I leased a 2015 Buick Encore from this dealership on 10/31/15 and experienced what amounted to a bait and switch in the terms of the deal. My salesperson was Albert Zelaya. I found him friendly, informative, and, as far as I could tell, honest. I wish the same could be said for the rest of the dealership, specifically David Rozar in the finance department. After he unsuccessfully tried to scare me into adding the dings/dents coverage, everything was signed and the deal was done. I was happy. The experience was solid and I thought I will give these guys the "completely satisfied" reviews they need to get their commissions paid in full. Then, everything changed.
The next morning I was looking over the lease agreement and noticed one box that was never pointed out to me... a $495 disposition fee due at lease end. NOT ONCE was this fee mentioned by anyone at the dealership. Not by Albert, not by David, and it was not on the printed lease proposal/offer I was given. In fact, I specifically looked to see if there was a disposition fee on the offer because, very clearly listed, there was an acquisition fee. Based on not seeing a disposition fee and the fact that it was never mentioned by anyone, at any time during the process of leasing the car, I was shocked to find it on the lease agreement.
I immediately texted my salesperson, Albert. He said he was surprised to learn the fee was there. He discovered it was something that had been added to leases in the last month and apologized for not knowing about it. This was a red flag. Albert said he would have David from finance call me. When David called, things escalated and got heated. David said every lease has this fee and that they have included a disposition fee since 2009. Well, clearly, someone was lying. Either it's only been implemented in the last month and the salesman didn't know about it, or it's been around for 6 years like David, the finance manager told me. Either way, I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THE FEE BY ANYONE AT ANYTIME DURING THE LEASING PROCESS AND IT WAS NOT ON THE OFFER SHEET I WAS GIVEN.
When I told this to David he had the nerve to say he'd take my word for it, but normally he does mention it. Implying that I was lying, and that he told me. David finally admitted that we did get to talking and it's possible he missed it. That said, it's there in the signed lease agreement and there's nothing that can be done. I told him I didn't appreciate what amounts to an unethical business practice of slipping in a fee that was never discussed or presented to me. It's essentially a bait and switch and it's no way to do business. David basically blew me off with, "what's done is done, you should've caught it, it was right there in the middle of the page." What's not done is my customer satisfaction survey. I went from a completely satisfied customer, who was ready to recommend the dealership, to a pissed off customer who feels cheated and jerked around by the finance team.
Ultimately, David agreed to talk to his manager. When he got back to me, he said he'd discussed it with the general manager and basically there's nothing to be done. No adjustments or removal of the fee. I signed and that's it. Yes, I did sign and you can be certain I will never sign again without scrutinizing every number in every box of an agreement. But what bothers me just as much is the attitude David took that the dealership got one over on me.
I emailed the owner, Phil Isbell, and he and I had a conversation. I suggested he should have customers be made aware of every major fee point on the contract and have them initial every box with a significant charge or fee so there's no misunderstanding. He said they would be incorporating this policy going forward. He also said the salesperson, Albert, was right; the disposition fee was new to Buick leases in the last month. I got a different story about the finance guy, David. The owner said what David told me about leases having a disposition fee since 2009 was about leases in general, not necessarily GMC vehicles. David was basically covering his ass.
Phil, the owner, did nothing to make my situation any better. Hopefully future customers are helped by my complaining, but for me the whole experience was soured. On top of which, I was told that if I don't give the entire dealership "completely satisfied" marks on the customer satisfaction survey then the salesperson, Albert, will lose 30 percent of his commission. Only Albert will lose money, no one else. If I want to help this hard working, honest individual get the money he deserves, then I would have to lie and say my infuriating experience with David in the finance department was one in which I was completely satisfied. It is clearly a strong-arm tactic to get the dealership good reviews. At least there are now ways to let others know just what one's experience was and that they may want to look elsewhere to lease a car. read more