[Turtle2]

I have had some bad dealer experiences here in Idaho while shopping for an Element. Bad attitudes and such. It is written about frequently here. My stories are similar.

I still want an Element. I would like GG or the Tan Mist color (for got the exact name). Anyone know of a place to get invoice or below? Anyone know a place that will treat you right too?

Looking for the 4wd model in an automatic trans.

 

[meanelvis]

sorry to hear about your bad experiences

it absolutely befuddles me that dealers wouldnt do everything in their power to make you feel comfortable, with the end result being a sale and both parties happy. i hope that your experience (and the others here) is a rare one.

if i were you, i'd use honda's dealer locator feature on the hondacars.com web site. start with the closest to where you live and keep movin' out. i have confidence that you'll run into a dealership with a salesperson who will treat you the way you want to be treated, 'cause its their job

mind if i ask what went wrong at the previous dealerships you tried out?

 

[Turtle2]

Just general attitude. Most would not try to locate a GG one. One was even hesitant to let us test drive. He had 12 on the lot.

Another had a 5k markup sticker on one and said.."Well let me know if you want it."

I wonder why Honda does not send in undercover customers just to see how some dealers market their product.


Still looking for a Green EX 4wd....

T

 

[SnwboarderX]

I'm sure that every Honda dealership has a few bad apples (sales people). When I first stopped by to look at the Element they sales guy that came out to greet me had the same attitude as yours Turtle2. After 5 minutes of his attitude, I went inside and asked for another sales person to help me. Remember you are the one with money and Money = Power .... :twisted:

 

[Stephen Dax]

I just picked up my SOP on monday and as much as I love this car...some of my dealer experiences kinda left me cold. There was one dealer in Jersey City, NJ that tried his best to tell me that "Honda doesn't make the Element with Side airbags...sure they have it listed on their website but they don't exist." This was after I told him I was going to take delivery from a different dealer on a SOP w/ the side bags. He then told me to "make sure they are not lying to you...because Honda doesn't make them" Or my favorite from another dealer "we'll be willing to sell you the Element at Sticker price" Right..sure...

 

[Turtle2]

Contacted three more dealers today. Same attitudes as above. They did not have GG anyway so I am not to sad. But when...........will I find a good attitude?

 

[psm0110]

Keep on tryin'. I bought mine 50 miles away, but my search radius was up to 150 miles at one point...

 

[Turtle2]

On Friday morning I contacted 12 dealers within 200 miles of me. I have One response so far. This is truly an eye opener for me. If I owned any one of the other 11 dealerships I would be furious as to the motivation of my employees to sell cars. Mr Honda must be spinning in his grave.

Still lookin for a GG auto EX.

Sounds dumb huh? But I am still hopeful.

J

 

[MiamiElement]

What state you trying to buy your Element in? I know of a great dealership in Florida that you might consider. Got my Element EX 2WD Automatic for 18,900.00 recently. Dunno how much you are wanting to pay though.

 

[Turtle2]

I am searching in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Nevada.

As of 10 p.m. still only one response. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Honda must not need to sell cars.

 

[Turtle2]

10 more dealerships lined up for a Monday contact. I think I will do 100. maybe get 3 responses and then forward to honda America. It will be good to see if they care. THis really is something in my opinion. Still only one response......

 

[MiamiElement]

The place I bought mine from actually would deliver if you want to try them. They are in Key Largo, FL. And have a large clientele outside of the state of Florida. This is the best dealership I've ever dealt with too.

 

[StLouisPenguin]

Turtle-

My dealer here in St. Louis had 1 GG EX and 2 SMM (Shoreline Mist Metallic...that brownish color that you refer to!) sitting on the lot on Thursday....that Southwest $39 ticket and a nice road trip home may be in order!

Good Luck with your search!

 

[SteveO]

[quote:aa3e0bb0d1="Turtle2"]10 more dealerships lined up for a Monday contact. I think I will do 100. maybe get 3 responses and then forward to honda America. It will be good to see if they care. THis really is something in my opinion. Still only one response......[/quote:aa3e0bb0d1]

So sorry to hear your story. As long as you are going out of market, I would *strongly* suggest you contact supamann (Mike Pierce); he will GLADLY help you find EXACTLY what you want and can probably make delivery arrangments that fit your needs or come mighty close to that -- OR you could always make a lil' break-in roadtrip out of it. His email is [email protected] -- no, I get no kickback. He tried to help me out when I bought my AWD EX knowing he'd receive little or nothing in the bargain. Good people are hard to find. Good car dealers? A rarity.

Good luck!
Steve

 

[Turtle2]

Steve O,
Yes I see mention of that dealer here frequently. I think he has a standing deal for forum members of $500 off sticker. I am sure he is a nice guy and all but I can buy an E for sticker at many places around here. By the time i got to Texas, drove back paid for hotels and such it would cost me more than sticker to buy it from him. If i lived closer to Texas I would have contacted him long ago.

I have been reading the forum and a lot of members are getting around $1000 off sticker, give or take $200. That seems like the number to shoot for. Of course, '04 are due soon, perhaps dealers will get some training on how to respond to customers between now and the release of the '04's? :roll:

Still have 15 quote requests out with only one response back.

T2

 

[Turtle2]

Well got one more response today. Here is a portion..."we look to see you forward seeing you." I guess a "complex" transaction like a car sale would be too much for this guy.

I really love the Element and don't mean to insult any owners. But man, I really cannot beleive the type of response or the apathy I have seen from Honda dealers.

24 quotes are now out. 2 responses so far.

Still want an E. There must be one good dealer.........

 

[TheLusciousHellcat]

I would suggest:

(1) looking at your note you're sending and making sure it conveys that you have decided on the vehicle you want, and are buying, and buying RIGHT NOW - you're not a shopper, you're a purchaser, and certainly not a stupid purchaser who is going to go for the $5k markup sticker,

(2) that you try some of the car buying sites - cars.com, carsdirect.com, invoicedealers.com, autotrader.com, pricequotes.com - and see if that works for you. Just enter 'new car purchase' into Google and you'll get a dozen or so websites. A few of those services have a deal with dealers with whom they work that requires the dealer to contact you within a specific time period.

(3) that you pick up the phone and make a call to Honda HQ - tell them you're not getting any response from dealers in a several-state area and that you'd like at least the courtesy of return contact. They need to know when people have been frustrated in their attempt to buy cars.

Even if you don't purchase from Mike Pierce of Roger Beasley Honda of San Marcos TX (our own Supamann) perhaps you could ask him to look in his database to find the multi-state area dealers who actually have, or will have soon, your GG Element.

Good luck.

 

[Turtle2]

Luscious,

Thank you for the advice. I will try some of those Internet sites. I have worded the note so that they know I am a buyer and not a 5k over sticker one.

I am compiling a list and thought I would send it on over to Honda. It is detailing the dealer name, treatment received and the non-responders. I am going to refax all of the non-responders just so they cannot say they never saw the request.

Ironically, I did get another response today. Here it is, notice anything missing, like a price? Here it is word for word...

"Thanks for your request. I can order a green one. One thousand dollars will get the ball rolling. Thanks, "

Scribbled in chicken scratch and notice he fails to provide a price.

Turtle2

 

[TheLusciousHellcat]

I would follow up with phone calls.

You know, a lot of those 'car-buying secrets' websites give the advice about sending faxes. Maybe dealers are trying to stay one step ahead of the customers, or have gotten burned by chasing after email and fax contact customers. Thus they feel they can better use their time on people who phone or come by.

It's near the end of the month, dealers should want to make deals, and it's the best time for YOU to make a deal too. And of course, factor in the price of your time contacting them when you make the deal.

Good luck.

 

[MiamiElement]

I would try what Luscious has told you, and maybe go another step by asking the dealerships near you if they have a Fleet Sales Manager. Many times you can get a very good deal this way. I've purchased most of my vehicles this way, and actually when it come to internet sales, that's normally who you're going to be working with anyway.