I was an unhappy Ford owner after buying a CPO 2018 Ford - Gabrielle
I was an unhappy Ford owner after buying a CPO 2018 Ford Transit Connect XLT from Parks Ford of Wesley Chapel and having many problems with it. Tallahassee Ford dealt with it while under warranty, and I was not happy with how long repairs took, how poor communication was, and more. I was also not happy with Ford in general, and I had said I would not buy another Ford after this experience.
However, everything changed today! I initially went to get the same problem repaired for the 4th time on the van- the computer wasn't working, so I had no speedometer, odometer, etc. It was just a sensor that needed repaired, but it was a 2-month wait to get in for repairs, so I almost took it to a different dealership based on my experiences there the last couple of years. I decided to give them one more chance, and I am glad I did.
The entire vibe is different now. From the moment I walked in- honestly not with the best attitude out of sheer frustration with how many times I had to bring the van in- I was impressed. Allen was my service advisor, and he was exceptional in every way. He communicated with me and kept me in the loop. When I sat down in the waiting area, multiple people came to me and other customers offering Lucky Goat coffee, Tasty Pastry treats, water, and soda. The place is absolutely spotless! A nice lady was cleaning the entire time I was there. The waiting area is comfortable with free WiFi and lots of amenities.
There was minor miscommunication when I was told my van would need to stay at least overnight, so I had to wait a bit on the shuttle. As I was sitting in the shuttle giving my details, I saw my van being driven out of the service area. He said it must be ready. I said I had been told it was not going to be done today, but we agreed I should get out and find out. It turns out it was ready, so I was happy I wasn't going to waste time going back to my house then having to return. I went inside to sign some papers, and I was very impressed with everyone. As I got ready to leave, one of the gentlemen who had offered me coffee earlier asked how my experience was. I told him that it was so much better and I was thankful for how kind, professional, and service-oriented everyone was including Allen, Bill, the ladies in the service area, and him. He then introduced himself as Bill McKinney, one of the new owners. I told him about all the problems I had with the van, and I said I had hoped to trade it in for a pickup truck.
At Bill's invitation, I was hopping out of the van and onto the showroom floor. I ended up spending the entire rest of the day there looking at first at used pickup trucks, then new ones. I observed every person who worked there interacting with customers in such positive ways. It didn't matter who the person was, they were treated with respect and kindness.
Bill introduced me to Willy Campos who took care of me and let me test drive different vehicles. Everyone was amazing, and they offered me a good trade deal with the van. Willy went above and beyond, and I was beyond thankful. He helped me move hundreds of pounds of SCUBA gear (from my nonprofit organization) that had been in the van into my new truck. I left feeling very happy with my purchase and with an extremely positive feeling about Tallahassee Ford.
Today reminded me of the old days of the dealership when they were so great. I feel strongly that they are great again. If you had a bad experience previously, I strongly encourage you to give them another try. Bill McKinney was integral to my excellent customer service experience. I am so thankful!
I've only bought 2 new vehicles in my life, both from this dealership. My first was in 2005, and I didn't think I would ever buy another. Today was different. I now have a 2023 F-150 STX that I love, and I left Tallahassee Ford feeling like every person who works there cares about their jobs and the customers they serve! As a result, I highly recommend Tallahassee Ford!
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