Run away from this dealership, and especially run ...

Run away from this dealership, and especially run far, far away from a salesman named Michael ( Mike. )

Across multiple dealerships, this was the only one that left me in such a rage that I wanted to turn around and demand a different salesperson right there and then. Every other dealership involved someone nice and helpful, if occasionally misguided; but every step here was an experience akin to having teeth pulled by the worst dentist in the world, without anaesthesia.

Michael treated my husband and I like we were complete idiots who do not know simple math. He treated us dismissively, as though he thought that we were uninterested or could not afford the car, as soon as he learned how different the two cars we were comparing were. We were comparing the Chevy Bolt and the Honda Civic, as we are willing to pay a premium for an electric vehicle but we were unwilling to pay a premium for a car with an internal combustion engine.

Yes, I am aware that the Chevy Bolt is an electric car. Why in the world would we ask for it specifically otherwise? Yes, I am aware that the Honda Civic is a gasoline powered car. Yes, I am also aware that the retail price of the Bolt Premier starts at 40k, and that the Honda Civic starts at 20k. Yes, I am also aware that 45k-20k = 25k. This is straight up insulting. He repeatedly questioned us if we knew the price and the price difference! I am a mechanical engineer. I work with numbers every day. My husband is a software engineer. Between the two of us, I promise you, we can do simple subtraction.

The test drive experience was hardly better. It was the most cursory one by far, and Mike showed no particular inclination to explain things. It felt rushed, as though he was in a hurry to show us the door. At the time of the first visit, my husband talked me down from requesting a different salesman and said that it was fine, it was a busy Saturday, maybe he was just pressed for time. I regret this. We stopped by yesterday, three days after the initial visit, and specifically asked for a different salesman. That person was very helpful, and I wish I remembered his name, as he was the one bright point of this entire ordeal.

The final straw was when we had - as of today - officially decided on buying a Bolt instead of the Civic and asked for pricing. My husband called. I was not present, but he relayed to me his conversation. He said that the salesman once again treated him oddly dismissively, and that it was difficult to get actual pricing from him. He kept saying oh, it would be in the range of 42k or something to that effect, instead of giving an actual number. Every other dealer was willing to provide this, but my dear patient husband had to persist and say that he would like a hard number before dropping forty two grand before the salesman was willing to do this one simple thing. (Note: I am unsure if the person on the phone was Michael, or a different person entirely).

We are buying, from a different dealer who was actually kind and helpful - a Bolt, as soon as they get one in stock. Michael clearly profiled us and decided for us that we should not get this car. Jim Ellis Chevrolet is near my workplace, less than a ten minute drive away, and all things equal, would have been my first choice due to the convenience of location. Unfortunately, the sheer condescension and unhelpfulness means that if need be, I will drive to another state in order to avoid dealing with this particular dealership again.

In short, to Jim Ellis Chevrolet:
The next time a young couple happens to stroll into the building, maybe don t profile them and automatically assume what they can, and cannot afford. And maybe don t treat your customers like they re utter idiots, either.

Edit: To Jim Ellis, as there is no way to respond on Google. Thanks for the offer of a discount, although I would not call Mike excited to work with us. However, we have bought the Bolt from the helpful and _professional_ Andean Chevrolet instead. Having to complain should have never happened, and I hope you use this as a lesson instead.