Worst Car-Buying Experience I've Had
I drove four hours from Tampa to Miami to Bomnin Chevrolet Dadeland on July 6 specifically because they had a truck in Deep Bronze Metallic that I wanted. Before making that drive, I called twice to make sure we were close enough on the numbers to make a deal.
I first spoke with Adrian, who identified himself as the Internet Sales Manager, and was told my trade would likely be valued between $19,000-$26,000, but in order to know exactly where in between those numbers, I needed to bring my truck in to be inspected. The Sunday before my trip, I called and spoke with Joseph, who told me that if I brought in a written offer from another dealership, they would beat it by $1,000. Based on those conversations, I made the four-hour drive.
When I arrived and asked for Adrian, the salesman helping me initially he acted confused and said there was no one who worked their name Adrian. After I confirmed I was at the correct dealership and asked again, he changed his story and said Adrian worked in a call center and shouldn't have been discussing vehicle purchases with me. So, we moved forward with discussing the vehicle I had came to look at and also my trade.
Then came my trade offer: $16,000--$3,000 below the minimum range I had been given before driving down. When I started to leave, the offer suddenly increased to $19,000.
Things got worse when I spoke with the sales manager. Rather than addressing what I had been told before making the trip, he repeatedly dismissed my concerns and tried to redirect the conversation. He told me my truck was only worth around $16,000 wholesale and pulled up a screen to show me. What he failed to notice was that on that same screen, KBB showed approximately $24,000 for my truck. When I pointed that out, he ignored it and changed the subject to what their truck was worth. I repeatedly explained that I wasn't asking them to lower the price of their truck--I simply wanted a fair value for mine based on what I had been told before driving four hours.
The most unprofessional moment came when the sales manager told me, "You know we have the best prices or you wouldn't have driven all the way here for our truck." When I explained that I drove there because I specifically wanted the Deep Bronze Metallic color--not because of their price--he continued arguing with me rather than addressing my concerns. At that point, I asked for my keys and left.
Ironically, while sitting at the traffic light outside the dealership, I called their main number and asked for Adrian. I was immediately told yes, Adrian worked there and was the Internet Sales Manager. When I was transferred to him, Adrian remembered me and was surprised to learn I had just left the dealership because no one had told him I was there. When I explained what I had been told about him, he was clearly upset and said he was contacting his supervisor.
After I submitted feedback, Adrian called me again, and his supervisor later called me on July 16. We spoke for 21 minutes, and she apologized and told me she would discuss my experience with the GM and get back to me.
I never heard from her, the GM, or anyone else at the dealership again.
I'm not saying every employee at Bomnin Chevrolet Dadeland provides this level of service. I only dealt with a few people. But employees--especially sales managers--represent the dealership, and my experience was unacceptable.
I've purchased more than 20 vehicles, and at 53 years old, this was easily the worst car-buying experience I've ever had. My biggest mistake was relying primarily on the dealership's ratings on Cars.com before making a four-hour drive. I wish I had spent more time reading customer experiences on Yelp and reviewing the dealership's complaint history first.
If you're considering making a long drive to purchase a vehicle here, get every promise, trade value, and agreement in writing before you leave home. And then still don't go. read more