The quick and dirty: Finally got a Telluride on Saturday, had an overall good experience with Arapahoe KIA in Denver, CO. My salesman was primarily Jim, only way I can explain him, is that I felt like I was buying a car from my dad. Shawn who recently started helped out as well. Both these guys were outstanding to deal with and I would gladly buy a car with either of them again at Arapahoe Kia. Not overly happy with the sales manager, but in the end we got a Telly for MSRP, minus 300 veterans Kia Rebate, and a 699 dealer fee in about three months so we are grateful for that.
The full story:
I ordered a Dark Moss EX with the premium and nightfall package, black interior, no other options back in Mid-December for the wife. Jim said to expect a 4-5 month wait. He took the time to answer all my questions, concerns, including dealing with our trade in. He explained I would know about a month before the vehicle arrived and I could get an appraisal from them for trade and look at selling privately or using Carmax or Carvana as a back up with plenty of time. Jim provided an update mid January that we were picked up in KFOS and would have an ETA in about a month (that was quick).
Feb 19th, I got a call from the dealer, expecting it to be Jim with an ETA (Nothing in failcat yet). To my surprise it was Shawn. He explained that they had an order come in very close to ours except a gray interior and tow package. The vehicle was for my wife, she was not sure about the gray interior. We decided to head in the next morning to look.
I went in as prepped as I could, including an online offer from Carmax for 29300 for our vehicle we needed to sell/trade before getting a Telluride. The wife ended up really liking the gray interior. Jim was slammed, as they sold / delivered four Tellurides before 12pm by my observations. Shawn was dealing with us in the mean time, what a super guy.
They came back with our trade in offer at 21k. 8k under blue book, 9k under NADA value. I obviously explained that just wouldn't work. Shawn took our Carmax offer to get the manager to do better.
This is where I was a little irritated. I get the sales manager should be the bad guy, I get it, but he put all the blame on Shawn. He explained Shawn was new and should not have offered me the vehicle at MSRP, I should be paying their markup. (I don't think any employee should be thrown under the bus like that) Further explaining the only way to get MSRP is to order and wait, but they would sell at MSRP to me due to "Shawns mistake". I explained I had ordered, had been waiting, and should have an ETA any day. I figured we were helping each other other considering their buyer cancelled and they were still getting my vehicle I had ordered with a more desirable interior color. They called me to see if we would settle on a different car. The manager explained they would not get anywhere close to the Carmax or blue book value even with my tax savings of trade in (I would have taken less knowing I was saving on taxes). Carmax was less than 10 minutes away, I said fine we will go sell the car the right now, I will be back in 1-2 hours with a check. The manager responded with, I cannot promise the Telluride will be here. I offered to leave him with a 5000 dollar deposit in good faith and he refused. My wife asked if they were really going to let us risk selling our car and not having anything and the manager agreed it was their policy. Sorry, but not sorry.
I agree these are hot cars that will sell fast but we had been there now for 2-3 hours with two kids, Money in hand, less the trade in issue. Further we had been extremely patient and understanding with how busy they were. I felt like the manager was trying to get rid of us so they could sell the car with a markup by low balling us on the trade.
Fortunately Shawn put us at ease that it was getting later in the day and the Telly would still be there. We agreed I would call him to double check before finalizing with Carmax we were a go. Carmax was a breeze, we were out in 90 minutes with a check for the exact amount they offered us online, sight unseen.
Shawn and Jim had our Telluride prepped and in the delivery bay by the time we returned. Jim worked hard to get us in to finance and giving the wife a run through on her new car features in a timely manner. No surprises in finance, typical up upselling on warranties, protection plans, ect that we declined. We were able to get the Military/Veterans incentive with no issue from Kia.
Over all we had two outstanding salesmen and got a Telluride a few hundred under MSRP. I would recommend them hands down, just be prepared with your trade in.
