Consumer Beware of poor business practices!
Before dealing with Merlex Auto Group at 1105 Glebe Rd in Arlington, VA, please read this account of my recent experience which demonstrates the business's poor practices:
"Grace" was the online business point of contact who reached out to me when I expressed interest in buying one of their used cars. She continued to reach out to determine whether I was still interested in the car. When we connected she confirmed that the car was still available. We then made arrangements to meet at the dealership for a test-drive early that afternoon. After we agreed to a specific time, she texted me: "See you later!"
When I arrived at the business's used car lot and entered the small building on the lot, there was no one to greet me. After waiting for a couple of minutes, I walked to the doorway of an open office and asked for "Grace." The two men in the office gave me such a cold, almost disdainful look, and the one behind the desk indicated he had no idea who "Grace" was. When he then said that I needed an appointment, I informed him that I had an appointment with Grace, with whom I'd been corresponding via text. He directed me to speak with one of the representatives outside and promptly closed the office door, as if to emphasize that he had no interest in dealing with the likes of me, a customer ready to pay cash for a used car!
A representative who had just entered the building asked who I was supposed to see. When I told him "Grace," he found my appointment on his phone said that he was going to contact "Mo." "Who is "Mo?" He explained that Grace, the person who texted to me that she would "See me later," worked from home and did not come into the office. I declined his request to have a seat while he continued to try and reach "Mo."
I instead went outside into the lot and saw the car I'd come to test drive. The employee had followed me out and confirmed that the car was the one in which I'd expressed interest. He was still trying to reach "Mo" and walked away after saying that I could inspect the car.
After visually inspecting the outside of the car, I sat inside it, looking at its condition. Just as I was mulling over how strong the cigarette smell in the car was, I heard another salesman calling out: "Sir, you can't be in that car. It's sold already." I explained that Grace had just texted me that the car was available and had scheduled a test drive. He repeated that the car was sold.
Here is why I will not give my hard-earned cash to Merlex Auto Group:
1. The office personnel are rude and unprofessional, giving off a "clear "don't bother me" vibe.
2. Either the online sales representative did not know that the car was no longer available, which speaks to poor business procedures; or else she knew but failed reach out to let me know so I wouldn't have to drive for well over an hour for nothing.
3. Instead of the online representative telling me who would be working with me at the lot site, Grace instead gave me the clear impression that she would be there by texting: "See you later!"
4. As I left the lot and as of the time of this post, no one with the business has even bothered to reach out to me to express regrets over how things went.
If this is the kind of poor service you receive when the business is trying to close deals, just imagine what must occur after you've signed a contract and a problem or disagreement surfaces. No, thank you. Times are way too hard and I choose to not give my hard-earned money to businesses that treat customers in this fashion. Consumer beware.