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Favorite/Worst Dealers

27K views 168 replies 121 participants last post by  Tango 
#1 ·
After reading some of the VCNA thread about replacing another user's 2016 for a 2018 at no cost and some of the comments about dealerships, I figured I might start a list of your experiences with dealers. This may help prospective buyers in your area get the best experience possible.

Format shall be:

Recommend/Avoid
City, State
Dealership Name
A few bullet points highlighting why they are great/terrible
 
#2 ·
Recommend
Austin, TX
Volvo Cars of Austin

Both the sales and service arms were great to work with. Negotiations were calm and professional, and both parties walked away satisfied. The sales manager has been with Volvo for 20+ years, so you know she's dedicated to the brand. Service has always taken up any issues with calm professionalism, listened to my requests (i.e. no car wash), and thoroughly explain the issue and how they resolved them. Recommended to anyone in the Central Texas region.
 
#3 ·
RECOMMEND

Westport, CT

Volvo cars of Westport

The sales team is highly devoted, caring and professional. The service team is terrific, work is done professionally and quickly. The sales manager is the nicest person you'll ever meet. Everything is great about this dealer I have absolutely no complaints whatsoever.



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#6 ·
RECOMMEND

Westport, CT

Volvo cars of Westport

The sales team is highly devoted, caring and professional. The service team is terrific, work is done professionally and quickly. The sales manager is the nicest person you'll ever meet. Everything is great about this dealer I have absolutely no complaints whatsoever.

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I agree about Volvo of Westport being an excellent dealer. I've purchased four cars from them and all four purchases went very smoothly and without pressure or haggling. Their service department is by far the best of the three Volvo dealers I've dealt with in my area. So good that I actually drive 40 minutes out of my way to go to Westport instead of the Volvo dealer that is literally 10 minutes from both my home and work. I highly recommend them and know that my next car purchase will be from Volvo of Westport. I've been using this dealer for over 10 years.
 
#8 ·
I had a great purchase experience with Bob Byers (Ravenna Volvo) in Seattle. I haven't needed service yet, so I don't have any opinion of their service department.
+1 for Bob Byers in Ravenna. Kevin Davis (Tom and Julie) have been helping us with our 2018 OSD order. They've been so accommodating--my husband and I feel so comfortable working with them. We were worried about a dealer pushing various luxury features on us, and judging us for going for practicality over luxury. Kevin and the team are very straightforward, professional, and friendly :)
 
#5 ·
I hate Don Beyer Dulles - every single experience has been horrible.

Herb Gordon was actually REALLY REALLY good.


KARP Volvo is bar none the best

Glen Cove Volvo has been consistently decent - but they are under new ownership, not sure how that's been.


Also have heard amazing things about Westport Volvo
 
#18 ·
I hate Don Beyer Dulles - every single experience has been horrible.

Herb Gordon was actually REALLY REALLY good.

KARP Volvo is bar none the best

Glen Cove Volvo has been consistently decent - but they are under new ownership, not sure how that's been.

Also have heard amazing things about Westport Volvo
Picking up my car from Don Beyer Dulles sometime this week. Yousef has been great to work with.
 
#7 ·
I had a great purchase experience with Bob Byers (Ravenna Volvo) in Seattle. I haven't needed service yet, so I don't have any opinion of their service department.
 
#14 ·
Annapolis and Owings mils Volvo in Baltimore have been good for me, even though Owings mills is a combo Volvo/Kia dealership. :/

Bill Kidds? Stay away. Staff at the combo Volvo/Toyota dealership hardly know what a Volvo is. Service department has been sub par.


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#17 ·
Northern Virginia
Best: Don Beyer Volvo Dulles
Outstanding Sales and Service. I thought so much of my Sales Rep and the Sales Mgr that I took them to dinner. I now count them as personal friends.

Worst: Fairfax Volvo
Absolutely worst sales experience I have ever experienced. I never used servy; Friend who used service had bad experience as well.
 
#21 ·
Northern Virginia
Best: Don Beyer Volvo Dulles
Outstanding Sales and Service. I thought so much of my Sales Rep and the Sales Mgr that I took them to dinner. I now count them as personal friends.

Worst: Fairfax Volvo
Absolutely worst sales experience I have ever experienced. I never used servy; Friend who used service had bad experience as well.
Picking up my car from Don Beyer Dulles sometime this week. Yousef has been great to work with.
i agree Fairfax Volvo is a joke.

Don Beyer Dulles BUYING i believe was a dream - although they move so much inventory that they were not very negotiable compared to Herb Gordon. It's their service department that I am quite honestly just perplexed. Almost everyone is nice, but it's all over the place.

For reference - I have the Tire Warranty: I was just there about a month prior to the last visit and they used that warranty to replace the tire. Fast forward a month later - to which I explicitly gave my Tire Warranty policy number and telephone (Provided through Fidelity) - I come back and see that I am getting a $65 charge for a tire patch? .... like really?

I have some scratches on the fender where the clear coat came off and I wanted to order a near fender flare to replace - the service advisor said they could patch it up with touch up. - when i come back - it's still VERY clear the clear coat scratches are there albeit more shallow.... and the SA is like, well we also covered a few pock marks on your hood. - and charged me for it $115.

I didn't make a fuss about it because it was already done, and what were they gonna do?

Oh did i mention also about the time I showed up because my tire was very deflated and I did a walk in because i was in the area. Told the SA (Ali) that i think i have a puncture. He gave me the nastiest look, asked if I made an appointment, and then told me that it probably just needed to be inflated. 35 minutes later I get my car back, the pressure on all 4 wheels are now different - i fastidiously check that and always keep them balanced. And lo and behold later that evening the tire in question had dropped 8 psi.

The sales department is totally different - and quite a dream. I ALSO felt that other than Ali the Service Department is very nice. I just don't understand how these things happen? I never once had an issue like this at Glen Cove Volvo or Karp Volvo. Maybe I'm spoiled and am used to service in Long Island?
 
#22 ·
We are blessed with two great dealerships within 35 miles of each other and I'm 25 miles from both. We have purchased Volvos from each and were satisfied with sales and service from both.
However, the last two (and next XC60spa) were purchased from Volvo of the Triad in Winston-Salem, NC. Outstanding experience! That dealer makes you feel special for being a Volvo owner. I have been there when new owners from places like Michigan and New England were taking delivery of their new Volvos. (Are dealers in those parts of the country that bad?)
 
#23 · (Edited)
In Canada, Greater Toronto Area ratings from -3 to +3 (in my opinion and experience)

Volvo of Hamilton: sales +1, service +1
Volvo of Oakville: sales ?, service +2
Roberts Volvo: sales 0, service +1
Volvo of Mississauga: sales +1, service -3
Volvo Villa: sales +2, service +1
Volvo of Unionville: sales-2, service -1
 
#44 ·
I use Volvo of Mississauga and I agree with you that you have to find right persons to deal with. Sales: Kirk is a very nice gentleman who supported me after purchase as well. Highly recommended. Services: Mark G. who is the manager. He knows the details of the technologies and he has few good technicians to fix the issues. Note: I always put a sign on the driver's seat: "please cover my seats" and another sign on the windshield: "please don't wash me!"
 
#27 ·
Just joined. I'm looking at an OSD for a 2018 XC90 and wondering who around in the Bay Area, Calif., is the most experienced and can provide a good price?
Thanks
You might want to contact Williams Marks of Lawrence Volvo: wmarks@flyvolvo.com
Website: http://www.flyvolvo.com/contactus.htm

He was great to deal with-- seemed very knowledgeable, straightforward, and honest. Answered all of my questions and was upfront about everything. I ended up not doing OSD for a couple of personal reasons, and he was gracious about that, too. The next time we get a Volvo, if we can do OSD he's tops on my list.

Oh-- and did you know that there is a separate forum for OSD here on swedespeed? You can learn a lot there, too.
 
#29 ·
Bob Penkhus Volvo in Colorado Springs was the dealer I found that would let me do a custom order T8 and get the pricing through the costco auto program (ended up over 8K under MSRP).


Ben Gallentine
New and Used Car Sales
Lease Retention Specialist
Bob Penkhus Volvo Mazda Volkswagen
1101 Motor City Dr.
Colorado Springs, CO 80905
719.505.3965

Bayway Volvo south of Houston had zero interest in negotiating.
 
#31 ·
Portland Volvo in Scarborough, Maine has been excellent to deal with. Their service dept. diagnosed and fixed a locking problem that Orland Park Volvo in the Chicago area couldn't be bothered with.
 
#32 ·
After reading some of the VCNA thread about replacing another user's 2016 for a 2018 at no cost and some of the comments about dealerships, I figured I might start a list of your experiences with dealers. This may help prospective buyers in your area get the best experience possible.
Recommend
Golden Valley, MN (MSP)
Borton Volvo

1. Sales and OSD fair/accommodating/decent trade/loaner
2. Service consultants and techs are attentive, accommodating and well trained
3. Owner of dealership is committed to customers and employees
4. Long time (50+ years) Volvo dealership
 
#117 ·
Got our OSD through them. Couldn't spend enough time now recommending staying away from them.

1. Pre-sales experience was great. Post-sales experience was terrible as we uncovered one embellishment after another.
2. I can't wait until our last complimentary service so I never have to deal with them again. The service advisors are the worst of the bunch considering none of them seem to be on the same page for anything.
 
#33 ·
It sounds like Autonation Volvo Bellevue and Ravenna Volvo have a pretty good reputation, so those are definitely dealers my wife and I will look at.

Not sure if it was luck of the draw, but we had a terrible experience at Sandberg Volvo in Lynnwood.
Thanks for your input. It might've been just that one salesman, but we'll put that last on our list of dealerships to go to.
I noticed there wasn't many with experience with Volvo of Tacoma, but I've recently visited the dealer (as it's the closest near me), and had a satisfactory experience. We didn't feel pressured to buy anything, and the salesman that helped us out was really accommodating for our needs even though we weren't planning to buy until the next couple of months. Even though it has low ratings, I didn't feel that they matched my experience.
 
#35 · (Edited)
Yes, based on appointment, request and availability. My last loaner was a 2017 XC90 T6.

No charge. They just ask that you bring it back with as much fuel as when you left. I also ordered/bought my car from the same dealer who services it.
 
#37 ·
British Columbia

Volvo of Kelowna was hopeless for sales. I kept getting the same saleswoman who knew nothing about the XC90 even after several visits months apart. Left thinking either she was useless or the car was. I went to Volvo of Vancouver and had a salesperson who actually knew their product. I ultimately used a car broker but the car came from Volvo of Vancouver and they have have been good to deal with. Went to Kelowna for recalls and service was good but you have to pay $19.95 for loaner vehicle. Volvo of North Vancouver was good to deal with for sales aspect but their price was higher so went elsewhere for purchase.
 
#38 ·
Recommend:
~Prestige Volvo - East Hanover, NJ - Amazing Sales Team (these guys prices are hard to beat), Good Service Dept.
~Red Bank Volvo - Red Bank, NJ - Great Sales Team (good pricing), Great Service Dept.

Just Ok:
~Bridgewater/Edison/Princeton Stores - (All the same owner in NJ) - Sales Team is friendly but you have to grind these guys down and you still don't get the best pricing; Service Dept has been good to me and I haven't had any issues.

Hated:
~Garden State Volvo - Wall, NJ - Sales Team was alright, but boy does their Service Dept stink. They managed to damage one of my OEM BBS wheels on my S40 years back, blamed me and when brought up to the owner he threw my parents out and said you are no longer welcome here; we immediately called VCNA and they made good on the issue sending us to Red Bank to get the replacement wheel fitted; never went back to them again and I haven't heard anything good about them from friends since.
 
#39 ·
The only one I've been to that I would advise against is Annapolis Volvo. I had a terrible sales experience that in a nut shell involved me driving my aunt four hours to buy a CPO XC70 that was falsely advertised AND not even fit for a test drive (brakes in service mode, not even remotely detailed - I was actually disgusted to sit in the stained seats) despite having an appointment nearly a week in advance. The service manager said he'd try to make it right, which to him meant coming down on the price by $200 (Yes, two hundred!) and offering to buy us lunch at Wawa next door. Absolutely unbelievable.

My favorite experience was at Stillman Volvo in West Chester, PA. The salesman was actually knowledgeable and you can tell there were a lot of enthusiasts on the team.

My local dealer, Ken Pollack in Pittston, PA is okay as well. I would recommend them for sales or service.
 
#43 ·
I can see that in Puget Sound area people recommend Bob Byers in Ravenna or AutoNation in Bellevue. Would you recommend them for OSD over contacting Bob Kennedy (sponsor of OSD forum)? Did somebody from here worked with Bob Kennedy for OSD? Recommendations?

Thanks.
 
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