The Buying Process Kia of Alhambra - Alhambra, California: No test drive

[eljay]

I just had an experience at Car Pros Kia in Glendale. Been emailing and texting the salesperson all week and set up an appointment to test drive a GT2 with AWD... I live about 40 miles away... I confirmed and re-confirmed that the car was there..I was told YES.. upon arriving there last night I was told that the car "had just been sold" and there was another one but only RWD... I asked if it was "just sold" to show me the proof of sale.. They said they could not do that.. the manager later confirmed with me that the salesperson lied..
How do they expect someone to buy a $50,000 car from them AFTER they have lied ???

Thanks for posting this! I had thought that if necessary I would expand my search to Glendale, but after hearing this, I'll avoid them. Does everyone else notice how many of the dealer problems are Los Angeles-adjacent? The dealers here probably have more competition from other dealers than in any other part of the country, but they keep shooting themselves in the foot with these stupid tactics. It's as if they don't realize how easy it is for a customer to walk out the door and be at any of 4 or 5 other dealers in less than 40 minutes.

BTW, two dealers contacted me this week saying that they were getting shipments of GT2s around the 30th. One is getting 3 of them, but both told me that they are all RWD. I think AWD are being sent to northern areas where they need AWD right now, and that SoCal may not see them in large numbers for a while.

 

[ballistic]

Thanks for posting this! I had thought that if necessary I would expand my search to Glendale, but after hearing this, I'll avoid them. Does everyone else notice how many of the dealer problems are Los Angeles-adjacent? The dealers here probably have more competition from other dealers than in any other part of the country, but they keep shooting themselves in the foot with these stupid tactics. It's as if they don't realize how easy it is for a customer to walk out the door and be at any of 4 or 5 other dealers in less than 40 minutes.

BTW, two dealers contacted me this week saying that they were getting shipments of GT2s around the 30th. One is getting 3 of them, but both told me that they are all RWD. I think AWD are being sent to northern areas where they need AWD right now, and that SoCal may not see them in large numbers for a while.

i have noticed alot of complaining about california dealers in general. i'm very glad i don't live there. i don't know what theyre thinking.

 

[Vo Woldanski]

Thanks for posting this! I had thought that if necessary I would expand my search to Glendale, but after hearing this, I'll avoid them. Does everyone else notice how many of the dealer problems are Los Angeles-adjacent? The dealers here probably have more competition from other dealers than in any other part of the country, but they keep shooting themselves in the foot with these stupid tactics. It's as if they don't realize how easy it is for a customer to walk out the door and be at any of 4 or 5 other dealers in less than 40 minutes.

BTW, two dealers contacted me this week saying that they were getting shipments of GT2s around the 30th. One is getting 3 of them, but both told me that they are all RWD. I think AWD are being sent to northern areas where they need AWD right now, and that SoCal may not see them in large numbers for a while.

Plus they have a $10,000 markup in Glendale..... I looked around and Kia of Visalia has NO dealer markup on the Stingers it's a bit of a drive but is probably worth it

 

[Chris]

How do they expect someone to buy a $50,000 car from them AFTER they have lied ???

They wouldn't get a sale from me, that's for sure. I would buy it somewhere else, drive it over and show them the commission they lost.

 

[Mhol]

I had one dealer say they would not allow a test drive but, that’s because it was a foreign version of the car. It is ridiculous for them not to allow you to drive it if it is the American version.