Eric Gates | Page 52
General Manager
Columbia Ford Kia
234 Willimantic Road, Route 6
Columbia, CT 06237
Eric is happily married to his wife, Katharine and lives in Stonington with their 2 children Ollie and Bella. His motivation to help people buy, trade, sell, fix, repair, maintain and improve their automotive situations shines through and is proven by the thousands of people he has affected. He is an avid athlete and sports fan. Eric is a hometown fan of the New England Patriots, Boston Celtics and Boston Red Sox, and he will certainly let you know about it. Eric has been around the business for his entire life, and he has been playing with cars since he could touch the pedals. He has been certified in 8 different car manufacturers, so he certainly knows his stuff. Come in and meet him, he will always go above and beyond, no matter who you are!
Read moreDealership Experience
11 yrs, 3 mos
Industry Experience
41 yrs, 2 mos
Specialties & Trainings
NADA Graduate
577 Reviews
Write a Review577 Reviews of Eric Gates
October 21, 2015
Enjoyable experience It's so nice to have sales people listen to their customers instead of trying to sell you something you don't want. Mike was great to work with and f It's so nice to have sales people listen to their customers instead of trying to sell you something you don't want. Mike was great to work with and found just what I wanted at a great price. More
Other Employees Tagged: Jimmie Bletsch
October 17, 2015
Approve Great service!! The dealership itself makes you feel comfortable, and the staff were all great to work with! The buying experience was one of the best Great service!! The dealership itself makes you feel comfortable, and the staff were all great to work with! The buying experience was one of the best I have had. More
Other Employees Tagged: Steven J. Murphy Sr.
October 10, 2015
Great experience!! I had a great experience while trying to find the right car for myself. I had gone to at least a dozen dealerships before deciding on the 2014 Explor I had a great experience while trying to find the right car for myself. I had gone to at least a dozen dealerships before deciding on the 2014 Explorer. The staff went out of their way to make me feel comfortable and not pressured. A special thank you to Anthony Mauro! More
Other Employees Tagged: Dale Thompson , Tony Mauro
October 01, 2015
this is a great dealer ship when you buy a new car or truck today , YOU NEED SOMEONE THAT UNDERSTANDS YOUR NEEDS, WHAT IS YOUR BUDGET? WHAT KIND OF CAR OR TRUCK DO YOU NEED, THAT when you buy a new car or truck today , YOU NEED SOMEONE THAT UNDERSTANDS YOUR NEEDS, WHAT IS YOUR BUDGET? WHAT KIND OF CAR OR TRUCK DO YOU NEED, THATS WHAT ALLEN GIUDICI,DID FOR ME !! More
Other Employees Tagged: Jimmie Bletsch , ALLEN GIUDICI
September 29, 2015
Colombia Kia provides what customers want! I did some online research about the car I wanted to buy and then found a great match on the Colombia Kia website. My husband and I arrived and were i I did some online research about the car I wanted to buy and then found a great match on the Colombia Kia website. My husband and I arrived and were immediately welcomed. Tony listened to what I had to say and brought me directly to the car I had described. We took a leisurely test drive while Tony described the features to us. He assisted us with every step of our new car purchase without pressuring us. Buying a new car can be very stressful but not here. The facilities are beautiful, the staff make you comfortable, and the service is extraordinary. Processing the purchase with Eric was also efficient. Tony knew what I wanted and he and Eric delivered it. I test drove the car late Saturday and drove off with it on Monday. It was the most comfortable new car purchase I have ever experienced. More
Other Employees Tagged: Tony Mauro
September 25, 2015
Our New 2015 F-350 Our first experience at Columbia Ford was well received, everyone was very friendly and helpful. The deal was quick and simple at a great price. Our s Our first experience at Columbia Ford was well received, everyone was very friendly and helpful. The deal was quick and simple at a great price. Our sales rep Matt Milici was very accommodating, great communication via email on the progress of the deal and truck prep. Matt spent an hour with me demonstrating and explaining the new technology in the F-350 and invited me back anytime for refresher training. Made me feel like his time was my time any time I needed it. More
Other Employees Tagged: Matt Milici
September 24, 2015
Gates Really Does Get!! Recently I was in the market for a new car. Having bought from the Gates Dealerships before, my mind was set in that I was going to once again give th Recently I was in the market for a new car. Having bought from the Gates Dealerships before, my mind was set in that I was going to once again give them my business. This time around I had peek interest in buying a Kia and as such I had the pleasure of working with Steve Murphy. Simply put, Steve is a no pressure salesmen. At no point did Steve try to push me in the direction of a car that I had no interest in just because they wanted to get it off of the lot. Steve was patient with me as we looked at the Kia lineup. During what was a 2 week process of car searching for me, Steve was always working for me even when I wasn't at his desk. I would receive check-in calls from Steve about new cars that he thought I would be interested in as well as trying to get me more money back on my trade-in. In the end, I fell in love with a 2016 Red Kia Forte. It was the perfect balance of appropriate upgrades for me with a sporty car look. I know that if it wasn't for Steve truly listening to me and my needs then I would still be on the market for a new car. Once Steve was done, the baton was passed to Eric Gates who helped with financing. Eric presented me with two strong offers for financing; each one presented to me had better terms than I had with my trade-in. Eric took the time and explained to me everything that I was signing and even had made copies of everything that I requested. In all, my experience with Columbia Ford Lincoln Kia was top notch. The Gates family really does have an eye for exceptional employees who really make the process of car buying so much simpler. I think it is safe to say that I will be a committed lifetime buyer to the Gates family. More
Other Employees Tagged: Steven J. Murphy Sr.
September 22, 2015
Great Experience buying a 2015 Mustang GT. A++++++++++ Columbia Ford made the experience of purchasing a car very quick and easy. No hassle and honored the agreed upon price before my arrival (I was locate Columbia Ford made the experience of purchasing a car very quick and easy. No hassle and honored the agreed upon price before my arrival (I was located 2 hours away). I have purchased many cars out of state and it is usually a hassle getting the car registered and temp plates. They took care of everything no trips to the DMV. This is a first for me and I would recommend anyone out of state to consider purchasing a car from Columbia ford. I dealt with both Steve Murphy and Eric Gates and both were very professional and excellent. Some of the most honest people in the business. I have dealt with. Its also nice to see family members working in a business together. I also recommend that columbia ford keep using Autotrader/Cars.com for selling vehicles. I never look at dealership websites its just much easier to search using these websites. And I know many others that do the same. More
Other Employees Tagged: Steven J. Murphy Sr.
September 19, 2015
Fabulous customer service and a friendly staff Columbia Ford worked very hard to find a vehicle that we wanted. They kept in constant contact with us to assure us that they were still on top of ev Columbia Ford worked very hard to find a vehicle that we wanted. They kept in constant contact with us to assure us that they were still on top of everything. We explained to them that we didn't have a lot of time to sit at the dealership so they took that into consideration. When we went in to sign the paperwork, it was a very quick transaction . They went over our new vehicle with us very thoroughly, and we were on our way More
Other Employees Tagged: Chris Ledoux, Matt Milici
September 16, 2015
My new purchase! I am a returning customer to Columbia Ford. My 1st purchase was in 2013 of a new Ford Escape. Recently I decided I wanted to upgrade to a newer Escap I am a returning customer to Columbia Ford. My 1st purchase was in 2013 of a new Ford Escape. Recently I decided I wanted to upgrade to a newer Escape, and loving my past experiences and the excellent way I have been taking care of by Columbia Ford, there was absolutely no question that I would return to Columbia Ford. The sales dept has gone above and beyond to negotiate an affordable pricing package for me so I was able to get the vehicle I wanted. The salesman Mike Howard was very compasionate and listened to me and my request. I never felt pressured into this purchase. The entire experience was an enjoyable one and I am now loving my new 2016 Escape. More
Other Employees Tagged: Jimmie Bletsch

