Category: | Car Dealer |
Address: | 5860 Paradise Dr, Corte Madera, CA 94925, USA |
Phone: | +1 888-717-9558 |
Site: | marinacura.com |
Rating: | 4.2 |
Working: | 7:30AM–7PM 7:30AM–7PM 7:30AM–7PM 7:30AM–7PM 7:30AM–7PM 8AM–7PM 10AM–6PM |
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A Private User
We would actually like to thank you for your management of such an excellent dealership. We had purchased an Acura from your dealership many years ago and since that time purchased another Acura from a dealer local to our area. We tried our local dealership and were not satisfied with our interaction. We then decided to call your dealership - even though you are over 2 hours away! I spoke with Michael Gafford by phone and we were able to purchase a new 2012 TL in about 10 minutes. It was amazing. Mr. Gafford asked what our requirements were and listened very carefully. He then told me what he could do to meet our needs as closely as possible. I had a sense that I could have asked for a slightly lower price, but did not do so because Mr. Gafford had been fair and worked to meet my needs to the best of his ability. He was "worth" any difference we might have gained. Mr. Gafford also delivered on each and every commitment he made to us. When he said he would call back - he did. When we arrived at the dealership, he had everything ready and also the promises he made on price were all accurate. He also introduced to every member of the dealership that would be assisting us. He looked after our comfort and met the timelines we had set. He also welcomed us with a hug and made sure everything came off expertly. Our next pleasure was when he introduced us to Steve Kerekesh. Steve made us feel we had made a perfect choice. He expressed pleasure at having driven our car from another dealership and assured us our vehicle was in perfect shape. He showed us our car with excitement and informed us about every option and feature. He very professionally worked on our paperwork and explained anything we required. But what we liked best was how personable and warm Steve was to us and our son. The highest compliment that I can pay him is that I found it hard to leave the dealership and would have liked to have dinner with him and your wonderful staff. Lastly, but certainly no less amazing, was Jean-Pierre Kabbara. He quickly and expertly worked with us on the financial aspects of the sale. He was warm and funny and it was painless. In fact it was pleasant. I have never been in a car dealership like this and hope I will not have to visit another. I will be buying another car within the next year and will now find an Acura at your dealership rather than deal with another business (and I love my Volvo, so this is saying a lot). I do not frequently write letters of this sort, since my life is overly busy, but in this case it just needed to be done. We were excited to see a business (we have our own business too) run in the way it is being run. It defies the normal car buying experience and makes it pleasant and, sincerely, we feel we have made new friends (old friends). My last comment is this: Many years ago my husband was in law school and we bought an Acura Integra from your dealership. After my husband reminded me of this - we remembered that I sent Kevin on a bus to get his new car. It is likely that I was working and could not take him. We remembered that the salesman picked my husband up at the bus station and brought him to your dealership to pick up his new car. Now that was service then and your business offers the same quality service now! It is rare and we are appreciative. If you can reward the members of your staff, we hope you will do so. They are invalueable members of your organization. While you may be thanking us - we wish to again thank you for such a positive and pleasing visit to your dealership.
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A Private User
My 86 year old mother took her Acura to Marin Acura in Corte Madera to inspect what seemed to be a sticking accelerator and walked away without a diagnosis but with a $2300 repair blil which they tried to push for more!l. Her Acura has 27K miles and is driven very lghtly and is always parked in a closed garage. Its in great shape. She had experienced the car accelerating when she took her foot OFF the accelerator pedal. At 86, having the accelerator stick is pretty serious as she isnt that quick and could have easily rammed another cars rear before thinking to use neutral or slamming the brakes. They let her leave with what was a minimal test of the pedal. When she took it too Marin Acura, they didnt use the kind of care this kind of tricky problem demands for an elderly woman. They looked at the accelerator and declared "no sticking or binding". Then they used the old trick of finding other unrelated problems so they could bill her. They kept adding consecutive overpriced questionable repairs and talked her into them on the phone. They clearly were aware she didnt know enough about cars to judge for herself based on her situation and was sweet/trusting easily spotted as someone to squeeze as much money out of as possible. At 27K miles, they insisted her Acura needed its 30K service for $500, 3000 miles before even required. The service could have been done at a place like Oil Stop for 1/4th the price so they used an early service as a means to squeeze over $300 from her and look for other problems difficult to show as unnecessary at that time. Then they told her she needed to have a new timing and drive belts followed by replacing the water pump at 27K miles. After failing to diagnose the problem she came in about, they had wrung up over $2500 fixing THEIR "concerns" and then tried for more. After all this, they showed no shame telling her they then wanted to adjust her valves, replace her leaking rear shocks and replace her spark plugs and another $2000+. At this point she said "no", sensing something just wasnt right. I wonder if they would have ever stopped by themselves. That however requires integrity. To summarize their questionable business practices -- they sent an 86 year old women away with a potentially serious accelerator pedal problem ( no charge ) -- Leveraged her age/sex and trusting/sweetness to add over $2500 of questionable or overpriced repairs -- Tried to go for another few $$thousand seeing they had a mark before she stopped them. I wish she had called me so I could review the "needed repairs" but unfortunately she trusted them. DON"T TRUST them - verify! The problem of some dealerships appears to be quite serious at Marin Acura. They have no shame so if you are elderly or a women (or anyone) who hasnt enough knowledge to question them, avoid these people for repairs that are not REQUIRED by the dealer such as a recall. Any business that takes advantage of an elderly 86 year old woman is best avoided as they dont deserve anyones business. AVOID MARIN ACURA -- find an honest small private shop with integrity.
DA
David Merriam
Very poor sales skills. I walked into the dealership with cash in hand ready to buy a new 2014 RDX awd with tech package (which I did from another dealership 50 miles away the same day) but they failed to close the deal. Here are the reasons why they didnt make the sale: - Promised they had a few 2013 models over the phone in the trim model we talked about, but we had to drive up to see them or talk about pricing. - Did not have these in stock when we showed up a few hours later, big waste of our time, but obvious sketchy sales tactic. - Would not discuss pricing over the phone, majority of other dealerships would discuss pricing over the phone or email. - Most of the cars were very dirty that they showed us, one looked like someone had a Carls Junior pick-nick in the back seat. The Salesperson M couldnt even tell us what color one of them was because it was so dirty. - Ok fine they didnt have a 2013 awd tech, but lets discuss pricing about a 2014. We asked them for a price quote, they sat us down the salesman M had to go the manager to get the first offer. It was about $2000 higher than the majority of dealerships that we got an internet or phone quote from. - Your price is way high, what can you do better? Well, do you have a quote from another dealership? Yes I do, this is what it is... Can you show me a copy of that? Yes I can but what can you do to compete. Ok, let me check with the manager,,, 5 minutes later they come back with an offer that is $1500 higher than what I told them was the quote. - Ok, thats still a lot higher... What can we do to win your business? Well, your could offer us a 2013 for significant savings like you mentioned over the phone, or you could compete with the quoted price that I gave you. Back to the manager... - Ok, here is my best number, which is pretty much the same. What if we split the difference he asks? Im not sure where they get their sales training, but a higher price, dirtier cars and dodgy practices dont really fill the gap, $800 + more dollars I would have to pay to buy the car from Marin Acura. - So I drove south 50 miles, saved thousands of dollars an bought the car the same day.