CALSTAR MOTORS

As you probably are already aware, Calstar has a very poor reputation among Southern California Mercedes Benz dealers. It's a historically underperforming dealership with very poor consumer ratings on pu poor reputation among Southern California Mercedes Benz dealers. It's a historically underperforming dealership with very poor consumer ratings on public forums like Google Reviews and Yelp, and competing dealers have very few positive things to say about it. I know a number of dealers who previously worked at Calstar and they unanimously look at the dealership unfavorably. Nonetheless, I chose to purchase a vehicle from Calstar in spite of these red flags. Overall, I wish I had listened to my instincts to stay away. There were three notable things in my sales experience which I would call subpar, and not befitting of the Mercedes Benz brand. Firstly, during the sales process the salesman, Ken, became frustrated with my intractability (I negotiate contracts all day-I'm not an easy sale). He attempted to use a cheap, high-pressure sales tactic to close the deal: insisting on a signature on a piece of scratch paper with a loan quotation. I know this gesture is non-binding, an empty gesture used to pressure the consumer into feeling obligated to accept an offer before the terms are fully disclosed. I would expect that sort of immature sales tactic at a Karplus dealership, not at a premier brand, and I was quietly disgusted by it. It insults my intelligence and tarnishes the Mercedes Benz brand to see a salesman resort to these sort of pedestrian sales tactics. In spite of this, I continued working with the salesman to reach an agreement. When we finally reached an agreement, we moved on to work with Loran, the finance manager. I noticed a discrepancy on the contract in my favor - the lease mileage limit was higher than we had discussed. I pointed out the discrepancy to Loran, said "that's more mileage than I was expecting" (those were my exact words), and even went so far as to have Loran calculate the mileage himself to triple-check that Calstar understood what they were offering. Loran assured me that it was correct, and I signed the deal. Four days later, they called me and asked me to come in to rewrite the contract, "to correct a technical error". I reminded Loran how I repeatedly asked him to check that term for accuracy, and he did so, and I would not agree to rewrite the contract in their favor. I offered them two choices: honor the contract or void it. Loran lost his temper on the phone in a very, very unprofessional manner, raised his voice and resorted to name-calling. Again, this is a very immature way to deal with your customer, especially when the error is entirely the fault of the dealer, and the customer is standing in pure integrity, having had the finance manger repeatedly verify the contract in question. Shame on you, Calstar Motors. After Loran the Finance Manager hung up on me, I called the Sales Manager on duty and discussed the matter with him. I told him that I'd be happy to allow them to void the contract, as I had only put a few miles on the car and if they felt they could make more money on it I invited them to do so. He said he'd have the General Manager, Susan Wong, contact me "in 10 or 15 minutes". I received no call from Susan Wong, and the next day tried to reach her myself. As it was nearly the end of the fiscal quarter, I wanted to give them the opportunity to get a bad deal off their books in a prompt manner. I left a message on Susan's voicemail, then called back and had the receptionist deliver a message to her personal assistant. To date, I still have never spoken with Susan Wong. I finally went into the dealership with the contract and keys in hand and spoke to the sales manager on dusty at the time, stating "if you want the car back, take it". When confronted in person, they weren't desperate to get a bad deal off their books at all. In fact, the general manager casually said "we'll eat the cost", indicating that it wasn't such a disastrous deal after all (in fact, I got a competing offer for an identical vehicle from another dealership with a better reputation and much higher sales volume, which was $3000 better for me). They just wanted to squeeze more money out of their consumer. This type of behavior is bad for the Mercedes Benz brand - Calstar is much more interested in the quick buck than building a long-term relationship with a consumer. I own three Mercedes Benzes, have an 850 credit score, and am a prime candidate for a long-term financial relationship. In short, I'm a dream consumer. If Calstar can so callously blow an opportunity to establish a relationship with a consumer like me, imagine how they would treat you. UPDATE: Within hours of publishing this review, Ken ermailed me expressing his disappointment in my sales experience. The tone of his email was neither hostile, nor combative, but genuinely concerned with my dissatisfaction. Ken has proven to be the strongest link in a very weak chain, as the only person named above that actually expressed concern for his customer's experience. More

YOU BETTER BELIEVE THIS! This dealership is very YOU BETTER BELIEVE THIS! This dealership is very upscale from outside, very impressive, but as you start learning people who works there the pictur YOU BETTER BELIEVE THIS! This dealership is very upscale from outside, very impressive, but as you start learning people who works there the picture will slowly be reversed and you will be DISGUSTED with ALL they do- service, price, the way they treat their customers etc. I went with my wife to purchase a car and stopped by at CalStar. They gave me the price of 4k down and around 750/mo for a basic E 350 model which costs around 53K. At first I did not realize what just has happened. In addition they convinced me that I could buy my car under my wife's name who does not work at my company and write off the taxes as a corporation car. They said ask your accountant and he will do it. When I did next day I was told that it may be considered as fraud and I came back to them in 3 days as it was over the weekend and told them that they have to take the car back. They were very rude and said that the deal is a deal and you can not give it back. Finally, when I threatened them that they will be all over the internet they agreed to do that. Apparently they reported to my wife's credit to the agency as a serious delinquency! Her credit score came down from 760 to 690 currently! The main guy, the manager, I was dealing with I believe his name was Andy or Andrew, and the financial manager was no better! If you have NO CHOICE other than go to that BLOODY, MONEY THIRSTY place in Glendale, CA on Brand, consider it AGAIN and AGAIN many times. Take car specialists with you and be current on pricing as once you sign a paper with them you are DONE. NEVER expect mercy or any human treatment. Do not be deceived by their "friendly" smiles.... Good luck. More

After you buy a car @ Calstar, the customer service is non-existent! They switched the brake lines on the hydraulic control assembly of my Mercedes, causing it to dangerously swerve to the right and incr non-existent! They switched the brake lines on the hydraulic control assembly of my Mercedes, causing it to dangerously swerve to the right and increasing brake time, but they refused to take responsibility for it and were extremely rude and condescending. I will NEVER give them my business again. More

a set of very expensive rims from norman and ac celik of forgiato wheels were put on my s550, after about 2 years and 12000 miles the chrome started to deteriorate, i reported to the dealer who gave me the forgiato wheels were put on my s550, after about 2 years and 12000 miles the chrome started to deteriorate, i reported to the dealer who gave me the number of norman who long stories but no solutions, i went back to the dealer and spoke with the sates department manage michael armini who gave me stories and no solutions (but he tried very hard to insult my intelligent repeatedly). More

We had a loaner a few times, which helped, but other than that what Decio and the Manager told us in the end, when the car was not fixed, was that their diagnostic machine would not register my car because i that what Decio and the Manager told us in the end, when the car was not fixed, was that their diagnostic machine would not register my car because it was too old. I found out contrarily from a genuine Mercedes service person that often dealers have many (sometimes 4-6) commissioned service techs on one car not really wanting the hassle of having to find out a problem. The genuine Mercedes servcie person also had used the same diagnostic system, located the general area, and with his expertise, self-determination and willingness, he fixed my car! CAL - STAR not only gave me a bum story, didn't fix the car and we paid for other things they recommended at random. A few things were probably valid, but overpriced. Also dealing with a sarcastic service technicial who kept telling me he was there to take care of me, when he even tried to intimitade me when I asked questions for clarification, created quite a bit of ill-will! I also found out the Service Tech I work with now, was embarrassed to relay this, but explained he use to work at Cal Star and knows the service technicians, some of which can be very insincere and just lazy and unintersted in having to apply themselves because they're on a commission. This is unacceptable for a service department from a dealership and Cal Star ought to get this handled and raise their quality of service fast! I am unfortunately a very unhappy customer who felt like she was taken advantage of. More

Got Decio, a Service Advisor I have been dealing with for two years now. He is very professional, caring and makes proper recommendations. He makes sure that my car gets the service it deserves and on time.I two years now. He is very professional, caring and makes proper recommendations. He makes sure that my car gets the service it deserves and on time.I recently went there after I got an email that my brakes needed inspection. Right on time my brake pads were almost out. I saved a lot of money on their Spring Service Special although I had to print and carry a coupon with me that did not bother me after the saving and the service I got. I have nothing against this dealership where the Manager Mike Carter is very customer oriented, he spends time in the driveway to make sure everything is done right. So far my experience with Cal Star is very good. More

I recently purchase a used car from this dealership. I was pleasantly surprised by the friendliness of the staff. I dealt with Dana, the sales person, and Mike, the sales manager, there. Both were very was pleasantly surprised by the friendliness of the staff. I dealt with Dana, the sales person, and Mike, the sales manager, there. Both were very knowledgeable about the car's features, especially the safety features. Safety was my biggest concern since I have two young kids who will be in the car with me. After I chose the car I wanted Samy was kind enough to explain all the financing and title documents with me. She was very patient with me and took her time. In the last fifteen years I bought three cars on my own and this is the best experience I had in purchasing a car. Frankly I was expecting to spend hours haggling over the price I wanted to pay and the payment I am able to afford. But, none of that happened. I ended up by buying a used car. Thank god! I am definitely recommended Calstar Motors to my family and friends. Thanks Calstar Motors for a painless experience. More

The absolute WORSE mercedes dealer in the SoCal area...both in sales and service. Unfriendly, unprofessionaly, attitudy. They think they are doing you a favor by charging you hundereds of dollars f area...both in sales and service. Unfriendly, unprofessionaly, attitudy. They think they are doing you a favor by charging you hundereds of dollars for minor work and not doing a good job about it anyways. Vast majority of my friends also drive mecedeces and after few unpleasant encounters with service here, no one of them are willing to go back. Will most definitely rip you off. Try any other dealer in the greater LA area....you will get better service and better prices then at Cal Star. The little asian lady who owns the place doesn't give a flying "f---" about her customers. The service managers don't care....they will get your car in and give it back to you without actually performing the service you took the car in for, but will charge you for it. I had this happen to me twice, and couple of my friends as well. They will absolutely deny it and refuse to actually perform the service. I had to dispute it with my credit card company. If you go there after reading this...then you're asking for what you got coming...a horrible, frustrating experience.... More

We recently took our 8 year old car in for servicing. The servicing went fine, but when we got home we realized that our "I'd rather be golfing" license plate frame had been replaced with one advertising The servicing went fine, but when we got home we realized that our "I'd rather be golfing" license plate frame had been replaced with one advertising Calstar Mercedes. This wasn't something we had requested or authorized. Frankly, we found it creepy. To boot, we didn't even buy the car there...This small experience has planted a seed of distrust and suspicion in our minds. If they did this kind of unauthorized action, what else is there? This has completely turned us off to this dealership and we will not be patronizing them ever again. More