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Post by KITransplant on Jun 23, 2015 8:44:48 GMT -4
Anyone here had favorable experiences with car dealerships (including particular salespeople) within a 50-mile radius. If so, I (and I bet others) would like to know. Personally I'm looking to buy a Honda or Toyota sometime in the next year or so, so I'd love to hear about people's experiences with dealerships that sell those types of cars, but if you've had good experiences with other dealerships selling other types of cars, feel free to post away, too.
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Post by knottygal on Jun 23, 2015 9:17:08 GMT -4
I take my Toyota to Koons Toyota in Easton for servicing. I have been pleased as punch with how prompt they are, their directness, and the overall friendliness of the employees that I've come in contact with. Not knowing that I am there for service only, the salespeople have approached me without attacking for a sale. When I explained that I was only in for service work, they offered to shuttle me into the town area if needed. Of course, none of this guarantees a successful sales process, but I plan to give them 1st shot when I make my next purchase. The Ford dealership across from the Easton Airport is another story. Hertrich owns a Ford dealership and a GMC dealership in Easton. A few months back, we were looking to purchase a GMC work vehicle. I inadvertently called the Ford dealer. The salesperson identified that I was calling a Ford dealership and I clearly asked him if the GMC's were there or at another location. The Smuck was adamant that they sold the GMC's and were the only location. (In fact, the GMC's are two miles down the road.) He kept attempting to schedule an appt. with me. Of course, no GMC's there and I couldn't get him off the line. To make matters worse, he took my number from caller id - I did not offer it to him. Both he and his sales manager hounded me for weeks to come in and look at their vehicles.
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Post by navyken on Jun 23, 2015 11:18:44 GMT -4
I have 3 Toyota's, one from Koons Easton, one from Koons Annapolis and one from Koons Westminster. Through the years I have put over 800,000 miles on Toyotas, mostly trouble free until my 2014 Tundra. Very happy with Annapolis and Westminster. I will NEVER set foot in Koons Easton until the GM (John Guth) is gone. He is a jerk and his employees can't stand him, just ask if they haven't already quit. Unhappy employees mean problems.
My new 2014 Tundra developed an oil leak with 224 miles on it, took it into Easton, replaced front differental and still leaked so they replaced valve seal, misdiagnosis. 3 weeks later it was leaking oil again, took to Easton again, installed valve seal wrong so it failed. Next morning there was oil on the driveway again, called Toyota and they told me I had to go to Easton at this point since they did the first 2 repairs. The Service Manager comes out and tells me they didn't torque the valve cover bolts down. I asked to speak to the GM and let's just say he was less than concerned by saying "we will eventually get it right." Next morning oil on the driveway again, took it in and I was less than hospitable to the GM by asking when my new truck was gonna be here, his response blew me away when he stated "I don't know why you are upset, it's only a truck." 4 oil leaks in 6 weeks, 4 failed attempts when it started blowing blue smoke in December. This time Toyota sent a factory rep to repair it and it has worked ever since. Yes, I took Toyota to arbitration but lost because dealer failure does not equate to manufacturing defect. Got their attention though and a 8yr/125k bumper-to-bumper warranty and a couple of accessories thrown in.
Been happy with Annapolis, The new Service Manager in Annapolis (Richard Souder) is a good guy and one of the Service Advisors Kevin Biggam (former Server Mgr at Easton) help keep the service dept moving. Westminster is too far away for me to take for service. Just stay away from Easton!
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Post by lainey on Jun 23, 2015 12:11:14 GMT -4
Last time I was at a Koons dealership, my extended warranty was inadvertently cancelled retroactively.
Next time, they should ask a girl out to dinner before they %$#@* her over!
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Post by skipper on Jun 23, 2015 14:49:14 GMT -4
I've had great success at Honda of Annapolis and also Laurel. Going in with a plan and the numbers I wanted - came out with new vehicles that have been excellent.
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Post by Frank on Jun 23, 2015 15:55:09 GMT -4
Toyota of Bowie - Never get my business. Went to look at a car, salesman rode with my wife and I and brought a sandwich along because he was hungry. He proceeded to lean over the front seat talking to us while spitting food on my wife and I. We couldn't understand what he was saying because he talked while he chewed. We told him we wanted to drive an SUV and a sedan to see which one we preferred. Never got past the SUV. We were marched into the Sales Managers office for a little wearing down. I said no repeatedly, that we wanted to drive the sedan also before making any decision. Didn't seem to matter to them, insisting their were people lined up to buy this SUV and we needed to act right away. Yeah, right. Bye-bye.
edit: Plus the salesman told me the V6 SUV got 38 miles per gallon. At that point, I couldn't believe anything he said.
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Post by jetskibrat on Jun 23, 2015 20:03:15 GMT -4
Koons in annapolis Emanuel is awesome in sales
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Post by oriolesfan on Jun 24, 2015 8:29:27 GMT -4
Used Honda of Annapolis and they were great
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Post by bchevy on Jun 24, 2015 19:14:00 GMT -4
Koons in annapolis Emanuel is awesome in sales No Koons for me, any of them, ever. too many issues and not enough resolution. Had great experiences with Genderson Chevrolet, crap they're gone. GM Giant was great, oops they're gone too Browns Honda in Glen Burnie was great, and almost $10k extra off the bottom savings if it weren't for my conscious. JBA Chevrolet took good care of me for my 2nd truck. BOTH of those deals were initiated online which saved me extra $, I know it saved me time and bother while at the store, less than an hour in there and done/gone with my new ride
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Post by constructr on Jun 24, 2015 20:09:44 GMT -4
Lexus of Annapolis is awesome!! I've bought and leased several cars from them in the last 10 years and they have been GREAT to deal with!! Take the car there as much as you want to get washed, have a snack and go. The staff is excellent!
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Post by overboost44 on Jun 24, 2015 22:19:05 GMT -4
This is a coincidence. I just finished writing a long review about the car I purchased on Friday from Fitzgerald in Annapolis. I will summarize it here.
I have bought 4 cars from Fitzgerald since Oct 2011 and each experience was great. First a VW, then a Mazda, another Mazda, and finally a VW. So, two different locations, all four great experiences. For VW Tania Falls was my sales person on the latest car and she was fantastic and easy to get along with. Ed was my first salesperson and he was good enough. At Mazda, Chris Watson was our guy both times and I pretty much consider him a friend now. Great personality and easy going.
As for pricing, at first I was turned off by the "no haggle' pricing so I did my due diligence and shopped around at Waldorf VW/Mazda and at Antwerpen and Ourisman in Laurel. Ourisman was a pain in the *ss. They do not stop calling you and it will be 3 or 4 different people calling you. IN the end, the pricing was just better at Fitz.
For my most recent purchase, I had TrueCar. I received certificates from the aforementioned dealers (Fitz is not part of TrueCar) At first the pricing looked good and I told Fitzgerald about it. It turned out that the Fitzgerald price was better in the end. I don't know how they do it, but they did. Over and over again. I am a car guy a gear head and a racer. My wife dreads and usually walks out of the room when I am negotiating. I got them to throw in a few little things, but it was pretty much cut and dry.
For service, my only experiences have been with the 2012 VW. I wish they would wash my car for me when I pick it up, but they only did that once. they do give me a rental whenever I need one though. I don't care what dealer it is, once the car is out of warranty you have to be careful about how they will try to screw you. This has not happened to me at Fitzgerald, but I guess it could. I wrote my review on Cars.com tonight and noticed that 238 out of 250 or so, recommended them highly, so they must be doing something right. That is rare for a dealer.
If you are looking for a Toyota or Honda, go check out a comparable Mazda. I bet you will like it better. As much as I like right now what VW is putting out, I am concerned with the long term cost associated with repairs.
Good luck and let us know what you do.
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Post by Frank on Jun 25, 2015 8:14:52 GMT -4
BOTH of those deals were initiated online which saved me extra $, I know it saved me time and bother while at the store, less than an hour in there and done/gone with my new ride I forgot about this. You can find the dealer cost on a new car from a number of websites. several years we bought a new Suburban. While the salesman qwas telling me about what a great deal he was going to give me, I pulled the dealer cost with all the options listed out and layed it on the desk. he just looked at me like 'game over'! We offered him $1000 over dealer cost and drove home in our new Suburban. Edmunds.com recommended 5% over delaer cost was fair, but with the price of the Suburban, I felt that would have been too much. Figure out what you want, and use the internet to your advantage. Manufacturers will probably be offering additional discounts over the 4th of July weekend. Good luck!
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Post by KITransplant on Jan 24, 2017 15:13:15 GMT -4
Since I started this thread, I thought I should eventually report back. Ultimately I ended up contacting several Honda dealerships and ended up with a new car a few months ago. The dealerships on the west side of the bridge were basically insistent that we come in person to even really start talking about price. I ended up dealing with Hertrich Honda in Easton and had a good experience. I was able to get what I wanted at the price my research told me I should be able to get it at, and the salesman was easy to deal on the phone with and pleasant to work with (Corey Ottaviani).
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Post by glk21c on Jan 27, 2017 14:58:58 GMT -4
New car sales (the front of the store if you would) is purely there to generate business for the back of the store (parts and service). They will make a little to maybe a lot of profit on the sale of a new car but they always make a whole lot of profit on parts and service. You could probably say an obnoxious amount of profit on parts and service. Now the selling of used cars is a whole other story, only those at that dealership know what they paid for it and can generate whatever they deem as necessary in regards to profit margin. Then if they can get you to service it there as well, $$.
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Post by oriolesfan on Feb 1, 2017 15:51:25 GMT -4
Since I started this thread, I thought I should eventually report back. Ultimately I ended up contacting several Honda dealerships and ended up with a new car a few months ago. The dealerships on the west side of the bridge were basically insistent that we come in person to even really start talking about price. I ended up dealing with Hertrich Honda in Easton and had a good experience. I was able to get what I wanted at the price my research told me I should be able to get it at, and the salesman was easy to deal on the phone with and pleasant to work with (Corey Ottaviani). I agree. This dealership was fantastic bar none. I emailed every Honda dealer in the area within 50 miles of the exact make and model and color and they were by far the best to deal with. Provided the lowest price and was in/out in an hour when I went to make the purchase
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