I wasn't going to post this, but, I have had a change of heart. I would implore anyone looking to buy a new or used vehicle from NorthStar Ford Calgary to stay the hell away. Don't contact them, don't visit them, don't even pay attention to their bullshit advertisements. If you want to know why, read on, it is a bit extensive and long, but it is an interesting read.
My experience with them started back with my last F-150. I needed some warranty work done with my truck (broken headlight housing). I took it in to them and they checked it over, agreed it was a warranty issue, and said they were going to submit the work to Ford for approval. 2 weeks went by, and I heard nothing. I called in and was told that they forgot to submit it, and would do it again. OK, fine. some time goes by again, and again, i hear nothing and I have to chase them down to find out what is going on. This time they say, they didn't submit the paperwork properly and it got denied, and have to do it over again, and I need to bring the truck back so they can take more pictures. OK, fine, lets head back. They try to make it "right" by offering me a free oil change. cool! When I bring the truck back to get the headlight housing replaced, they can do the oil change at the same time! a month later, they do the oil change and the headlight housing swap.
Fast forward a couple months later, I found out that when they did the oil change, the didn't replace my oil filter, and was the same Fram oil filter I had on there from the last oil change...Intentional or mistake, it wasn't worth it for me to complain or raise an issue. Damage was done. Did I really want them touching my truck again? I just made a point to just stay the hell away.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago. I was looking to get Baygirl her new car. I had feelers out to a few places looking for something suitable. We went out for the day to do some errands and do some couch shopping. We heard on the radio that you could get a Ford Focus hatchback for $108 bi-weekly. Great! that was one of the vehicles we were considering, and was well within the budget. I was dismayed to hear it was at Northstar thought. During lunch, we discussed it, the past experiences with them, but decided to get some more information. I called them and asked for a window sticker for the car so I could see what options it had, and the configuration. The salesman I spoke to over the phone agreed to send it via email right away.
We got a call back about 15 mins later from the sales manager. He stated what the options were, and for us to come in and take a look at it. This conversation went on for about 10 minutes, and I quoted the $108 bi-weekly, and he confirmed it. I specifically asked him "This $108 deal, no other fees, no balloon payments, no other hidden crap, just straight up $108 every 2 weeks?"
His response was yes, that was correct, and that he had a couple of those vehicles on the lot he can do that deal on.
Baygirl and I made the trip to go look at it.
We arrived, identified who we were, and spoke to the salesman and the sales manager. They showed us the car, they again confirmed the dollar amounts, and Baygirl took the car for a rip. She liked it, and was happy with it.
So, we sat down to talk numbers, and again, I quoted the $108 bi-weekly, to which I got a reply from the salesman "well, this is how it works". Quite quickly he demonstrated how it wasn't just the $108 every 2 weeks, but also once a year for the next 8 years (we understood it was going to be a long term and were ok with that) we had to pay a $1500 down payment. Not just once, BUT EVERY YEAR FOR THE NEXT 8 YEARS!
At this point, I was ticked off. I know they want to drag people in to the showroom, they don't want to deal over the phone and crap. I get that. But when I have had a conversation with them 3 or 4 times going over their advertisement and was assured there was no additional fees each time, this got my back up.
I made the comment "Wow. That is pretty deceiving, we had this conversation and each time, it was confirmed there was no additional charges aside from the $108 bi-weekly."
The salesman then replied with "That not deceiving, it's called marketing!"
This comment made me mad, but that wasn't the worst part of it, it was yet to come!
I was pretty mad at this point that we were lied to, wasted our time, and all my previous dealings with Northstar came bubbling up. I replied with "If it wasn't dishonest, you wouldn't have to hide behind omitting it, lying about it, or hide behind calling it "Marketing"".
This went back and forth a few times. I knew there wasn't and salvaging this deal in any way at this point. I was gathering my things and preparing to leave when the salesman dropped this bombshell.
"You work for TELUS, those guys are GREAT at marketing! You work for them, and you perpetuate it!"
So, now, not only have we wasted our time, wasted gas, been lied to, but now we can add to the list that I am being insulted and belittled. And, now my employer is being dragged into it, all the while the salesman is leaning back in his chair with a smug smirk on his face like he just landed a check mate move.
I told him to fuck off, and turned on my heels and walked the fuck out.
I called my salesman at Woodridge Ford the next day and pulled the trigger on a Ford Focus, and did the deal over the phone, and surprisedBaygirl at work with it that evening. Funny thing is, the Focus from Woodridge has 10x the options.
My experiences with them have been absolutely horrible. Their service staff are incompetent, and their front end staff are completely dishonest. How could I trust them to do a damn thing on my vehicles or be honest about it?
Stay the hell away from Northstar Ford. And thanks for taking the time to read this and letting me vent.
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Originally Posted by Mitsu3000gt
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The General Manager was begging me over the phone to do him a favor and remove the bad review, my reply was "you sell me the car at the agreed upon price and it turns into a positive review". He wouldn't do it so I told him to pound sand.
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