New Guy here, and an Atlanta dealership rant (long)

BullManUGA

Member
:
'07 Mazdaspeed 3
I purchased an '07 Red MS3 a couple weeks ago. I purchased it from Mazda of Roswell in Roswell, GA. Let me just say, they were awful to deal with. I would reccomend not going there to buy a car.

The day before I bought the car I test drove it. I drove it for half of the time, and the salesman drove it the other 50%. Not wanting to get a ticket, I let the salesman get on it. First, he shifted from 4th to 3rd when he meant to go to 5th, but managed to get back on the clutch before anythign bad happened. Then, he hit over 100 in a freaking school zone. That really rubbed me the wrong way.

The next day, Saturday, I go back to the dealer to purchase the car and it seems they traded it to a Mazda dealer in Athens for another MS3. No big deal, I can wait another couple of days to pick it up. I bought the car anyway and they shipped it back down to the dealer where I picked it up on the next Tuesday.

I already had financing in place with a bank and had fully intended on using the bank, but the finance guy at the dealership told me he could beat the rate I got with 4.9%.

Fast-forward to Friday and he calls me and tells me I have to come in to re-sign a couple of things. I didn't answer when he called, so he left that information in a message. I called him back later and he was busy, so I left a message with the receptionist asking for the finance guy to call me back. He never did, so I call on Saturday and never got a response. Finally, Monday he calls me, but I was busy so I didn't pick up. Then on Tuesday we stop playing phone tag and I find out what the problem is.

He tells me they made a mistake, and that I have to come back and re-sign some things. I ask him several times what the problem was, and all he would say was "We made a mistake, you need to come down here." I'm getting rather angry at this point, since I've asked him at least three times what the problem was without him telling me. I tell him I will not come down there unless I know exactly what the problem is.

They messed up the interest rate on the loan. This is what every person dreads. Already miffed because he wouldn't tell me what the problem was until I dragged it out of him, I hit the roof. I tell him there is no way I'm coming back for anything. I tell him I have to make some phone calls and I'll call him back.

After I discuss this with some other people I call the guy back and he proceeds to tell me that the 4.9% rate they gave me does not apply to the MS3. They were working to fix it but there were no guarantees. I told him they would get that 4.9% rate or else my lawyer would be getting involved. Then he tries to lecture me on not getting angry. That just made me even more angry. Right before I hang up with him, he tells me they got another bank to give me the rate I was promised more than a week earlier.

To put an end to this mess, I go over to the dealer and sign the new loan paperwork. All of the numbers work out and match up. That being said, I will not be going back to that place for any type of service. Any of you Atlanta guys used Jim Ellis Mazda?

Congratulations for making it this far in the post. I'm sure reading it was as crappy as me living through it. All of this aside, I love the car and I'm glad to join the community.
 
that sucks.. at least then ended up working it out for you.

i got lucky with my dealership... i bet i coulda talked a blowjob into the deal before all was said and done...
 
Sucks you had such a bad experience but at least you know not to go back now. I didnt have anything that bad but service I had was terrible. The guy didnt even really seem like he cared if he sold the car or not, I was confused by his attitude. Luckily I dealt with a much much more pleasant guy on the day I got the car, he made me feel good about purchasing a new car.
 
I drove up from Savannah to buy mine from Jim Ellis in Marietta. My sales guy (Dennis Fabec) was great to work with. I got it for about $150 under MSRP. Key Mazda in SC, my closest dealer, wanted $2K over sticker. I'd definitely recommend Dennis @ Jim Ellis to anyone in the Atlanta area. BTW- are you a UGA student/grad?

JP
 
Should have gone to Jim Ellis, I got my ms3 there back in March and they were a really great dealership to deal with.

I test drove at Mazda of Roswell first and they guy I worked with was a dick. Never returned calls or anything.
 
I had a great experience with Jim Ellis in Marietta buying the Protege. Negotiated completely online and one short phone call. Then they brought the car to me at work. It only took a few days while they shipped the exact car I wanted up from Tampa.

This was after being 100% f'd over by Rick Case in Gwinnett. Kept promising the car I wanted for weeks. Screwed with me on financing. Gave me a loaner while the car was "in transit", then forced me to bring it back, leavingh me carless. See, I'd already sold my other car b/c they said my Protege was on the way. Plus the salesman reminded me of the guy Arnold (virtually) punches in the face in True Lies.
 
JPDawg said:
I drove up from Savannah to buy mine from Jim Ellis in Marietta. My sales guy (Dennis Fabec) was great to work with. I got it for about $150 under MSRP. Key Mazda in SC, my closest dealer, wanted $2K over sticker. I'd definitely recommend Dennis @ Jim Ellis to anyone in the Atlanta area. BTW- are you a UGA student/grad?

JP


Yeah, graduated last year.
 
i had bad dealings w/ Rick Case on my first MSP. Of course, it all turned out for the better, totaled it 50 miles down the road and got more than i paid for it :) - would NEVER go back to them though... sales person didnt even want to talk about the price, kept saying i was supposed to discuss price w/ the financial person...

and on a side note, i work behind the dealership in athens... they had a red ms3, was that the one you got? I was thinking it was still there last week, and its been there a while? dunno.. just seems wierd. oh well!
 
Jackelope said:
i had bad dealings w/ Rick Case on my first MSP. Of course, it all turned out for the better, totaled it 50 miles down the road and got more than i paid for it :) - would NEVER go back to them though... sales person didnt even want to talk about the price, kept saying i was supposed to discuss price w/ the financial person...

and on a side note, i work behind the dealership in athens... they had a red ms3, was that the one you got? I was thinking it was still there last week, and its been there a while? dunno.. just seems wierd. oh well!


The MS3 was in Athens for maybe 4 days. Friday night through Monday evening.
 
I've bought a Cx-7 and MS3 at Jim Ellis and have used their service department for a 6i and P5 for three years. They do good work and will give you a loner if u need to go anywhere while they do what they do. I drive past the one in Roswell to go to Jim Ellis.
 
johnnyB5646 said:
I've bought a Cx-7 and MS3 at Jim Ellis and have used their service department for a 6i and P5 for three years. They do good work and will give you a loner if u need to go anywhere while they do what they do. I drive past the one in Roswell to go to Jim Ellis.


Jim Ellis in Marietta is about 3 miles from my office, so I'll definitely go to them, both for the convience factor and the overall good reviews.
 
I bought from Jim Ellis about of month ago. Transaction was simple. I called on the phone and said I will buy today if they will take employee S Plan pricing. They said "deal" so I picked up a Blue Mica GT at dealer invoice.

I walked in arranged the financing (4.9%) and picked up for delivery a few days later. They had to order my MS3 from Roswell.

I also dealt wth Rick Case on a test drive on an MS3. They sure put the S in slime there.
 
Also on a 2nd note Sutherlin at the Mall of GA is also excellent. They are no longer a Speed3 dealer but can service the cars.

I have spoke with the Master mechanic there on several occasions for my wife's Madza 3 hatch and he was very knowledgeable about the Speed series.
 

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