Beware of this dealership! This is the letter I just sent to Chrysler!

[CMullen]

I personally have a great relationship with Anthony D'ambrosio dodge. They are a small town dealer with big time customer Service. I get along well with the owner and the my salesman sonny is very attentive. Service on wednesday night took truck in for an oil change got it back it 30 minutes for $50.



A steal imho



great bunch of guys

 

[HDaniel]

I called the Chrysler Corp. a few years ago after having some problems with Hunter Dodge in CA, and they told me that to have a "five star" rating, they needed to participated in Chrysler's promotions and that as long as they participate they would be 5 star. Maybe this has changed since, but I am sure that it's still just an attention getter. Come to think of it. I can't remember the last time that I saw one that wasn't.

 

[Hercules130]

just order from tom chaney. Best sale experience i ever had.

 

[sled4fun]

You should quit what ever you do for a living and start writing novels.

Then just buy another truck

I agree. I have worked at a dealership as a service advisor. The Salesman were always promising things that they could not deliver (as told to the customer) You have to remember that there are three entities at a dealership ie; Sales dept. Parts dept. and Service department. Think of them as individual private companies and it will help you to understand why some things slip through the cracks. As an advisor if I had a paying cash customer needing his car serviced and a new vehicle get ready from the sales department. I would not hesitate on getting the paying customer's car done first. Why you ask? Because a) My paycheck is based upon customer satisfaction from my SERVICE customer so pleasing him is more important to my $$$. b) My paycheck is commisioned based and the new car sales is at a lower %rate than service customers. c) My paycheck is not based upon the salesmans CSI customer satisfaction. d) I get tired of salesman promising the world and crying to me to get it done under the wire at the last minute. So what happened to this customer is a perfect example of what may be a $hitty Sales department and a good Service dept. getting even.



Just my . 02

 

[Rotty]

I always do my research first and pick a price that I will not go over.

I next start going to the dealerships and going straight to the head manager/owner. These are the people that make the decisions. No yard jockies, they are just a waste of time, energy and money unless you need practice negotiating.

Make your deal and be prepared to back it up if they meet your price. If you are going to negotiate, also be prepared to walk. This is part of the deal.

This is a business relationship and friends don't count. I am ruthless at negtiating and will beat up a person (figureatively) over big bucks. But when we make a deal and all transactions are completed. I shake their hand and now we can BS. Never too personal. They are in business to make money and don't forget that.



All things in life are negotiable, as americans we are the only ones who DO NOT NEGOTIATE. Try going outside USA and buy something. They see us coming from a mile away.

It truly is easy, if you just try. Job offers, sears, even you local grocery store and Home depot. If you buy a larger quantity, ask for a discount, price shop and always back it up if they meet your price by buying the product.



This is how I bought a lot of material for my properties by doing the homework and negotiating. I usually get it from 10-75% off.



I am sorry you are having such bad luck, but stay firm.

Sometimes you win some, sometime you lose some.

 

[10-9jc]

Not good technique!

1. GADS! Try PARAGRAPHS for your post!!!!!

2. Novel? THIS reads like a sales contract!

3. Never buy off a lot - unless you're willing to accept the car/truck

just like it sits. You may get more - but better not to expect it.

4. Never buy "dealer add-on stuff" - do it (or have it done) later.

5. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER trust a salesman - especially as a "walk-in".



Should be no problem to order a truck at "Tomeygun prices". You get

the quote, pick the one that works for you, start the process.

[Obviously, you get everything you want when ordering]



I purchased at about $500. over "Tomeygun" price (that means about 2%

below invoice, before rebates) had NEVER been to the dealer - or saw the "internet fleet sales manager" that sold it to me until I picked it up - -

as ordered, as priced, and delivered EXACTLY on the date promised -

with $3500. in rebates.



I would have expected nothing less from any of the other "in writing"

quotes I received. The ONLY kicker - from any dealer - is if D/C ( or

any other mfgr) changes price structure (dealer cost) or rebates.



If DSM - or anybody else - can't quote you an exact price (as above)

- just say, "No thanks! - Good-bye", and move on.



Start over, do it differently!

Hopefully it goes better.

JC

 

[PKitzman]

One of the biggest faults with what YOU did was going into the dealership in a rush. That put the salesman in the drivers seat and he fealt he could kick you around. You should have found the truck you wanted and negociated the price and THEN sold your old truck if not having a vehicle for a few days was going to be a big issue with you.



When I bought my last truck I was in and out of the dealership messing with that poor salesman about five different times working the price as low as possible. I didn't care about killing a few extra days since I was still trying to get a good price on my old Bronco. During that time I also let the salesman know that I was shopping around. DO WHATEVER it takes to keep the ball in your court. Don't do anything that will give the salesman an edge.

 

[RustyJC]

The last 2 vehicle I've purchased have been Internet deals made with local dealers. In one case (my truck), I dealt with the Fleet Sales Manager who also handled Internet sales. In the second case (my Acura 3. 2TL-S), I dealt with a dedicated Internet Sales Manager.



In both cases, the deals were made before I ever walked into the showroom. It was the most painless experience I've had in almost 40 years of purchasing vehicles. I fully intend to do it this way in the future.



Rusty

 

[Grizzly]

I just had a salesperson at Dave Smith do something similar.

We worked through the option list for ordering a new truck, and she gave me a verbal price. I asked for a quote on that truck in writing and she refused. She said they wouldn't put a quote in writing until after I commit to buy.

Then came up with a tale of lawsuits from other dealers over their pricing.

Who signs their name to a blank piece of paper!



Disappointing.



I plan to talk to a manager there, but who knows if they care.

I have never had that happen to me at Dave Smith or any other dealer. Call them back and ask to speak to the Customer Relations Person. Tell them what you told us. Buying a vehicle should not be a bad experience.

 

[HLewallen]

Man - who hasn't walked out of a dealership? Car salesman are just like other people. Well, other people with a naturally predatory job description. I have had deals set, come in the next day to sign and they "can't find the paperwork". Then it's "sorry, I don't know about that previous number, but this is the best I can do now. " Or better yet "we can't give you that much on trade because you are getting the employee discount on the new vehicle". Cannibalistic predators, I guess. Walking onto a car lot I would like to expect a clean fight, but "protect yourself at all times" and don't let them Million Dollar Baby your butt.

 

[madmax4688]

Here's the update! it goes from bad to worse!

Ok so as I expected Roberts Dodge is refusing to let Branhaven Dodge have the truck but I expected that... So my dealer was again searching for another truck using the dealership computers to do the searching. He found 1 in NY that had almost everything I wanted but missing the plow prep package. I went home and my wife says she found a truck in Ct. about 40 miles from us at a Dodge dealer. Hummm... . Well why didnt my dealer find this truck? So I jumped on dodges websight and did my own search using my zip and looking through all the dealers in CT and I found 5!!! The exact truck I wanted. Dont know why the dealership computers cant find my truck but no matter. I wrote the dealers down and called my dealer with the info. We wrote up my deal which is the same as the other dealerships deal and put my deposit down.



Now keep in mind I dont have another vehicle to drive and have been driving my wife Exterra around. After the contracts were signed my salesman throws me a set of keys to his own 05 Wrangler to drive until my truck is ready!!!!!!! :--) This is why I love this place! Should have her by friday.





Heres the update on Roberts Dodge. On Saturday I went to see about getting my deposit back as they requested on Friday. Well... . no dice. They dont have it and I will have to talk to someone on Monday! I asked the sales manager Lester what happened to make a perfectly able customer, who had a deposit and all the paperwork done, get so fustraited with the lack of service to walk away from a deal. He had no answere just a dumb look. He asked me what he would have to do to keep me and I told him there was nothing to be done because they are not getting my money!



While I was at Branhaven just about to leave Lester calls me and I put him on speaker phone so the whole dealership can hear him. He tells me that since I was paying for half of the liner and half of the clearance lights... ... at which point I told him I never agreed to pay HALF of anything! He proceeds to offer me an additional $500 off. . I and the rest of the dealership just smirked :-laf I told him to take that 500 and shove it up his ***! and to have a nice day



I got to tell you that I am not normally like that to anyone but I had just about enough of this place treating me like a POS! And I wanted him to feel as insulted as I have been.



So today is monday and I call to find out about my $1000. 00 deposit and guess who I have to talk to about it..... Lester. crap. He proceeds to tell me that my check for $575 will be ready on Tuesday. Huh... Wheres the other $425? Well they are keeping that for the spray in bed liner they paid to put in my truck. So I asked if I can come and pick up the bed of the truck with MY bedliner in it. no. Well can you take it out and give it to me? no. Can I bring my new truck there and we swap the beds so I have the bedliner that I am paying for? no. Well then how are you charging me for something you are refusing to give me? Sounds an awful lot like stealing to me! He gave me the owners name and to talk to him tomorrow.



So heres whats going to happen. My attorney has already been called and I have the vin# for the truck. We are going to put a "cease and decist order" on that truck so it cannot be sold until this is settled in or out of court. I will call the owner first however just to give him a last chance before I unleash my attorney on him.



So their approach to customer service is screw him now and after the deal goes bad, screw him more.



On a side note my while I was in my kill the dealer mode after the phone call I called my buddy to tell him and ask if he would mide taking his 35' trailer and "accidently" break down in front of the dealership blocking the entrance. . And to have on the side that faces the dealer "this trailer can be moved for $425" and the other side "Roberts Dodge will Steal from you!" In really big letters! But thats just me being vindicktive!

 

[10.5 Dave]

If I was the owner of the dealership you wouldn't get a nickel of your money back for the bedliner. YOU,backed out of the deal and should have to pay for it considering YOU changed your mind.

I agree with everything else you did but don't hold your breath on getting a refund.

 

[madmax4688]

If I was the owner of the dealership you wouldn't get a nickel of your money back for the bedliner. YOU,backed out of the deal and should have to pay for it considering YOU changed your mind.



I agree with everything else you did but don't hold your breath on getting a refund.

yah ok I backed out the day AFTER I was supposed to get the truck and AFTER my truck sat for the entire week with noone doing anything to it. And by the way its called STEALING when you have someone pay for something they are not receiving. Its not like this truck is now not going to sell BECAUSE it has a bedliner! Get a clue!

 

[Huskerman]

yah ok I backed out the day AFTER I was supposed to get the truck and AFTER my truck sat for the entire week with noone doing anything to it. And by the way its called STEALING when you have someone pay for something they are not receiving. Its not like this truck is now not going to sell BECAUSE it has a bedliner! Get a clue!

I understand your frustrations, ESPECIALLY when somebody doesn't keep their word. But you know what, you gave your word you were going to buy the truck AND you let them install stuff before sealing the deal. I would never, ever give a deposit for that kind of work and then expect to be able to back out of the deal. Yes, the dealer blew you off, but that's because you showed him your desperation in what you were looking for. I know that is no excuse for dealers being unscrupulous.



The fact is, the dealer isn't going to be able to charge more $$$ for that truck just because it has a $475 bedliner in it. It just might make it more enticing for somebody else to buy it.

I just had a salesperson at Dave Smith do something similar.

We worked through the option list for ordering a new truck, and she gave me a verbal price. I asked for a quote on that truck in writing and she refused. She said they wouldn't put a quote in writing until after I commit to buy.

Then came up with a tale of lawsuits from other dealers over their pricing.

Who signs their name to a blank piece of paper!

I have called DSM probably a dozen times over the past 5 years to get price quotes. Every single time, they were ready to beat the best deal local to me (Boise). They were also friendly and returned my calls each time.



A couple of comments for some of the folks who have had negative experiences. First off, as somebody else said, they don't "deal". The price they give you is the best price they can offer, PERIOD. I know there are a lot of folks out there who like to dicker because they fancy themselves as world-beaters, but that's not how DSM works. So, if you looking for a dealer that you can tell all your buddies that you "really screwed them over with my negotiating", DSM isn't your kind of dealer.



Secondly, DSM USED to actually be willing to fax you a copy of the invoice. I THINK (I might be wrong) that they quit doing this because so many people were using it to go to the local dealer instead. I know some folks who were turned off by the fact that DSM wouldn't give them a faxed invoice any more. To them I say "boo-hoo". It isn't DSM's responsibility to ensure that your local dealer gets your business which is the ONLY reason you would need a faxed copy of an invoice from DSM!



It's really quite simple. You call dealership A, get their best price. Call dealership B get their best price. Then buy from whomever has the best deal.



As I said, I have contacted these folks many, many times and they have always been professional and courteous. I haven't purchased from them but a lot of my friends have and they all had great experiences.



If you are close to the Pacific NW, I would highly recommend them. If you are closer to St. Louis, I have heard nothing but good things about Tommy as well.



There are good dealerships and bad dealerships. Within those dealerships there are good salesman and bad salesman. With the sheer volume of trucks that DSM sells, I have no doubt that they have had a few customer complaints here and there. You can't please everybody, all the time.



And NO, I don't work for DSM or any other dealership for that matter.



Huskerman

 

[sled4fun]

Been in the auto business all my life. You can't please every customer every time. There is going to be a percentage that is not pleasable and no matter what you do they will not be happy. Run your business to please the 98% that are good customers to deal with and fire the 2% that are non pleasable. Which percentage do you fall into?

 

[TurboFan]

I understand your frustrations, ESPECIALLY when somebody doesn't keep their word. But you know what, you gave your word you were going to buy the truck AND you let them install stuff before sealing the deal. I would never, ever give a deposit for that kind of work and then expect to be able to back out of the deal. Yes, the dealer blew you off, but that's because you showed him your desperation in what you were looking for. I know that is no excuse for dealers being unscrupulous.



The fact is, the dealer isn't going to be able to charge more $$$ for that truck just because it has a $475 bedliner in it. It just might make it more enticing for somebody else to buy it.







I have called DSM probably a dozen times over the past 5 years to get price quotes. Every single time, they were ready to beat the best deal local to me (Boise). They were also friendly and returned my calls each time.



A couple of comments for some of the folks who have had negative experiences. First off, as somebody else said, they don't "deal". The price they give you is the best price they can offer, PERIOD. I know there are a lot of folks out there who like to dicker because they fancy themselves as world-beaters, but that's not how DSM works. So, if you looking for a dealer that you can tell all your buddies that you "really screwed them over with my negotiating", DSM isn't your kind of dealer.



Secondly, DSM USED to actually be willing to fax you a copy of the invoice. I THINK (I might be wrong) that they quit doing this because so many people were using it to go to the local dealer instead. I know some folks who were turned off by the fact that DSM wouldn't give them a faxed invoice any more. To them I say "boo-hoo". It isn't DSM's responsibility to ensure that your local dealer gets your business which is the ONLY reason you would need a faxed copy of an invoice from DSM!



It's really quite simple. You call dealership A, get their best price. Call dealership B get their best price. Then buy from whomever has the best deal.



As I said, I have contacted these folks many, many times and they have always been professional and courteous. I haven't purchased from them but a lot of my friends have and they all had great experiences.



If you are close to the Pacific NW, I would highly recommend them. If you are closer to St. Louis, I have heard nothing but good things about Tommy as well.



There are good dealerships and bad dealerships. Within those dealerships there are good salesman and bad salesman. With the sheer volume of trucks that DSM sells, I have no doubt that they have had a few customer complaints here and there. You can't please everybody, all the time.



And NO, I don't work for DSM or any other dealership for that matter.



Huskerman

Wow. It would be best to read and respond in context Huskerman. It seems like you lumped me in with unscrupulous customers. I can't say I like that.



That said, it seems very reasonable to me, for a business to give a written price with a breakdown of what they are including.

What they paid and any other info of theirs is irrelevant to me. I take offers from multiple dealers and buy the best one.

I neither know nor care what any of them paid, what their kickbacks are, blah blah blah, that's all shell game anyway. I do need to know exactly what I will pay to do business with them.

If it isn't in writing, then it doesn't exist.



Take care

 

[cojhl2]

Getting an invoice from a dealer is a waste of time. You can get the exact same thing from the library or nowadays online from Edmonds.



What is improtant however, is to have the invoice for the vehicle you purchase,, (actually the window sticker suffices) and here is why; I ordered a 1966 Chevelle from a dealer in Moscow ID. It was supposed to have heavy suspension.



After I had the car for a week or so to my dismay, I determined thru physical inspection my suspension was standard. I went back to the dealer and found that although my order sheet specified HD Suspension the ordering person failed to mark that option.



The only recourse I had was they would refund my money for the option,, 137$. That sure as heck would not pay for a later install!! I took the money and chalked the rest up to education.



So,, I learned my leason,, I want the build sheet (window sticker) for the exact vehicle I ordered so I know it's all there.

 

[cojhl2]

What the heck??? After my last post I went to Edmonds. . What a piece of trash it is now.



I had not used it since I bought my 2000 Dakota so I guess Im behind time. I only spent a short time looking for the invoice stuff but they were more interested in trying to tell me what to buy than give me facts on what I want to buy. .



Things sure changed,, I'm going to keep looking. .

 

[Huskerman]

Wow. It would be best to read and respond in context Huskerman. It seems like you lumped me in with unscrupulous customers. I can't say I like that.



That said, it seems very reasonable to me, for a business to give a written price with a breakdown of what they are including.

What they paid and any other info of theirs is irrelevant to me. I take offers from multiple dealers and buy the best one.

I neither know nor care what any of them paid, what their kickbacks are, blah blah blah, that's all shell game anyway. I do need to know exactly what I will pay to do business with them.

If it isn't in writing, then it doesn't exist.



Take care

I certainly apologize if I made you feel that way. I honestly don't mean to label ANYBODY I don't know as unscrupulous. My point is, why should people expect DSM to provide them with ammunition so that they can just go to a "local" dealer and get the same deal.



If having a offer in writing is that important to you, I would highly recommed Autobytel. You submit what you want and you get their best offer via email if I remember correctly. Then you have all you need.



As I said, I never meant to insinuate that ANYBODY is being dishonest here.



Huskerman

 

[MOliveira]

"Deposit" by definition means this is the amount you have to forfeit if you back out of the transaction. I understand your frustration but there probably was no "delivery date" in the contract. But I am sure your deposit was in the contract. I only buy from DSM, have always been treated fairly. But if you buy a truck and then have them add items to it, you had better be prepared to forfeit your deposit if you do not complete the transaction. I would be just as angry as you if I were treated the way you were. That's why they don't let family members sit on jury's. Let go of the $475

and move on. The more time you put between this the better you will feel.