Well, I finally have time to write this. I've owned my 2011 Equinox for about 2 and a half weeks now and I love it (minus the fact the auxiliary power plugs aren't live when the car is off). Now I'm going to outline my experience with the for mentioned Crystal Lake Chevy that I would never recommend to purchase a car from there. I was recommended from my brother-in-law to check out this dealer as he had some good vibes from when he was in the market for a car (bought a different vehicle). I will break it down by dates of how my ordering experience was with this dealership.
March 28th – My brother-in-law and I went to look/purchase a chevy equinox from the dealer and to see how much financing would cost. We walked in with my title of previous car and all the information I needed to proceed in a purchase. We sat down with a sales person (Eric Pedersen) who was very helpful in locating a car to my specific needs. I explained that my dad was going to be the primary owner and I was going to be the co-signer as my credit wasn’t so hot due to my housing situation. He said no problem and I proceeded to fill out their necessary form. I left a deposit check of $3000.00 for the holding of the vehicle. He found a car that I was looking for in Michigan and said he could have it ready in 2 days. He then said I should have my Dad fill out the application and submit it so we can proceed with the financing. I mentioned that he lives in Florida now and they have no problems with that as long as he signs the papers and sends it back we can then precede. My brother-in-law and I left feeling pretty good as we ran into the owner and was told that will be kept up to date on process of the car. I said that’s great to hear.
March 29th – Received a call from Eric Pedersen stating that the car we agreed on is a courtesy/dealer car with 3,800 miles on it. Ironically he never said anything about that upon signing the contract, etc… I told him I don’t want a dealer car I want a new car with no miles or like 10 or 7 or whatever the usual number is for a new car. He said, we can just place an order and in 8 weeks I’ll have the car. I agreed and he placed the order. I was then told on the phone that it would be around $350 cheaper due to me not getting a certain feature (towing option). I said great, can we add the mud flaps on it? He said no problem we do that here at the dealership. We then went ahead and went with that.
April 14th – I emailed the owner asking for a recap of the order of the car. I was told that they placed the order but didn’t have the allocation for the Equinox’s and that they expect to have some available in the following week and that I’m the first one to getting one. He then apologized for the lack of updating as he promised early. I said no worries, just let me know the process.
April 25th – Emailed them again asking for an order number so I can track the progress. Was given a wrong order number and didn’t even know it until later…
May 10th – Asked once again about the ordering of the car and what’s the progress of the vehicle? I was told basically asking me if I was talking about the delivery to the dealership or when I would be able to come pick it up. I was a little confused as almost it seemed like I was some mystery person asking general questions. He then attached a .pdf file of the printed order which showed a different order number then I was given on April 25th. Now I was finally able to track the order and see the progress of where it was. I am actually dumbfounded that the dealership doesn’t explain to you the process of how ordering a car goes. Considering they claim satisfaction is their number one goal.
May 11th – I inquired about the total amount for the car will be and was told that it’s the same price as the original order was on the yellow sheet (contract) I signed. I then told Eric Pedersen that’s not what you told me on the phone. You told me that it would be cheaper than the previous order and that I could get Mud flaps installed and still come out cheaper.
May 17th – My car order was showing up on their website as available car. I inquired asking is this normal that an ordered car was put on their website for everyone to inquire about it? They told me that was normal as the computer system does that. I said okay, but thought it was odd.
May 17th – Sent another email asking if we can start the ball rolling and maybe start signing the papers for the financing of the car. I received a response that I should fill out their application (yet again!) and then they can proceed. I responded saying My Dad and I already filled it out already and was just told, can you do it again? I’m like, what the heck? Don’t you guys have my original information from the order? Sheeeesh
May 26th – Nothing for 9 days regarding the applications we filled out the second time. Then received an email from them stating that my credit wasn’t good enough to proceed on the loan. I told them my dad was going to be the primary and I was going to be the co-signer as we talked about this on the first day I arrived. He comes back stating that in order for us to finance the car we “both” would have to be on the loan because they can’t sell us the car knowing that my Dad wasn’t going to be driving it. I was like, WTF you talking about? Who cares if my Dad signs the agreement I’m going to be paying it. They came back and said it’s called a “Straw Deal” and it’s illegal. Funny!!!!! They never once mentioned this to me when I was about to buy the other car? But now they pull this out of their ass 6 days before the car shows up on their lot? That is what broke the camel’s back. Then they said they couldn’t just finance my Dad now because they know that I was going to drive the car and not him. Unbelievable! Lucky for me, my dad was able to secure the money I needed to purchase this car. Plus I found out that they never cashed my deposit to secure the car either. That's sad.
May 26th – I said whatever, can I get the full price of payment so I can secure the loan. He came back with a higher price then what he stated on the 11th. Once again altering the price of the car. He said that the price I’m getting at is below cost and I should be happy that the owner is doing this for me. I’m like why the increase of price when you told me it was the same price on the original contract? He comes back saying, that was the price in Michigan and its different here in Illinois. I’m like whatever, just give me the price.
May 31st – Received an email late at night stating my car was in… No phone call, just an email. Pretty sad.
June 1st – Went and purchased/picked up my car.
Needless to say, I won’t be back their getting my car fixed. Till this day I haven’t received a phone call asking about the purchase of the car or anything from them. I looked at my papers and there is a piece of paper saying I’ll be getting a questionnaire about how my experience with the dealership was. The funny thing about all this it’s a St. Charles Toyota questionnaire with their names on it. They never replaced the word Toyota or any of the phone numbers or email addresses. How sad is that?
I’m taking my car and it’s warranty to the other Chevy dealer by my house. I have never experienced this load of crap from any dealership. The days of Saturn customer satisfaction are gone… I hope my experience will help any future orders. I would never recommend this dealership to anyone. Extremely unsatisfied with my experience… Lucky for me, the car speaks for itself because the dealership is garbage!
March 28th – My brother-in-law and I went to look/purchase a chevy equinox from the dealer and to see how much financing would cost. We walked in with my title of previous car and all the information I needed to proceed in a purchase. We sat down with a sales person (Eric Pedersen) who was very helpful in locating a car to my specific needs. I explained that my dad was going to be the primary owner and I was going to be the co-signer as my credit wasn’t so hot due to my housing situation. He said no problem and I proceeded to fill out their necessary form. I left a deposit check of $3000.00 for the holding of the vehicle. He found a car that I was looking for in Michigan and said he could have it ready in 2 days. He then said I should have my Dad fill out the application and submit it so we can proceed with the financing. I mentioned that he lives in Florida now and they have no problems with that as long as he signs the papers and sends it back we can then precede. My brother-in-law and I left feeling pretty good as we ran into the owner and was told that will be kept up to date on process of the car. I said that’s great to hear.
March 29th – Received a call from Eric Pedersen stating that the car we agreed on is a courtesy/dealer car with 3,800 miles on it. Ironically he never said anything about that upon signing the contract, etc… I told him I don’t want a dealer car I want a new car with no miles or like 10 or 7 or whatever the usual number is for a new car. He said, we can just place an order and in 8 weeks I’ll have the car. I agreed and he placed the order. I was then told on the phone that it would be around $350 cheaper due to me not getting a certain feature (towing option). I said great, can we add the mud flaps on it? He said no problem we do that here at the dealership. We then went ahead and went with that.
April 14th – I emailed the owner asking for a recap of the order of the car. I was told that they placed the order but didn’t have the allocation for the Equinox’s and that they expect to have some available in the following week and that I’m the first one to getting one. He then apologized for the lack of updating as he promised early. I said no worries, just let me know the process.
April 25th – Emailed them again asking for an order number so I can track the progress. Was given a wrong order number and didn’t even know it until later…
May 10th – Asked once again about the ordering of the car and what’s the progress of the vehicle? I was told basically asking me if I was talking about the delivery to the dealership or when I would be able to come pick it up. I was a little confused as almost it seemed like I was some mystery person asking general questions. He then attached a .pdf file of the printed order which showed a different order number then I was given on April 25th. Now I was finally able to track the order and see the progress of where it was. I am actually dumbfounded that the dealership doesn’t explain to you the process of how ordering a car goes. Considering they claim satisfaction is their number one goal.
May 11th – I inquired about the total amount for the car will be and was told that it’s the same price as the original order was on the yellow sheet (contract) I signed. I then told Eric Pedersen that’s not what you told me on the phone. You told me that it would be cheaper than the previous order and that I could get Mud flaps installed and still come out cheaper.
May 17th – My car order was showing up on their website as available car. I inquired asking is this normal that an ordered car was put on their website for everyone to inquire about it? They told me that was normal as the computer system does that. I said okay, but thought it was odd.
May 17th – Sent another email asking if we can start the ball rolling and maybe start signing the papers for the financing of the car. I received a response that I should fill out their application (yet again!) and then they can proceed. I responded saying My Dad and I already filled it out already and was just told, can you do it again? I’m like, what the heck? Don’t you guys have my original information from the order? Sheeeesh
May 26th – Nothing for 9 days regarding the applications we filled out the second time. Then received an email from them stating that my credit wasn’t good enough to proceed on the loan. I told them my dad was going to be the primary and I was going to be the co-signer as we talked about this on the first day I arrived. He comes back stating that in order for us to finance the car we “both” would have to be on the loan because they can’t sell us the car knowing that my Dad wasn’t going to be driving it. I was like, WTF you talking about? Who cares if my Dad signs the agreement I’m going to be paying it. They came back and said it’s called a “Straw Deal” and it’s illegal. Funny!!!!! They never once mentioned this to me when I was about to buy the other car? But now they pull this out of their ass 6 days before the car shows up on their lot? That is what broke the camel’s back. Then they said they couldn’t just finance my Dad now because they know that I was going to drive the car and not him. Unbelievable! Lucky for me, my dad was able to secure the money I needed to purchase this car. Plus I found out that they never cashed my deposit to secure the car either. That's sad.
May 26th – I said whatever, can I get the full price of payment so I can secure the loan. He came back with a higher price then what he stated on the 11th. Once again altering the price of the car. He said that the price I’m getting at is below cost and I should be happy that the owner is doing this for me. I’m like why the increase of price when you told me it was the same price on the original contract? He comes back saying, that was the price in Michigan and its different here in Illinois. I’m like whatever, just give me the price.
May 31st – Received an email late at night stating my car was in… No phone call, just an email. Pretty sad.
June 1st – Went and purchased/picked up my car.
Needless to say, I won’t be back their getting my car fixed. Till this day I haven’t received a phone call asking about the purchase of the car or anything from them. I looked at my papers and there is a piece of paper saying I’ll be getting a questionnaire about how my experience with the dealership was. The funny thing about all this it’s a St. Charles Toyota questionnaire with their names on it. They never replaced the word Toyota or any of the phone numbers or email addresses. How sad is that?
I’m taking my car and it’s warranty to the other Chevy dealer by my house. I have never experienced this load of crap from any dealership. The days of Saturn customer satisfaction are gone… I hope my experience will help any future orders. I would never recommend this dealership to anyone. Extremely unsatisfied with my experience… Lucky for me, the car speaks for itself because the dealership is garbage!
