Marshall Blakeslee

The worst experience I have had with a dealership. Bought my 2019 Certified Pre-Owned Kia Forte from Destination Kia in 2022 and have extended warranty 10/100,000. My car overheated on 6/21/25 and had Bought my 2019 Certified Pre-Owned Kia Forte from Destination Kia in 2022 and have extended warranty 10/100,000. My car overheated on 6/21/25 and had car towed to Destination Kia. Marshall was my service person. He told me car would be looked at in a week. They ended up looking at it within 2 days. Great…I thought. I was sent a video inspection stating water pump failure which blew head gasket and they recommend a new engine with a price tag of $7,000 plus. I tell Marshall I hve extended warranty and he said he will call warranty company and they will send someone out to inspect the car. I wait a few days and no response from Marshall. I must have called him 10 times with no response. He finally calls me back and said he’s waiting to hear from warranty company. I keep waiting and still no call from Marshall. I decide to take matters into my own hands and call the warranty company. The warranty company tells me they were never contacted by Destination Kia and a claim was never opened. It was now 13 days since my car was initially looked at by Destination Kia. I call Marshall and as usual he is busy and can’t get on phone. I tell receptionist to let Marshall know that he never called warranty company. I called warranty company back later in the afternoon and they said Destination Kia just called to make a claim. The warranty company goes to inspect vehicle and they were told it needs a new engine. The inspector said this was called in as a water pump issue and not a new inspection. Warranty company wants it torn down to point of failure. Destination Kia wants to charge $2000 to tear down with no guarantee that it will be covered. So I could potentially be looking at $2000 tear down and $7,000 for an engine bringing total to almost $10K. I had my car towed out of the dealership and brought to my house. Even the tow company had a bad experience when picking up the car. I WILL NEVER GO TO OR RECOMMEND DESTINATION KIA. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER KIA AND MY TWO DAUGHTERS AND 2 SISTERS THAT OWN KIA’S SAY THAT AFTER SEEING THE EXPERIENCE I WENT THROUGH WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER KIA. GREAT WORK DESTINATION KIA AND MARSHALL …….WITH YOUR POOR HANDLING AND POOR COMMUNICATION, YOU LOST 5 CUSTOMERS IN ONE SHOT. I had to have a new transmission put in my car in January and my car was at Romeo Kia in Kingston. They are fantastic. Work was covered under warranty and they kept in touch with me every step of the way. More

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HOW TO FAIL in customer service, aka my experience with DESTINATION KIA, Albany NY (don't even get me going on Matthews Kia, also a trainwreck).   Also note, I work for myself and if I ran my business lik DESTINATION KIA, Albany NY (don't even get me going on Matthews Kia, also a trainwreck).   Also note, I work for myself and if I ran my business like they do, I'd have no clients.  They are not Kooky in any good way, that's a tired old marketing phrase that should go - perhaps they should cut their advertising budget and spend more money on training or hiring more people!! All I want (which is what anyone would want and how I run my business) is for people to be honest, return calls when they say they are (or give updates) and not overpromise.  DESTINATION KIA consistently fails (both service people and managers). My car has been there for over 3 weeks now (I paid for a rental for over 2 weeks as the policy now is that the dealer won't provide a rental until they determine my issue was not caused by an "outside source" (it wasn't).  Also note when they had to order tires for me earlier this year from CT, they freely gave me a rental for several days as it was over a weekend.  Finally this past Monday (7/21/25) I received a rental from them as they had done a diagnostic of my car from the back corner parking lot with large trash around it (I guess this is done?).  I walked in after seeing that and they said they did that and  it needed a part they had in stock; they hoped to get it in put in on Monday/Tuesday.  On Tuesday morning when I called, they said the new part was put in but blew out 2 other electrical parts, so they would have to order part (s) and were hoping to have my car back to me this past Weds/Thurs. It is now Friday 5pm as I write this (having made calls yesterday and 3x this afternoon), and no one can give me an update on the status.  It is just unacceptable to be going through this (and my car is just turning 3 years old).  I WARN YOU TO STAY AWAY FROM DESTINATION KIA (AND MATTHEWS KIA)....and although I love my car when it works, never KIA again.  It's time they grew up and treated their customers better! More

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Unmatched “old school” professionalism and integrity paired with customer service that exceeds all expectations. Sales, service and finance are all on the same page, their dedication is uniquely impress paired with customer service that exceeds all expectations. Sales, service and finance are all on the same page, their dedication is uniquely impressive. During and after each and every interaction I feel valued and joyful! Thank you Dave Reali, Sales Director and the entire Destination Kia team, you are the very best!!! More

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I found the staff to be very courteous and helpful. Their patience at checkout was exceptional. Their patience at checkout was exceptional. More

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Finally after two years. They are supposedly fixing my radio and other issues due to recalls. There is no communication whatsoever the vehicle was supposed to be done alm They are supposedly fixing my radio and other issues due to recalls. There is no communication whatsoever the vehicle was supposed to be done almost a month ago. I have left numerous voicemails to try and figure out what is going on with my vehicle.. and not a single person that works there can contact me back to let me know what is going on. More

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My appointment was for my EV, warrantied work. They offered to complete an almost $800 brake job which I didn’t approve and took it to a local mechanic They offered to complete an almost $800 brake job which I didn’t approve and took it to a local mechanic More

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Having to bring my car in for service has become a nightmare. Only had my car for just over a year and it has been in service twice now in the last 4 months. The first time they had it for 4 weeks bec nightmare. Only had my car for just over a year and it has been in service twice now in the last 4 months. The first time they had it for 4 weeks because they broke more than they fixed. This time it went in for a strut, they had it for a week my car is worse and not fixed at all. I have left voicemails for every manager and the Director for three days and got no call back! More

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Service experience was good; salesman was easy to work with, and financing process was easy. with, and financing process was easy. More

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I had my inspection & maintenance done on 4/10/25, everyone was so very accomidating & nice. Wait was a little long, 2 hours but I left with a smile everyone was so very accomidating & nice. Wait was a little long, 2 hours but I left with a smile More

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service is great people excellent your very nice . this survey is to hard to understand room for improvement for seniors to do, this survey is to hard to understand room for improvement for seniors to do, More

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