OK so here is the deal. Dave Smith Motors is crazy. I mean they have over 3K new cars in inventory. The salesman claimed that they did 40 deals on Monday (when I got mine) and over 120 on Saturday. The town of Kellogg, ID. has a population of just ~2500 and Dave Smith Motors claims to employ over 500. In the one sales office I was in they had over 30 salesmen working the phones, two guest lounges and a restaurant. And that was just the Dodge building in the GM building he says that they have over 70 salesmen on the phones. Hell they have a shuttle to the Spokane airport that runs every hour. I was truly impressed.
Now for the 11 hour day. 5 hours was time at the dealership.
History
So in Jan I ordered my D, and the numbers were mostly done. I requested in late Feb that they: Order and install caliper covers, tint the windows and install splash guards. When I couldn't get ahold of the sales guy I actually called the tint guy directly and we talked about what to do. This was still in Feb.
Manage the trade -
As most of you know I traded in my 16 Pilot. This was a trade by the books. Dealer A offered me X for my Pilot and they would pay Dave Smith the $ for the Pilot. All I had to do was drive my Pilot to Dealer A and give them the keys and manuals and stuff. Once this was done the dealers would work the details and handle the paperwork and $ while I was on travel.
Travel -
I went on travel starting on March 2nd and completed on March 11th.
Plan -
The Durango was to arrive March 3rd or 4th and the dealership would do the tinting, guards and caliper covers. On March 1st, I dropped of the Pilot to dealership A. I also did all the credit stuff that was asked of me and scanned over docs and stuff. The salesman at Dave Smith would manage the trade by the books, he also was going to, manage sending my wife all the paperwork needed so that everything would have her signatures and on March 11th when I flew home. I would just fly to Spokane catch the shuttle, do my paperwork and bring home the car. The salesman at Dave Smith would manage the trade by the books.
What happened -
March 1st
Honda was dropped off and accepted by dealer A
March 2nd
Credit was approved and I didn't like the rate, I pushed back and like magic the rate went down by .5%. I was also called by a person at the dealership who stated that the salesman really needed me to give him all stars on his survey. I tell them that he needs to over communicate what is going on as I am on travel and on the East Coast. He communicates a status that evening.
March 3rd, 4th, 5th 6th
communication from the Salesman was like non-existent. it was me trying to get updates but talking to a wall
On about march 7th
I was told that the car had some minor interior damage. No biggie, but how is everything else going.....crickets, silence.
March 8th or 9th
I get called "I am the accessories dude what tint do you want in the car?" I reply "the tint I specified in 3 emails". "umm let me look. um we don't have that tint" CANCEL TINTING THE CAR, ok how about the splash guards? "um I need to order them, same with the caliper covers" FUDGE, cancel those too.
March 10
I need to figure out what airport I am flying to on the 11th.... Paper work is not ready, the trade via the books and my wife have not been sent any paper work. Fly home and drive to dealership on the 12th is the plan.
March 11th
Paper work was received by Dealer A. They sign and Fed EX back that day for March 14 delivery
March 12th
I mention to the salesmen via email that I received the Dodge coupon. He tells me that I cant use it. I ask why? He calls me and rips me a new one. Saying that he is the number one salesman for two years running and that he is only making $180.00 on this deal. He further states that he has put so many hours into my deal that its just not worth it. I let him know that he has F'd up my schedule and he is costing me $. I back that up with examples of several of his empty promises. He chills and tells me that the COUPON WILL NOT WORK! He wants a picture of it. So I send him one. He calls back me as he cant read the code. I give him the code and..... silence......oh it worked. price reduced by 500.00. He advises that everything "should" be in order for me to pick up the car as he has talked to the other dealership and everything was in FedEx and that should arrive by 1 PM.
March 13 pick up rental car
March 14 Drive 215 miles to the dealership I arrive at ~12:30 I am amazed at what is going on in this place. It is truly like bees working in a beehive. I mean crazy busy. My salesmen is finishing up with a customer. So I wait 20 or so minutes, then he says I need to go pick up the Fed EX. I say ok....he comes back....hey all the paper work is done but no check. He then looks at me and says do you have the check? I look at him and say "no you were working that? He is puzzled. So he calls the sales manage at Dealership A. Its his day off. grrrr. What my salesman did next completely blew me away. He took, and started working a sales call. I mean WTF!!!! after ten to fifteen minutes he comes to me and asks, did you get a hold of him? I say "no I thought that was your job." His solution; do two contracts one with the trade and one without, its the best he can do....I say BS I am going home. He then gets off of his rear and starts making calls. Finally he gets permission to release the car without the second contract. Its now about 4PM, and I need to race and get the rental car back to AVIS, and catch the shuttle back to the dealership. Once back at the dealership 5:30ish I now need to do paperwork. Guess what its all jacked, 7 PM all the paperwork is complete I am going home, and its snowing pretty heavy.....I am pissed and happy.....
He wants me to give him all stars on his survey, or Dodge will deduct him $40 per sale for the next 90 days.....geezzz other peoples kids.
