Small Dealership Rant

[Re_Invention]

Hi Guys,

This is out of norm for me, so please bear with me, I just need to rant a little bit about what happened earlier today. I'm not actively looking to slander a business, I understand one bad apple can ruin it for the bunch, but damn it it all if I'm not pissed over the two sales men (although I think the first guy was a greeter) at the Scion dealership near the XX and XX.

The story; spent mother's day with my family and on the way home decide to show my mother what the FR-S looks like in person. We had been talking about the car and my buying a 2014 model, so she was curious what it looks like. We hit the dealer, walk the huge, empty lot and a gentlemen asks how we are doing; great we say and ask if he can point us into the direction of the FR-S's. Immediately, he shuts down - frowns, turns his back, walks VERY quickly towards the cars, doesn't say a word, and once we catch up to him the first and only thing he asks us "Are you going to buy today?"

=|

I tell him I'm interested in a 2014 model and ask if we can just check out (sit in) the car. He says he'll get the key inside [there's a key box on the window of each car] and excuses himself. A few minutes later, an older sales man comes out to greet us and tells us the first guy was "feeling sick."

I think - well, damn, why did he shake my hand then?

My father and I are speaking in German about the car. He's a salesman for a Volkswagen dealership a few cities over and knows his way around a car. We sit in it, I'm showing him the bits here and there. The car had a TRD exhaust and intake installed and the salesman asks if we'd like to start the car; sure I respond!
Car is started and idles, I love the exhaust note, salesman asks again if we'd be interested in buying today - I politely ask the salesman if he knows of any information on the 2014 model and if the dealership would start taking deposits. He looks annoyed and asks why not buy a 2013, I tell him I've followed the car for coming up 6 years, and I can wait a few more months. He tells me "only an idiot would wait" and that the dealership wouldn't take any deposits.

=|

I retort; so you guys don't want my free money?

He responds; you can put a deposit down, but it doesn't mean anything.. Are you going to buy a car today or not? Is there any way you'll take a 2013?

I tell him no, I don't think so.

He asks for the key back and opens the door for me to get out. My father comments about the terrible customer service. The Super salesman of the year points out what a hot car the FR-S is and to not waste anyone's time... According to the dealership website (which I checked prior to arriving) there are 30+ units for sale in stock, right there in the parking lot we say 15+ all in white/grey/silver/black sitting in a row!!!! There's $200+ savings according to Truecar from the dealership off msrp. Not to take anything away from the car but it certainly isn't a winning lottery ticket on the lot.

He gave me his card, we laughed it off and walked away.

=\

TL;DR - Went to a dealership, wasn't going to buy; just wanted to show my mother what the car looks like. Asked about putting deposit down for 2014 was told I'm an idiot and motioned to leave. Ranting now about the d!ckhead salesman/greeter/dealership (incurring).

Can anyone recommend a positive dealership? There's no way in hell I'm giving these guys my deposit let alone a sale.

Cheers :happy0180:

[invzabomaster]

which dealership is this?

[shellslinger]

Go to Longo Toyota ask for Jeff or Tony. Problem solved.

[G.I.Choe]

He said he didn't want to slander a business, doubt he's going to post it. However, a quick google search shows a "John Elway's Crown Scion/Toyota Dealership" south of the intersection.

[SmsAlSuwaidi]

Originally Posted by Re_Invention

Hi Guys,

This is out of norm for me, so please bear with me, I just need to rant a little bit about what happened earlier today. I'm not actively looking to slander a business, I understand one bad apple can ruin it for the bunch, but damn it it all if I'm not pissed over the two sales men (although I think the first guy was a greeter) at the Scion dealership near the XX and XX.

The story; spent mother's day with my family and on the way home decide to show my mother what the FR-S looks like in person. We had been talking about the car and my buying a 2014 model, so she was curious what it looks like. We hit the dealer, walk the huge, empty lot and a gentlemen asks how we are doing; great we say and ask if he can point us into the direction of the FR-S's. Immediately, he shuts down - frowns, turns his back, walks VERY quickly towards the cars, doesn't say a word, and once we catch up to him the first and only thing he asks us "Are you going to buy today?"

=|

I tell him I'm interested in a 2014 model and ask if we can just check out (sit in) the car. He says he'll get the key inside [there's a key box on the window of each car] and excuses himself. A few minutes later, an older sales man comes out to greet us and tells us the first guy was "feeling sick."

I think - well, damn, why did he shake my hand then?

My father and I are speaking in German about the car. He's a salesman for a Volkswagen dealership a few cities over and knows his way around a car. We sit in it, I'm showing him the bits here and there. The car had a TRD exhaust and intake installed and the salesman asks if we'd like to start the car; sure I respond!
Car is started and idles, I love the exhaust note, salesman asks again if we'd be interested in buying today - I politely ask the salesman if he knows of any information on the 2014 model and if the dealership would start taking deposits. He looks annoyed and asks why not buy a 2013, I tell him I've followed the car for coming up 6 years, and I can wait a few more months. He tells me "only an idiot would wait" and that the dealership wouldn't take any deposits.

=|

I retort; so you guys don't want my free money?

He responds; you can put a deposit down, but it doesn't mean anything.. Are you going to buy a car today or not? Is there any way you'll take a 2013?

I tell him no, I don't think so.

He asks for the key back and opens the door for me to get out. My father comments about the terrible customer service. The Super salesman of the year points out what a hot car the FR-S is and to not waste anyone's time... According to the dealership website (which I checked prior to arriving) there are 30+ units for sale in stock, right there in the parking lot we say 15+ all in white/grey/silver/black sitting in a row!!!! There's $200+ savings according to Truecar from the dealership off msrp. Not to take anything away from the car but it certainly isn't a winning lottery ticket on the lot.

He gave me his card, we laughed it off and walked away.

=\

TL;DR - Went to a dealership, wasn't going to buy; just wanted to show my mother what the car looks like. Asked about putting deposit down for 2014 was told I'm an idiot and motioned to leave. Ranting now about the d!ckhead salesman/greeter/dealership (incurring).

Can anyone recommend a positive dealership? There's no way in hell I'm giving these guys my deposit let alone a sale.

Cheers :happy0180:

let me guess, it was ontario xx and xx referred to 15 and 60 ? , and sadly the description stated matches the salesman i got my car from. Tall, thin and maybe wearing glasses ?

[asia_minor]

should go up on Yelp.

[Aku]

I'm sorry to hear about the bad experience, it's a real shame that happened. If you make the drive out to the dealership I work at, Power Toyota & Scion Irvine, I have a buddy in sales who can help you out who isn't stuck up. I'll see if I can find any info on the 2014.

[Chef]

Originally Posted by shellslinger

Go to Longo Toyota ask for Jeff or Tony. Problem solved.

Longo will take care of all your needs!!! I got mine there and had a great time doing business there. Actually we've(my parents) bought 2 cars and a truck there in the past 5 years.

Hope this helps.

[JFK0424]

Im the TRAC Manager here at DCH Toyota Of Oxnard. Im sure I can get someone to help you out here if you dont mind taking a drive.

[KelvinBRZ]

I completely understand how you feel. Dealerships here in socal are only trying to make as much money from the hype as they can.Shady "stealerships" are all over southern California. Explains why a lot of people are skeptical and very cautious about initial offers on FRS's and BRZs.

Personally I was about to lease a BRZ at a stealership down near Costa Mesa, until I got swindled at the very last minute when I was about to sign the lease. Everything had worked out, I signed the DMV papers, we agreed on a price, and at the last moment in small print, they changed the number of miles per year from 12k to 10k, and had the audacity to ask me to pay the "lease" compensation or raise the price per month.

My point is, you can tell on their faces that "customer service" is a front they only put on to get your money. It's like a dog performing tricks only to get a reward. Sorry for my little rant, and I'm sure there are honest salesman out there, but just watch out cause some salesman are out to swindle you.

/rant

[SILENT]

Originally Posted by shellslinger

Go to Longo Toyota ask for Jeff or Tony. Problem solved.

Longo Toyota was actually the first place I went to go looking for an FRS. Unfortunately I didn't get to meet Jeff or Tony, I had someone else. We wanted to see the FRS and test drive it. He told me I had to put a deposit in before I can test drive one. --Are you serious I didn't even get to check it out and you're asking me for a deposit? What kind of crap is that. -- So I ignored his question and asked if he had a White FRS in stock, he said no and told me I would have to wait 2-3 months for a White one... -___- I just left after that and went to West Covina Toyota.

I got out of my parent's car, and within 2 minutes I was behind the wheel of an FRS. Although they didn't have any white ones on the lot, they got me into one within 2 weeks. (Though they promised 1 week, but still beats 2-3 months -_-)

[Re_Invention]

Thanks for the responses guys. Felt good to get it out.

JFK, I appreciate it - if it comes down to it, I'll be sure to shoot you a PM.

I put Longo, Power and West Covina on my short list for a 2014 whiteout with TRD intake and exhaust. I figure I'll give it another month or two before putting down a deposit.

I'm actually putting another deposit down right now, for this, in October!



Thanks again guys.

:happy0180:

[that_one_guy]

Every dealership is hit or miss. I know you don't want to bad mouth the dealership because, like you said, this might have been one bad apple. The fact is everyone, including the dealership needs to know about this stuff otherwise nothing gets better. You should post the name of the dealership and the name of the guy who was so rude. That way when people go to that dealership and they talk to this guy, they can say they would rather speak with somebody else, eventually he'll realize he needs to be kind to EVERY customer regardless of when they will buy and regardless of his mood that day.

I went with a buddy of mine who was going to purchase the car from Toyota West Covina at the end of its lease. He knew what he was going to pay and the interest rate on the loan he would need to purchase it. The sales manager came back with something like 17%.....um....no. We told him what my friend would pay and he goes back to finance to check. Then the general manager comes out with 9%.....no. He explains that interest rates on loans for used cars are always higher than new cars. I asked him why, his response was "because its used."

I tell him I understand that it's used and interest rates might be higher but there has to be a reason, reliability of the car, demographic of people who typically buy used, what is the reason? He starts to get frustrated and says "it's used, that's just how it is." After explaining to him that my friend doesn't want to pay over a certain % for his loan and we understand if he can't meet that and be profitable, the GM turns to my friend and asks "who is buying this car you or your friend here?" (referring to me as the friend). My buddy says "I am." to which the GM responds "then you gotta make this decision for yourself, so what's it going to be because I'm not going to offer this forever." Again my friend explains that we understand if we can't come to an agreement but he wants to pay no more than the specific %. The GM yells, yes yells in the middle of the showroom, "get them out of here!". This is the shortened version of a 30 min convo between myself, my friend, and the GM who took a couple personal phone calls while talking with us. I understand family comes first but he needs to excuse himself from the table, take care of personal business, then come back.

I felt bad for the sales man because he was a nice enough guy in his early 20's and was the victim of grossly poor management. We were also being calm and respectful of the fact that the dealership needs to make a profit, which is why we laid out our terms very clearly and let them know we understand if they can't meet what we're asking.

For a good buying experience try Power Toyota Cerritos and talk to Jose. I'm not 100% sure that's his name but he has a desk in the far right front corner of the dealership behind the couches and parts display case. The first thing he asked me was how much I knew about the car, I told him I'd be doing a lot of research for a couple years and he said "well there's probably nothing I can say to persuade you, haha", then we just chit chatted while on the test drive. I bought from him because he understood I knew about the car and he respected my ability to make the decision.

[Fish]

I can recommend Drew from Frontier Toyota. It's where I got my car from. Tell him AJ sent you. I personally know the GM for the whole dealer so if anything happens you can let me know.