Let me start by saying Rick Nelson (Service) is the only reason I'm giving any stars, he's polite & professional, & was the ONLY person tht called me back when they said they were going to.
I'm frm CA, & came across this dealership via Autotrader.com(AT), I had been in the market for an affordable used 4WD truck for several months, & found a decent '91 Nissan for $2k, I fill out the "Give Me More Information" section on AT, & to my surprise AJ called me n 10 mins. Initially I was inquiring if the vehicle could be shipped, AJ said he'd call me back. 2 hrs, no call, so I call, AJ says his boss wont do it, understandable. I ask AJ some questions about the truck, he informs me tht there's no mechanical issues to best of his knowledge, just some normal wear and tear on a 20+year/old vehicle. I ask him for some more pictures, says he'll send me some
Now I ask if I can purchase the vehicle over the phone and pick it up later in the week (Thursday), says he'll ask his boss & call me back. Another 2 hrs, no pictures, no call, so again I call. AJ says his boss wont do it, but I'm more than welcome to fly up & check it out. I ask if theyll hold it for me, AJ says he'll ask his boss/call me back. 2 hrs again(Its now 5-6pm), So I call, speak to AJ, tells me he forgot, & says to call tmrrw @ 10am, & he'll have an answer.
I call the next day, 10am just like he asked, he was w/ a customer so I leave a msg w/ Tracy. About 20-30 minutes latr I get a call frm Deanna, she tells me she was the one tht signed the truck through trade in, & it's a great truck, has no problems. I ask her if the dealership has done any service to it, says she'll check on it. I explain that I'm really interested in the truck but can't just buy a plane ticket hoping tht it's still there, she tells me she knows the owner pretty well & can park it in the back for me. Tells me she's going to check on it & call me back.
1 hour later I get a call from AJ, says the manager can't hold it back for me, & that "It is what it is", but I can still fly up & if I like it they'll sell it to me, but not over the phone. I ask AJ why, tells me bcuz its high mileage they can't do it. So concerned tht something is wrong w/ the truck, I ask again, he tells me that there's nothing wrong w/ it, they're a franchise dealership & they can't sell a high mileage vehicle over the phone. AJ tells me if I have any more ?'s to speak w/ Deanna. Now I talk to Deanna again, she tells me the same story, but I could have someone local purchase it for me, & then she could park it in the back for me & I could pick it up when I'm ready.
Great! So I do just that, I have a family friend go & pay for it the next day (Monday). Deanna says she'll pick me up @ the airport Thursday.
My plane gets in @ 1:30 PM on Thursday, when I land I have a txt msg frm Deanna saying "I'm w/ a customer, I'm sending someone to pick you up". Well Barry doesn't get to this airport till about 3:00.
I turn the key to auxiliary, no lights on the dash, no radio...I figure no big deal, its an old truck. I leave the dealership & get on I-5 to start my journey home. The truck is going along fine, for about 5 miles, then I notice the throttle is not responding, it lurches in & out so I pull off the interchange into a Costco parking lot near by, turn off the engine & check under the hood. The intake was not attached, it had been taped before, but was completely lose, thinking this was the issue I realign it, get back in the truck, try to start it. Nothing. the starter clicks, & wont start. I call Deanna, tell her the truck wont start, and that it didn't even make it 7 miles, how's it supposed to make it to California. She seems surprised, but concerned & says she'll call me back. Now I really start to get upset bcuz I've heard this before. Lucky for me I found a jump to help me get the truck started and leave the lot, no power, the throttle is going in & out. I get stranded near the freeway. Call the dealership, and get Jim Koch (Manger?) who immediately tells me, "We told you not to buy the truck! You bought it from someone else." I tell him I'm stuck in a dangerous place, he tells me "Well if you can get the truck back , I guess we'll find out what's wrong" . I call AAA.
Jim tells me he'll pay for the diagnosis, but that it was my fault for buying the truck. They can't get me in till the next day. Turns out it was a short in the wiring harness, $183 part. well this "part" turned out to be a 6" piece of wire that they bypassed to the battery (20$ tops) & it took 3 hours just to change a battery?!
Jim did not stand behind his product, & should not have blamed the customer, especially if they never inspected the truck prior to selling it.
I did get back home safely, but I felt taken advantage of.
Used buyers Beware! This is not an honest used dealership, bring your own mechanic, and don't buy based on their "word" they do not treat their smaller customers respectfully and I will never do business at Valley Buick GMC ever. read more