Honda of Santa Monica

Reason for Visit: Sales

I recommend this dealer: Yes

My Review of Honda of Santa Monica:
I live very close to this dealer and after a nightmare experience with many of the other dealers within 25 miles. I decided to go into this dealer, even after reading the several posts on this site.
I was upfront and told them I had read the reviews and was a very local buyer and wanted to buy from them. I knew what I wanted and they were totally flexible and willing to help me get what I wanted with a good deal and a trade in.
The used car manager was also very good on my trade. I originally wanted a AWD Element, they looked for over 4 weeks to find one in the color I wanted and no joy in the LA area.. I even called other dealers and this was the case... I ended up buying the SC which was my choice to move to the SC they were not pushy towards me on buying that car.

Overall great experience and I would buy from them again, and I have since refered many others to them telling them if they want a honda go see this team.

Even the GM of the dealership made himself available and was checking on how things were going on the several instances I was waiting in the dealer to speak to Dan the sales manager.

Good group of people - even free coffee and cookies.... If your looking for a Honda and live on the West side go see these guys.. I had no BS from them and it was a good expereince buying my first new car from them.

Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No

Reason for Visit: Sales

I recommend this dealer: Yes

My Review of Honda of Santa Monica:
I live very close to this dealer and after a nightmare experience with many of the other dealers within 25 miles. I decided to go into this dealer, even after reading the several posts on this site.
I was upfront and told them I had read the reviews and was a very local buyer and wanted to buy from them. I knew what I wanted and they were totally flexible and willing to help me get what I wanted with a good deal and a trade in.
The used car manager was also very good on my trade. I originally wanted a AWD Element, they looked for over 4 weeks to find one in the color I wanted and no joy in the LA area.. I even called other dealers and this was the case... I ended up buying the SC which was my choice to move to the SC they were not pushy towards me on buying that car.

Overall great experience and I would buy from them again, and I have since refered many others to them telling them if they want a honda go see this team.

Even the GM of the dealership made himself available and was checking on how things were going on the several instances I was waiting in the dealer to speak to Dan the sales manager.

Good group of people - even free coffee and cookies.... If your looking for a Honda and live on the West side go see these guys.. I had no BS from them and it was a good expereince buying my first new car from them.

Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No

Reason for Visit: Sales

I recommend this dealer: No

My Review of Honda of Santa Monica:
Do not go here. 1 yr ago purcased cert. passport @ less then 50,000 miles it needed a transmission. Honda care covered it, but I no longer want the car.

Took it back to the dealer to trade it in. The sales people were rude, mocking and lied. They low bid the trade in based on a test drive they never took, we left a business card under the tire, car never moved, card was clean.

Took the car to carmax for an est. trade. They said the car had possibly been in an accident, and because of that was worth 1/2 of KBB.

Went back to dealerand confronted them with the carmax report. The GM had the service dept check it and then told me he had to pull the deal and to come back monday.

Been back 4 times trying to work something out, either buy back the car and give me back my $ or put me in something comparable w/no $ down. The last time we were there for 6 hours, finally thought we had come to an agreement and they rolled out the LX not the EX that we had been negotiating. Bait and Switch.

DO NOT GO HERE I WILL BE REPORTING Them to tHe BBB.
Upon researching them I have found they have a large criminal backround.

This is a bad place to buy a car.

Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No

Reason for Visit: Service

I recommend this dealer: No

My Review of Honda of Santa Monica:
THIS DEALERSHIP LINKED TO CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR (see link below)

We negotiated a decent price on a brand new 06 Honda Odyssey EXL, but when it came time to deal with the Finance Manager, Leila Behpourian she flat out lied to us. Leila Behpourian told us that the official extended warranty Honda -CARE "must be purchased at the time of sale". ( A BIG FAT LIE).
I even asked that if I was to come back in a week and wanted to buy HONDA CARE coverage I would not be able to and she said I could NOT that I MUST buy at the time of purchase.
I usually like to research the coverage and price for a day or two but Leila Behpourian's cheap lying tactics drove me to reluctantly purchase the coverage for $1590 at the time of purchase.

I applaud good salesmanship with good skills.... but to LIE to customers is below the belt.
When I called back to ask why she told me I had to make the warranty purchase at the time of sale Leila acted as if I never asked the questions I did. She basically continued her lies.
I AM NOT A FOOL I know what I asked and I don’t like to be lied to.

It is very sad that a salesperson such as Leila must use lies to make up for a lack of sales skills.
I wonder if she really gave me the best interest rate or lied there too

You would think after the legal troubles this dealership has been having that they would be cautious regarding the use of these tactics. (see link)

Leila Behpourian gives the entire HONDA TEAM at HONDA of SANTA MONICA a bad name.

I am canceling what she sold me and I found the EXACT SAME HONDA CARE coverage on the web for $930. A savings of $660. 42%. I can only hope it reverses out of her commission.

UPDATE
THIS DEALER HAS alleged CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR
The owners and several ex employees are expected to pay 2 million dollars in civil damages and have criminal charges filed against them for ripping off customers.

READ THIS LINK

http://smdp.com/site/archives/020606.pdf#search='honda%20of%20santa%20monica%20criminal'

Was this review helpful to you? Yes | No