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jojoco_gw

Car shopping cautionary tale

8 years ago

Dh and I went to a car dealership on Tuesday evening to buy a new car. We knew what we wanted, a 2018 Kia Sorento with V6 engine, all wheel drive and hopefully we could cap the cost at 30K. We had rented one, so they didn't have to sell us on the great things about the car. We were already fans. And we were not financing it or trading in a vehicle. We were as uncomplicated as they come. At the dealership, we spelled out our requirements for a new car with a salesperson who, along with her manager, suggested a specific 2018 car on the lot for us. It was a decent fit, although it had an extra package that we would not have ordinarily added. We test drove it and said let's make it happen. We did the usual back and forth on price and ended up 2K under sticker but with tax, etc included. It was also 2k more than we told them we wanted to spend. They kept telling us we were getting a great price because they wanted to get the '18's off the lot. Blah, blah, the story heard round the world at car dealerships. But we did our research and it was a reasonable price. Not as great as they extolled, but we could live with it. I haven't had a new car in years and I shared my excitement with them about finally getting one.


We went back on Wednesday to do the paperwork (we had to wait for financial confirmation on our part), and started in on the paperwork. During an early lull in the process, I asked our salesperson what was the exact mileage on our car. (I was bored, and expected an answer of 200 miles or so.) She said let me check and went outside to the lot. She came back a few minutes later and said "It has 5000 miles on it."


Wait, what?


I immediately replied "That's not a new car. That's a used car." She went to grab her manager who said he had just heard about the miles at that very moment and then went on to say it was an "executive demo car". He said sorry and shrugged. And then he went on to say that's the reason the price was so crazy good. My dh and I looked at him with jaws hitting the floor. Did he really just say that?

We stood and I had my Atticus Finch moment where I told them that we absolutely were not buying the car and that they had been incredibly deceptive and that we would never do business with a place we couldn't trust. And then we walked out. Not two seconds later, the manager came up to our car (convertible with top down) and offered us another car that met ALL of our requirements for 30K out the door. It was a great price. He wanted to pull it right up to us. Not that we'd trust him but, wth, why didn't they mention that car yesterday? It met ALL of our requirements. We drove away.


(Worth noting, we have our original preliminary paperwork on the car that the salesperson gave us after we test drove it. The paper that documents that actual car's vin and lists the mileage at 5 miles. Their website also lists the car under "new inventory.)


Later that night, we went to a kia dealership much further away and bought a 2019 model for about the same price (but no fancy extra package.)


I then did what any unemployed writer would do--I took to social media. I left a scathing Yelp (Kia of West Chester) review, posted the same review on their facebook page (it is full of horrible reviews,) and sent a letter to Kia's North American headquarters. They did reply on the facebook page that they were sorry I "felt this way," and that mileage should be transparent. They wanted to know what they could do to make it better and gave contact information.

Too little, too late.


Thanks for letting me vent. (Big exhale.) I feel better now.


Jo

Comments (37)

  • 8 years ago

    So sorry you wet thought this. Things can get crazy in the car world. We once had to walk out of a deal because we couldn't get back fast enough for the sales rep! We had a school concert to go to, and this dealership was not near us. It was one of those things where we were passing by and stopped in spontaneously.


    The sales rep was very aggressive that we HAD to come on that day etc. Very strange as we were very interested in the car.


    DH was so annoyed he was determined to get a new car for me ASAP. We went to our local dealership and they found one to our specifications.

    jojoco thanked eld6161
  • 8 years ago

    5 paper miles and 5000 real miles. Good for you for driving away from those scamsters, and writing a review.

    jojoco thanked lucillle
  • 8 years ago

    Well done! And you got the car you wanted in the first place.

    jojoco thanked bpath
  • 8 years ago

    There is a reason I included the name on Yelp in my rant here. . Please feel free to read the review and decide if it is helpful. the general manager put his personal contact information in the Facebook post and my DH said I should thank him for the contact information and tell himI am forwarding it to the district Attorney. (Did I mention my DH is an attorney?)

  • 8 years ago

    Nothing gets me angrier than someone trying to swindle me. You go.

    jojoco thanked mtnrdredux_gw
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    I don't see your review, but I note that most of the other reviews are lousy, one or two stars at most. The big 5 star reviews are laughingly fake. Is there a reason your review doesn't show? (ETA: found it---it's there.)

    https://www.yelp.com/biz/kia-of-west-chester-west-chester

    jojoco thanked sushipup1
  • 8 years ago

    hmmm, that’s weird. I see it on your link. It is the one that says “Joanne T”

  • 8 years ago

    Sad, but there are lots of dealers like that regardless of make. You did the right thing by walking away and I hope you have lots of fun enjoying your new car! What color did you get?

    jojoco thanked User
  • 8 years ago

    I see the review, 3rd one down (look for the date).

  • 8 years ago

    Got it, missed it before.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Why does buying a car have to be such a sleazy experience? Since I was shopping for my last car by myself I felt like I had Sucker written on my forehead. I did do my homework. I found what I wanted at a fair price but they tried to undercut me on my trade in. They knocked several hundred dollars off the value because it was a manual transmission. I started to get up and walk away saying "no deal" when they decided to remove that deduction. I think it helps when you have been out in the business world and aren't meek.

    Good for you, Jo. Social media has helped level the playing field thanks to reviews like yours.

    jojoco thanked dedtired
  • 8 years ago

    You rock!

    jojoco thanked Nothing Left to Say
  • 8 years ago

    Good for you for making a stand for what was right and sticking to your convictions.

    jojoco thanked czarinalex
  • 8 years ago

    Good for you for walking away and writing a review.

    jojoco thanked Allison0704
  • 8 years ago

    I hate car shopping for all the reasons that others have stated. When we bought my current car we went through Costco's Auto program. While not totally pain free it was the closest we have come to no BS car buying. We didn't have to negotiate price, as the Costco price was what we wanted to pay after doing our research. We ordered the exact car that we wanted. The only thing that was a pain was all the time that we had to spend at the dealer when we went to pick it up. Even though we weren't financing it, I seem to recall that we still needed to talk to the finance manager so that they could try to sell us an extended warranty.

    jojoco thanked terezosa / terriks
  • 8 years ago

    Bravo to you!!

    I read your review and several others. How are they still in business???

    jojoco thanked pudgeder
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    So sorry you had to go through this, but you did the right thing--kudos. I have been putting off buying a new car exactly because of stories like yours. Places like the Kia dealership in West Chester reinforce the stereotype of car salesmen.

    jojoco thanked teeda
  • 8 years ago

    I then did what any unemployed writer would do--I took to social media - jojoco

    I laughed at this. You go! I am so proud of you.

    We had a pretty decent experience when we recently bought our new Forester. But they only offered us $1500 on our old Sienna and said it was headed for the parts junk yard. Wrong - we sold it on Craigs list for $3200 to a family who needed a second car. Our mechanic had told us there was probably another 60000 Kilometers available on that car.

    jojoco thanked blfenton
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    This is really horrible to hear this level of deception. In the social media age, you would think they would be more careful, but passing off a vehicle with 5,000 miles with 5 miles is likely even fraudulent. I am glad to wrote to Kia HQ.

    If you are buying a model year leftover, they get extra incentives of a few percent from the manufacturer to move these cars. You should be able to get a GREAT price, not a good price, at this time of year, on a new 2018.

    My sister bought a demo 2018 Outback but it was clearly sold as used on the CPO plan because it had 1500 miles. But it was otherwise fully loaded V6 and more than 10K under the new MSRP.

    I realize people who look to Kia may be looking on a budget, but a $30K+ car is not budget!

    jojoco thanked gsciencechick
  • 8 years ago

    Good for you! And it was fraud -- they were not honest.

    jojoco thanked User
  • 8 years ago

    I always buy used, so I watch the stated vs actual mileage. Executive cars are great deals. I negotiate below internet pricing on these knowing that they’ve been well cared for and driven for six months or less.

    If I know what I want, we do the deal online & over the phone. Then I go in and finalize the purchase-check in hand. The dealer knows that is they *’d with me, I’ve got no emotion in the deal.

    Oh, and car-buying for me is payback for everything my customers put me through!

    jojoco thanked 1929Spanish-GW
  • 8 years ago

    Wow! Good for you for walking away and then writing the review. I have not read your review, but would do the same if in your shoes.

    I hate car-buying in general, and this is an example of why. Although my last few experiences have beeen very good. In fact, I bought an acknowledged dealer demo with almost 6k miles the last time I bought one. I have bought from this dealer 4 times now and always feel like they do a good job with customer service and are honest.

    jojoco thanked OutsidePlaying
  • 8 years ago

    Crazy how dishonest this place was. We too think we are simple car buyers. But somehow it always takes forever getting in and out of car dealerships and when you leave you feel a bit slimed on.

    jojoco thanked Zalco/bring back Sophie!
  • 8 years ago

    Good for you! I tried to read your review but I can't seem to find it. I wonder if the manager flagged it.

    I had planned to car shop this fall but have been dreading the experience. Your story has put me on alert and has reminded me to have a backbone.

  • 8 years ago

    You go girl!

    jojoco thanked jrb451
  • 8 years ago

    Will you go with me when I go to buy a new car?

    jojoco thanked schoolhouse_gw
  • 8 years ago

    Was your review removed? I went to the link and sorted by most recent, and the most recent is 9/7 and I don't see yours.?

  • 8 years ago

    I’m glad you walked out. I wonder how many others this dealership has defrauded?

    jojoco thanked texanjana
  • 8 years ago

    The review is still there, under “Joanne T” i’m not sure if it’s due to all of you wonderful people here, but 10 people have found it “useful“. I also heard back from the Kia motors of America corporate offices. They are forwarding my complaint on to the region. I sent them a picture that showed the paperwork with the falsified mileage. I hope they get nailed!

  • 8 years ago

    Yipppeeeeee! I'd love to mark it useful, but don't see the option to do that in an 'unapproved' review. Tell us how and you'll probably get MORE 'usefuls'. :-)

  • 8 years ago

    I’ve no idea how to mark it useful. Maybe it’s because I am a new reviewer? I looked for any notifications from yelp asking for action on my part, but couldn’t find anything.

  • 8 years ago

    finally found it - way down bottom, there's a link to click for 'not currently recommended' reviews. that stinks that they put you there.

  • 8 years ago

    Just wanted to say, after all the mess you had to go through, I hope you are enjoying your new car!

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    FWIW, here is a screen shot of your review in the "not currently recommended" section. Not sure what you can do about it.

  • 8 years ago

    Thanks for the link. I swear I looked and looked and not until I put in the least recommended and then saw the other part, was I was able to see the review. Jojo we are absolutely neighbors by the way. (been here 2 months.:) that's also why I was trying to find this- and we also just bought a new car last week. twins!)

  • 8 years ago

    Salonva, That’s so cool that we are neighbors! I’ve been here one month and I am loving it. If you would ever like to meet for coffee , give a shout. I bet dedtired would join us ( and maybe others as well.)

    also, I figured out why my review is “not recommended“. I joined Yelp to warn people about the fraudulent practice at Kia of West Chester. Unfortunately, yelp only rewards those who are repeat reviewer‘s. Because this is my first review, I cannot get “recommended“ status yet. I understand the thought process behind it, but it’s unfortunate in my case as I am just trying to protect people.