On November 8th I went to Frank Parra interested in buying a car. I gave them a figure I was trying to stay around. The entire reason I went there was because someone recommended a salesman who had just started there. The salesman was friendly, and I worked with another salesman. Both seemed friendly.
I was introduced to a car that was far below in value of what I wanted to spend, but as a courtesy, I looked at it. I even test drove it at their insistence. It was slightly exasperating that this took a great deal of time because they could not find keys and other problems.
Then they pointed out a Dodge Stratus that I had not considered. I had not researched the Stratus coupe but upon looking at it, I really liked it. I had told them initially that I would not jump at any car because I want to research a car before making a decision. The price they told me for the 2001 Dodge Stratus was $15,995. I thought that was high, but they always expect you to haggle right?
Note, I did end up talking to the sales manager, Thomas Bies, at his request. He was high pressure and even tried to convince me by saying he was looking for someone to work on his personal computers (which i do). I would not let this be a factor in this business transaction. Whether or not I do work for someone should not be a factor in my doing business with them.
After being there for many hours, I was finally able to leave.
Guess what my research showed? On three internet sites, that same car (as in that specific car with that VIN number) was advertised for over 4 grand less, $11,494.00. One of those sites happened to be their own website. Now, you cannot tell me that the manager, for whom the salesman went to see to ask the price of this stratus, was so uninformed that he could not look up in their own website, their own internal system, or their own paperwork to see the correct un-marked down un-haggled price of the car. Obviously The manager was trying to play me, to abuse my business.
I then wrote to the General manager, Steve Leto. His only apology was a conditional one, saying "... If we've made an error in quoting you a price on a vehicle." He went on to say "Our goal here at Frank Parra is to have "Complete Customer Satisfaction" and obviously we have failed you at this point."
That sounded promising, but did absolutely nothing to make up for this "error". He asked for me to contact him, which i did, and his response was that he would take 4% off the asking price for my "inconvenience".
I found this insulting because from talking with the salesmen and others, it is VERY conceivable that i could have haggled for 4% off. Therefore, nothing was done to make amends for my "inconvenience". I wrote back asking if there could really be anything for my inconvenience. It could have been anything from helping with the price, the ttl, warranty, options, cd player, or heck even free oil changes. Anything beyond normal haggling would be considered. Mr. Leto was then very rude and said that was the best he could do. He would not respond to any other e-mails, and had informed his staff not to either.
So as you can see, their customer satisfaction goal is extremely lacking.
Additionally he was very slow in responding to e-mails, and not responding when he said he would. Mr. Groves also was slow in responding and specifically mentioned when he and Mr. Leto were meeting and still would not respond until I would request a response. Mr. Bies NEVER responded once. Since then, I know that the salesman I was initially referred to has quit due to problems with management.
I have filed this experience with the BBB, Irving Chamber of Commerce, and will be informing the owner as well as local news crews.
All e-mails are available to any group or individual asking for them. As of this writing, the vehicle has been sitting there for nearly four weeks since I saw it, and it was advertised on their site for at least another month before that. Obviously they lied about their goal.
Rik
Arlington, Texas
U.S.A.
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