shannon winton Review of Fredy Kia
We've been test driving cars recently. My husband ...
We've been test driving cars recently. My husband drives a lot, but he's also a partially disabled vet and quite tall, so he doesn't fit comfortably in all cars/SUVs.
First, the salesman was smoking when we walked up, and that was offputting because we had to smell it throughout our interaction. When we explained we already had financing, we were just getting a feel for the vehicle, he still wanted us to sit down and go over Kia financing paperwork despite us telling him that we were not going to buy the car that day even if we liked it, and we didn't want to pursue alternate financing. He said it was mandatory.
None of the other dealers did this kind of thing. They asked us what kind of car we wanted to look at and made copies of our DLs before giving us the keys.
Even after we went back out to the lot (after refusing to compete a "mandatory" credit check), he tried to sell us on the highest 2017 model which priced at 8k over what the comparable 2018 models were. We don't want a sun roof or leather and plus the 2019 models are going to be out in a few months. Why do they still have 2017 models on the lot?
He wouldn't let us drive what we actually wanted to until he went through his whole pitch. And then during the test drive, he kept calling my son, who granted has long hair, a "she" even though he has a distinctly masculine name. "How's she liking that legroom?" "She's a he." "Yeah, but what about that legroom?"
He got snippy with me when I asked about availability of safety features that has been standard on other models we'd looked at and said all of the things I wanted cost money, and KIAs were cheaper for a reason. I held my tongue on that one. I bought the same model KIA vehicle in 2012, and a lot of the features I was asking about that were standard on that vehicle. Plus his statements basically implied the cars were cheap because they're not as safe. That's not really a positive impression of the brand.
Lastly, he tried the whole "you need to buy this car tonight because it may not be here tomorrow" schtick when there were dozens on the lot.
None of the other salesmen we encountered while car shopping were SO SLEEZY. Historically, when we were shopping during the recession, everyone was thirsty, and it was a pain at every dealership we went to.
It's very apparent that the other dealerships have evolved a more customer-friendly attitude and improved the experience of shopping for a vehicle. Fredy has not. Despite their bounce house, large selection, and faux bbqs, it felt like the salesman was trying to con us as soon as we got there.
The one thing they've got going for them is the large selection. But we're not going to be buying a vehicle from there any time soon.
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