[jdef]

I'm wondering whether the rash of bad dealer experiences documented here on these forums suggest a decline in satisfaction specific to Honda, or a general decline related to tighter economic times.

I had a mixed experience with my dealership. I rated the salesman a 1 and the total dealership a 3 on the phone survey from Honda. My major issues surrounded the fleecing that took place with regard to options. I take responsibility for not being totally prepared. But, I still don't like outright lies and that is what I got.

The Element is the eleventh new car purchase I have made and none have left the bad taste in my mouth that I had with this one. It does not take one bit away from my joy with the Element itself, just with this dealership and, to a lesser extent, with Honda.

Comments anyone?

Peace,
-jdef

 

[Seattle]

Sorry to hear about you bad sale. I had a bad time when I bought my accord 2 years ago. I also went to a local dealer just to test drive a element and at first the sales guy was nice. Later he passed us off to a trainee neither of them gave us their business card.

Patrick

 

[lon777]

Ah, but there is a source of revenge for you, jdef. When American honda calls asking about your buying experience, you can zing the devil out of that pesky dealership!!!!!

 

[StLouisPenguin]

We had a GREAT experience with our dealer....our salesman was awesome ( I would recommend him to friends and family if anyone is looking for a car). The general manager of the dealership came out while our E was being prpped for delievry and ended up spending about 45 mins just chatting it up with us about the E, my husband's MBA program, Chicago, her daughters (who are the same ages as my husband and myself) and about ten other subjects.

She was surprised to find out that my husband's 1990 Civic had been purchased at the dealership...and was in general very friendly and a joy to chat with.

We had a great experience and will be going back in about a year to purchase my husband's new car (either a GG E, Civic EX, or Accord)

But I will say that we shopped around at all the St. Louis Honda Dealerships and this is the only one that made us feel comfortable. One Dealership tried the bully effect and tried to persude us that the other dealerships in town were sub-standard. We were out of there in about 10 mins....plus to top it off they were trying to price gouge. Another local Honda dealer had no E's in stock and assured us that this was a HOT car and would be a while to get (yet other local dealers had up to 16 on their lots)

As a general rule I don't like car shopping....I believe that the price should be up front and not be up for negotiation....after all I don;t go to the gap and bargin for the best price on a pair of khakis. I am an educated consumer who knows what she wants and doesn't like to rely on the mood of the dealer to assure I get the best posssible price.

I know I am wrambling on....but I really hated the feeling I got at some dealers that we were doing them a favor....I am a retail manager for a national chain and I bend over backwards to please a guest and sell a $200 item....I am laying down $21,000...the very least they could do is be polite and act like they appreciated my business....this is exactly what I found at the dealer we purchased from. They were happy to see us each time we went in (which I think was about 6 times over the course of 3 weeks), they found us an unbelievable apr, were polite and friendly and so helpful through all stages of purchasing our E.

So if anyone is in the St. Louis area....go to Steve Vincel Honda.....and ask for John....he was awesome!

 

[dexter19]

my dealer was very absent minded. acted like he was doing me a favor. if i wasn't in love with my e, i would have never seen him again. i went back there the other day to find out about a backordered accessory that i was waiting for and he came up to me laughing and said hide me, i'm drunk(no lie). i would love to let AH know how unprofessional this dealship is, but this guy knows where i work and im afraid he'll do something to the car if it comes back on him..

 

[StLouisPenguin]

Dexter-

What Honda deale are you using in Philly? I liveed in Philly for most of my life and bought my first car at Mike Piazza Honda in Langhorne and had no problems.....but that was 7 years ago now.


Curious in St. Louis!
Diane

 

[M Ornett]

I did zing two of the dealers I tried to work with. Most of the Honda dealers in the Houston area want a non-refundable deposit to even try to get you any car.

1. Dealer 1 wanted $500 - promised us a GG and when we went back to clinch the deal he wasn't there. Another salesman then told us that his manager told him to sell us either the SOP on the lot or one of the silver automatics they had. Sadi they wouldn't be able to get us the GG that we were promised. Fortunately we did not deposit the 500. However the second salesman insisted we fork that amount over before he would even bestir himself to check on availability.

2. Dealer 2 took a $100 non-refundable deposit, pointed out a specific SLM element coming in in two weeks and said that was the car we were getting. 10 days later he called, said that that one wasn't available and that Honda wasn't ever going to make any more SLMs.

3. Went to Dealer 3, explained what we'd been through, left a check (not to be cashed) for $500, saw another SLM on a list, made them put the partial VIN number on the contract, and prepared to wait until mid March. Feb. 27th received a call from them, they'd located what we wanted and could have it the next day!! Went down, got a little bit of a hard sell on their financing, accessories, extended warrantees, etc, but closed the deal and picked it up the next day.

When Honda called, I praised Dealer 3, and made sure that they registered my complaints about Dealers 1 & 2 and our loss of $100. Oh, two days ago, Dealer 2 called and said our car was in - only 6 weeks after it was due!![/quote]

 

[jdef]

[quote:b49e839260="lon777"]Ah, but there is a source of revenge for you, jdef. When American honda calls asking about your buying experience, you can zing the devil out of that pesky dealership!!!!![/quote:b49e839260]

Oh definitely... I got that call on Monday after I dropped off Mist-E for the install of the backordered keyless entry, security sys and seatback bungys AND just after I got home from an emergency root canal at the dentist (not kidding). I rated my salesman a 1 on the 1-5 scale. The Honda representative apologized alot but really didn't have a lot to say, but she was typing furiously as I told my tale of woe...

peace,
-jdef

 

[lon777]

A new car and a root canal!!! Ay caramba! Double whammy!!!