So, we’re the “Hatfield & McCoy” family of Ford and GM - DRW Fan
So, we’re the “Hatfield & McCoy” family of Ford and GM workers, so naturally we receive a great deal of competitive influence each and every time we set out to purchase a new vehicle. This time around, we had all but decided to purchase a new 2026 Ford Explorer ST when we decided to drive down the street and Visit Fox GMC to see their lineup. Subsequently, we became extremely interested in a rather over-the-top and relatively uniquely equipped 2026 Acadia Denali Ultimate, the likes of which was not otherwise to be found any any other dealer lots within a 200-mile radius, Beautifully styled and loaded beyond the gills with all the newest bells and whistles. But, alas, and though we live closest to this particular dealership (by far), the trade-in valuation we received was neither written (originally) as were those we had received from all other dealers, nor competitive with the other dealerships which had provided performed that same task. Still, having dealt with their new car Product Specialist Hancess Cooper and especially after having been introduced to their extraordinarily congenial, knowledgeable and helpful Sales Manager, Phil Haelterman, on two separate occasions, we were inclined to do everything in our power to consummate our deal with them. However, try as we might, and for reasons we ultimately could but only fully respect learning from them, their trade-in value remained relatively low as compared to other dealers. And so, in a final last-ditch effort to award our order to them, we reached out directly to Phil to discuss the matter with him since we were literally ready to drop the order on someone that same day, to see whether they could at least more become more reasonably competitive on the trade-in appraisal. Phil got right back to us, better yet remembered our interactions and engaged us in a thoroughly enjoyable and productive discussion, ultimately pledging to revisit the issue internally and get back to us. He ultimately back reached out within mere hours and provided a somewhat more competitive albeit ultimately middle-tier valuation. Instead of being upset with us that we were not inclined to forego little thousands of extra trade-in dollars to consummate the deal with Fox, he reassured us that he fully respected and understood our decision to act on the "net" OTD deal that was most attractive to us and basically shown a level of compassion, integrity and professionalism we have rarely if ever seen before. In fact, we were so impressed by Phil’s professionalism and respect with which he had accorded our interactions, that out of reciprocal respect for him went on to inform the remaining “in contention” dealers to refrain from making further inter-dealership vehicle “swap” requests of Phil and his team, and had resigned ourselves to pursue a similar vehicle with another color moving forward. Ultimately another dealer whom we selected to sell us a "like" vehicle, told us about his personal and professional association with Phil and, though we told him we had given Phil our word (which he himself had not asked us for) to ask all remaining dealers to refrain from seeking a swap for this particular vehicle, we subsequently learned that he reached out to Phil and his Inventory Specialist Aaron Przystas anyway and ultimately worked out a deal for Fox to relinquish the vehicle to him so that he could sell it to us. Have you ever heard of such integrity in the auto sales ranks? We certainly hadn’t, that is until after dealing with Phil. That is why, though we could not find common ground to consummate a deal this time around, we have every intention to return to Fox in the future should another need arise, and meanwhile refer anyone might know to be in the market for a new GMC or Buick to give Fox a fair shot at earning their business. Thanks, Phil, as your kindness, professionalism and ultimately inter-dealer cooperation were and always will be profoundly respected and forever appreciated!
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