Currie Motors Ford of Valpo

Stop reciting from your scripts My bad experience started while attempting to research a new truck purchase. I was attempting to review their inventory, and pop-ups kept appearing an My bad experience started while attempting to research a new truck purchase. I was attempting to review their inventory, and pop-ups kept appearing and covering up items upon which I wanted to click. when I finally gave in to the interruptions, and asked question from the on-line consultant, my questions went unanswered, and I was told I needed to come in to the dealership during the covid quarantine. Emails followed 2 days later from 2 representatives. Both asked personal questions that were unnecessary for my inquiries, and both ignored my requests for recommendations of vehicles to meet my needs. Again, I was urged to come to the dealership. Today I decided to visit several dealerships to make a buying decision, including Currie Ford. I called ahead to see if 3 trucks I had researched were available. I spoke with Sarah, who assured me the trucks were available, and to ask for her when I arrived. I was greeted by a young man who escorted me inside. I asked to see Sarah. He seemed to ignore me, and began asking for my personal info. I stopped him and again asked to see Sarah. He went to the desk, brought back a young woman who introduced herself as Sarah who told me that the young man would be helpful. I later found out that she was a BDC hostess who gets paid to get customers to get in and they have to ask for her in order for her to get paid. She immediately handed me back to this brand new salesman, who you could tell was trained to sell from a script. Every time I asked him a question or made a request, he would say "We'll get to that after I've covered XYZ with you". He finally showed me a vehicle to consider, but in a color I did not want. He insisted I take it on a test drive, because, in the mind of a salesman, if you take a test drive you create a connection with the vehicle. I said no thank you, but he insisted. I told him if he could significantly save me money over other trucks I had liked, I would consider this one. He handed me over to a senior salesman, and I took a 1 minute ride. The senior told me that he would be taking over, and I told him that I only wanted to deal with one person. He told me that HE would be that person. He then started on HIS script, during which time he told me that he would be introducing me to the finance guy. I reminded him that I only wanted ONE individual, as I had dealt with at smaller dealerships. He didn't listen, and continued on with HIS script. When I asked him a question he could not answer, and I refused to listen until I had my answer, he went to the sales tower. I decided I was not comfortable doing business with this dealership. I approached him at the tower, told him that I had decided to look elsewhere, and thanked him for his time. He moved between me and the door, and asked why I was leaving. I told him of my discomfort, and of my weariness of having my questions ignored, and now of him blocking my exit. I again thanked him for his time, and moved around him. NOW the big gun, the district sales director approached me and asked of my concern. I repeated my concern to him, and told him that this approach is what gives the car salesman profession a bad name. He asked if there was anything he could do to earn my business. I informed him that by that time it was too late. He didn't even thank me, just said "okay then", and finally allowed me to leave. (By the way, there are laws against smoking within so many feet of a building. So, Richard Eilts, lighting up and taking a puff right behind where I am sitting before you go out the door near my seat because it was raining is unacceptable and illegal. It smells disgusting, and caused my daughter with health issues to begin coughing. Thanks a lot for that.) I have been researching this truck purchase for several weeks. I've done my homework, and know what questions to ask. I narrowed down vehicle choices to 5 dealerships. I took a day off work to visit them all. I called ahead to each of them requesting to look at specific stock numbered trucks. 4 of the 5 were prepared for me, had the vehicles pulled to look at/test drive. Each of the other 4 respected my time knowing that I was looking at multiple vehicles and dealerships. Each of the other 4 were professional, helpful, respectful, and genuinely tried to earn my business. Curie Ford of Valpo was the only dealership that made me uncomfortable and unwanted as a person, only wanting to make the sale on their terms. I CANNOT, WILL NOT recommend Currie Ford of Valpo to anyone. If anyone reading this is looking for a new Ford, I recommend Larry Wagner at Smith Ford in Lowell or Dennis at Art Hill Ford in Merrillville. More