Today I went to @Honda of Thousand Oaks looking for preowned cars and was pleasantly surprised when I came across a 2013 Nissan Altima that was everything Ive been looking for in a car. The sales associate Brandon Smith met me with a genial and non-invasive demeanor, took me for a test drive, and was quick to begin the sales process. All greatly appreciated. Unfortunately that is where the pleasantries of my experience at Honda of Thousand Oaks came to an abrupt end - in a manner that I can only describe as one of the most poignantly disrespectful, blatantly short sighted, and prejudiced displays of customer service that Ive ever had the misfortune experiencing. Being completely satisfied with the car and driving experience I made initial offer in cash, on the car a few grand below asking price - a practice that is both common and prudent in automobile negotiations. After waiting about 15 minutes for Brandon to return from speaking with the sales manager, fully expecting a counter offer, sales manager Barry Smith returns alongside him. After shaking hands Barry proceeds to inform me that my offer is a waste of time, a sentiment that took me a moment to even fathom the reality of, as his smile belied the incredible words coming out of his mouth. Taken aback, I then ask him if he means this conversation was a waste of his time. To which Barry rhetorically asks where I got my number, tells me Im about $5000 off of what they were looking for (which even at full asking price plus tax, title, and license didnt make mathematical sense), and explains that this is a busy day and he doesnt want to waste other customers time by dealing with me. Evidently I didnt qualify as a customer or someone worth even presenting a counter offer to (even after pointing out that he never presented me with one.) At this point the disrespect and complete disregard for customer service and genuine decency were no longer worth my time, so I left. After a phone call back to Mr. Smith it was mentioned that my age (27) was a factor in how I was treated. Aside from the fact that as a salesperson it is already Ill advised to make judgements about purchasing power based on age, it is especially asinine in one of the wealthiest communities in the United States. I work as a quite successful director of music for motion picture advertising, and had both the means and every intention of both buying this car and paying cash in full, no financing. All facts that Barry never learned because negotiation wasnt worth his time. As a result I will no longer be taking my business to Honda of Thousand Oaks; and will make sure my friends and family all over this community know the experience they can expect from this dealership. I only hope that in the future Mr. Barry Smith and the team at Honda of Thousand Oaks learn to not make snap prejudices based on age/appearance, treat customers with respect, and give a young man or woman like myself the time of that is deserved.
Posted on: Sat, 24 May 2014 22:04:51 +0000
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