Can we please get past the dealership model?

[Defuse]

I recently purchased a new RAM from my local dealer. The process absolutely abysmal with dishonesty and gaslighting at every turn. I have already talked to the ownership of the dealership that they have lost my business forever. Is there a path for customers to share these experiences with FCA for them to see how bad their brand is being represented?

I am not terribly interested in getting back on the soap box just for the sake of it if at the end of the day nothing happens to the dealer to change their behavior. I want nothing more than to be able to go to a manufacturer's website, configure my vehicle, have it built and delivered to me without having to ever talk to a dealership again.


Yes, I am bitter these **** bags can just lie to the public and there are no repercussions for their actions.

 

[SniperDroid]

Maybe you should have found a better dealer...

 

[Defuse]

Maybe you should have found a better dealer...

You are missing the bigger point here.

 

[SniperDroid]

No, I don't think I am. I shopped several dealers and asked a lot of questions before we bought my wife's 2016 Jeep Cherokee. Talked to friends and family about their purchases, and found a dealer 60 miles from where we live to buy from. We were so pleased with that one, I bought my truck from them. I send all my family and friends there. When spending that kind of money you got to do the legwork! I work too hard for my money... if someone wants some of it, they have to work hard, too!

 

[Redfisher1974]

I bought my ram in 2017 all online only going to dealer to pick up. Was smooth as butter.

 

[chri5k]

There is the whole service side to a dealership. And without dealerships who will do recall repairs? Warranty repairs? Other repairs that require special equipment from the manufacturer? Are you suggesting dealerships be turned into factory service centers only? Allow independent shops to do said repairs?

Not saying dealerships are fun but they do provide a network of local service and support as well as sales.

 

[jejb]

I recently purchased a new RAM from my local dealer. The process absolutely abysmal with dishonesty and gaslighting at every turn. I have already talked to the ownership of the dealership that they have lost my business forever. Is there a path for customers to share these experiences with FCA for them to see how bad their brand is being represented?

I am not terribly interested in getting back on the soap box just for the sake of it if at the end of the day nothing happens to the dealer to change their behavior. I want nothing more than to be able to go to a manufacturer's website, configure my vehicle, have it built and delivered to me without having to ever talk to a dealership again.


Yes, I am bitter these **** bags can just lie to the public and there are no repercussions for their actions.

You could contact @RamCares here about your experience. But besides that, forums like these and word of mouth, there's not many other places to shine a spotlight on bad dealers.

 

[Dean2]

DealerRater - Car Dealer Reviews, Car Dealer Directory, Vehicles For Sale, Vehicle Recalls

Read Car Dealer Reviews, Car Recalls & Helpful Consumer Information about dealerships written by real people like you.

www.dealerrater.com

There is A Canadian Version of this that gets used extensively. That and Google reviews are an excellent way to get the word out on dealers. You do need top be careful however as some dealerships solicit positive Google reviews with incentives, so you can find VERY large differences between theDealer Rater ranking and Google.

Most folks I know post the same review on both sites, good or bad. If the dealer has a Facebook page, you can copy the review there too.

REALLY bad rated dealer on 213 Reviews

DealerRater - Car Dealer Reviews, Car Dealer Directory, Vehicles For Sale, Vehicle Recalls

216 Reviews of Southtown Chrysler - Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Service Center Car Dealer Reviews & Helpful Consumer Information about this Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Service Center dealership written by real people like you.

www.dealerrater.ca

Google Rating

Go Dodge Southtown Chrysler​

4.1(1,931)


Very highly rated dealer on +1,800 reviews at Dealer Rater.

DealerRater - Car Dealer Reviews, Car Dealer Directory, Vehicles For Sale, Vehicle Recalls

1856 Reviews of Great West Chrysler Jeep Dodge - Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Service Center Car Dealer Reviews & Helpful Consumer Information about this Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Service Center dealership written by real people like you.

www.dealerrater.ca

Google Rating​

​

Great West Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM​

4.3(1,835)

Not to hard to tell who you have better odds with.

 

[Tulecreeper]

There is the whole service side to a dealership. And without dealerships who will do recall repairs? Warranty repairs? Other repairs that require special equipment from the manufacturer? Are you suggesting dealerships be turned into factory service centers only? Allow independent shops to do said repairs?

Not saying dealerships are fun but they do provide a network of local service and support as well as sales.

I think that's coming. I talked with the Ford dealer here when I was shopping for a new truck back in December and told him I had read that the manufacturers are trying to cut the dealerships out of the picture. They (salesman and sales manager) said they thought so, too. The manager said that Ford had only allotted them 22 F-250's for the entire 2023 model year. I commented that he could probably sell that many in a couple months. He replied that he could probably sell that many in a couple weeks, but that's all they were going to give him for the whole year.

 

[star_deceiver]

Are you suggesting dealerships be turned into factory service centers only? Allow independent shops to do said repairs?

Yes to both.

Although, I want to sit in the vehicle I’m buying, drive it around, crawl under and around.

The most important thing to remember is ‘Who’s in charge’, you! If you don’t like anything about your salesman, ask to see the floor manager and demand somebody else help you. If the car isn’t what you want, tell them. If you don’t have the knack for numbers, bring along someone who does. Remember that if you don’t like the deal and they won’t budge, at any time you are free to walk out of the building and go home, their feelings aren’t your problem.