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Avoid Family Honda Rancho Santa Margarita

8.3K views 14 replies 9 participants last post by  staam1  
#1 ·
AVOID like the PLAGUE.

Family Honda in RSM, CA
was willing to sell me a "new" 04 Ody 04 EX-L-Navi for 29,000
with free lifetime oilchange service...
Well.. it turns out..
That "new" was an UNWIND.

For those who don't know, like me.. it means it was a fleet return. A customer had purchased it, registered it with DMV and then the loan/Financing fell through..

LEGALLY this is a used car.
And should be sold as such, an not put in the New car lot.
Red flags:
381 miles
I asked why??
answer "test drives"
- Deep scratches on the plastic door jams.. from the seat hardware.

Bottom line avoid Family Honda.
very dishonest. -- for me not have full disclosure is dishonest.
"I didn't know" from a sales rep is NOT acceptable. The sales manager has the LEGAL responsibility to NOT put the UNWIND in the NEW car lot.. since it is USED!!!!

Not informing your sales people, or having your sales people fein/prentend/play games about the issue. (ignorance or pretending ignorance is NOT ACCEPTABLE) -
Their only resolution was to take back the vechicle. Since I had filled out the contract and brought the vehicle home. I had was under the impression it was NEW -- IT WASN'T.
So they had no choice but to take it back for lack of full disclosure. The point being is their deceptive sales practices, is thinly veiled by "i didn't know --ignorance"

---
I went to edmunds.com
got a internet quote.
3 dealers responded.
The best deal was 50 miles away. Ontario Penske Honda.
$27,488 (price includes all destination and handling Fees) with only 10 miles on the lot!!
That is NEW!
But I was willing to drive 1 hour away instead of 3 minutes away for an HONEST dealer.

BTW Navi Rocks.. not perfect but very COOL!


AVOID like the PLAGUE.
FAMILY HONDA in Racho Santa Margarita


Again, everything I post is my personal opinon and based on my experience.. and your mileage may vary.. as well as your own experience.. Caveat emptor!

Who knows.. the same car might be in the "new" car lot... hahaha
 
#2 ·
Agree, we almost bought an 01 from them, however I did not like the sales pressure, and decided to wait for the 02 and bought it from another dealer. They were not nice to deal with, and I would never buy a car from them. We actually had a deposit on the car, but they kept on calling us in on other colors etc.
 
#3 ·
RSM Family Honda

Yes, lots of sales pressure..

Tactics used
"Tag team" multiple sales people
multiple managers. Where no one seems to be in charge.

"Really trying to be your friend"
"Sales price starts from MSRP" and negotiates down..

Phrases like "come on buddy"
"You don't want me to make a profit?"
"Profit isn't a dirty word"
"We aren't making any money on this car, in fact we are gonna lose money on this deal, but we want to earn your business"
"What can I do to make you happy?"

-Yes overall they were rushing to close the deal and rushing for me to take possession, hence locking in the deal.

I should have learned the first time. About a year or so ago, I was shopping for an accord and though different sales people--- same attitude.

Never again. I don't even think I can trust their Service dept, because of the experience I have had with the sales dept.

v.p.
 
#5 · (Edited)
Family Honda's hardball tactics remind me of my local Honda dealer, Scott Robinson. Maybe they all learn the same tactics on how to trick the buyer. I cannot trust their service department either, from personal experience. No wonder car sellers are among the least respected.

Family Honda happened to be selling a so called 2002 Odyssey on Ebay today but the picture is of an Accord. Maybe they will bait and switch the soul who bids on the Odyssey/Accord.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2487602546&category=6258
 
#6 ·
NEXT TIME CHECK BBB FIRST

http://www.bbbsouthland.org/bbb/companyreport.cfm

http://64.60.4.195/scripts/cgiip.ex...C:/inetpub/wwwroot/ReportPages/RReport.html?hCompID=13148775&hAddrID=1&hAKAID=1

"Based on BBB files, this company has an unsatisfactory record with the Bureau. An unsatisfactory record is given when a pattern in the company's customer complaints causes us concern, when the company does not respond to complaints, or when it will not substantiate its advertising claims.

In this case, our complaint history for this company shows that although the business has responded to some customer complaints brought to its attention by the Bureau, others remain unanswered. ..."
 
#7 ·
Re: NEXT TIME CHECK BBB FIRST

I checked other dealerships in my area and saw that my other local Honda dealer got the same rating. So I started checking dealerships at random and think I noticed a pattern.

Non- Members of BBB tended to receive an "unsatisfactory record" However, members of BBB tended to receive a "satisfactory." Now I did not do an extensive test to confirm trend, but it got me wondering. Are members better because they are members and have to answer to BBB or are they better because they are members?

Listen, I have had my fair share of negative experiences with dealers so I would be the last to defend one. However, I know the "car lot" salesmen typically bounce from dealership to dealership and may not always be the most honest bunch--hence the stereotypes.

I have always called fleet managers direct to get my price quotes. No haggle, I just ask for the out-the-door price. No driving, no sitting at desk while salesman gets his manager. Be advised though that one fleet manager shared that some "Internet" departments at dealerships are not the same as fleet.
 
#10 ·
We bought ours from Wesseloh, in San Juan Capistrano, and they do not mark up. They usually sell at MSRP on the new models. They have been good to me, however someone else on this board, has had some problems with them. They took their car in for servicing and it got stolen off of the lot and the dealer has not been fair with them.
 
#11 ·
LHOdy said:
We bought ours from Wesseloh, in San Juan Capistrano, and they do not mark up. They usually sell at MSRP on the new models. They have been good to me, however someone else on this board, has had some problems with them. They took their car in for servicing and it got stolen off of the lot and the dealer has not been fair with them.
That would be me. We will be looking for a good deal on an 05 Ody in Orange County from anyone but Weseloh. You can read the whole story here: http://www.odyclub.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16770

Luckily, I think we have lots of dealers to choose from, so I'll be looking around once they 05's hit the lots.

Chris
 
#12 ·
Chris Teague said:
That would be me. We will be looking for a good deal on an 05 Ody in Orange County from anyone but Weseloh. You can read the whole story here: http://www.odyclub.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16770

Luckily, I think we have lots of dealers to choose from, so I'll be looking around once they 05's hit the lots.

Chris
Just be careful if you deal with Costa Mesa Honda. I've purchased two cars from them over the past four years and have done most of my service on all of my Hondas (3) there. I was told as a "good" customer they would "take care" of me when the 05 Odysseys came out. Apparently I misunderstood what "taking care" of meant. I was told the other day that the GM's guidance on the 05 Odyssey pricing is $1500 over MSRP. I guess that's what I get for being naive enough to think that customer loyalty means anything these days. To top that off, I went in there yesterday on another matter and one of the floor managers basically told me that customer loyalty means nothing. He told me a story about how a dentist he went to for years ended up not being too reputible, so he left and found another dentist. I found it interesting he would tell me about a customer (himself) leaving someone he dealt with for a long time to go someplace else.
 
#13 ·
"Free oil changes"

Hi,

I bought my new car at Family Honda and was also promised free oil changes for life, but they canceled this service (needless to say, against my will). At this point I am looking for other customers that have the same problem (being cheated with regards to free oil changes) and see if we can do something together about it. I am at staam1@gmail.com, if you are interested.

As for other aspects of car service and honesty at dealerships, I think that Family Honda service is pretty decent, I serviced my old car there for 5 years, and I didn't have any problems. As a rule I always expect to be cheated when I buy a car at a dealership, and I insist I get it all in writing. What you guys describe here is pretty standard for car dealerships.
 
#14 ·
Re: "Free oil changes"

staam1 said:
Hi,

I bought my new car at Family Honda and was also promised free oil changes for life, but they canceled this service (needless to say, against my will). At this point I am looking for other customers that have the same problem (being cheated with regards to free oil changes) and see if we can do something together about it. I am at staam1@gmail.com, if you are interested.

As for other aspects of car service and honesty at dealerships, I think that Family Honda service is pretty decent, I serviced my old car there for 5 years, and I didn't have any problems. As a rule I always expect to be cheated when I buy a car at a dealership, and I insist I get it all in writing. What you guys describe here is pretty standard for car dealerships.
Frankly if a dealer cancels a "lifetime" service, I'd be hesitant to "still" label them "pretty decent?"

That would be the end of my support. Ask management for them to re instate the program or compensate you as a minimum. You do have rights here!
 
#15 ·
Re: Re: "Free oil changes"

chiody said:
Frankly if a dealer cancels a "lifetime" service, I'd be hesitant to "still" label them "pretty decent?"

That would be the end of my support. Ask management for them to re instate the program or compensate you as a minimum. You do have rights here!
I agree, perhaps the choice of the word "decent" was not the best, as it can have more than one meaning. So, to make it clear - do I think that they're honest - definitely not. Do I think that my car did better after they serviced it - probably yes.
Anyway, I'm still trying to get the word out to other customers that have been cheated by them as well. - If you have the same problem with the free oil changes for life canceled, please let me know.