Bad Dealer Dealings - List Your Bad Dealer Experience

[Schlegel]

I live in Eastern Washington - visited, called, emailed, web surfed, text, etc. multiple dealers within about a six (6) hour drive from my home address. I became familiar with this form and received a lot of great information from the community. Ironically, despite most dealers tacking on markups, I found that my local dealer (approximately 4.8 miles or twelve [12] minutes away) would sell a factory ordered 21’ AWD SXP/NF/T with black Napa leather in Gravity Gray for MSRP. Seemed crazy. Upon initially contacting the dealer, I did ask for invoice which seemed to upset the crusty old sales manager who apparently tells customers who are looking for invoice ”to go somewhere else”. Whatever. I specked out my car to my liking with no additional add-ons to include the crappy over priced carpet floor mats (retailed for $210 + sales tax of 8.6%). My order took place on October 9th, 2020 with $1,000 refundable deposit. Other than the slight back and forth about invoice, my experience was decent. Over the months of waiting I made it a routine to do a monthly email/call to the dealer for a status check. A lot of unknown feedback and “you’re closer now on the list”. Fast forward to June 7th 2021, got a call from the crusty old sales manager who told my wife and I our order was in production with an ETA July 12th, 2021, and sent us the sticker. Everything looked good except a charge of $210 for carpet floor mats. I figured I’d keep quite until in-person and ready to pickup with a check in hand. A few days before July 12, I was told it was in transit. Fast forward to July 18th 2021 - still no car or at least the dealer never called to advise that the car was on the lot. So my family and I happen to drive by the dealer to see if our car arrived that day and sure enough, it was there. The crusty old man swore he’d call me when it was on the lot. With an hour before closing, a different sales rep made contact and didn’t necessarily believe me when I said “that‘s my car“ upon approaching me. I guess he took it as a joke? Anyway, the rep goes in to talk with the crusty old man, got the keys so I could see it but advised it would need to be inspected and detailed which wouldn’t be for another day or so. Okay, understood but a little frustrated that I didn’t get a courtesy call acknowledging the situation and I found out myself. On July 20th, 2021, my wife and I are housed in the hospital with a new born baby. Hours before discharge, I am notified that the vehicle is ready. After 9.5 months of waiting and knowing the next few days ahead were going to be chaos, I made arrangements to pickup the vehicle. I arrived early afternoon and the first thing was a quick test drive which is when I first made the comment about the carpet floor mats would need to be removed from the purchase. My rep pushed it aside. Got back to the office, sat down for paper work, and further emphasized that the initial order did not include carpet floor mats and nor did I want them. So my rep goes to his crusty old sales manager…few minutes went by and before my rep really said much I requested to talk to the manager. That is where my bad experience really started. I expressed that I did not agree to the $210 charge nor did I want that crappy overpriced product. I requested some sort of credit (removal of floor mats, service credit, etc.). Crusty Old Man naturally wouldn’t budge, he’s the classic hard nosed sleazy sales manager that customers shouldn’t have to experience. Anyhow, the sales manager goes on to explain that he couldn’t do anything since it was on the sticker and I am paying MSRP. He also brings up the fact that I asked for invoice…about 10 months prior. Okay, really we were way past that or at least I thought. In fact, this guy decides to flip the table, playing the nice guy who has regrets of being a nice guy and expressing that he shouldn’t have thought of me and pulled this car that matched closest to my build. OH! And if I don’t want the floor mats then I can get back into line with the exact build. He was astonished that I was arguing within him about $210 which were carpet floor mats. It wasn’t the cost nor the product at this point. It was about what I agreed to as a customer who waited 9.5 months and my hard earned $1,000 deposit in their hands the whole time. It was about integrity, honor, and good faith business. I even emphasized I had previously ordered WT HP floor mats ($300 worth) and they were in hand ready to be installed. No care in the world. There was another sales manager in the room, he decided to chime in at one point with “you know what other dealers are charging“. These guys have missed the freaking point. After a moment of silence and staring right at the crusty old man, I decided my valuable time wasn’t worth the effort to argue with this idiot. My hourly wage is worth more and he wasn’t going to retreat. So I ended up asking for them to draft up the purchase for a cash purchase, and I ended up eating the cost on the carpet floor mats. Felt great to slap down a check with the full amount right out of savings especially since I was pissed off - I just wanted to be done. Next, the crusty old man hands me a paper with a breakdown of the purchase at which I did not see my $1,000 applied to it so I called that out. After that, I went to their finance office where they attempt to sell all the other crap with the vehicle. I knew about the Muncie Extended Warranty so I nicely said I wasn’t interested in any of their additions other than the Extended Warranty if they could match - they couldn’t. So I declined and the finance gal was a little shocked at the price I quoted. Their quote was about $200 over Muncie plus 8.6% tax. I am pending a response back to Craig’s request for purchase.

After I finalized all the information, I had the car in hand on time to pick up my wife and new baby girl from the hospital. But before I did, I yanked out the carpet floor mats outside in the main parking lot of my local dealer and installed my well fitted WT HP floor liners that help compliment the nice interior. My wife thought I was being ridiculous when I told her my experience and others may too. But whatever, it wasn’t about the cost or product but much more and deeper than that. As representatives of Kia, the brand should be ashamed of this office in not honoring my initial purchase order. In the order, I agreed to their stupid negotiable document fee and MSRP price increases which there were at least two (2) that I know of between the time I ordered and delivered. I had no issues with those. And they couldn’t work with me on fixing the $210 charge for an add-on product. The reasons above is why I have decided to post this under the Bad Dealer Experience.

What are your thoughts? Is this ridiculous on my part or the local dealer? Critical feedback welcome by all means.

Let it go dude!

 

[Mediaogre]

I live in Eastern Washington - visited, called, emailed, web surfed, text, etc. multiple dealers within about a six (6) hour drive from my home address. I became familiar with this form and received a lot of great information from the community. Ironically, despite most dealers tacking on markups, I found that my local dealer (approximately 4.8 miles or twelve [12] minutes away) would sell a factory ordered 21’ AWD SXP/NF/T with black Napa leather in Gravity Gray for MSRP. Seemed crazy. Upon initially contacting the dealer, I did ask for invoice which seemed to upset the crusty old sales manager who apparently tells customers who are looking for invoice ”to go somewhere else”. Whatever. I specked out my car to my liking with no additional add-ons to include the crappy over priced carpet floor mats (retailed for $210 + sales tax of 8.6%).

When you spec’d the car, did the spec sheet have factory floor mats? If they weren’t listed on your sheet from October, you absolutely had the right the advocate for yourself. “Crusty” sounds like a real pain, man.

 

[MG535]

Let it go dude!

Clearly he never will. Some people never realize you can be right and still let something go. Instead they ruined one of the happier days of their life… probably for their wife too.

Does anyone deliver cars these days without at least some sort of carpeted or all-weather mats?

I assume you can sell brand new mats for at least 50% of retail. Way to ruin your enjoyment over ~$100 net

 

[jw_tx21]

What are your thoughts? Is this ridiculous on my part or the local dealer? Critical feedback welcome by all means.

Floor mats and certain accessories can be added by manufacturer. It was fine to ask to be removed, but the dealership was straight with you and sold you the vehicle at MSRP. Consider that a win. Enjoy the ride.

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[PittPa]

I have the floor mats, in fact bought them after my purchase. No different than any other mats you get for any other car manufacturers. Most all are overpriced, but definitely not worth the personal anguish.

 

[MG535]

Cherry Hill Kia in NJ: 10k over MSRP on all SX including on the lot & in transit

 

[zhelder]

Cherry Hill Kia in NJ: 10k over MSRP on all SX including on the lot & in transit

Did you place an order yet? Drive the two hours to Nutley Kia. Great dealer. Make a day out of it. Great Italian places to eat in town and plenty of stores to explore along Route 3 in Clifton.

Don’t bother with the fakakta dealers robbing people.

 

[MG535]

Did you place an order yet? Drive the two hours to Nutley Kia. Great dealer. Make a day out of it. Great Italian places to eat in town and plenty of stores to explore along Route 3 in Clifton.

Don’t bother with the fakakta dealers robbing people.

It was worth it to make a few calls before placing an order. Not because I got lucky and found an SXP/N at MSRP. But things are fluid about when we go back to work and whether our current lease can be extended when the time comes. So it was worth it to check the box and make sure even presumably high volume dealers (showing 18 SX) won’t offer reasonable pricing off the lot.

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[zhelder]

It was worth it to make a few calls before placing an order. Not because I got lucky and found an SXP/N at MSRP. But things are fluid about when we go back to work and whether our current lease can be extended when the time comes. So it was worth it to check the box and make sure even presumably high volume dealers (showing 18 SX) won’t offer reasonable pricing off the lot.

Cool. Where did you end up ordering from?

 

[VintageEyes]

Called Lupient Kia in Brooklyn Park, MN tonight. I said I had an order in at another dealer in the state and was just looking at other places in case there were faster shipping estimates available.

Sales rep asked what trim I ordered, I said SX Prestige, she said they happened to have one in stock. Black copper, black interior, towing with nightfall. I didn't necessarily want those last two addons but to get it now vs waiting a few months I entertained it.

So I asked about pricing and she said $57K before tax and dealer fees. I said I've got one for MSRP on order for nearly 10K cheaper. She just said thats their market adjusted price. I had to laugh, I thanked her for her time and she ended the call with it won't last long call back if you change your mind!

Definitely won't be changing my mind.

 

[TellurideT]

Called Lupient Kia in Brooklyn Park, MN tonight. I said I had an order in at another dealer in the state and was just looking at other places in case there were faster shipping estimates available.

Sales rep asked what trim I ordered, I said SX Prestige, she said they happened to have one in stock. Black copper, black interior, towing with nightfall. I didn't necessarily want those last two addons but to get it now vs waiting a few months I entertained it.

So I asked about pricing and she said $57K before tax and dealer fees. I said I've got one for MSRP on order for nearly 10K cheaper. She just said thats their market adjusted price. I had to laugh, I thanked her for her time and she ended the call with it won't last long call back if you change your mind!

Definitely won't be changing my mind.

After telling our local dealer we had an out of state dealer taking our order of an SX P/N/T plus add-ons and accessories for MSRP + $695 D&H to see if they’d match it for the sale, they said they’d come down from their $8k over to $6k over. Byeeeeee.

 

[calvi]

Kia of Huntington Beach. I been searching for a wolf grey sx in SoCal. I believe I tired true car and the Costco program; therefore they must have sent me to two different sales rep at Kia hb. Yesterday one of the guy told me $7k over Msrp. Today “Geo” contact me so I figure I asked again to see what they say.. apparent it’s $10k now for a car they haven’t received yet…. Shady af.

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[Docs Telly]

Ugh

 

[Docs Telly]

Many shady dealers. I looked in 8 states. Unfortunately my local dealers (Jack Daniels Kia & Liberty Kia) were shady and/or gouging.

 

[TellurideT]

Some of these dealers here in OR are buying from other dealers across the country at their MSRP, making new vehicles now “pre-owned” and then marking them up $5-15k. It’s disgusting.

 

[zhelder]

Many shady dealers. I looked in 8 states. Unfortunately my local dealers (Jack Daniels Kia & Liberty Kia) were shady and/or gouging.

You’re in my neck of the woods. Jack Daniels has been shady for decades. The Fair Lawn Kia location used to be an Audi dealer (I think their Audi branch is now in Ramsey) and they were known for shenanigans even then. I wouldn’t touch them with a 10 ft. pole.

Liberty Kia… I test drove an EX there in Feb. 2019, and it was a good experience. They were originally charging MSRP, but I guess they got greedy, because I know they now charge around a $5,000 markup.

Just zip on over to nearby Nutley Kia.

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[Docs Telly]

Thanks. I did try calling Nutley and they were out, though listing in stock on their site. Asked me to put a deposit down for 5-6 months wait. I went to NY and found an lx for 1k over.

 

[zhelder]

Thanks. I did try calling Nutley and they were out, though listing in stock on their site. Asked to put a deposit down for 5-6 months wait. I sent to NY and found an lx for 1k over.

Unfortunately, the dealers are required to post the vehicles, reserved or not, until someone takes possession. One of the few things that’s not the dealer’s fault.

Enjoy the car!

 

[Docs Telly]

Unfortunately, the dealers are required to post the vehicles, reserved or not, until someone takes possession. One of the few things that’s not the dealer’s fault.

Enjoy the car!

They should tell the prospective customer "it's on hold" or "it's sold" or anything to that effect. I noticed some dealers put "in transit" on incoming cars. Anyway, would have preferred an S or EX, but not going to pay that extra vig. Looking now at after market heated & ventilated seats and fog lights which are less expensive than the upper trims with the street wheels. Plus getting any color leather I want.

 

[TellurideT]

They should tell the prospective customer "it's on hold" or "it's sold" or anything to that effect. I noticed some dealers put "in transit" on incoming cars. Anyway, would have preferred an S or EX, but not going to pay that extra vig. Looking now at after market heated & ventilated seats and fog lights which are less expensive than the upper trims with the street wheels. Plus getting any color leather I want.

Some dealers have edited the details toward the bottom, saying “Congratulations, ________ on your new Telluride!”