Mazda of Gladstone — Attraction in Gladstone

BE WARNED - you may start out with a great salesperson but once you are handed off to a sales manager or finance department it can be toxic and manipulative for the sake of profit, rather than customer satisfaction. PLEASE read the negative reviews across the Internet before you shop here. Here is my experience upon visiting the dealership: As soon as I addressed a concern with the vehicle I was interested in (a fresh rockchip on the windshield) the sales manager was dismissive. He approached me with a straight face and said "I'm sorry, unfortunately there's nothing we can do about it...it's priced well...best price in the PNW." My husband chuckled and asked "Really? Nothing?" It was a very awkward moment as he showed no interest in helping us out, so we walked out. I should have walked out and never looked back, but I felt bad for our salesperson who had provided great service. She looked very confused seeing us walk out, so I thought I would pause outside say bye and thanks. She seemed more confused that Pat, who had only been in that position of Sales Manager for a few weeks, wouldn't want to help. Perhaps they thought we were set on taking it home because we drove 3 hours to check out the vehicle. The salesperson quickly suggested having a tech come out and apply resin on the chip. The sales manager came outside after a bit and said he couldn't find a tech, then scoffed and said "the owner said just to take $50 off". I told them I'd think about it, but I could either take a vehicle home with a rock chip or a vehicle without one. I mentioned there was a similar vehicle on the lot (white 2023 CX-5) priced the same and it may be a better option, so I'd consider looking at it the next day as I was going to continue my shopping. Fast forward and I decided to take it home.

All HELL started when the finance clerk David approached me telling me they'd have to secure financing for the vehicle before I took it home. Immediately, I responded "LISTEN, I DON'T WANT TO PLAY ANY GAMES." I already discussed using my local Credit Union with the salesperson because I had a preapproval with a good rate. I also asked them to send the PO and title app to my bank for processing. Of course the sales manager didn't get to it, but promised they would work with my Credit Union and use a "backup" contract that would get ripped up once they got payment from my bank (all of this in text), allowing me to take it home.

However, David suggested refinancing with my bank after I finance through their affiliated Credit Union. I called my brother to talk about this surprise and he explained refinancing was a legitimate option after a car purchase. I told David I still didn't want to go through a refinancing process - if they needed anything from my bank before I showed up, they should have asked for it or contacted my bank like I asked them to! He laters tells me he's going to make it easy on me because he sees I am stressed and will treat the contract with Unitus as a "backup" but he'll try to get them to match my bank's rate. He folded and stapled it shut claiming he didn't want to mistake it as the main loan app. All I had to do was send him the pre-approval letter from my bank on Monday.

Fast forward and of course Mazda of Gladstone stooped real low!! After I sent the pre-approval letter from my bank and CLEARLY stated via email that I want to use my bank, he tells me it's too late - he already submitted the backup "just show your bank the paperwork and they will pay off Unitus" To CLARIFY, I didn't want to deal with a bank that is 3 hours away or have anything to do with a Retail Installment Agreement. I simply wanted an auto loan through my local bank in WA without having to wait on licensing docs to arrive, making a 1st first payment at bank I will never use, or pulling my credit again. I put a stop to the "backup loan" myself SO they wanted the vehicle back. Fine with me!

AVOID CAR BUSHING/YOYO SALES SCAMS! Don't sign a "backup" or take the car home if they haven't submitted docs to your preferred bank! Take your time! Set...

Buying a new car sucks. The whole process, from shopping, to acting like you care about half the things they’re telling you, to those big glass rooms where the money people selling all the non-car car-things sit chomping at the bit, everything about it, all of it, sucks. It’s why I run every car I’ve had into the ground, mostly to avoid having to go through the soul-sucking process.

Luckily, things have changed quite a bit since the last car I bought & you could do just about all the research & deal making through emails & texts & never see a single person until, well, the dreaded F&I glass box.

In the midst of searching for an AWD suitable for life in Central Oregon, Mazda dropped Toyota’s Rav4 Hybrid powertrain into a CX-50 body. An AWD SUV with 39mpg that looks like it should be twice its cost? I immediately knew that was the car!

I started searching across the PNW & found all sorts of fancy trims with thingamabobs I didn’t want or need. All I wanted was a base trim with the weather package & splash guards to protect from the dirt, gravel & salt lick, and a hitch. But no dealer could track one down for me.

Then a dealer, 3 hours away over the mountain pass, gave me the option to factory order exactly what I wanted and offered a good deal on it. Granted I’d have to wait for it, but that was ok. In fact it was preferred as it would give me more time to train for the fight in the glass box (and save me from having to buy winter tires this season). The drive there would be a perfect opportunity for final battle prep & the drive back through the Cascades would be a great way to christen the bugger!

And since that date of order, well, I'm still waiting to be woken from what was surely a dream with this entire experience with Mazda of Gladstone.

Throughout those months, I'd get regular check-ins and updates, from manufacture date, to VIN generation, to when it was put on a train, to when it arrived at port, to, finally, making its way to Mazda of Gladstone. The Lead Sales Associate Andrew would even text me personalized videos each step of the way.

By the time he greeted us with a warm smile at the door 2 months later, it felt like we knew him, so I was taken aback when I genuinely felt...HAPPY TO SEE A CAR DEALER?

He walked us in, seated us at a table, offered us drinks & exclaimed, "that car in the middle of the showroom is yours!," right away making us feel like VIPs (or buttering us up before tossing us to the lions?).

Then as Andrew walked off to process our paperwork, Richard, the sales manager, pleasantly introduced himself as the guy I spoke with months back who approved that deal.

There was no pushiness - no salesmaniness. It felt like we were just hanging with friends. I almost forgot I would still have to go to battle until, well, it was time to enter...'the glass box.'

So I took a deep breath to re-center before walking in...to a regular office?

With the kindest woman, Candy, just non-chalantly walking us through our options?

And replying with exactly the information we asked for with every question without trying to force anything on us?

What was this move? I didn't read or see a video about this jedi mind-trick in my training.

Then, somehow, we got into a full-blown conversation about all things life - you know, normal things like relationships, travel, growing up, alpacas (yes, alpacas).

And before I knew it, I had magically found a set of new car keys in my hand while realizing...wait...I won?

But I didn't even try.

Yet there they were, sliding the showroom doors open for me to drive it out and home.

I don't know if I should be thanking the team at Mazda of Gladstone for making the whole process easier than peeling a banana, or cursing them for wasting so many of my hours over the past 2 months vigorously training for a battle that never happened.

The whole process from ordering to pickup/delivery was fast, fun & efficient - basically like the car itself!

Guaranteed the next time we buy a car, it will be a Mazda.

And it will be...

Re; Mazda of Gladstone Service Dept.

I am the owner of a 2004 Rx8. I love this car. But it has been plagued with several Recalls for Minor design or engineering issues since 2004. About 4 years ago (2014) Mazda like many others issued Recalls for Both Front Air bags. Now only a few years later they added Recalls for the Gas Tank and the Lower A arms on my 2004 Rx8.

I had Reached out to Several Dealers in Oregon and Northern California only to be given the “Recall 8” Run around and ignored. That All changed when I reached out to Mazda of Gladstone and Found Brennam Duncan.

While I did invoke the Assistance of Mazda NA corporate, They were of no help at all and really made me want to Divorce myself from Mazda for good. But, once I was able to find Brennam at Mazda of Gladstone that all changed,.

I drove 360 miles to Gladstone by-passing several other Mazda dealers that simply never called me back or did not possess the Equipment or the Staff to do these Recalls. This Rx8 is Very low Miles in Showroom shape and I expected it back that way.

Once I got to Mazda of Gladstone and gave them my Car , I went over every inch of the car and the issues I have had with other Lesser Dealership breaking JDM and Mazda Speed parts. So Brennam made it a point to show his service Techs all of my concerns and made sure they heeded my warnings. After an entire day of working on my car it came time for the service Dept to go home.. But my car was not finished. And I was not in any place to take a loner car away and come back later as I live so far away.

Again Brennam came to my rescue and found a way to get the service techs to stay after hours and get my baby back to me. That Was Awesome!. In most cases this would not happen, however in my case coming from so far away and having 4 open Recalls on the car, 2 that were so serious Mazda tells you not to drive it. This in my mind and in the Dealerships eyes was in desperate need to be resolved. So after waiting for over 4 years to get the Airbags done, (lack of Final Airbag Parts from Mazda and lack of Dealerships with a clue) and the addition of the other 2 recalls. The Team at Mazda of Gladstone made sure my Rx8 was back to Spec and then some.

I was concerned about Squeaks and rattles inside the car after the Airbag work.. It had None after the repairs!. The inside of the car looked exactly as it did when I gave it to them.

I was concerned about Gas fumes form the Gas tank Recall work .. It had Zero, !

I was concerned about the Alignment. This was the biggest reason to take it to Mazda of Gladstone, as they seem to be one of the few Mazda Dealerships that have their own Alignment Rack. And for me that was the Major issue with the other lesser Dealerships that I had reached out to. The others wanted to job out the Alignment to a non Mazda Sub contractor! And for this repair that seems crazy.

They gave me the Rx8 back and it actually handles better than it did before. And that seems impossible as the Rx8 already drives like its on rails!.

All in all Mazda of Gladstone is Awesome!. They took care of me. Put up with me when I got Frustrated near the end of the day and had some choice words.. And still got the Car done and got me home Safe!.

If you are in the State of Oregon and you’re in need of Service on your Mazda, Do not hesitate to Contact Mazda of Gladstone ! This Dealership gets it done. Mazda North America should Acknowledge them for going the Extra mile to get it all finished.

Thank you to the Entire Staff , and especially the well trained Techs, and of course Brennam Duncan for the Excellent Service. I hope I don’t need to drive 700 miles round trip again. But if I need service you guys are my first call!.

Thank you Mazda of...