Edmonton Hyundai Dealers

This fall after my 12 year old car nearly stranded me on the freeway it was time to start shopping for a new car.  It started with the general idea of buying an entry level SUV and then spending a weekend driving around to all the dealerships for test drives.

I must stress that once you find a car you like, go onto the web and research the different models.  Some salespeople are excellent and can tell you about even the smallest difference between models and model years.  However, I found that more often then not, I had to "debate" with the salespeople that in fact the model and features I wanted did exist.

After taking into account the test drives, manufacturer and dealer incentives, Consumer Reports ratings, my work preferred purchase program, AND my wife's insistence, I decided to buy a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.7 GL Front Wheel Drive.  My journey brought us here:

Northstar Hyundai
13634 St. Albert Trail
Edmonton, AB

We were met by a young salesperson who sat as down and wrote down exactly what we wanted but he was not very knowledgeable about the vehicles and the easiest questions sent him scampering away to the sales manager.  I was left thinking "what was this about?".

Then I guess part of the process at this dealership is to have the sales manager sit you down and tell you that TODAY, YOU WILL BUY a car, and how they will do everything to make a deal.  I found him very aggressive, very slick, a fast-talker, and I do not think I had a chance to say one word before he quickly left us with the salesperson.  I was left thinking "what was this about?"

My next surprise was I had to sign a document stating something about that I am buying a vehicle and will negotiate fairly.  Again, "what was this about?", am I signing something that legally binds me to buy from them even if I do not like the price?  I said I would not sign until I saw a price, just show me ONE price.  Nope.

Now I know this goes against all negotiations tactics, but I felt I had to reveal that my employer had me on the Hyundai preferred purchase program.  I did not mention the program guaranteed a certain price over invoice.  Regardless, that should have got me a price.  Nope.

Three times the salesperson jumped up and ran to the sales manager.  First the sales manager denied the program existed, second time he said he would give me $500 off.  $500 off what???  I have not seen a price!!!  The third time he came back and said the program does exist and in fact it is $500 off.  Well no it is not.  The plan is very specific about a price over invoice and nothing about $500 off.

Then the salesperson reveals they have THE LAST Santa Fe on the lot but it was not the colour I wanted.  I take a look and there is dent in the front fender.  One would think the next part of the conversation would be "We will fix that" but no.  Instead the sales manager comes over again telling me about the wonderful deal he will make on this last car.  Yeah right.

So my wife and I are about to walk away when now the OWNER comes over and tells us "Do not worry about the colour, I own several dealerships and can bring in whatever you want".  Why would he wait until now to tell us this?  And if he owns several dealerships why can't we lookup the inventory on the computer RIGHT NOW?

We left totally disgusted.  It has been 12 years since I had to buy a car but I do not remember going through anything like this.  Every step of the way I felt lied to.

We drove across to the city to checkout another dealership to see how their inventory was.

West Edmonton Hyundai
10120-178th St. North West
Edmonton, AB

We were met by Vance Yue who was very friendly and knowledgeable.  Right from the start he admitted they did not have they exact model we were looking for.  Then do you know what he did?  He showed us similar models available on the lot.  We initially were interested in the base model but Vance showed us a base model with the next level in trim, the leather heated seat package.  We loved the colour and with winter coming, it was not a hard sell.

When I mentioned I was on the Preferred Customer Program Vance grabbed the binder with all the programs, found mine, and gave us a price.  He answered all our questions and I think he went to the sales manager once to clarify something and then once again to simply introduce us.

My wife and I did not know what to think, how could Vance be so easy to deal with after what we went through?  We thought for sure it was some kind of scam and needed some time to think.

We thanked Vance and left to think about what to do.  We decided on visiting one more dealership.

Sherwood Park Hyundai
41 Automall Road
Sherwood Park, AB

We were tired, had no desire to test drive, or negotiate.  We simply told the salesperson we had a price from another dealership and wanted to know if they could beat it.  What happened next totally sealed the deal for Vance.

Again the salesperson was constantly running off to see the sales manager.  Eventually the sales manager came over and told us he would have to bring the model we wanted in from the Southside dealership as that is where we went, and that he would not make any money on the deal.  What?  He talked so fast he did not give me a chance to mention we never went to the Southside dealership and I was not concerned about how much money he made.  You sell a car, you make money.  If I told him I was not making money on this deal would he lower the price?  I do not think so!

The first price was terrible, the second price was better but still terrible.  We were running low on patience and time so I came out and asked "CAN YOU BEAT THIS SPECIFIC PRICE".  They came back with a higher price.  I was stunned and pointed out that their price was higher.  OH, so they came back and matched the price.  Okay, an hour and a half later we have the same price that Vance simply gave us from the start.

We got up to leave and to our surprise they beat the price!  Finally, let's buy the car and get out of here.  The salesperson brings over the contract with this small section written in pen that said "Subject to Availability".  What does that mean?  We insisted that we were not going to sign anything unless there was actually a vehicle available to which the sales manager revealed that no, there was no vehicle available now, it was sold.  OH.  Then why did we just waste two hours?

We left, disgusted, drove home and phoned Vance and told him he had a deal.