Blue Ridge North Georgia Ford

I must start out by saying under no circumstances would I EVER recommend this dealership!!! I found a vehicle from their "online store" very reasonable priced. I sent a online request of information about th EVER recommend this dealership!!! I found a vehicle from their "online store" very reasonable priced. I sent a online request of information about the vehicle on a Sunday night. Before 9am on Monday morning (we were sleeping in due to a holiday). Salesman Rev. Eddy Hensley called us. I told Rev. Hensley that I was interested in the vehicle found out more info on the truck and explained that I would be calling him back in a "little while" because I would have to talk to my wife before we could make a decision on coming down for the purchase. (Over a 3 1/2 hour drive one way). Within the next hour, our breakfast was interrupted 3 times, to which should have been a sign of things to come with Rev. Eddy Hensley calling. He was telling us that he needed to know if we were going to come purchase the vehicle. After explaining to him the "situation" my wife and I had with purchasing a vehicle he said, “I understand”, and we could call him back after we discussed it, which was agreed by both parties. Less than 7 minutes later we got another call, again interrupting our family breakfast. Rev Hensley informed us if we really were interested in this vehicle that we would need to put a deposit down by a debit/credit card, due to the fact that other parties were interested in this vehicle. I again informed him that I still hadn't gotten a chance to talk it over with my wife since it would be her primary vehicle to get our young children to school, sports activities, doctors, etc... We hung up again, and I again tried to proceed with breakfast and within 10 minutes the phone rings yet again, and it was Rev. Hensley calling. This time I answered and told him that I needed a few minutes due to we were trying to have breakfast that it had already been interrupted and that if we were interested we would be calling him back within the hour. He then informed me that if we did not make the decision on the vehicle and place a deposit, the vehicle was going up for auction that afternoon, even though he told us there was 4-5 more interested parties. After talking it over with her, we agreed that we would go down Tuesday morning. I called him back to insure that the vehicle we picked out would be available to us when we made the drive down. I asked if I could send a Money Gram or Western Union to hold the vehicle until we got there. He informed me that it had to be by card and promised that it would be secure. Against my better judgment, I agreed to give the information and informed Rev. Hensley that we would be driving down the following day to look at, and test drive the vehicle. He said you have 24 hours, and after that you will not get your deposit back if you fail to make it for the test drive. Tuesday morning, after getting the kids off to school and making arrangements for them, we took off from Knoxville, TN to Blue Ridge, GA. Almost 4 hours later and a beautiful scenic drive we pulled into the dealership. It was the first time I have driven my 89 Ford Mustang GT (classic) onto a lot and a salesman didn't come try to open my door! I make my way in to meet this Rev. Eddy Hensley, and he seemed like a pretty nice guy. We introduced ourselves and he shook our hand and went to get our vehicle. After a brief moment he comes back with our vehicle of choice and was getting us ready for a test drive. He takes my license in to copy it and apparently while he was in there ran my card through that I had given him to hold for the deposit. First thing I am NOT comfortable with having the salesman going on the test drive with me, I am a Soldier, 2 time Iraqi war veteran, if I cannot be trusted to test drive a car without a salesman, there is a HUGE problem in this world. We go on the test drive and he is telling me where to drive to and which way to go. The vehicle had a few problems, acted as if it was missing and had some vibrations in it. It didn't want to pull a hill, or even go over 60 MPH. He assured us that it was just in need of a good tune up and it would ride like a new one after. He also informed us that this truck had belonged to Tim Ford, the owner of the dealership, (even though it had been a northern truck for 6 years). He also kept telling my wife that this was a great deal for this vehicle because it was a $50,000 vehicle new, to which my wife replied that it was not a new vehicle and wasn't $50,000 when this particular one was new. It was pouring the rain, not one time did they offer a umbrella or some type of cover so I could check the vehicle outside and underneath. He asks us if we were ready to purchase the vehicle and my wife informs him we need a few minutes alone to talk it over. In the middle of our decision making process, we asked Rev. Hensley and a few of the other floor salesmen about the vehicles fluid levels to assure us that the vehicle would make the long drive home, also if they were going to put any fuel in the vehicle before we take it home. They went into telling us that the vehicle had went through their certified ‘pre-owned’ inspection and insured us that all fluid levels were up to specs for the vehicle we wished to purchase, and that it would make the drive home and then some. They did say they would put $20 in the tank. We discussed the purchase price and agreed that for the price it was an excellent investment, even with the salt damage from it being a northern vehicle. Rev. Hensley then proceeded to take us into his office to do the paperwork to which we were shocked to find out that there was a $400 "admin fee" added to the price we were quoted, which we were not aware of when he had given us the total purchase price over the phone the day before. We still agreed to the purchase of this vehicle. We then in turn, went into another office to complete the finance paperwork. We sign the purchase agreement for the vehicle. We were told that the title would be in the mail the following day. It is then that we find out that Rev. Eddy Hensley failed to inform us that we would have to bring cash for the remaining balance owed. I asked Marshall, (the finance manager), if I could pay with my debit card to which I quickly got a NO for a response, which in my mind, made no sense to me seeing how a Debit card is cash. I then inquired using my credit card or writing a personal check, again to which I quickly got a no, due to it being from out of town. Marshall informed me that Tim Ford made the rules and that they cannot be changed. He then told me that I could drive down the road to their bank inside of Ingles and get a Cashier’s check or cash transfer from my debit/credit card for the remaining balance. Aggravated at finding out that they will not take a check from a Soldier that is still currently protecting this country, I go down to this bank to where that they tried to run the card for the cash advance and somehow it ends up locking my bank account up and by this time I cannot fix it and my bank is now closed,( the employee at the bank was beyond excellent and went above and beyond, out of her way, to help me). I proceed to go back to the dealer and inform them of the happenings at their bank. I also tell them that if something cannot be done with my check/debit card, that I want all paperwork torn up and void the sell. During this time while I was being scrutinized and jerked around with the finance people, my wife wanted to take the keys to check the lighter to see if it worked. She was denied the keys to ‘OUR’ vehicle which we had just signed papers on. Rev. Hensley just happened to have with him in his wallet, a wallet worn blank check. He then offers to write a check for the purchase price to the dealership where in turn I would write a check to him. After a few minutes of waiting they come out and it is agreed. Finally getting the keys to the vehicle, papers in hand, my wife asks about the security/lock code to get in the vehicle for the keyless entry on the door, to which she was informed that first thing the next morning we would get a call with the code. However, they did NOT put $20 in gas like they said they would, they did NOT call with the lock code, they still have NOT sent my title, nor did they even care to bother with calling us the next day or any of this past week to make sure we even made it home with our vehicle. We got home, did the tune up on it, had to change the oil because it was low, and found out that there was no wiper fluid in the vehicle, and that no transmission fluid showed on the dip stick. When calling to inquire about the title, fluid levels, and the code, we were put off and put off with no return calls from Rev. Hensley until my wife called a fourth time to which she was told Rev. Eddy Hensley would call her back within the half hour. The gentleman she talked to asked why she was calling and she told him about the afore mentioned issues. He told her that they do not do vehicle inspections and check fluid levels on used vehicles that come on their lot and he didn't know why they would have told us that (Rev. Hensley and other salesmen told us that it had been inspected and everything checked out). She waited an hour and called back, only then about 20 min later did Rev. Hensley return her call. When she explained to him what we had found, and questioned him about the other concerns, he then tells her, "I was trying to do you guys a favor by writing that check for you, and the other problems you are having with the fluids is, well, I just didn't know, I assumed that everything was fine, and we are only human and we all make mistakes. I don't know what else you want me to do." He kept saying that "he was being nice and just trying to do us a favor in getting us in this vehicle". He then promised to call us the following Monday (today) with the title and the security code information. We have still yet to get this call. All of this coming from someone who says they Pastor a church and would never mislead or give false information to anyone. If I was a member of this mans congregation I would want to find another shepherd to lead his flock. I have never had a problem with Ford. I now own four Fords, including the recently purchased vehicle from Blue Ridge North GA Ford. I am very pleased with my purchase, but it is the staff at this establishment that I have the problem with. Whether you are a veteran, or an everyday ‘Joe’, wanting to buy a vehicle, BEWARE!!! I am a 21 year veteran of the United States Army, and still serving full time in the military and I do not think I deserve the treatment that my wife and I received, and are still receiving from this dealership… DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME WITH THIS DEALERSHIP… !!! GO ELSEWHERE !!! And, all this over a $1600 rusted out 2000 Ford Expedition...??? More

I drove up last night after work (2 hours one way) fully expecting to buy a specific truck from their web site. (2006 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4) I had emailed and received 2 responses confirming that the truck h expecting to buy a specific truck from their web site. (2006 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4) I had emailed and received 2 responses confirming that the truck had not been smoked in. One of them from Tim Ford, the owner of the dealership. I also called yesterday and asked the same question to another sales person (Mike) who confirmed that it was clean and he didn't think it was smoked in. I explained that I was leaving work early to make the 2 hour drive and didn't want to waste my time or his. He said that 90% of their sales come from people driving further distances than me, and that it was in your dealership's best interest to make sure I don't leave without buying this truck. When I got there, I opened the door to the truck and could immediately tell it belonged to a smoker. The smell is obvious. I test-drove it anyway and checked the cigarette lighter, and sure enough it was filthy with cigarette residue. I showed this to the Mike while we were driving. He apologized and said he didn't notice. It took me about $30 in gas, and over 4 hours of my time yesterday. In my line of business, 4 hours equals between $600-$800. I don't know if they think customers are morons, or if their people are ignorant or purposefully misleading. But I will never buy from this dealership, even if they have exactly what I'm looking for at half the price. They wasted my time and my money, hoping that I either wouldn't notice, or would buy anyway. Two thumbs down. Buyer beware. Don't believe a word they say. More