My wife and I got totally screwed at Berge Mazda VW in Mesa Arizona. *UPDATE: BBB is useless.. UPDATE: 3-31-01 Now Picketing *Consumer Comment Brent Berge is a money hungry, card carrying morman.
We were going to buy our dream car. A new Volkswagon Jetta with the works, leather interior, sun roof, you name it. However, after looking at cars on the dealer's lot, we found a used 1998 Passat (bigger and better then the Jetta) that was in our price range. Since we recently had a good experience with a used car, we jumped at this deal.
However, when we were on a test drive of the car, the oil light came on. The sales person told us he would have this checked out before we bought the car to make sure there wasn't anything wrong. When we went inside to "look at the numbers" the sales guy brought the car over to the service department where their mechanics assured him there was nothing wrong with the car (their special VW auto computers told them that) and it was drivable without problems. The sales guy said we could come back next week and their service guys would call vw and see why the light was coming on - probably a faulty wire? So, we signed the papers and bought the car with an out the door price of a little more than $20,000.
When I drove the car home from the dealer, it started to make a real lound knocking noise. By the time I got home, it sounded really bad, so I turned around and went back to the dealer. They apoligized and said after they hooked up the car back to their computers (the same ones they hooked it up to an hour ago) it said there was a bad oil pump! They talked me into leaving the car there to be fixed and gave me a loaner car.
4 days later, the car was fixed and I picked it up. Everything was fine except about a week later, it started making another awful noise. I again took it back to the dealer and told them the car had serious problems and I was worried that those problems might continue and I was thinking about just asking for my money back.
It turns out that when the oil pump went out, it damaged other parts of the engine and the cam chain adjuster had to be replaced. I told the sales manager that it was unacceptable that I had now owned the car for 3 weeks and 2 of those weeks were spent in the service shop. I told him I either wanted my money back, our a new deal on a different car. He told me that they could definintely work with me on a new car option and I should go onto the lot and pick out a new car.
After test driving a couple more cars, I decided it would just be best to buy a new 2001 Passat. The extra cost would be worth it in peace of mind. I went in to do the "numbers" and was offered only 14,500 on the trade in (remember, I just bought the car for 20,000 three weeks ago), and my payments would go from $250 per month to over $550 per month. This deal would result in losing ludicrious numbers of dollars so I stormed out of the dealship.
The next day, I decided that the only person who could help me would be the owner of the dealship. Surely the owner would have an interest in keeping customers happy. I called him up early and explained my problem. He called me back later that day and said that he could get me in the new passat with my trade in for $438 per month. I told him I'd think about it and be in later that day. After discussing with my wife, decided that we'd lose money, but we'd be happier with the new car. We packed up our one year old daughter and went back to the dealer only to find out that the deal never existed. The owner of the dealership was mysteriously unreachable and the price was back to $550. We stormed out of the dealship once again.
Later that day, I got a hold of the owner who again told me that the $438 deal was there and that if we came back in, we could get the new car. As it was already late, I told him I would be in the next day to sign the papers. Ten minutes later, I was called back by another person at the dealship who told me that my wife had a better credit rating than I did and she would be the only person who could sign the papers. Even though my wife earns about $120 per month compared to my much larger computer engineering salary she was more qualified to buy the car - whatever, I was getting tired of the run around. Before hanging up, I asked the sales guy if he could guarentee me that the $438 deal would be there the next day. He assured me that it would.
The next morning, my wife made special arrangements with her work and went in to sign the papers. However, the deal had again been changed. Instead of the $438 we had been promised, it was now $441 per month. Although it was only 3 bucks per month (which over 6 years would be $216), we felt the old bait and switch had gone too far and once again stormed out of the dealership. The price actually didn't matter anyway because she was told that I had to be there to sign the papers too, even though they made a special phone call the day before to tell me I couldn't be there.
So, now were left with a car that I'm sure is going to break down again and don't know what else to do.
Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on Mazda
7 Updates & Rebuttals
Jeremy
Mesa,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Don't let Berge get away with this!!!
#8Consumer Suggestion
Thu, February 21, 2008
I also had the same problems with my vehicle's check engine light. I've filed a report with ripoffreport.com as well. I recently protested outside of their store on president's day weekend. I strongly urge you now to file a report with the arizona attorney general's office. It takes less than 5 minutes. If we can find enough people that were ripped off by Berge they will file a class action lawsuit against the company. Go there now! http://www.azag.gov/consumer/ complaintformintro.html
I think we should also plan a protest weekend by all the people who were taken advantage of by Berge!
Jeff
Gilbert,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Berge Mazda lacks good customer service and common sense
#8Consumer Comment
Sun, February 13, 2005
My whole experience with this dealership was a joke. It started out with my 04 Mazda 6 breaking down.
It wasn't driveable and needed to be towed. This happend during the night time so I called around noon the next day to see what the problem with my car was. When I called and gave my name, the dealership had no knowledge of me and my car sitting on their property. They wondered who's car it was, because they had no contact information.
This didn't make sense to me because when I called road side assistance, they took down all of my personal information and the problems I was having with my car.
I called road side assistance right after talking to the dealership. They told me that it's the customers responsibility to call the next day, but a fax is supposed to go the dealership explaining the problems with the car because they use a computerized system, and revert from having paper trails.
So, I lost a day on them diagnosing my car, and I was more angry that my car was sitting on their lot without contact information on it. What kind of system is that?
Fred, one of the service managers explained to me that my ECM went bad and they needed a solenoid that was taken out when I put a cold air intake under the hood. He didn't explain this situation good at all, and at the end of our conversation he said he doesn't have a clue if my car will be fully fixed.
That left me confused and having no inurance of their ability's to fix my car. I talked to him again about this situation, and I learned that the solenoid problem was my fault and I paid for it.
By the way, the ECM took an additional six more days for it to come in, delaying my scheduled pick up time.
My parents picked up the car, and when it was in my possession, I checked to see if my radio and car alarm worked. It came to be that my remote start was disabled and my car alarm did not work properly. I called Fred the next day and he said I could bring it in on that Saturday. I didn't have time those next two weeks to bring it in, I'm a full time student and I don't have much time on the weekends. So I spoke to Bob, the other service manger and explained the situation.
I did not think this would be a problem for them. This was an inconvience for me and I thought they would want to fix what they had broke. Bob informed me that since it was an aftermarket car alarm, they have no responsibilty to fix it. He did not want me to even bring in my car that they had worked on to see if their mechanic had done something wrong. He tried to push me away and tell me to go to Audio Express and to call the place that I had the car alarm installed.
I did not feel like this problem was for me to handle. Berge Mazda IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MY CAR ALARM AND REMOTE START FOR NOT WORKING PROPERLY.
Bob did not want to verify to any of his mechanics, or even the one that worked on my car, if he possibly damage my alarm. Bob could only tell me that the car runs and that is all their responsible for.
Bob is an impossible man to deal with and lacks common sense. His favorite answer back to me is "I don't know". I stooped down to his low level of intelligence and used vulgar language which I apoligize to him for. Bob and Fred got what they wanted and drove me away, probably because they would loose money for their mechanics mistakes and it would come from their pockets to pay for the labor to fix their mistakes.
And it's strange how Bob and Fred won't even let one their mechanics look at my car. They might know that there mechanic did damage my alarm system or it could be a simple mistake that can be fixed. Now, I am going to be out money to fix what they caused, and my time. I also had a problem with the throttle body on my car. Lot's of problems for an 04 car!!! I hope Fred and Bob go through the situation I am in, then they will know how I feel. And their words of advice are to not install an aftermarket car alarm on your car. That's brilliant. That fact that just about everyone does get an aftermarket car alarm to protect their car is probably a good investment.
I'm still going to try to resolve this because it is unexceptable to take your car in to get fixed, and your given your car back with something else broken. And since Berge Mazda does not want to take responsiblity for their mistakes, I will take my problems up with the Mazda Corporation and notify them about the dealership and the poor ethics of Bob and Fred when trying to resolve a situation.
I would never buy a Mazda again, and I will spread the word about Berge Mazda and Mazda 6's.
Josh
Peoria,Arizona,
mistake
#8UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, August 30, 2002
there isnt a recall on the cam seals on this car. IT is however, a wide spread problem know by VW....they dont like to put out recalls as there are recalls on almost every product VW makes. they are pieces of junk any how....
Josh
Peoria,Arizona,
berge vw ..Brent Berge is a money hungry, card carrying morman.
#8UPDATE EX-employee responds
Thu, August 29, 2002
well i was mildly surprised to see that this report was on here. i was workin in the service dept. at Berge Mazda/VW at the time of this incident.
the service manager along with the sales manager royally screwed these poor people.
a contributing factor that wasnt revealed to these customers at time of purchase, was the fact that a recall had not been performed on this car on the fron cam seals. the oil had leaked out and caused the oil pump to mess up.
the managers and the owner were making fun of these people, because they were picketing this place. i sympahtized with them, and was hoping that they would get on tv.
Brent Berge is a money hungry, card carrying morman. so if those people were to file a lawsuit in mesa, maricopa county or the state of az, they would lose due to this fact. these people get away with so much because of the LDS influence in politics here in AZ, and mainly the Phoenix metro area....
BUT I SAY GOOD LUCK!
....to file suit against them for unscrupulous sales tactics contract fraud, odometer roll-backs, selling vehicles that were in major accidents and then selling them under false pretenses
#80
Sat, March 31, 2001
Berge dealership got me too over a year ago. The interest rate on the car was to be at 11%. When I got the papers form the bank, my payment was $120 more a month. The interest rate was raised to about 17%. I dumped the car a month later loosing over $5,000. They would not fix the transmission leak I found in my garage the next morning.
I saw you all picketing today after I was given a flyer at the Mall. I showed the flyer to my neighbors. One neighbor said he was ripped off about 6 months ago when he discovered the vehicle they sold him was in a major wreck. Berge told them, it did not have a salvage title. The vehicle had over $7,000 in damages and cannot be put back into a proper alignment. In 6 months the car is on it's second set of tires.
You people are doing a great job! Keep up the good work. My neighbor and I will be joining you this week to help you picket their other dealerships in the valley.
If you get together and decide to file suit against them for unscrupulous sales tactics contract fraud, odometer roll-backs, selling vehicles that were in major accidents and then selling them under false pretenses, please contact me. The person I spoke with today at Costco seemed to think you had enough people after today to start a law suit.
B Coleman
UPDATE: BBB is useless..
#80
Tue, March 27, 2001
UPDATE: BBB is useless..
We called the Better Business Bureau looking for information on Berge Mazda/Volkwagen. The BBB told us the Berge dealers are members and that "This company has responded to all complaints presented to the bureau." Those were their exact words!
We then asked if there were any complaints that had been reported about the company, their response was that they could not tell us that information.
This seemed strange to us. Turns out that the BBB won't say whether Berge Mazda/VW has satisfied any complaints or whether the customer received any retribution from the complaint.
The BBB will tell you only that they have "responded to all complaints." Normally, the BBB would tell you if the business being reported satisfied their complaints or they would say they
are unresolved.. ..hmmm?
After researching the BBB, I can see a company like Berge is a big paying customer. With all their dealerships and hundreds of employees, the BBB is being paid a lot of money.
After calling the BBB, I feel so dooped, like a fool. How can this be legal? If they could have only given me a straight answer.
In order to be a member of the BBB a company is required to pay a fee as stated on the BBB website. It seems strange that a firm monitoring companies to be sure they act in an ethical manner charges a fee to those same companies and then won't tell anyone if there have been complaints reported.
EDITORS NOTE: To get the full story on the BBB, click on the title below:
Better Business Bureau or Buyer Better Beware?
UPDATE: 3-20-01
NOW PICKETING DAILY SO THEY CANNOT VICTIMIZE ANOTHER CONSUMER
WE LEFT OUT ONE IMPORTANT DETAIL!
#80
Mon, March 26, 2001
WE LEFT OUT ONE IMPORTANT DETAIL!
On Saturday, March 24 I decided I had enough with these swindlers, so a friend and I walked into the dealership and told the owner that I flat out wanted my money back.
He replied "That's Impossible" (which of course isn't true) so I told him that we would just hang around the show room until he
changed his mind.
My friend and I talked out loud recalling the chain of events that lead up to our visit so that the other customers in the store could hear about the horrible service I was receiving. Every employee in the place tried to get us to leave but we refused. Finally, after about an hour, the police showed up. These guys actually called the police and had us escorted from
the premises in front of at least 10 potential customers. What kind of message does that send? What did the customers think?
I hope those customers really understood what was going on and just got up and left. I'm sure if I saw a scene like that I would have high tailed it out of there as fast as I could.
The funniest part of this story was that the cops were ON OUR SIDE!! They had to honor the request to remove us from the property, but after hearing our story, they both agreed that we were getting a raw deal. One of the officers even told us a story about how he got totally screwed when he bought a new Ford Truck and how he hated car dealers. The police even endorsed
our plan to come back and picket the dealership as badbusinessbureau.com has suggested we do.
When we told the dealer we would picket, the dealers last words were "Its a free country, do whatever you need to."