Sales staff was nowhere to be found - Engr2020
After finding the dealership thru the main Alfa Romeo website, I was directed to the dealership's website. I browsed their inventory and decided to contact them so I could make sure someone would be available if I came in for a test drive (plus I had a few simple questions). I received an auto-reply, but that was it - no one responded with an answer to my questions. I waited about 10 minutes (figuring they were just really busy) and tried again - still no response. I was really excited to test drive a Giulia Ti, so I decided to just head over to the dealership as they were still open for another 3 hours. When I got there, I couldn't find anyone in the showroom. The doors were open, the lights were on, the big TV had the news on, but there was no one inside. I waited around for several minutes, expecting someone to pop out from one of the restrooms or the garage area, but no one came. I went out and walked the lot for a few more minutes thinking, surely someone will see me out here and ask me if anyone is helping me, but nope. I finally went across the street to the parent dealership (that sells Chrysler Dodge Jeep) and asked one of the staff members inside if he could help me find someone to assist me. He went into a back office, came back out and said "C'mon I'll take you over". 'Now, we're getting somewhere', I thought. Unfortunately, he wasn't the least bit familiar with the Alfa Romeos, and wasn't able to answer any of my questions. He apologized and tried (like I did earlier) to find someone / anyone in the showroom and back lot - still no one. It had been about a half hour since I arrived. He apologized once again and asked if there was anything he could do (i.e. run some numbers). I didn't want to leave, as I truly hoped someone would show up soon, so I agreed to have him run some numbers on one of the cars. I really just wanted to test drive one, but he didn't have access to the keys (sigh). I picked a car that looked like a good candidate and asked him to run the numbers for it. After going back & forth a bit, he came back with some numbers that seemed reasonable. He wanted to sell me the car right then & there. I chuckled and said I can't buy a car that I haven't even test-driven yet. He wasn't thrilled but seemed to understand. I told him I'd be willing to come back in a couple days for a test drive. That way he'd have time to make arrangements to get the keys and hopefully find an actual Alfa Romeo salesperson that could answer some questions. I almost dread going back, but I really do want to drive a Giulia Ti. Maybe it was just rare situation where someone called off or had to leave for an emergency. But I was there for a total of an hour and a half, and that whole time, no one from the Alfa Romeo / Fiat dealership ever showed up. If the owner or manager knew about this, I'm pretty sure they'd be furious. They guy from the parent dealership did the best he could, but even he was embarrassed about the whole situation.
Note: This dealership is labeled on dealerrater as Bob & Chuck Eddy FIAT, but is now actually Alfa Romeo/FIAT.
Read More