Beach Ford of Virginia Beach
Worst car shopping experience of my life. Spent a total of 4 days at this dealership, Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday. My car was totaled from the recent flooding in Virginia beach so I needed a new vehicle. Went to Beach Ford to look at a 2014 Ford Fusion I saw on their website at a decent price, low miles, exactly in my price range. Made an appointment to come in on Friday to take a look at it, upon arrival and meeting the sales rep, Diamond Blair, was told that that vehicle was in the process of being sold. So we looked at another Fusion which was a little more expensive, started the paperwork and was told to come back Saturday, came back Saturday and saw on their website another Ford Fusion at a lower price. Asked about it and was told that it was at their Suffolk dealership, sat down with Diamond and the GM and discussed purchasing this particular vehicle, after running numbers and increasing my down payment the GM was able to get me in the monthly price range I was looking for. Was told that they would call Suffolk and pick up this car for me, I informed them that I could return the following day, Tuesday around 1230. I would leave work early, which cost me 2 1/2 hrs of pay since Im an hourly employee and come to the dealership to complete the paperwork and purchase. Was told that if there was any issues I would receive and phone call. So Tuesday comes around, never received and phone so assumed everything was good, even texted Diamond around 1100 to make sure everything was good, reply was "Yes sir see you at 1230". Left work and headed to dealership. Just as I was pulling into the dealership I get a phone call from Diamond telling me that unfortunely the car in Suffolk was being sold, that the GM couldn't get ahold of anyone at the Suffolk dealership to inform them that I was purchasing that vehicle night before, never picked it up and was told that we could look at something else, really???? 4 days spent at this dealership, 2 separate cars that I was interested in, had money for down payment and lost 2 1/2 hours of pay!!! Will never go to this dealership again, told everyone in my shop about this experience so they stay clear of this place. Poor customer support and very unprofessional. Luckily, since I was off for the rest of Tuesday (October 18th) I went next door to the RK Cheverolet dealership and told them what happened and they took great care of me, 4 hours later drove off the lot with a 2015 Chevy Malibu!!!!!
I suppose its my fault. I assumed a dealership of this size, which had been around as long as Beach Ford, would actually have a service department that added value to the overall operation. I took my minivan in to have the rear door handle replaced. (Having a minivan with a non-working rear door isn't exactly optimal.) After being told that Ford no longer manufactured the part and no replacement part was available, I asked the question, "Wait, I can't open my rear lift gate on my minivan, isn't there another option?" The Beach Ford answer, "Sorry, there's nothing we can do." So I figured I would make a phone call to Freedom Ford to ask whether they might be able to track down a replacement handle. I was told that, although the chrome door handle wasn't made anymore, a basic black handle certainly IS available. You would have thought that my question about other options would have spurred the radically outside-the-box suggestion of using a door handle of a different color. Instead, it was left to me to figure out the solution and then suggest it to them! Yikes...who is training these people?! To add a little salt to my wound, when I was told the van was ready to be picked up, I arrived an hour later only to learn that the work hadn't even begun yet. The level of disorganization in the Beach Ford service department is a sight to behold. Head for the hills! Run the other way!
Today just reminded me why I stopped going there in the first place. Made an appointment for 9:30 am, only to find out that was just for a check in time after I got there, then tells me it will be 45 min to an hour before it will go in shop for diagnostic, what my time isn't valuable, I work third shift, that's why I made an appointment. Took my vehicle and left..... On other occasions, took in for roof leak while still under warranty, was told I had left sun roof open that I never use, ( roof still leaks ) ive later discovered its the roof rack rail which still leaks time to time. Took into Beach Ford on three separate occasions for at the time what I thought was a transmission problem, the first time was told it had a miss and spark plugs had to be replaced $$$, the next time they reprogramed the transmission $$$$, Still no Joy, Did not go back, took to Kramer tire, found out I bad hub bearings, Diagnostic free (no charge) That's when I started going to Southern Auto Mercury, Lincoln service, which now is a GMC dealer, bummer!!!!!! confirmed and they did the work, for years never had a problem with these people or service, they were right the first time and at a lower price than beach ford. And an appointment was an appointment, not just a time to show up!!!!!!!!!!!!my rating is on my combined experiences since Jan. 2009
They will charge you overpriced diagnostic fees. Their labor rates are horrible and if you actually let them fix your car it won't be right. Stay away unless you want to be ripped off.
Beach ford estimated cost to repair the AC blowing air from defogger at $1231. Holland road auto repair shop fix it for $130 which was a loose vacuum hose.
My wife and I purchased my car in 2012. It is a 2013 Ford Focus Titanium. My wife has purchased over 7 new cars from this dealership. From the first day I got this car I had issues with the transmission. It rattled a lot. Dropped it off several times. The last time I dropped it off right before the warranty was up, one person told me there was an issue, the other denied it. We couldn't even get a solid answer. We honestly couldn't even get respect and customer service from them. So we just gave up. We knew we were going to trade this car in sometime anyways. We even called the salesman, David Swoop, who has sold all of my wife's cars to her and he didn't help. A few weeks ago, my transmission stopped working. Called, set-up an appointment. I had a diagnostic test done from another place and they gave me all the codes to which it needed to be fixed. I printed this out and actually gave it to the dealership. I told the dealership that I needed to my transmission to be reprogrammed and there is probably a recall on a part. They offered me $118 to do another diagnostic test. I said I don't need one. They said they were going to fix my transmission. They re-programmed the transmission. Didn't look into anything else. I picked up my car and the next week the transmission completely stops working. Call back. They want to charge me for a tow truck. I said no. I wasn't going to because they should of fixed it the first time. They tow my vehicle. Run a diagnostic test. Find out that my transmission was under warranty and it needed fixed (imagine that). They fix it. Charge me for the diagnostic test because they said they did it because my check engine light was on and had nothing to do with the transmission. But I only took it in for the transmission. Then they try to sell me to get a part fixed that also tripped the diagnostic test for $280 with the part when it only cost me $69 for the part and 15 minutes to do later. So after two diagnostic tests I paid for, 4 hours of time off I used, two days of getting rides two and from the dealership, they fixed the problem they should have in the first place and tried to overcharge me for work. If my vehicle wasn't under warranty, I would of never went back to the service department. I will probably never purchase a car again from Beach Ford. After the service I have received I don't think they care about customers. They care about costs and profits.
She was courteous and responsive and respectful. Good self-deprecating sense of humor.
I have been with beach ford for 23 years and will continue!
I have been buying vehicles from Beach Ford since 1995 and I must admit, I am a loyal customer because of the outstanding service I receive. Mike Dudley and Doc make my family feel like we're family. I enjoy the atmosphere the personalities and most of all the professionalism they all deliver. Beach Ford is the place for me and I always highly recommend them to family and friends.
As a mother I cannot thank you enough for the playrooms you have! Before I would have to hold my daughter or hover over her to play with the few toys provided, it made the wait a lot easier! I was also very pleased that my service was done so quickly! Thank you!
