Honda Dealer Experience #1 - FAIL

[Crucifer]

Ok so I thought I'd have a different experience this time around but apparently not...here it goes:

As you might or might not know I had a bad experience at the Honda Dealership in Freehold, NJ. I was treated like garbage for looking like a kid even though I am 21 I was given no time of day and was actually questioned if I was serious.

So in the past few weeks I've been in talks with a guy from the Honda Dealer in Lakewood NJ and he's asked me to come in twice I was unable to make the first one due to a surprise meeting but I scheduled to make the second one. (Friday Aug 22nd).

So I go to Honda after work around 8pm (They close at 9). I also asked my boy who works for Honda to come with me as I wanted him to test drive the car as well to give me his perspective. So we walk to the help desk and I ask for the guy I've already had 3 weeks worth of discussions with and his "Boss" says he will go get him...the boss walks to the back and then walks back out 3 min later walks right by us without saying a word over to a guy finalizing a deal and kind of listens in. -Insert 15 min here- I was about to and walk out the door. Incredible I was saying to myself. But oh it gets better. (The guy I had been talking to was named Chris) so the "boss" comes up to us after nearly 20 min with this sales guy who just finished the deal and says "Zach this is Chris" and I'm like oh ok and was about to forgive them both so I said "Finally nice to meet...." and the boss cuts me off "A different Chris the other Chris stepped out for a minute." (This was beyond frustrating that I was just lied too on the spot because its nearly 8:35pm now was it overly hard to say he left for the day? Honda closes at 9pm I don't think he's coming back. Which he didn't.)

So now I have to start all over again with this new Sales guy whom knows nothing about what I want and at that point I just wanted a Test Drive and to go home it was getting late. So hes like "I'll give you a great deal on a Mugen." - me "No. Normal Si please." (mugen is a big ripoff imo)

Then he sits down and is asking a barrage of questions to my buddy (who is older looking as if he was my dad apparently is what the Sales guy thought) and I keep saying all I want is a test drive. Another 15 min goes by and he walks outside another 10 minutes he walks back in...here is the dialogue

Sales: "We have no Si's on the lot but is your car here?"
me: "Yes."
Sales: "Is there a valid insurance card in it?"
me: "Yes where is this going?"
Sales: "Well I can give you a test drive in the Mugen..."
me: "Sigh" "No thank you. I'll look for someother Honda who has one to do the Test Drive"

Then he starts talking to my buddy again as if he's the cash cow in this equation (AGAIN treated like I'm a kid.)...then he says this:

"I mean its an Si we all know in this price range unless you independantly wealthy you'll need financing."

I glanced at my Buddy (Who knows I can buy the Si outright on the spot) and he's grinning at me cause he knows I'm being judged again. I shake my head and I'm like I'll just find somewhere else. Then he goes off on a tangent about how the Si does overseas and how the pricing is and how "in demand" these cars are...to my buddy...so While he's paying no attention to me I glance down at his sheet at his "MSRP" price for the Si that he wrote down at 24,700-900 couldn't make out the last 3 numbers but it was def a 7 or a 9.

I nearly died laughing. I said thank you and left.

Next stop take #3 Honda in Oldbridge, NJ. If it fails I'm going over to Toyota or Chevy and buying a TC/Cobalt in spite of crappy sales people at Honda.

[cereal83]

lol funny shit yo

[Crucifer]

I just enjoyed how he focused on what he thought was the cash cow...like literally the guy said like 2 words directly to me.

[NIGHTHAWKSI]

i thought you alraeady had a LARGE deposit on an SI at a dealer?? why go to a different one?

Originally Posted by Crucifer

...........And yes I'm waiting for 09's to see Orange but have a TW Coupe on deposit hold for the time being as there was only 1 left in the Tristate.

Originally Posted by Crucifer

Quite the opposite they don't want it on their lot since the 09's are already shipped in so having it held for me for an extremely large fee (it wasnt cheap) is something their willing to do to ensure it gets sold. A percent of the cost is kept by them if i walk away because I had to have it shipped to the dealer. If I go with an 09 that cost is added to the cost of the vehicle.

All in all its a fine deal. I'm pretty sold on the 08 due to the parts change in 09.

[cereal83]

I get similar things all the time when I go to dealers. They think I don't work or something and can't afford crap. Just move onto a new dealer and eventually you will find somebody who treats you like a person

[Crucifer]

Originally Posted by NIGHTHAWKSI

i thought you alraeady had a LARGE deposit on an SI at a dealer?? why go to a different one?

I do and it wasn't like I said I had been talking to a different guy at that dealership. I had to start fresh with some new guy I didn't know that didn't know what I had already done as stated I was in a rush to just do the Test Drive.

I have to now go to Honda in Oldbridge to get a Test Drive done. the deal will likely go back to the dealership in Lakewood since it's where the money is atm. If not its a deposit I can get it back. Minus a destination fee.

[Phalanx]

Why not go test drive the one you have a deposit on? Why do you need to test drive another one?

[NIGHTHAWKSI]

Originally Posted by Crucifer

I do and it wasn't like I said I had been talking to a different guy at that dealership. I had to start fresh with some new guy I didn't know that didn't know what I had already done as stated I was in a rush to just do the Test Drive.

I have to now go to Honda in Oldbridge to get a Test Drive done. the deal will likely go back to the dealership in Lakewood since it's where the money is atm. If not its a deposit I can get it back. Minus a destination fee.

Originally Posted by Phalanx

Why not go test drive the one you have a deposit on? Why do you need to test drive another one?

DING DIN DING! we have a winner! crucifer, your story has too many holes in it. if your destination fee(which i assume you actually mean transportation fee since destination fee is part of teh sticker price) is non-refundable, that means they already paid to have the car brought to your local dealer....so since your car is at your local dealer...you should probably try to test drive the actual car your going to own.

[Crucifer]

Originally Posted by Phalanx

Why not go test drive the one you have a deposit on? Why do you need to test drive another one?

Hasn't Arrived yet again it wasn't at the dealer they have to have it shipped over.

[Crucifer]

Originally Posted by NIGHTHAWKSI

DING DIN DING! we have a winner! crucifer, your story has too many holes in it. if your destination fee(which i assume you actually mean transportation fee since destination fee is part of teh sticker price) is non-refundable, that means they already paid to have the car brought to your local dealer....so since your car is at your local dealer...you should probably try to test drive the actual car your going to own.

Yes the transportation fee w/e you want to call it and I already know that. No holes just learn to read.

[NIGHTHAWKSI]

learn to read what? that last week you said you can have your car in 3 days?...making today the 3rd day. means your car has arrived at your dealer!!!! no reason to go to a random dealer and test drive a car.
posted @ 8/2208 @ 10:39 am

Originally Posted by Crucifer

Technically I can have my Si within 3 days. Its on deposit hold at the moment. Furthermore no it is easier to immediately do modifications to a car before the break in period such as Exhaust. It's cleaner and easier to take apart. Also Keeping everything in "mint" condition and unused makes it extremely easy to re-sell (OEM Trunk, Hood, Front Bumper, Header, Exhaust)

Tho I might keep the exhaust to pass inspection if it fails who knows.

hello remz....is that you???

[Crucifer]

Originally Posted by NIGHTHAWKSI

learn to read what? that last week you said you can have your car in 3 days?...making today the 3rd day. means your car has arrived at your dealer!!!! no reason to go to a random dealer and test drive a car.
posted @ 8/2208 @ 10:39 am


hello remz....is that you???

Tomorrow actually. You mistake the difference between Business Days and Normal Days. Dealerships here are not open on Sundays.

And I will be test driving mine I told you we had done everything by phone so we scheduled to meet on Friday (READ) when I got there he wasn't there the whole goal was just to get a test drive in because I've again never been in the car. Sadly...they sold their last one on Thursday so they didn't have any. I am going to Oldbridge again because if they are better people then I will drop the deposit leave the transportation cost and work with them instead.

Again this isn't rocket science I base a lot of what I do on how people act. Money isn't and never was the issue if you treat me like **** I won't give you my money.

Are we still having troubles following along?

[civicracer32]

Dude, if you have the money, tell the guy. Inform the salesperson of all the facts. It's up to you to stick to your #'s. Just because you open your mouth and speak to your saleperson, doesn't mean all of the sudden you're not going to get a good deal.

I never buy a car through a "standard" saleperson. I go through internet Sales dept. Each employee in the internet/fleet sales dept sells 5 times more cars than the avg salesman working at the same dealership. They are the high volume, low profit branch of the sales dept. The "regular" sales guys are the high profit/low volume variety.

I used to work at a Honda dealership as a salesman. I know my price, I stick to it, and I iron out all the details on the phone before I even go in. Last 3 cars I bought I was in and out in about an hour. Heck, when I arrived to buy my SI, the car was detailed, all stickers removed, and ready to drive away in the Customer Vehicle Delivery zone. The only hurdle you have to jump through is going through the finance dept where they try to sell you gap insurance, alarms, sealant, Lojack, etc.

For that, you can just be up front with the guy again. JUst say, " I've bought new vehicles before and I just wanted to let you know that I'm not interested in any additional products/services for my car. Please respect my wishes and don't try to sell me any additional products/services." If the guy tries to sell you anyway, let him know that you understand that American Honda will be calling you for a customer satisfaction survey regarding your dealership experience with the salesman and finance rep. Tell him you'd like to give him all 5's on the 1-5 scale. Tell him you'll give him 5's if he stops trying to sell you stuff! Otherwise, you'll give him 1's. haha. They take this survey crap seriously.

Moral of the story is: You can give a salesperson info, without giving up a good deal. Also...moral # 2, go through the internet sales dept, your life will be much easier.

I have a car buying blog on my myspace. It's @ MySpace.com - dave - 33 - Male - ENCINITAS, California - www.myspace.com/speedgsx98

[Phalanx]

Originally Posted by civicracer32

Dude, if you have the money, tell the guy. Inform the salesperson of all the facts. It's up to you to stick to your #'s. Just because you open your mouth and speak to your saleperson, doesn't mean all of the sudden you're not going to get a good deal.

I never buy a car through a "standard" saleperson. I go through internet Sales dept. Each employee in the internet/fleet sales dept sells 5 times more cars than the avg salesman working at the same dealership. They are the high volume, low profit branch of the sales dept. The "regular" sales guys are the high profit/low volume variety.

I used to work at a Honda dealership as a salesman. I know my price, I stick to it, and I iron out all the details on the phone before I even go in. Last 3 cars I bought I was in and out in about an hour. Heck, when I arrived to buy my SI, the car was detailed, all stickers removed, and ready to drive away in the Customer Vehicle Delivery zone.

Moral of the story is: You can give a salesperson info, without giving up a good deal. Also...moral # 2, go through the internet sales dept, your life will be much easier.

truth... this is how i bought my Si.

I negotiated the price of my Si with the internet sales rep. i then went in to the dealership and negotiated a price on my trade-in with a different sales person (i told them... "if you can give me XX,XXX on my trade-in, ill walk away with an Si today) ... once i had the paperwork for my desired trade-in price, i pulled out my info from the internet salesman and i had my deal. picked up the Si the following day.

its all about working the dealership and not letting them work you.

[Crucifer]

Originally Posted by civicracer32

Dude, if you have the money, tell the guy. Inform the salesperson of all the facts. It's up to you to stick to your #'s. Just because you open your mouth and speak to your saleperson, doesn't mean all of the sudden you're not going to get a good deal.

I never buy a car through a "standard" saleperson. I go through internet Sales dept. Each employee in the internet/fleet sales dept sells 5 times more cars than the avg salesman working at the same dealership. They are the high volume, low profit branch of the sales dept. The "regular" sales guys are the high profit/low volume variety.

I used to work at a Honda dealership as a salesman. I know my price, I stick to it, and I iron out all the details on the phone before I even go in. Last 3 cars I bought I was in and out in about an hour. Heck, when I arrived to buy my SI, the car was detailed, all stickers removed, and ready to drive away in the Customer Vehicle Delivery zone.

Moral of the story is: You can give a salesperson info, without giving up a good deal. Also...moral # 2, go through the internet sales dept, your life will be much easier.

No I know that is exactly what I did over the phone the problem is the guy I was scheduled stepped out I guess partially my fault for not calling in saying I was on my way. So I spent the better half of the night talking to some guy who was awful at sales. I spoke with the other Chris this morning and were going from there.

He's extremely pissed off at the sales guy I had to deal with I showed him this story.

[simplicated1979]

yeah just go back with the other chris and pick up from where you left off...forget about your bad experience and try to get in your si so you can enjoy it...

[Leonard1818]

sorry man, it seems thats the way the game is played. It's their (wrong) way of "weeding out" the people who just want to abuse a car on a test drive. I 1/2 don't blame them. the other 1/2 hates them for it but having sold a used car, I can understand that they have to have SOME way to try to filter out the flakers.

What kinda car are you arriving in? When I pulled up to the Honda dealership in my 02 RSX-S that was just fully detailed, they gave me the keys to their only Si coupe on the lot and said "have fun". I was probably 22 years old at the time but I'm sure if I had pulled up in a beater-ass car they would have ridden with me. They've since gotten to know me and will pretty much let me test drive anything I want w/o even having a salesman in the car with me.

I realize that's a shitty thing for them to do cause who's to say I don't have money just based on what car I pull up in... but hey, that's the game.

Try another dealership... one will take you seriously eventually. Not sure what kinda clothes you wear or what your demeanor is when you go into these places but if you want to be treated differently, you may consider these things if you haven't already.

[melomood]

give him a break guys he is from Jackson. If you live in jersey you know what i mean.

[Phalanx]

Originally Posted by melomood

give him a break guys he is from NJ. If you live in the northeast you know what i mean.

fixed

[melomood]

Originally Posted by Phalanx

fixed

lol its the truth