Ok, this smoothnoodlemap is giving a car dealer five stars? you're thinking. A car dealer? WTF?
Well, let me explain two things. One, me and West Chevrolet have a long history, dating back to 1990. Two, West Chevrolet does not know that.
Back in 1990 I didn't live here and was not familiar with the area. I was passing through, thought I was on I-40 (was actually I-140) when my car, then a Volkswagen Fox, suddenly died. Unsure where I was and with no other options, I got out and started walking. First place I came to was a car dealership, West Chevrolet. I couldn't have been luckier. When I explained the situation, they gladly let me use their phone to make not one but three long-distance calls, and then actually sent someone with me to pick up my luggage from the dead Fox and give me a lift to a neaby hotel. All for free. Of course, they made a half-hearted attempt to sell me a new car instead, but that wasn't gonna happen. But this was a huge investment in future goodwill, frankly. Even then I thought, Gee, if I'm ever in Knoxville and need to buy a car, I owe these people.
Fast-forward to 2011. By now, as it happens, I do live in Knoxville. But I don't need to buy a car. However, I have taken up professional mystery-shopping, so I get paid to pretend I do. And what do you know? Here's West Chevrolet again. Car-dealer mystery shops are involved and detailed, covering everything from the lot appearance and signage to the salesperson's technique and verbatim dialogue to descriptions of the car shown and even the cleanliness of the public restrooms, and guess what? West Chevrolet scored very very well on their report. Of course, no one there remembered some lost guy with a broke-down car from eleven years earlier.
Then it's 2013, and what do you know, I do need to buy a car. But I have particular needs and I'm not gonna let anything like such history sway me when it comes to an investment of that stature. I assiduously evaluate competing models from Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Chevrolet, and several other makers, and it's a wash. Several would seem fine, and all the prices are negotiably close. How do I choose?
Service, service, service.
They're good people at West Chevrolet. Yes, they're in business, they need to make a profit, but they take a long-term view, not quick-buck take your money, screw you ouf of a few more dollars, and goodbye. Folk there understand that dealing autos ain't like dry cleaning or peddling tacos. So I bought my new car from West Chevrolet.
One caveat about the usual car-dealer chicanery: After you negotiate the total price with your salesperson, have him/her write it down and sign it before you speak to the finance manager. I paid cash outright, and nonetheless an extra $300 magically tried to appear on the contract. read more