BUYERS BEWARE! We will not be giving our business to the Auto Ranch Group at all in the future. If you want to know why car salesmen have a stereotype, these guys are exactly why!
We purchased a car from them at their Meridian location and I wish we would have just walked away!!
1) As we started to sign the papers, we asked if there were 2 key fobs. We were told they only had one. Since we were about to buy a car for $40k, we thought they'd be willing to throw in the 2nd fob (probably only .009% of the purchase price). Nope - we were told they'd give us the name of a guy. Should have gotten up and walked away right then - seems like a little thing, but the little things make the biggest difference to customers.
2) We purchased the 3 year/36,000 mile warranty along with the 3-year maintenance package totaling almost $4700. We bought the car on Sat. Feb. 25. There were 2 exterior lamps out that needed replacing so we made an appointment with them for replacements that Wednesday. There were hardly any cars on the lot on Wednesday when we took it in and a couple of days later, when I drove by, there wasn't a single car on the lot, everything was lights out - not a soul around. Having purchased the warranties and maintenance packages, we began to wonder if we'd just been swindled since it looked like they were out of business. I called headquarters and asked if the location was closed and if I'd just been ripped off. I was told that the Meridian location closing was a very sudden thing that took everyone by surprise and they would still honor the warranty and maintenance package, BUT...I would have to take care of that at their Ontario, Mountain Home or Fruitland location. No thanks, I live in Meridian. Then I was told they are offering a drop-off/pick-up service and I wouldn't have to drive there. Again, no thanks, that's someone else driving my car just adding a ton of unnecessary miles when we were told that all of those things could and would be taken care of right there at the Meridian location.
3) Luckily, we were still within the 30-day cancellation period. Upon calling their headquarters, I was told I had to go there and sign something - this was NOT stated in their own legal paperwork - all that was needed was a written notice with a contract number, VIN #, current mileage and make/model. I typed up a notice with all of that information as well as the dollar amounts of the warranty and maintenance plan that was owed back to us/the bank. I took all that paperwork in along with the signed documents from closing to their office where I was ignored for about 10 minutes and then made out to be the bad guy. Once I was FINALLY helped, the gentleman told me he had to see my odometer. Not sure why since I was canceling the warranty and hadn't used any of their services in the last 2 weeks, listed the odometer reading on the cancelation notice and was still within my 30 days. Did they honestly think I'd driven the car 36,000 miles in 2 weeks? I was annoyed since that truly had nothing to do with canceling. All of this took place on Friday, March 10, first thing in the morning. I was not given a copy of the cancelation form (which I kick myself for not asking for a copy of) and when I called Friday afternoon, I was told the money would take 6-8 weeks to refund. The cancelation clause in the contract states it will be refunded within 30 days. I have called daily to see if they will email me a copy of the signed cancelation notice or I have offered to go and pick it up - hell, I'll even pay $1 for the copy of the paper. I have left numerous voicemails with no return call, no email, nothing. Now I have no proof of the date and I worry that they will come back and say they never got a notice or that it wasn't within the 30-day time frame and try to screw me even more. Looks like I will be hiring an attorney to handle it from here. I'm glad I have several connections in the legal world.
Overall, I feel like they (or at least the location manager we were working with) knew that they were closing that location and still lied to us and convinced us to buy the stupid warranty and maintenance package with the promise that everything would be taken care of at the Meridian location. I would just appreciate a callback and a copy of the cancelation notice to put my mind at ease.
Honesty is always the best policy - I wish that were true for the Auto Ranch Group. I would love to be able to find a dealership that wasn't shady, did what was right and good for the customer, not try to push and upsell all their warranties and coverage plans without using scare tactics. Just a good wholesome experience is what I'm after - Unfortunately, you won't find that here. read more
