Target Auto Brokers - Unprofessional / Poor Service - Sarasota Florida

On Sunday May 14^th; I came into your location in desperate need of a car; any car; that would safely transport myself & children from point A to point B; after mine died Saturday night. 

Nothing fancy; nothing specific in fact; other than runs well; safe & preferably AC. 

When we arrived, we found Matthew there alone.  He was considerate enough to spend some time with us; showing us different options in our price range; but nothing that was available to drive home that day; as we had been hoping.  However; instead of moving onto the next lot up the road; we were impressed with Matthew’s bearing and seeming integrity that we decided we’d like to buy from him.

There was a vehicle (Isuzu Rodeo) that was a possibility however there was a situation with the ABS light being on…so we requested that the mechanic’s put a scanner on it and find out if it was minor or a major issue.

We were at the lot at 9am Monday morning; still in desperate need; hoping for a favorable answer & to be able to drive home.  We were told most of the mechanics weren’t in yet; so we went to run some errands and returned about an hour and a half later.  Needless to say; we were displeased to find that after the employees arrival time between 10-11am; they still chose to take a lunch break at noon…so while we’re sitting there waiting for an answer of some sort; the staff is lollygagging around…

Unfortunately even though the ABS light was still on; the scanners available were not picking up any codes from the vehicle.  So we decided to take the risk and hope that would turn out to be a minor situation.  Matthew pulled the vehicle out for a test drive; and found that it did not shift into 2^nd gear.  Returning to the lot; they put the scanner back on it; and still got no codes indicating a problem. 

We went back and forth trying to decide what to do; if it was a risk worth taking; what our options were; etc.  After a conversation with the owner; Matthew came to us and said if we were willing to cover the cost of a Transmission filter & fluid change (regardless of results); they’d be willing to try that and see if that makes it shift properly; perhaps it had been sitting too long; etc.

This was now approx 2pm…we gave Matthew permission to go ahead with that work; and he told us *he* would let us know the results Tue am; if it worked or if we should start thinking about something else…

Tuesday morning came…I called to see if there was an answer yet. 

The answer I got: Matthew is off today.

I’m sorry!??  Excuse me?!!  We just spent 4+ hours working with him on Sunday; and another 5+ hours sitting around your lot on Monday and were told we’d have an answer come morning; and he’s just “not there”?  He did not tell us he’d be off; nor did he tell anyone else at your lot what was going on.  So knowing full well we’re in a desperate situation & were stretching it out because we “thought” he had ethics and integrity; he just didn’t come in…

To say I was livid is an understatement.

I spoke with Chris; who attempted to save the deal.  He told me he’d speak to the one mechanic that had bothered to show up to work on Tuesday and see if he could get it in to work on by the end of the day.  Unfortunately; that did not happen either; however Chris was good enough to call and tell me that was the current situation and they’d pull it in first thing this morning.

Now – I started this wanting to drive away with something for cash on Sunday – I am begging & borrowing rides to get my kids to school & myself to work; I wanted to hand you money…and it’s now 3.5 days later…

This morning when I called; I was told that not only is Matthew off *again*; but that the mechanics … “they don’t want to get into it – so the Rodeo is off the table”…

Again; excuse me?!!??

You know what else is off the table? 

          My purchasing a vehicle from your ‘business’. 

          As well as any effort that has been put into building a decent reputation with the community. 

          I will be  sharing this story with every single customer review site I can possibly find.

The old business adage is:

          A satisfied customer tells one person; while a dis-satisfied one tells ten.

You’re about to find out just how valid that is.