I really wanted to love this dealership--after all, I purchased my "beauty" from here…read more
After months of searching online, I finally found her--the exact car I'd been wanting, in the perfect exterior and interior colors. The moment my husband and I pulled onto the lot, I told the salesperson I only wanted to test drive that one vehicle. No other car. I provided my driver's license to them and we were off to test drive around Sykesville for about 30 minutes. Perfect experience so far. I fell in love immediately.
When we returned, I told the salesperson we were ready to buy. There were a few minor issues with the vehicle, but they were covered under the 30-day warranty, so I wasn't too concerned.
Here's where things shifted a bit.
I paid cash for the vehicle--no financing involved. Despite this, they didn't offer any discount, not even $100 or $200. That surprised me. I understand times are different now and margins are tighter, but it still left a bit of a sour taste. Especially considering I wrote a check for the full asking price, including taxes, title, registration, and all fees.
Also worth noting: I referred a coworker's boyfriend to this dealership before I even bought my "beauty". He purchased a car from them a week or two prior to my purchase. Yet, there was no referral bonus!! Again, not a dealbreaker--but something I feel should be mentioned.
Another detail to be mindful of: Maryland caps the dealer processing fee at $800. They charged $785, which is legal--but they also charge tax on that amount. So while it looks like $785 on paper, it ends up being more like $832. Just something to be aware of when budgeting your finances.
To be fair, the dealership did address the minor issues I mentioned earlier within the 30 day warranty, and I appreciate that. But I do feel those problems should've been resolved before listing the vehicle for sale or offering it for a test drive.
All in all, would I buy another vehicle from them? Maybe, possibly. They have solid inventory and are locally owned, which I like. But I can't ignore that I was a cash buyer who referred another customer--and I didn't feel like that was valued. A small gesture would have gone a long way. Even just a modest discount or a thank-you referral credit might have made me a long-term, loyal customer.
Just something to consider if you're planning to buy from here. Great cars, but I wish the overall customer service had matched the quality of the inventory.