02/27/09

Poor Service/Communication

by steelerfan09

I recently took my 2004 Tahoe in for service as it had a manufacture?s defect due to a poorly made part by GM. I personally contacted GM and told them that I thought they should help pay for part, if not all, of the repair as there are service bulletins out about this poorly manufactured head. They agreed to pay for 50% of the broken head. I opted to replace both heads after being told by the service manager that my out of pocket would only be $1000 more. The day of pickup I was told the total would be $300 more than I was told previously and when I disputed it I was told that they "gave" me a $150 detail complimentary. To which I responded that I did not ask for a detail. After talking with the service manager's boss, who had the nerve to tell me I was getting a great deal, I begrudgingly paid the bill. A $2200 repair on a vehicle that only has 63K miles is not a great deal! He also said that he was "helping us out" as we did not purchase the vehicle from Champion. To which I told him if that was an issue they should have let me know that BEFORE agreeing to work on it. I have purchased 3 GM vehicles and I will NEVER purchase a GM product again! Nor will I ever give any business to Champion. They definitely need to improve their communication and be honest and up-front about their fees.

• Pros: Close to my house
• Cons: Poor service/communication

09/19/08

Great Sales and Sales staff

by IceManNTx

I have bought 9 cars and trucks from Auto Nation. 9 from Champion Chevrolet and 1 from Champion Toyota. The only bad expierence I have ever had there was from one of the finance guys at the Champion Toyota. But a quick call to the genral manager solved the promblem very quickly. I admittedly am not the easiest person to sell to because I ask straight questions and want straight answers. When I go in I talk to the director of used cars because he is the one who is going to do the appraisal on my vehicle. I tell him exactly what the blue book value is and what I expect to get ;if there is a large descrepincy I ask what brought the price down. I have found alot of people place a higher value on vehicles then what the true value is. I also understand that the car company is in the buisness to make money. So with this knowledge I am able to negotiate the terms to fit me. I never expect to walk out of any dealership thinking I have just stolen the vehicle at an unbelievable price. I avoid the back and forth between the salesperson and the finance manager by telling them to bring the finance manager to me if it is not what I am willing to pay. If they say he is too busy to come over. I tell them I will call when I have the time and set up a time that I can talk to them. You will be supprised how often the finance guy gets unbusy and comes over. I also let them know that I am not going to wait a long period of time for them to come over. I always tell my wife that if I decide to leave don't question me there wait untill we are outside and away from the dealership to question my decision. I don't let anyone talk me into vehicle that I don't want to buy. I know what I want when I go in and I leave if we can't reach these terms. I always say that the car company put out the same vehicle 1000 times the same day so I can always find it. I just bought another new truck 15 days ago from Champion Chevrolet and my wife and I were in and out in about a hour and a half.

• Pros: I have had a great expierence 9 times and they solved the one problem that I did have.
• Cons: Have none at this time

07/18/08

Avoid their new car sales staff and management

by TXGame

Went looking for a new truck at 4pm; no sales staff to be found. Finally was approached by a gentlemen who had litle clue about which features were on which trucks in his own inventory. After thirty minutes of discussion he passed me off onto another salesman (so he could help someone else). This new salesman was constantly leaving his desk ("have to talk this over with my sales manager" routine).

As most car dealerships do, they low-balled my trade in. I told the salesman what value I had expected, he laughed and said "I have to talk this over with my manager". He and his manager come over 20 minutes later and ask me in a snotty attitude "What my problem is?" I'm a pleasent customer and don't deserve the attitude and unprofessionalism. I'm more than happy to do business somewhere else. Will never go back.

• Pros: Average vehicle selection
• Cons: Sales staff inexperienced and unfriendly