BUYER BEWARE: Don Jackson -- Where "Fully Serviced" Apparently Means "Good Luck!"…read more
My 20-year-old daughter made her first car purchase at Don Jackson Cumming (DJ) on a Thursday. She wasn't replacing a jalopy! She already had a nice vehicle and wanted to treat herself to a nicer upgrade. What should've been an exciting milestone became a crash course in expensive repairs and spectacularly poor customer service.
During her test drive, she noticed squeaking. The DJ sales rep (Austin) assured her it was just the lift, nothing to worry about, and the vehicle had been "fully serviced." Great, right? NOT SO FAST.
By FRIDAY, literally the next day, someone discovered a horribly corroded battery. The squeaking had worsened, so she returned for an evaluation. DJ's OWN service techs, who initially said, "We don't really work on Toyotas," found that it needed an oil change, FRONT AND REAR BRAKES, alignment, tires, and ball joints (the actual source of that supposedly harmless squeaking). They did the oil change. Thanks, but odd, since it was supposedly "fully serviced." Apparently, DJ defines that phrase differently.
We got a second opinion at Beaver Toyota. AND SOMEHOW, THE NEWS GOT WORSE. They confirmed brake pads at just 3mm and extensive suspension work estimated at roughly $10,000. TEN. THOUSAND. DOLLARS. On a vehicle she'd JUST purchased! Apparently, the purchase price was just the down payment on the repairs.
I called DJ to ask if they'd make this right. Enter Sean, the sales manager. Within the FIRST 60 SECONDS, he told me "he didn't need a Karen telling him how to do his job." Well, Sean, if expecting safe vehicles and basic respect makes me a Karen, I suppose I'll need the matching haircut. A customer service lesson might help, too.
BUT WAIT. THERE'S MORE!
My daughter had purchased an extended warranty. The warranty co understandably questioned covering thousands in repairs when she'd driven the vehicle LESS THAN 100 MILES since purchase. They requested DJ send the Used Car Checklist, Used Car Repair Order, Inspection Notes, and Bill of Sale.
Simple enough? WRONG. DJ REFUSED to provide the documents. Instead, DJ told the warranty co to bring the vehicle back to them and they'd handle the repairs. So we did.
Here's where DJ finally acknowledged work should've been done BEFORE the sale. They agreed to address the brakes, replace the battery, and perform an alignment to "make it safe," admitting those repairs "should have been done."
Isn't making a vehicle safe supposed to happen BEFORE handing over the keys?
To my surprise, DJ did address those smaller repairs. I believe those items are now in good shape, but after this experience, I'm not holding my breath. Credit where it's due, even when the bar is near the lug nuts.
AND HERE'S THE ONGOING PROBLEM: DJ REFUSED to complete the remaining repairs they'd told the warranty co they'd handle. The extensive suspension problems didn't magically disappear.
She's owned the vehicle just over TWO WEEKS, and it's spent MOST of that time in the shop rather than her driveway. DJ has yet to take meaningful accountability for the vehicle's overall condition or the unfulfilled repair commitment.
I know used vehicles aren't perfect. I don't expect brand new. But I DO expect appropriate inspections, transparency, basic respect, and a dealership that stands behind its word.
A 20-year-old making her first car purchase should be enjoying her upgrade, not navigating repair shops, warranty disputes, and a $10,000 repair estimate.
My recommendation? TAKE YOUR BUSINESS ELSEWHERE!! Unless you enjoy surprise repairs, complimentary insults from management, and more time in the service department than behind the wheel.
DJ, you had every opportunity to make this right. Instead, you've given us every reason to warn others.
BUYER BEWARE. Get an independent inspection BEFORE signing anything. Your safety, sanity and your wallet are worth more than a salesperson's reassurance.