Please do not consider using Max Ford of Harrisonville for your next car-shopping experience.
I found a used Explorer on Autotrader.com listed by Max Ford of Harrisonville, MO. Only a year old, low mileage, exact colors and equipment I was looking for, and listed at a reasonable price. I used the Autotrader contact dealer inquiry, giving them my name, email, and phone number. Within 10 minutes, I received a phone call from Dalton, informing me that the vehicle was available, and could he schedule an appointment to look at the vehicle. He was extremely courteous. I said I was very interested, but told him I lived 191 miles away (3 hours 8 minutes according to Google Maps), and therefore asked him to please double-check with the Managers to make sure that the Explorer was still there, and there were no deals in progress or pending on the car. I told him I knew that if an individual walked in before me they were right to sell it, but felt that if nothing was in process the car would still be there. He hung up, called me back 5 minutes later, and assured me the car was still there, no offers or deals were in process, and set me up an appointment with Tony, the salesman, for 4 hours later. Dalton told me Tony would meet me in the lobby with the car waiting for a test drive. I got ready and left within 15 minutes, after checking my emails to see that I had received three different emails from the dealership, informing me the vehicle was in stock and confirming my appointment at 2 pm with Tony, the Product Expert per his email title, not salesperson.
Upon arriving at the dealership, I had to circle the lot twice to find a parking spot. There were literally no parking spots for customers, with the few spots next to the showroom being filled with random new cars with no plates. The dealership is very old and packed with vehicles outside, including service cars, customer cars, and inventory cars mixed in a disorganized fashion. Parking in a space on the lot between two new cars out in the lot and walking in, we were greeted by a gentleman who asked who we wanted to see. I told him Tony, he asks me to wait, and he walks across the lobby to a little bistro table 24" in diameter, with a salesman (Tony) with a laptop and a customer. No offices for sales, just little tables in a very crowded lobby. Other customers are standing and sitting around. We are informed Tony is with a customer, but he would be with us shortly. So much for making appointments. Tony, after about 7 minutes, comes over to introduce himself and asks our names (my wife is with me). I tell him, then he asks what car we are interested in. I tell him the 2022 Explorer, and remind him I was told that I had an appointment and was told the car would be waiting. He tells us "oh, we never get the appointment information, so I never know". He asks me again what car, I tell him the 2022 Explorer, and he frowns. He says, "I better double-check". He quickly checks the computer and informs me the car was gone yesterday. "I am really sorry" he says, "they should check with me first", "I did already" I tell him, and I demand to see the manager.
I get to meet Josh, the sales manager. After speaking out loud, not yelling, but firmly, Josh quickly ushers me outside of the dealership. Josh, the sales manager, also does not have an office, but sits behind a counter in the same lobby where all of the deals and customers are, hence his quick escort of me and my wife out of earshot. He begins to apologize profusely, telling me Dalton did check with him, there were no deals working, but he forgot that he had shipped that vehicle to another one of their dealerships hundreds of miles away. He offered to fill my tank, but I had filled up just before arriving at the dealership. He then tells me he can make me an incredible deal on a new car, that he would lose money on it to help me out. I quickly see how well-oiled this operation was, and my wife and I drive back another 191 miles. Seven hours of my life lost.
Long story short, while remaining polite the entire time, this dealership is absolutely lost. The phone personnel never communicate with salespeople, or the salespeople ignore it, there is no customer waiting area, no parking, you negotiate deals with several other customers just feet away, sitting at a tiny table in uncomfortable chairs, no privacy, the inventory system does not clearly show what car is where (even the Sales Manager did not know), but once you are there, they will apologize and try to sell you what they do have on the lot. They were polite, but disorganized, incompetent, lack facilities and space, and are buried with their present load.
If you want to see what they have, just go by and walk the lot yourself, don't call or ask for help. You'll save yourself a lot of time and trouble. And DO NOT waste any time driving more than 15 minutes to get there. There are other dealers closer that can do a much better job. read more
