Commonwealth Volkswagen

Reason for Visit: Sales (New)

I recommend this dealer: No

My Review of Commonwealth Volkswagen:
I have been trying to get a Jetta TDI for the past 6 weeks. My preferred dealer still had a waiting list, so I tried Commonwealth who appeared to have vehicles in stock. I called and set up a time to visit. The salesman didn't pick up my cues that I already knew I wanted the car and was familiar with it's features. We burned time waiting for the car to be pulled into the service bay and then he insisted on going over all of the features. I said I didn't need a test drive, but he made me do one anyway. Then, back in showroom, the high pressure game began. Before we worked out any numbers and or financing options, he was pushing for my credit card for a deposit. Then there was the back and forth game with "deals" with Dennis the sales manager as tried work and rework numbers. Despite my saying that I wanted to think on it overnight, they wouldn't back off, keeping on with comments about what can we do to do the deal today. Finally, I extracted myself.

The experience put me off of the Jetta altogether and returned me to the comfort of Audi. I came home, called the local Audi dealer and leased what will be my 4th Audi, finalizing the details in less than 15 minutes on the phone.

The next day, the salesman called me and I told him that I wasn't interested and that I had come home the previous night and bought an Audi. Five minutes later, Dennis, the sales manager, calls, keeping up the high pressure, not seeming to understand that I made my decision.

They seem to try to compete on price. Honestly, I'll pay a few bucks more than have to deal with those kind of old fashioned high pressure tactics.

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Reason for Visit: Sales (New)

I recommend this dealer: No

My Review of Commonwealth Volkswagen:
I was lookng for a new 2008 New Beetle Coupe and after doing a test drive locally sent out e-mails to all the Volkswagen dealers within a reasonable distance to get prices. Jim Volpe of Commonwealth VW in Lawrence sent me a reply e-mail giving me a crazy price of around $3,000 below invoice and telling me they had the vehicle in stock. I called and spoke to him and asked if that price was for real and if I went to Lawrence could I actually get that price. He said yes. I asked if they had the car on the lot and he said they had a couple. I drove to Lawrence, 45 minutes whee!, and got there. They had no 2008 models in stock. The salesman who got stuck with me was named Juan and he was one of only two good things about my Commonwealth experience. Juan was super-nice, and I feel bad that he's stuck working for such a dirty (ethically, not physically) place. I would have liked to have bought a car from Juan just to help him out. Anyway, I went for another test drive and then met with Dennis the sales manager to negotiate. In order for me to get the price Jim Volpe quoted me I would need to a diplomat who was recently obtained one or possibly two post-graduate degrees. Seriously. Dennis refused to admit I had been lied to when told that was the price I could get. Dennis was also just a general used-car salesman stereotype. For example, when I told him I had driven the car in Medford and wanted to see if they could beat his price he offered to call and talk to him. Then he called the dealership, got a random salesperson (who happened to be my salesperson and who I liked) gave a false name and asked for a price without bothering to tell them I was there or he was calling from a rival dealership or in any way doing anything constructive. Pretty insulting to my intelligence. Anyway, to make a too-long already story slightly shorter I left after three hours, went to Medford the next day and got a price $1500 cheaper than the lowest price I was offered when I left Lawrence. Overall my experience was entirely unpleasant except for Juan whom I sincerely hopes moves onto a better place soon.

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