Eric Gates | Page 7

I recently purchased a Sorento Plug-in hybrid. My experience at Columbia Kia was remarkably terrible. For starters, I didn’t appreciate the sales “games”. I just don’t like to be lied to and I My experience at Columbia Kia was remarkably terrible. For starters, I didn’t appreciate the sales “games”. I just don’t like to be lied to and I really hate the way our sales person and the sales manager played the usual car sales games. I’m not dumb, and I don’t like to be treated like I am. Just tell me a price and I’ll take it or I won’t. The games were almost too much to bear. Despite this, I did want to purchase the Sorento, so I went forward with the deal. When the car finally arrived, I was eager to pick it up. When scheduling the pick-up, I asked if there would be someone present who could show me the features of the car (I bought the car without ever test-driving a Sorento!). I had no idea what it would be like or which features would be helpful). I was told that the sales woman would show us the car’s features. When we arrived, we were greeted and taken directly to our car. It looked beautiful! The sales woman opened the car, handed me the key, and started telling me about the vehicle. Both my husband and I immediately noticed that the sales woman had absolutely no idea what she was talking about. When we asked her about the buttons, dials, and features, she stumbled, mumbled, and often said things that were really ridiculous and obviously false. I asked her if there was someone else who could help us go over the car, and she said that there was no one there who could help but that the online tutorial would be “all we need”. She then took us to the back of the vehicle. She struggled to show us even the most basic things, such as how to put the third row seats down/up using the buttons. She then told us that there is a spare tire under the car. I asked her how I can access the spare tire if I need it. She pointed to a small, rectangular hatch at the back left of the car. She said that, if I pry that open, I’ll have access to the tire. I didn’t think anything else of it and we continued with the painful process. When we got inside, she informed me that downloading the Kia app to my phone was mandatory if I want to see the online tutorial. Since she clearly was not educated/informed about the car we had purchased, I thought it was in my best interest to download the app so I could, hopefully, learn something about my car. Once the app was downloaded, she proceeded to click on buttons on her computer and read the names of the car’s features. No education or explanation at all. Just clicking and reading the names. She then played a few videos, which were little help. After the 4-5 videos, she said that I needed to complete a survey to continue with the process. There were 3 questions. I tried to indicate that I was NOT satisfied (clicking on the sad face). I explained that I did not feel like the features had been explained to me and I do not know how to use the necessary functions of my vehicle. She said that I “had” to indicate that I was satisfied (the smiley face) in order to continue with the process. She said that I could watch the videos as many times as I wanted, but she was unable to provide any education on her own. My husband whispered to me that we should just indicate that we are satisfied so that we can move forward, noting that it is unlikely that we will receive adequate information from that sales woman. Reluctantly, I indicated that I was satisfied on the three questions so we could get finished with the painful process. Our sales woman then asked me to try the Kia app that I had just put on my phone a few minutes prior. The app did not work. We tried using our cell data. We then connected to the wifi in the dealership and the app still didn’t work. The sales woman said “well, I hate to tell you that the Kia app goes down a lot”. What? Why was it MANDATORY for us to put the app on our phone if it rarely works? I asked her what the app is for, and she said that I can use it to start the car and to look at other things pertaining to the car, but she could not expand upon that. She said “Go home and see if you can use the app. If it still doesn’t work, call us next week and we’ll see if someone can fix it for you”. Really? She not only couldn’t figure out how to make the app work, she also couldn’t even explain what the app is used for. Incidentally, both my husband and I are extremely computer-literate. We have again tried to use the app (after arriving at home) and it still is not functional. We can’t figure out if this is Kia’s fault, the dealership’s fault, or our uneducated sales woman’s fault. Regardless, we are unable to use the app, which we were told is “mandatory”. We then went back out to the car with the sales woman. She got in the back seat and struggled to tell us more about the features. Most of what she told us was confusing, contradictory, and incorrect. Seriously. She has NO idea how to use the features of this vehicle (and neither do I because of her incompetence). I again asked her if there was someone else who could help us, and she said that there was no one else there who knows the features but there is a woman who would be available the following week if I want to call and ask questions. Really? I’m paying a ridiculous amount of money for a car and no one can explain the features?!? She then put the license plate on the car. I again asked her about some important aspects, such as the difference between “eco” and“ automatic”. I asked so many questions and I don’t think she could answer ANY of them. I asked her where the battery is located, she said “in the middle”. What does that even mean? She had no idea what she was talking about. My husband said, “let’s just get out of here and we’ll sit down and read the manual”. We drove away, feeling terrible about our new car. On the way home, there was a, metallic rattling sound when I got onto Route 6. I pulled over. It turns out that she did not put the license plate on the car correctly, & it was rattling and sliding all over as I drove. Upon arriving at home, we realized that she had mis-thread the bolt. The bolt head needed to be cut off in order to remove it from the mis-thread hole. We went to 3 hardware stores, trying to find a bolt that fits, and no one has one. So, I am unable to drive my car to work tomorrow because I cannot put the license plate back on the car. Additionally, there are some tiny scratches in my NEW car from where she messed up the license plate. I then went to the back of my car & opened that rectangular hatch she told me was the access to the spare tire. I pried it open, as she indicated. Nope. That is where the battery is. That is NOT the access to the spare tire. At that point, I almost drove back to the dealership to tell the sales manager to take the car back. I’d rather give my business to a dealership that values their customers. To be honest, I’m not upset that our sales woman was clueless. What upsets me is that she made things up & provided false information. It was obvious that she was uneducated, as she stumbled and fumbled to try to explain even the most basic things (and often still was incorrect). If we were valued as customers, she would have admitted that she did not know what she was doing and got someone else to help her. The other thing that is extremely disappointing is that the Columbia Kia leadership allows her to work without being trained or educated. Where is your dedication to high-quality customer service? How can management allow her to work with such limited knowledge? Clearly, the only focus at Columbia Kia is on getting a customer to sign the bill of sale. After that, we’re on our own. More

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DO NOT BUY A VEHICLE FROM THIS PLACE! Bought a 2016 certified Explorer and the thing is a piece of crap! I bought it in May(4months ago) and I’ve had to bring it back three times for thi Bought a 2016 certified Explorer and the thing is a piece of crap! I bought it in May(4months ago) and I’ve had to bring it back three times for things that should have been fixed before they sold it as a certified vehicle. Eric had the xxxxx to ask me today why I can’t be a “normal customer?” My response was, why can’t you be a normal dealership and not screw everyone. They were great to work with UNTIL they got my hefty deposit and then all the B.S and lies started. Dave the salesman who sold me my Explorer messed up and told me they had to clear a bunch of codes along with other work they had to do. Which is why it took them almost two weeks to get my vehicle in my possession once I bought it. I’m beyond disappointed and disgusted with Columbia Ford and Kia and will NEVER buy as much as a stick of gum from these losers. I finally walked out after a few choice words I had for Eric and will be pursuing this in court. I’d buy a car from a shady used dealership before I go back to these people. Gonna get channel 3 news involved as well. 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬 More

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I'd like to send a shout out to Noah, I know he's just a lot guy but he was very helpful in answering a couple questions I had about a vehicle I had purchased to be exact the bright yellow Jeep Wrangler. I lot guy but he was very helpful in answering a couple questions I had about a vehicle I had purchased to be exact the bright yellow Jeep Wrangler. If I could give him 10 Stars I would. Thank you Noah!!! Also a huge thank you to Mr Eric Gates and Miss Diane bardol More

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Eric and Diane were extremely helpful through this stressful process. They made it happen very quickly. If it weren't for them I wouldn't be enjoying a Wrangler. Thank you Columbia Ford!!!! stressful process. They made it happen very quickly. If it weren't for them I wouldn't be enjoying a Wrangler. Thank you Columbia Ford!!!! More

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Best Dealer around, the only place I will go. The staff is welcoming and Friendly, like a second family. The staff is welcoming and Friendly, like a second family. More

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Everyone a Columbia Ford goes above and beyond. Dave my salesman is extremely competent and thorough and helped guide me through this entire process seamlessly. If you are looking to purchase your Dave my salesman is extremely competent and thorough and helped guide me through this entire process seamlessly. If you are looking to purchase your first vehicle or buy another I would recommend speaking with Dave. He is the man! More

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Great facility, if your waiting for quick service the atmosphere is really nice. friendly staff, top notch senior master ford technician! Always feel confident when leaving that the jobs done right atmosphere is really nice. friendly staff, top notch senior master ford technician! Always feel confident when leaving that the jobs done right More

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Friendly staff but most importantly, a salesman that was helpful, appeared happy to be helpful and had a great demeanor. helpful, appeared happy to be helpful and had a great demeanor. More

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this is the 5th or 6th car I've bought from this dealership in the last 12 yrs. dealership in the last 12 yrs. More

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Top notch service all phases from sales to finance to management! The best in the business👍👍highly recommend!!!! management! The best in the business👍👍highly recommend!!!! More

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