up through the ranks to the point where eventually I sit in an office and tell several states what to do on a daily basis.

 

I didn't learn a lot from my father, but I did pick up two things from him in my life. One is an old Navy saying: One Aww Shit can Ruin a lot of Attaboys. The other was an anecdote about how a sailor missed a promotion. When he asked why he was skipped my father had to explain to him "I saw you in the galley the other day, you salted your food before you tasted it. How did you know it needed salt?"

 

Damn the man for all his life save for those two sayings.

 

Your entire first experience with the 'racist' dealer is now a moot point. That you flew off the handle over a rank and file employee and automatically assumed that you were somehow more at risk for him portrays you as rather arrogant and haughty. You may not be racist, but you plainly see equality differently than I do.

 

With that said, I hope I am wrong about you. 

[Guest RevScottie]

It also seems a bit surprising at how hard you are on the receptionist.

"how am I supposed to know if they are here or not if they dont tell me?". What? I didnt say anything but was thinking "isnt that what receptionists are for, you ask for someone and they page them"? Rather than coming out with a boldfaced lie because you dont want to do your job?"

Her job is to run interference between salespersons and obnoxious customers :) Edited May 25, 2013 by RevScottie

[Wyldk2]

Any dealership has to earn my business before i would buy from them anyday. I mainly go by past experiences and if a close friend or family member had a good or bad experience. I generally give one bad experience the benefit of a doubt, but do not try to fool me.

 

This goes for anything, whether it be a new vehicle or a new gun, If i have had a great experience buying from a business in the past, then they have a shot at getting future business from me. Even though my first atv wasn't bought from my current dealership, when I had a problem with my atv( can-am 400) they bent over backwards to help me, even sold me the parts i needed at their cost. When my atv finally died, i wanted to buy my next one from them, and them only. And since they didn't have the color in stock I wanted, they drove to Chattanooga to get it.I ended up buying a 650 max xt in Yellow.  So i hear some bad mouthing about the dealership from time to time, Probably someone else making a fuss because they can. Would I still be buying my next OHV from them, Heck yeah.

[gregintenn]

I don't understand you folks that will not buy a brand due to a bad experience with a dealer. You all know there are myriad personalities out there and to pay (possibly) more for what you consider an inferior brand just because some guy at a random dealership was pissy to you doesn't make sense. Do you honestly think your chosen brand has nothing but outstanding salesmen and no a*holes? 

I'm not buying a Toyota because every Toyota dealer within an hour's drive from my home are managed by a##holes. This means I either have to spend all day driving, or deal with these people if there is ever a problem, recall, etc. I do not consider Honda an inferior brand to Toyota. I have found a couple of reputable Honda dealerships in my area.

[mcordell]

Jeez,  I am glad I have a very close family member that owns a dealership and he can find me pretty much whatever I am looking for 

[Guest TankerHC]

As far as "lot boys" being thieves it doesnt matter. You dont hand a stranger all of your personal information to walk and drive around town with period. Anyone who thinks that is acceptable is a fool. You can barely get you luggage through an Airport these days without someone working there stealing something or all of it. And ID theft is ranked as the biggest consumer problem this country has right now.

 

BTW, call me arrogant or whatever you want. I dont care, I have thick skin. But remember, just because you are an honest man, worked your way up, does not mean everyone is.

 

As far as the salesman not being honest. He has worked there a long time, I have known him for five years, HE was supposed to seal everything in an envelope and HE was supposed to deliver it. I did not make a deal with a lot boy, I made a deal with Management and a salesman, they had the right to see our personal info if I wanted the vehicle, the guy who washes the cars not only did not have any right to see any of our personal info, he certainly should not have been carrying it around town IN HIS CAR, unsealed, or at all.

 

When you started out at the bottom, how many customers came to YOU with their information?

Edited May 25, 2013 by TankerHC

[Guest TankerHC]

All of the current Truck manufacturers are going to have some competition in about 18 months. Last year I was on Kia's website and they had a banner that said something along the lines of Kia has a huge surprise coming. Instantly I though they might be introducing a truck. They already have cars SUV's and Crossovers. So while I was out with my nephew looking for a used Car for him to take to college, we stopped in at Kia and I spoke to the Manager, and asked. Said that only a week earlier all the Managers were in Las Vegas for a meeting and yes, Kia did show them their new full size truck. They had a mock up already, and spec (Considerations), but it was going to be at least 24 months before it hit the showrooms. That was 6 months ago. I am really interested to see what they come up with.