Lugoff Ford

Update: Today I received a check from the GM Ray at Lugoff Ford. It exceeded the initial amount of gas to pay for my drive. I’m not sure if the first gas card was sent to wrong address or they simply forgot, but Ray made up for it. I cannot get my time back, but Ray did his best in covering for a shady employee. Bottom line, don’t work with Troy, if he still works there.

Like Mike G said this dealership is a joke. He is not lying. Here is my review…
I saw an F150 on their website priced at 40,713. Talked with Salesperson, through email, and I offered an out the door price of 39,500. This was a counter offer after he sent me an email that said «39 000+tags, taxes, and fees?» So the next day we drove 40 minutes to the dealership and before we drove the truck I also mentioned the price of 39,500 out the door… During the test drive salesman said «yes we price our cars/​trucks very competitive on the internet to get people to come out to Lugoff». I now see why he said this. We got back to the dealership after the test drive and he comes back with a price of 43,700. We then proceeded to get up and walk out. Was asked from one of the managers why we were walking out. I do not play games… If you quote me a price then hold to what you have said. EVERYONE needs to know how these clowns operate. So, then I drove another 40 minutes back home. Thanks for wasting my time Lugoff Ford.

Well, no nice way to start this review. So I’ll start with a harsh sentence that may cover the full summary… then you’re welcome to read more.
Summary Sentence:
I would have had a better experience calling myself, while staring at a webpage with car photos, and standing on hot coals.
You’re welcome to quote me on that if you’d like.
This may be, by far, the worst 21^st century car dealership that I’ve personally ever had the pleasure of dealing with. I’m not quite sure they understand what the internet it, or email for that matter. In fact based on the very limited emails I received and the information in them my guess is they call or carrier pigeon their message to someone else, who then types up the message, and send it to me. In fact, the carrier pigeon comment may be accurate as that would account for speed.
Getting in lines with the times, and from past experience being very drained by the person to person shopping experience as one guy lies about what he can do, to go ask another guy, to then come back and try to lie some more… well that experience gets old. So I went the way of the internet. Hunting to find the car I want, providing information, as well as asking for it.
Initially, I thought I hit the mark with Lugoff Ford. It was local, and after an online inquiry I received an email stating they didn’t have the vehicle I wanted listed (A 2013 Fusion Hybrid), but they did have one I could test drive. Fantastic, I thought, and I made it clear I wanted to test drive before sitting down to crunch numbers. I would NOT be buying the day I drove. Clear and up front.
«Great, no problem! We’ll see you _​_​_​_​_​» and I made it happen.
While, to their credit, they didn’t hard sell me. You could feel the pressure (and the VERY clear look on the upset sales manager’s face) that I wasn’t going to buy that second.
Now, having a face to face relationship with them. I assume, nice people, willing to help/​sale. Lets figure things out. I reply back to the email chain I’ve had asking for their «internet» cost for the Hybrid we did drive, and then a non-​hybrid that we did not but would also be interested in. This was a Thursday (literally the day after the test drive). While doing so, and hoping for competitive offers. I also contacted via internet/​email other dealers within a 2 hours radius. Pretty much the limit I would go if we could make a deal.
By Friday afternoon, I had not only received a LOT of emails from Lugoff’s competition, but had also basically started negotiation via email and talked a few down to a more comfortable number. Meanwhile, Lugoff had not replied. AT ALL. Not even to say they were working on it! ALL these companies were told, beyond a doubt, I was definitely making a purchase Saturday, and wanted the best deal I could get (I was pre-​approved).
Lugoff did not respond or price a vehicle till Saturday afternoon… as I was driving my new 2013 Ford Fusion SE home… from another dealer.
Not only did Lugoff ignore my emails, but in person when I test drove you could feel (and again, the mustached sales managed made sure he made it facially obvious) that I was a ‘waste’ of their time for not purchasing on the spot. Their TV commercials, and even in person sales are all about best cost and competitive cost. Yet none of those cost were provided to me, the customer, in anything that resembled a timely manner. Plus, when those prices were received (apples to apples same model + features) they were not even close to competitive — BEFORE negotiation.
I feel my emails, research, and even test drive were a total waste of my time which could have been used elsewhere. Lugoff should remove the title «internet sales manager» from their staff because nothing is being managed, or responded too. I’m partially glad I was treated the way I was because they actually helped my dodge a bullet! If this was their customer service to get a NEW customer, I can’t imagine how a regular customer is treated for return business like oil changes, regular maintenance, questions, etc.
I definitely would NOT recommend this company for new car customers, and you can bet I’ll have a review written for the MUCH better dealer I did do business with. Save yourself the hassle, and shop smarter than this clearly outdated/​non-​responsive dealership.