Ray Catena of Freehold - Mercedes-Benz Dealership

Between 2000 and 2020, I purchased 9 vehicles from Mercedes-Benz of Princeton. In 2021, I developed a case of “grass is greener syndrome” and purchased a 10th from Ray Catena Freehold. That was a huge Mercedes-Benz of Princeton. In 2021, I developed a case of “grass is greener syndrome” and purchased a 10th from Ray Catena Freehold. That was a huge mistake. When I was price gouged for $10,000 over list, I proceeded with the understanding that I would get extraordinary service in exchange for the premium. Instead, I’ve found Ray Catena unreliable, incompetent, and dismissive. In one instance, I arrived for a scheduled service appointment with a loaner and learned they had given my loaner to someone else. That wasted 90 minutes of my day and could have been avoided had they called me to reschedule. My GL53 was delivered new with a misaligned door, so I sent it in to be adjusted. I learned that they didn’t see the issue and simply sent it back. My service advisor couldn’t be bothered to call for clarification. I sent the car back, and the first employee to set eyes on it saw that the misalignment was plainly visible. The final straw for me was when my service advisor wrote this regarding automatic climate control. My service advisor Marian wrote: “If you have the AC on auto it will read the temperature of inside the cabin and will not blow cold until the cabin temperature reaches below what your ac is set at. We are advising that if you want the cabin at a certain temperature then we suggest taking it off auto and adjusting the fan speed and temperature to your liking.” Needless to say, neither of those 2 sentences makes sense. I should not have to educate Ray Catena service advisors on basic functions like automatic climate control. If I wanted to manage the temperate manually, I would have bought a Kia. More

I have to comment on Chris the Service manager and Taylor the service advisor, as they did go beyond to satisfy me. They worked with me to get me a discounted price for I was out of warranty. I originally the service advisor, as they did go beyond to satisfy me. They worked with me to get me a discounted price for I was out of warranty. I originally lost my temper out of frustration, but I picked my car up, it is great, and immaculate, they cleaned the interior and exterior, and it is back to normal. Thank you for your courtesy and expertise. June More

dealer lacks respect for loyalty and local residents. Totally unprofessional in handling my problem when presented to sales manager Totally unprofessional in handling my problem when presented to sales manager More

Disparaging experience. I made a Saturday 9am appointment to potentially purchase a G wagon for my bride. After setting the appointment they proceeded to call me an additi I made a Saturday 9am appointment to potentially purchase a G wagon for my bride. After setting the appointment they proceeded to call me an additional 6 more times to confirm it. Left multiple voicemails stating such as well as texted and emailed to confirm. Very strange. One call the day before, okay. 6? Plus texting. I hate texting. They should ask permission first. Texting is personal. I make appointments all week. I guess no one shows up there. In either case, upon my arrival, I see the truck I made the appointment to see is in outside but inside and on the showroom floor. I am introduced to a salesperson who did not know my name. When I asked why they called and texted so many times to confirm the appointment but did not prepare for it I got no answer. The salesperson did offer to have it taken outside and then started moving some cars but there were people everywhere and I thought that was rude to the other sales associates trying to earn and felt bad. It also placed a lot of unwanted and unsolicited attention on me. Not a good feeling. Made me look kind of arrogant. Then they go to turn the key and the thing is dead. They get a jump pack but the kids dont not know how to use it, so I helped. We got it started and the salesman tells me that he will meet me in front with it in a minute. I wait 10 but he never shows up!! Someone eventually comes out and says it died out back and they can't show it to me. They did bring around another eventually for me to test drive, but it was now around 10am. Then the same salesman who did not remember my name invites me into an empty unlit room and try's to close me on a dead car that they did not have ready for me and were now all pushing past the window! Asks me to pay 150 for it even though it doesn't run! Never mind its only worth 125. He says it is barely driven and only a year old. It had 28k on it in a year I said, "barely driven????" More like to Florida and back 14 times in a year. He then says let me get you the best price on it, disappears, returns and says 149! Hahhahhahahhah. I ask how much is a new one and he says they add 25k to new ones because they don't sell at sticker and would not order me one. Thats the "Ray way" he says. I replied that I needed a day to think about it and look at the market because I did not think vehicles were still selling over sticker. Its not covid anymore and all my friends are waiting on an election, after swapping candidates and an assignation attempt. Not only did the salesman not offer me his card, but he also never even followed up. No call the next day. No thank you "text". Sure. He does not want YOU having HIS personal number. Had he called later on and said that they replaced the battery, and the truck was all good I MAY have gone back. MAY. But of course, he didn't. As a matter of fact, he never called me at all, not ever. No follow up. Nothing. Like I didn't matter. 150K, 25 over sticker, and no apology for being unprepared. Nothing. Didn't even catch me circling the Maybach. Asks me if I'm trading my Rover 30 times though, that he saw. Funny. The Edison Porsche guys were spectacular gentleman, and it was an awesome experience from these guys. What a night and day experience from the same brand. Catena. Hahhahhahah In any case. After researching, they were way high. So, I called Lambo, and they delivered my wife a Urus. She loves it. Egos too big here. About a week later the same woman who harassed me to make sure I was coming called me to follow up but when I tried to tell her how the salesman never even called me that the car was running, so I bought elsewhere she just hung up. Click! WOW how the mighty have fallen. What a low-class experience. When you make an appointment at Vuitton, they have champagne ready. This is more of a buy here pay here experience. My 19yo behaves more professionally. Save tour time. Go where they value you. Last time they secretly sold me a buyback. This time was just as abusive More

George, very knowledgeable, cooperative, descent, efficient and reasonable right sales manager for cars like Mercedes - Pankaj efficient and reasonable right sales manager for cars like Mercedes - Pankaj More

Excellent Service, friendly and polite staff. Availability of a loaner car. Clear explanation of repairs Availability of a loaner car. Clear explanation of repairs More

Terrible mercedes service they are thieves they will scam you into labor hours I've been there many times spend thousands of dollars in repair beware make sure check your vehicle they lied charged me for whe you into labor hours I've been there many times spend thousands of dollars in repair beware make sure check your vehicle they lied charged me for wheel alignment and brake flush it was never done. Other services wanted crazy amount of labor hours for something so simple. I'm going to escalate it to Mercedes benz Corporate More

I brought my car there for service on several occasions since buying it new in 2019. I have not one bad word to say about the service department or the service people. Taylor is the gentleman that helped m since buying it new in 2019. I have not one bad word to say about the service department or the service people. Taylor is the gentleman that helped me each time honestly without him I don’t know how smooth or rough things could have been. I dreamed about having a convertible Mercedes all my life after 60 years I was able to buy one. when I started going there, my grandson was 14 years old and everybody treated him so good that whenever I had to go back, he felt like he was going to visit family. Stephanie who worked up in the front treated him so kind that he loves her for giving him a teddy bear and a Ray Catina Mercedes hat. from the salesman all the way up through Service I have no complaints at all and I want to thank each and everyone of them for the kindness and professionalism that they show each of their customers when they arrive. My grandson still comes with me sometimes. More

On January 9th 2024 I attempted to buy a 2020 Mercedes S-560 from Ray Catena of Freehold. The purchase was online and over the phone, We had agreed on the purchase price of the car and I was arraigning sh S-560 from Ray Catena of Freehold. The purchase was online and over the phone, We had agreed on the purchase price of the car and I was arraigning shipping to Grand Junction Colorado. Because the car was being shipped out of state I am not required to pay New Jersey State sales tax. Well, first they attempted to charge me New Jersey tax and when I pointed out that they can't do that they removed the New Jersey sales tax. However, I am required to pay Colorado state sales tax when I register the car in Colorado. However, the dealership insisted that they collect Colorado state sales taxes for some reason. This is not their responsibility! New Jersey is not a reciprocal state with Colorado and I was told by the Motor Vehicle Division of my county to not pay Colorado Sales taxes to the dealership. I have bought 2 other cars out of state before and this is how it works. I am required to pay the price of the car plus D&H. It made no sense for them to want to collect Colorado state taxes in New Jersey. I am pretty sure that Colorado would have never seen one penny of that and the motor vehicle department here agreed. Basically, it was just real sleazy. So, I terminated the sale when they insisted on collecting Colorado Sales Taxes. More

I have leased many vehicles in my life and never felt as comfortable and relaxed as I have when working with Chris Russo! His curtesy, insight, demeaner and most of all his character are what brings us back comfortable and relaxed as I have when working with Chris Russo! His curtesy, insight, demeaner and most of all his character are what brings us back to Ray Catena for another lease! The entire experience at Ray Catena, from meeting the staff at the front desk, to being acknowledged by the General Manager (Ms. Farrell), to going over the vehicle with Vinnie and ultimately working with a Sales Representative like Chris was nothing short of amazing! I can honestly say that I consider Chris a friend at this point - that's how comfortable he always makes us feel! Thank you Ray Catena of Freehold and thank you Chris!! More