Ken Garff Kia Avondale — Local services in Avondale

A few weeks ago, my husband brought my Kia to the dealership to address an issue with the air conditioning system. We have been patrons of this specific dealership for YEARS. Unfortunately, the required part to rectify the AC malfunction was on an extended backorder, stretching beyond six months. They proposed an alternative, acquiring the part from a salvage yard with a one-day turnaround but only providing a limited six-month warranty. Given my immediate need for the part and my concerns as a parent who relies on a properly functioning AC for the comfort and safety of my toddler, I reluctantly agreed to proceed with the salvage part option. This decision carried a significant financial burden, amounting to nearly $600, which included both labor and the cost of the salvaged part. Additionally, an AC system check and flush, highly recommended by the dealership, added another $200 to the expense.

Regrettably, my vehicle remained in their custody from Wednesday to Friday. On Friday morning, I received news that the part had arrived, albeit incorrectly, and they requested an extended retention of my vehicle until Monday. This posed an untenable situation for me, as a working mother with family responsibilities over the weekend. It appeared that my car would be sitting idle all weekend, rendering the inconvenience unjustifiable. In light of these circumstances, I chose to retrieve my car and reschedule the service for Monday.

As I exited the service area, I slammed on my brakes and noticed a severe and extensive crack on the windshield. This crack initiated from the rear of the windshield wipers, the impact zone, and extended all the way to the top of the windshield, directly within my line of sight. I promptly returned to the service desk to report the damage, vehemently asserting that this crack was entirely absent when I delivered the car to them. They insisted that the crack was there on its delivery. I countered by requesting they review their security camera footage to verify the condition of my vehicle upon its arrival. To my astonishment, they declined to provide the pre-service inspection report or any video evidence corroborating their assertions. Instead, I was repeatedly told that the dealership bore no responsibility for the crack.

Note it was technically illegal for me to drive the vehicle off the dealership premises due to the severity of the crack—being both in my line of sight and exceeding 3/4 inches in diameter. The dealership also made no effort to offer a rental vehicle or any form of assistance in light of this predicament.

Disheartened and deeply frustrated, I took my vehicle home. It wasn't until the following Tuesday that I received a response from the Manager, who cited a lack of time to review the surveillance footage. However, he did promise to replace the windshield when we returned for the originally scheduled parts and flush service. By this point, my frustration had reached a breaking point, and I opted to only proceed with the windshield replacement.

During this period, I managed to locate the required part online at a cost of only $90, completely eliminating the six-month wait and ensuring a warranty period exceeding one year. In hindsight, the situation left me deeply disheartened and disillusioned with the entire experience, including the service quality and safety measures provided.

To my amazement, I was able to resolve the AC issue within my vehicle independently, a process that, to my surprise, took less than five minutes. The contrast between this rapid resolution and the exorbitant $600 charge levied by Ken Garff for the same service is astonishing. The level of service and customer care I expected and once experienced has regrettably fallen short of my standards, prompting my decision to sever my connection with Ken Garff from...

Buyers beware. Me and my wife came in looking at a 2022 Kia K5 GT however, it already had a deposit on it. Sales advisor Promise Bennett told us we could still take a look at it and consider purchasing if the deal didnt go through. Well, we fell in love with the car and they and told us that we would have to wait until Monday to see if the buyer was actually going to buy it. Before leaving they decided to run some numbers on what that cars was going to look like regarding the payments and this is where it all started going downhill. The cars price was around $24,000 with low miles at around 25 thousand miles. She came back with the updated dealership add ons and the additional taxes and fees associated with it. Y’all, let me tell you the price of the car which was now $35,000!!! I said are you serious we need to take out the add ons and the fees. She came back with a price of $28,000 which made more sense in my opinion. But after the first conversation I guess she thought we were dumb and uneducated on how the buying process works. We agreed with the terms and stopped negotiating as we decided to wait until Monday to see if the deal fell through as my wife loved the car. Well, as we’re leaving we get a call from Promise Bennett the sales advisor and she tells that the lady isn’t going to come and pick up the car and that if you want the car to turn back. So we turn back around and go inside and while we were siting in the car thinking about the decision, she comes in and tells us that her manager Emily Higuera said regardless of what we decide today we are going to have to wait until Monday because she did put a deposit down. At this point in like are you serious!? Then why call us back?! Emily Higuera then comes and speaks to us and tells us that information and has another car a 2025 Kia GT worth around $30,000 with the same terms as the car that had a deposit down. We were done at that point. The following day we went to the Kia dealership located in tempe and we told them this and they said that they were most likely trying to scam us into paying more for the car then the person that had a deposit, once we negotiated to lower terms I guess they saw they could make more money with the person that had the deposit down. Nonetheless, we ended up getting a Kia K5 GT from the Kia in Tempe with only the taxes and fees associates the car at $27,000. Some the advisors at Tempe heard of our situation and were disappointed because they know some good people at this Kia Ken Garff location. I do believe they there are good sales people here but there two individuals you will need to watch out for especially if they believe you aren’t educated in the buying process. Emily Higuera the Sales manager and the Promise Bennett the sales advisor are the two people in my opinion you need to watch out for. At the end of the day they are there to make a sale by any means necessary and I can’t help but think that what if somebody that didn’t know that much about the buying process accepts the $35,000 loan without negotiating. In my mind it’s simply unprofessional and makes other sales workers look bad as they are the embodiment of everything that is wrong with dealerships. I’m not here to tell you what to do or to not but a car from this place. I’m just saying you need to watch out because if you’re not careful, you might be making a decision that...

*Raving Review for Avondale Kia & the Incredible Michelle!

If you've ever had the unfortunate experience of being subjected to the Sands Kia dealership of an underwhelming experience, prepare yourself for a refreshing breeze of excellence at Avondale Kia. Let me tell you, this place is the automotive oasis you've been dreaming of, and at the heart of this exceptional dealership is none other than Michelle the queen of car sales!

After a disheartening encounter at Sands Kia, where I felt more like a number than a customer, (Connor told me 15 min before my scheduled test drive the vehicle I was coming for was in the body shop) I walked into Avondale Kia with a heavy heart and high hopes. That’s where Michelle, my new car angel, swooped in and transformed my day. Picture this: I was greeted with a warm smile and a firm handshake that said, "We're here to make this right." Michelle's approach was nothing short of masterful; she combined encyclopedic knowledge of the Kia lineup with a friendly demeanor that made the entire process feel like a chat with a good friend.

Michelle’s ability to explain the intricacies of the Kia Telluride models and their differences—my test-drive target—was like having a personal car guru who decoded every detail with precision. She didn't just toss jargon at me and hope I'd catch on; instead, she walked me through every feature, making complex specs digestible and relevant. Her patience was palpable, as she listened intently to my preferences and tailored her recommendations with the finesse.

And here's the kicker: I was in and out of the dealership in just 2 hours! That’s right—2 hours. I went in to test drive a Telluride and walked away with keys in hand, all thanks to Michelle’s unparalleled efficiency and commitment to customer satisfaction. Shout out to Lisa Colpoys the finance manager AKA Guru whose technology and know-how made my life so much easier! Shes the kind of gal you feel like long lost friends! My kind of peoples.

But wait, there’s more! The entire team at Avondale Kia exuded a sense of camaraderie that was truly heartwarming. Multiple employees greeted me with genuine enthusiasm and engaged in friendly conversations, adding to the dealership’s inviting atmosphere.

So, if you're on the hunt for a no-nonsense, caring, and downright delightful car buying experience, do yourself a favor and ask for Michelle at Avondale Kia. Trust me, she’s the secret ingredient to a flawless car purchase. Michelle and her team will not only meet your expectations but exceed them with style and grace.

Five stars all the way—thank you, Michelle, for making my car buying experience nothing short of...