Bad Dealer Dealings - List Your Bad Dealer Experience

[teacher25]

I know this is ridiculous! So I just want to clarify that I did get my LX AWD ordered for MSRP at Executive in Wallingford.. in case anyone is looking for one. I think the EX is $500 over... we need a benchseat... good luck! Now we wait...

Oops.. CT to clarify...

 

[JRebel]

Yup. I told the GM he needed to put the markup on the order form if that's what they are doing. We didn't discuss price so I assumed I was paying MSRP. At no point in the last 3 months did anyone ever mention a markup. Had they done so, I would have walked. The dealership I dealt with has plenty of order volume and didn't have any trouble placing the order and having it delivered so it's not like a rare occurrence. Given that they have their cash outlay for such a short period and having a quick sell-through helps them get more allocations, this seemed like an easy win and it's not uncommon to have cars with markup on the floor and no markup for special order.

Any point to calling Kia America to see if they can make this right? I assume it's a dead end and that they won't be responsive the way a premium brand would be in a similar circumstance.

Make what right? Unfortunately neither side agreed on a price, both assumed and that does not work.

 

[arattle]

Yup. I told the GM he needed to put the markup on the order form if that's what they are doing. We didn't discuss price so I assumed I was paying MSRP. At no point in the last 3 months did anyone ever mention a markup. Had they done so, I would have walked. The dealership I dealt with has plenty of order volume and didn't have any trouble placing the order and having it delivered so it's not like a rare occurrence. Given that they have their cash outlay for such a short period and having a quick sell-through helps them get more allocations, this seemed like an easy win and it's not uncommon to have cars with markup on the floor and no markup for special order.

Any point to calling Kia America to see if they can make this right? I assume it's a dead end and that they won't be responsive the way a premium brand would be in a similar circumstance.

There's nothing they will do for you, they don't even respond to actual technical or safety problems with the vehicle. They don't like to get in between customers and dealers.

I think, unfortunately, they will put a higher mark-up on your order and sell it in a week or two. So the dealer isn't out any money, and they have no incentive to negotiate. That is a really shitty situation for you, waiting for months and walking out with no vehicle. What's the plan now? Closest to you would be i25 Kia in Colorado, MSRP sales and about 3-4 month lead time (super high volume dealer).

 

[Metoo]

I DID ‘deal” with the internet sales dept. in fact I’ve been messaging all the internet departments and several of them just won’t answer my questions or are evasive.

Most in Los Angeles pretty much ignore email or laugh about msrp pricing

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[Metoo]

Make what right? Unfortunately neither side agreed on a price, both assumed and that does not work.

I tried calling Kia hq about 15k market adjustment pricing in Los Angeles but radio silence so far.

 

[Metoo]

Yes. Kia of Irvine was adding $7k market adjustment. I suppose they are trying to feast while they can. IMHO it really turns people off to the brand. I’m sure many people who are looking at the Telluride are customers who have never set foot in a Kia dealership (I know I haven’t) and it’s almost like going back in time and experiencing the shady practices of days gone by. Corporate needs to completely re-educate the dealer network!!!

I’ve had a Kia before and market adjustment pricing has completely turned me off the brand. They lost me.

 

[Metoo]

It’s sad because it’s taking advantage of people. A few thousand dollars is one thing but 10-20k is criminal. And many dealers are lying about it, misrepresenting it, saying it’s across the board or a “market adjustment.” After this bubble recedes, people who paid are going to be in bad financial situation with their cars, especially if they look to sell before the car is paid off.

The Kia site with lease and Apr specials links directly to the dealers sites this is false advertising as nothing like the advertised prices are available in Califronia.

 

[SFTellyDude]

There's nothing they will do for you, they don't even respond to actual technical or safety problems with the vehicle. They don't like to get in between customers and dealers.

I think, unfortunately, they will put a higher mark-up on your order and sell it in a week or two. So the dealer isn't out any money, and they have no incentive to negotiate. That is a really shitty situation for you, waiting for months and walking out with no vehicle. What's the plan now? Closest to you would be i25 Kia in Colorado, MSRP sales and about 3-4 month lead time (super high volume dealer).

Yeah that doesn't feel like a good use of my time.

Make what right? Unfortunately neither side agreed on a price, both assumed and that does not work.

I assume that if there is no price discussion, the price is MSRP. If I were expecting to pay less, I sure would have made that clear before I ordered. They've posited that they tell everyone about the market pricing but they also now acknowledge that I was never told. They also agree that they should have included the market adjustment on the order form where it would be called for.

Given the state of the market, I was aware that there were markups for dealer stock but that people were still placing orders without markup and had conversations about the benefits to the dealer of me placing an order vs buying dealer stock given that my acquisition wasn't time sensitive.

I really don't need a car until December so I may still end up in a Telluride.

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[NCBill]

I’ve had a Kia before and market adjustment pricing has completely turned me off the brand. They lost me.

What brands are not doing market adjustments? Saw a Toyota dealer mark up a RAV-4 by $20,000! Dealers near me, any brand really, don't have any new cars on the lot. The only cars I see are USED, and often, those aren't even the dealer's brand. Dealers are scrambling to get anything to sell. And with much less inventory, they are trying to maintain profits by charging more (dealer markup). I'm surprised and thankful any dealers are still taking orders at MSRP. My wife gets her new car this year, me I will have to wait. Both of our cars are 12 years old, with high mileage.

Some Ford dealers are marking up new Broncos by $30,000. Some Chevy dealers are marking up new Corvettes by $100,000.

If you want to find a car with no markup, pick a model that is not popular. Otherwise, dealer markup is the norm.

The car manufacturers do not own dealerships. Dealerships can charge whatever price they want, and right now, they want more money!

 

[Schlegel]

I’ve had a Kia before and market adjustment pricing has completely turned me off the brand. They lost me.

I agree. Local (my) KIA dealer has a $4k to $10K markup on EVERY new KIA on the lot. EVERY MODEL. This started with the Telluride frenzy and now with inventory shortages it's on every vehicle. Same with Hyundai and Genesis. With Genesis they are sitting on the lot but they still have significant mark ups. My lease is up in 11 months so am planning ahead. Already on my 4th KIA but this one may be my last. I know the shortages are effecting all brands. I'm hoping things will get better in 2022 but I'm hearing that may not be the case.

 

[G-184155]

100% why I bought my Telluride from the dealer in San Diego that I did - I was able to buy it at sticker price when some others were as high as $15,000 over.

If there is a silver lining, I bought mine in March of 2020 at a sticker of $37,4++, and the current Kelly Blue Book trade in value 19 months and 15,000 miles later is $44,000!

 

[Schlegel]

100% why I bought my Telluride from the dealer in San Diego that I did - I was able to buy it at sticker price when some others were as high as $15,000 over.

If there is a silver lining, I bought mine in March of 2020 at a sticker of $37,4++, and the current Kelly Blue Book trade in value 19 months and 15,000 miles later is $44,000!

I know. I see used Tellurides with 20K to 50K miles on them selling for over $50K USED. The automotible market, like the housing marked is NUTZ.

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[Telly87]

My sale rep. is not willing to provide how many orders their dealership is allotted - per trim, per month, they also will not tell share how many orders prior to mine are "Kia accepted" and "not allocated"

The responses are short, vague, and result in roundabout emails due to their initial thought of short and vague responses satisfying the initial inquiry...

I was questioned "Are you in one of those Telluride forums or groups? (They seem to know more about KIA ordering process than the actual dealers placing the orders!)"
I was also advised the # of emails between us since my "Pre-Order"/"Order" date.

I hope none of you think... she is one of those (Karens)....
I also hope none of you see me as negative or disrespectful...
I just hope that whatever profession you are in (most especially car sales) you do better, go above and beyond, and out of your way for your customers/patrons.

With barely any cars on the lot to sell, vaguely "responding to emails" (answering customers questions) shows 1.) they have no appreciation of your pre-order as if it's something we are accustomed to, 2.) sit back make their sales, 3.) earn their profit, and 4.) are rude doing it as you wait.

Long story short - thank you to every Kia salesperson who visits this site, provides insight, answers with informative information, and sadly didn't get to make the sale - you are the people this world needs more of!!

 

[Mikro88]

I’ve been shopping for an SX w/P for about a week now and Jim Ellis Kia of Kennesaw said they may have one inbound. I had to visit the VW dealer next door, so I said what the heck and told them I’d stop by.
One employee followed me around when I arrived, presumably since we had said hello to one time prior as we were window shopping. Then I sat down with Natasha, one of the managers. She had a $48k SX worked up with ~$1500 in market adjustment on the paperwork. I figured I would give her a minute to give the pitch... then as she’s going over the numbers she excuses herself and comes back with the same paper and $5k of market adjustment. I thanked her for time and said I was no longer interested.
I understand supply and demand but this just rubbed me the wrong way. Oh well, I’ll buy from someone else.

Ran into similar issue with Lou Sobh in Cumming in Sep2021. Had one on the lot close to what I wanted, but slipped in their Dealer Protection Package for 5K. When I asked what it included, they stopped all correspondence with me.

 

[Schlegel]

Ran into similar issue with Lou Sobh in Cumming in Sep2021. Had one on the lot close to what I wanted, but slipped in their Dealer Protection Package for 5K. When I asked what it included, they stopped all correspondence with me.

Totally stopped doing ANY business with Jim Ellis, Kennesaw, long ago. We need a revolution in car buying from the consumer.

 

[Schlegel]

If you want a new definition if insanity.... I know this is NOT a Telluride but a new contender for outrageous markups from your lovely local KIA dealership. The higher the gas prices, the higher the markup I guess. So glad that I am already bald because...well. SECOND image is me trying to negotiate with Carriage Kia, Woodstock, GA. Have a great one!

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[navydave]

Our 2022 was the only Telluride on the lot. Moss Green with a white interior. It is an EX. It had 300 miles on it when made an offer to buy it. We were told they would let us have it at MSRP the day they got a new one. It was a hard three weeks. We picked her up she had 320 miles and was cleaner than the day she came off the truck. Our Salesman Chris Tator at Youngblood Springfield Mo. was great and did what he said he could do.

 

[AlexanderTheOk]

I put my order and deposit down for a Moss Green SX / NE with Southlake Kia in Merriville, IN on July 17th.

Before I landed on Southlake, I shopped around several Kia dealers in the area because I knew that mark-ups were a common practice, especially for the SX. I was told over the phone by the BDC Manager, Dixie, that because I was in the backyard of another dealer, that they'd honor at MSRP if I put in an order with them. When we went in to put in our order and put down our deposit, both the BDC Manager and Sales Consultant, James, reiterated that the sales manager gave them the go-ahead to make sure that my sale would be at MSPR (no dealer markups). They also quoted a 6-8 week delivery date on the Telluride.

A month went by without communication from the dealer, so I followed up, and was told that the delivery date was still on track. Then we got to the 6 week mark, and I followed up with the BDC to confirm that the order was put in. She said that she would never tell any customer that they would have their Telluride in 6-8 weeks, because it's closer to 8-12 weeks. (Though she did). And that the sales consultant "often lies" to his customers about delivery date so he can close deals. And that my delivery date would be in Mid November. I was understandably pissed about that line. So I followed up via email asking for confirmation in writing that they would honor my order at MSRP. I got a text message from the sales consultant's personal phone later that day with my order stating that price.

Fast forward to this week, when my VIN popped up on Failcat and I confirmed delivery date with Stephen. I called to get a quote on a trade in, make sure I could finance through my bank, and that the MSRP was the price I would pay. I just got a call from the sales consultant who informed me that they couldn't sell me the Telluride at MSRP and would need to charge me an additional $3000 on top of the agreed upon price. His reasoning was that other dealers are charging $5-$10K above sticker, and they'd be losing out on money. He then tried to gaslight me by saying that he never said anything about MSRP, and that he was only giving me the best price his manager would allow him to give. I lost my cool on him and told him, "I can see why Dixie says you often lie to your customers" and he hung up on me.

Their General Sales Manager asked me to send all communication via text / email to him and he'd "gather the facts and call [me] back". That was well over 2 hours ago. And still nothing. I feel like I'm taking crazy pills here. And that they may just pull the order that we've been waiting 4 months on because we don't want to pay more than the price we were promised.

What can I even do here?

 

[Schlegel]

All of this "nonsense" gives me a headache.

 

[K1900]

Will check with Puyallup again on the final fees. They are asking me to come down to the showroom to order and for a credit pull.

How have things progressed with Puyallup Kia? I am considering placing an order with them.