Dealership advice - Dodge Challenger Forum: Challenger & SRT8 Forums

PrestonTX · #1 (**permalink**) 10-08-2012, 11:52 PM

So I gave props to my dealer and now I might be thinking I jumped the gun. I am in professional sales and kind of know how it works. But I will keep this short if you need more info please ask but I need advice.

I ordered a 13 Challenger RT on Friday the 6th. That night I realized that the dealer and I had screwed up and picked the wrong stripe package. I emailed the dealer and he said we could change it no problem. So I called 3 times on Saturday and got no resposne. So I emailed on Sunday to let him know we needed to talk about what we were going to do and what my options were. He emailed back Sunday night to say he understood and basically saying ok. I called at 4pm when I got off work and they said he was there and I left a message. Then I called at 7pm and same thing. Then I called at 830pm and emailed and same thing no response. I also got my email today saying congrats on ordering from Dodge. I also put a 1000 dollar deposit on Friday. Thursday up until I put my deposit they were great and now not so much.

So my question is am I being impatient and just need to chill? Or should I just go get my grand back and go somewhere else? I also can go buy my '13 Camaro SS as they offered me full pay off on my '11 also. Or I live in DFW there are tons of other Dodge dealers. So any thoughts?

**sitedrifter** · #2 (**permalink**) 10-09-2012, 03:35 AM

getting a deposit back from a dealer is like taking a bloody roast away from a wolf. good luck in getting it back. (you will but be prepared for crap)

MikeDCop · #3 (**permalink**) 10-09-2012, 03:56 AM

Originally Posted by sitedrifter

getting a deposit back from a dealer is like taking a bloody roast away from a wolf. good luck in getting it back. (you will but be prepared for crap)

When I ordered mine, they made sure that I understood that it was a non-refundable deposit. I think I even signed something to that effect.

Worse case, when the car comes in...replace the stripe.

**Hal H** · #4 (**permalink**) 10-09-2012, 04:18 PM

If the order was submitted, it can be cancelled or modified since its not in C or D/D1 status.

DkGry1 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-09-2012, 06:15 PM

The stripe process goes on last. There should be plenty of time to change the stripe package.

PrestonTX · #6 (**permalink**) 10-09-2012, 09:19 PM

Thanks for all the advice. The dealership told me the deposit is refundable up to the moment I take the car. But yes I am worried about that. But what concerns me most is paying someone that doesn't take care of me. I knew I would get less attention once I ordered but it seems like I am getting none as another day has passed and nothing. I hate that I don't feel like s customer or client anymore. 40 grand is s ton of money for me and I feel like I am getting service st walmart. Don't you think he should have returned my call by now? Should I jump his head or would that make it worse?

**sitedrifter** · #7 (**permalink**) 10-10-2012, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by PrestonTX

Thanks for all the advice. The dealership told me the deposit is refundable up to the moment I take the car. But yes I am worried about that. But what concerns me most is paying someone that doesn't take care of me. I knew I would get less attention once I ordered but it seems like I am getting none as another day has passed and nothing. I hate that I don't feel like s customer or client anymore. 40 grand is s ton of money for me and I feel like I am getting service st walmart. Don't you think he should have returned my call by now? Should I jump his head or would that make it worse?

JUMP! They ignore you now (at sales time) so when it comes time for service it will suck even more. Dodge does not care about it's customers and that is proven by how they allow dealers to manage customer service themselves. The best way to buy a Chrylser product is to hope you never have problems with the car. In my case I have/had toms of problems and service is less then mediocre at best.

Want a good experience, by a Bentley, Aston Martin, Ferrari or Lambo!

Otherwise your best bet is an Asian manufacturer for decent service. Honda for example looses their minds if a dealer acts bad towards a customer.

Freddy · #8 (**permalink**) 10-10-2012, 08:43 AM

If you're concerned just go by the dealership. They could be annoyed by the e-mails and
calls. Are you just wanting confirmation that the dealer understood about the stripe change, the deposit or the order in general?

Davessrt8 · #9 (**permalink**) 10-10-2012, 09:14 AM

Welcome to the real world. The salesman is on to the next potential buyer.

Having said that, I have found dealer service departments much more responsive since they have a desire to have you keep coming back on a periodic basis. It also helps, I think, to deal with a organization that has aggressive customer feedback programs and is constantly holding their employee's feet to the fire, so to speak.

Not that that is the best for their employees but it probably does help from the consumer side.

**sitedrifter** · #10 (**permalink**) 10-10-2012, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by Davessrt8

Welcome to the real world. The salesman is on to the next potential buyer.

Having said that, I have found dealer service departments much more responsive since they have a desire to have you keep coming back on a periodic basis. It also helps, I think, to deal with a organization that has aggressive customer feedback programs and is constantly holding their employee's feet to the fire, so to speak.

Not that that is the best for their employees but it probably does help from the consumer side.

That makes no sense since dealerships want new sales business otherwise there is no future business for service department. The norm that I find is sales usually tries hard to kiss your azz and service just SUCKS. At least in my area!