Category: | Used Car Dealer |
Address: | 216 S 1st St, DeKalb, IL 60115, USA |
Phone: | +1 815-756-9500 |
Site: | tomsparks.com |
Rating: | 4.9 |
Working: | Closed 8AM–8PM 8AM–8PM 8AM–8PM 8AM–8PM 9AM–5PM Closed |
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John Connors
I purchased a 2005 Mazda 6 for my 17 year old son on April 14, 2017. I traveled from the Quad Cities, about 2 hours from DeKalb, along with my wife, to see the vehicle. Through previous coordination with Tom Sparks Auto staff, I was told to meet with Ruben when I arrived at the dealership. Ruben showed us the vehicle, provided a brief verbal history on the vehicle, and we test drove the vehicle for about ten minutes. The vehicle was in decent shape, with a minor rust blemish on one of the wheel wells, engine was clean with no noticeable leaks, and the vehicle drove nice with no issues with the engine or transmission shifts. The one thing I certainly noticed was the brakes. The brakes were hard to negotiate. I informed Ruben about the brakes and we went into his office to look at the Tom Sparks Auto Inspection Record. Their record showed 50% pads in front and 60% pads in the rear. Now, I am no mechanic but I can and have performed both routine and more advanced maintenance services on my vehicles throughout the years, so I didnt believe it was a brake pad issue. There are many components to the brake system; however, their inspection report only accounted for pads....not brake lines, fluid, rotors, or calipers. Now at the time Ruben and I were negotiating on a price, there were no mechanics in the shop to look at the vehicle. I purchased the vehicle and drove it back to the Quad Cities that night. The next day, Saturday morning, and before I handed the keys over to my 17 year old son, I took the car to a local shop to inspect the brakes. About an hour later, I learned the true nature of the issues with the brakes. All four calipers were rusted in various stages of engagement. The rears would not activate the pads to the rotors at all...so zero braking capability. The fronts were not much better. All of the pads, although of decent percentage, were chipping from warped rotors. So, $1000.00 later....we have brakes. Calipers, rotors, pads, on all four corners and a brake flush. The mechanic informed me that the car must have been sitting for months without use for that amount of damage to be caused to the entire brake system. Now for the real astonishing part. I contact the owner, Tom Sparks, on Monday, April 17, 2017, to inform him about the condition of the brakes on the vehicle I purchased from him. I did not demand $1000.00, I did not demand any compensation whatsoever. I wanted him to know that his Inspection Record should include more than simply the pad percentage when it comes to brake inspections. Mr. Sparks, whom Ive never met, told me that he expected me to drive the vehicle back to his shop, 2 hours away on Interstate 88, so that his shop could either fix the problem for free or get me out of the deal. I was taken aback a bit but he repeated that several times throughout the conversation almost as if he didnt understand the significance of brakes on a vehicle. Although I didnt request compensation, I certainly expected someone in the customer service business to do something, anything other than blame the customer for repairing a vehicle that was on his lot 12 hours prior to an appropriate level of safety for normal operation. I was astounded. He kept saying he could have done the work for free, like his shop doesnt pay for calipers, rotors, or pads. I was confused once again. What about paying me for parts, not even my mechanics parts, but what it would have cost Mr. Sparks for 4 calipers, 4 sets of pads, and 4 rotors. I would have been happy with eating the labor but come on. Nothing? Heres the kicker. Since I paid cash for the vehicle, I was given the title. The dealership failed to complete the exchange on the title appropriately so I couldnt register the vehicle. I was told to FedEx the title back to them and they would get it back to me asap. I did that and spend approximately $20.00. When I spoke to Mr. Sparks and informed of this expense, he was more than willing to reimburse me for the cost. I got the title back but nothing else. That, I will say, was expected. Be careful yall!
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Jon Duszak
I was told by the local Toyota dealership that I wouldnt be able to find what I wanted for how much I wanted. So they told me to look elsewhere, ensuring me that would be the case. Luckily, they directed me to a website that had just what I wanted and within 2 miles. That place happened to direct me to the Tom Sparks dealership. Upon entering Dan greeted me sincerely, with a big smile and a sincere look in the eyes. This was different to how I had been greeted at various other dealerships being that I am young, and apparently its cool to stereotype at most dealerships. I was given plenty of time and was never pushed into buying my car. They even listened to my inexperienced, first-time buyer questions carefully and were sure to explain everything that I was unclear on in an inviting way. Bemis Toyota thought it would be more fun to laugh and ridicule me in the showroom. The folks at Sparks were ready to roll only once I was, making me feel in control at all times as a valued customer. The place has all the charming and friendly nature of a local business, as well as the initiative and expeditiousness of a strictly run company. Because of this I was able to buy the car I wanted on the same day I found it, and do so confidently without being ripped off. It has been 4 weeks now since I have bought my car there and I have only great things to say about their business and the car that they set me up with. If you are local and in the market for a car you pretty much owe it to yourself to check the place out.
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Luis Suarez
Just purchased a 2011 Kia Sorento last week and I am very pleased. Very happy with my experience with them. I was treated well and the staff was very nice, especially Ruben Perez and Daniel Gailey. I would totally recommend you to buy a car from Tom Sparks. Muy satisfecho con mi compra (mi primer carro), despues de buscar en varios dealers llegamos a Tom Sparks y supe que ahi lo tenia que comprar. Te tratan muy bien son muy amables y a diferencia de otros dealers no te precionan a lo cual disfrutas mas tu compra y te sientes en confianza. Gracias a Ruben quien ayudo con los papeles y todo fue rapido. Muy Feliz con mi Kia Sorento!!. Recomendo totalmente a Tom Sparks Auto. Variedad en autos y a precios razonables.
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D R
Purchased a 2015 ram 1500 in April 2017, buying experience was easy and painless. Was assured by Dan that Tom picks top choice vehicles. After one day in vehicle, window vibration when rolling it down, when driving steering wheel was not centered , fender flares were coming off and scratches on side of bed . Dropped vehicle off on Monday night they fixed a couple scratches but not all of them and said they aligned vehicle (this was done at another shop). The window and fender flares are warranty work for ram. Picked vehicle up on Thursday and steering wheel was not centered and some scratches still visible. They said vehicle was aligned but would have to bring it back for another alignment. So I brought truck back following week for alignment again and for ram(why didnt they bring it to ram to begin with) to look at the warranty work another 3 or 4 days in the shop. Oh yeah engine light came on as well and ram fixed that issue. Three weeks later I drop vehicle off at the ram dealer to fix window and fender flares. After repairs are done the window still vibrates and fender flares not up to par. Yeap my 30k truck is still broke. I emailed the salesman and service manager of how disappointed I am and they couldnt care less no response or phone call. Yes they have there money and thats all they care about. So much for the 100 point inspection if they actually did this is wouldnt be in this predicament. I certainly will not buy another vehicle at this dealer.