Car Dealers-The Good,Bad&Ugly

[fred]

Most of us are aware of the benefits of the Internet but sometimes we need to be reminded so we do not take it for granted. Just a few short years ago before the Internet and these types of Web Sites an Auto Dealer could easily take advantage of an unspecting customer and get him into a bad deal. Then came the servicing of the car which could also be abysmal. Other customers would come along and, not knowing the history at this particular dealership, be treated similarly. This could happen over and over. Now with the power of the Internet consumers of all kinds can link together and "tell it like it is". Dealers can no longer hide behind shoddy treatment of their customers. Many former poor dealers have been forced to change the way they do buisness or watch their "bottom line" shrink. Dealers who excel in they way they handle their "deals" can now be identified and they will reap the rewards. Good example of this is Woodhouse dodge, Bill Pemberton. There selling lots of cars (sold one to me) and reaping the rewards of treating the customers fairly. Yet still today there are dealers out there who still "don't get it"! They continue to "rip off" when ever they can get away with it and it apparently is not costing them any money or they would not be doing it. Unfortunatly they are not a lot of "web Sites" like this that allow buyers of many different brand of cars to "chat". Maybe in the future more will come "on line". So keep posting about those Dealers that your not pleased with and highlite the ones that do right by you. Make the power of the Internet work for all of us Viper Owners.

 

[BobK898]

I just got an '01 rt/10 from Roanoke Motors through John Gastman. There has been a problem with getting the title and John has been very accomodating. John is a first class dealer.

 

[viperprowler1]

Fred's concerns are understandable and may be deserved in some instances. However, it must be understood that the new car dealer is simply a person in business trying to make a profit and support his family just as any other small businessman would try to do. We are about the only business that has federally approved price labels that are basically uniform all over the country and do not vary from dealer to dealer. There aren't many other businesses that have this uniform pricing to help the consumer to do comparison shopping. Being a new car dealer today is a very difficult business to be in. The customer should be abundantly aware that the "cheapest price" is rarely the best deal. Let the dealer make enough of a fair profit so he/she can afford to give you the very best service that you should rightly expect. If you run into someone who advertises the "cheapest" price in town, put your hand on your wallet and run, don't walk, to your car and go to the dealer you really want to do business with...the one who makes you feel right about the entire deal. Ones like Bill Pemberton at Woodhouse, Darren Buhler at Buhler Dodge or John Gastman at Roanoke Motors as mentioned in this thread. These men give "fair deals" not the "cheapest" price in town. If they did everything on the "cheap", they would not be there for you when you need that excellent service that you expect! I was a Dodge dealer for 33 years and can tell you with no hesitation that new car dealers are some of the finest people in the world. They have to be great folks to handle the pressures and the stresses they endure from trying to please not only their customers but their franchisors as well while trying to keep their very valuable and skilled employees happy too! Trust your gut! If it does not feel right, it probably isn't! Find a "good" dealer and give him/her a chance to make you happy and you will probably have a friend for life! Good luck!