Countryside Mitsubishi — Local services in Lyons Township

After spending 9 hours (yes, NINE) test-driving the vehicle I ultimately purchased, making countless phone calls consulting with friends, family and trusted resources, almost changing my mind and walking out (getting cold feet), and of course getting the upsell, I drove away in my new ride. First off, Countryside was the only dealership that had the make, model, trim, color, options, age and mileage that I needed (a 2022 Audi e-tron). Second, they were only the third dealership (the second being their own Jidd Motors Mitsubishi) that could process the soon-to-expire used EV federal tax credit. Third, they were the only ones that had the selection and quality of cars and the genuine desire to make I deal I referenced earlier. Fourth, the infinite patience of the staff as I put them through the wringer for the aforementioned NINE hours, whittling down the deal to its bare bones, was nothing short of amazing. Fifth, the fact that their cars come with two keys - not one - and that they were generous enough to include the on-board Level 1 and 2 combo charger and cables - made them a singular exception in my experience.

Shout out to Maks, the salesperson, who was super nice and did not resort to pushiness, but instead displayed deep knowledge of the product (a rarity with electric vehicles) and an infinite stamina going back and forth between me and the powers that be for 9 hours.

Shout out to Hemzah, the sales manager, whose desire to make a deal is second to none and who offers some genuinely insightful feedback during the process that is of course self-serving but that is also surprisingly frank and illuminating.

Shout out to Steven, the finance manager, who got me the finance deal of a lifetime, who took the most time that any finance manager took to explain every single piece of paper and little detail in everyday terms, and whose infinite patience was one for the books. His no-nonsense, frank and open feedback was also crucial and making up my mind rather than letting me get trapped in my own anxiety loop.

Finally, shout out to the owner, who may appear brusque at times but who is genuinely interested to make a deal and who appreciates someone who plays the game as hard as he does (and he does).

Now for a few flies in the ointment (sorry, guys!): first off, there is no need to try to use the "what payment do you want per month" technique to inflate the price of the vehicle after the price and the trade-in have been agreed. I immediately caught and called out an attempt to inflate my cost by 15% by inflating my monthly payment and then acting surprised and not being able to justify it until dropping it in the end ("sorry, no idea why the system did that"). Second, I know extended service contracts ("aftermarket warranties") are where money is made by "oops, I forgot to check or uncheck that box" and "oops, I did say no deductible but somehow a $100 printed on the service agreement", and I watch out for stuff like this and sadly I did catch instances of that here as well - and I do not find it acceptable. I get the name of the game, but that is still underhanded and should simply not be a tactic that surely will fly by many other folks.

So, in the end - LOVE my car, love the fact that the folks at Countryside made me a deal to allow me to take it home, love that they included accessories that saved me hundreds and thousands, love that they got me a killer finance deal, and love that they did not throw my derriere out the door in frustration. Had the inflated monthly payment and the extended service contract "error" tactics not been attempted, this would have been a six-star review. As it is, it is just a four star (but really a four and a half stars). Walk in here with your eyes open and educated as to the process, and I think you will love the car you get here, enjoy interacting with the people here (while keeping your wits about you about hidden gotchas) and ultimately enjoy the process of car-buying as long as you recognize it as the game of wits and poker-face...

The last time I have been disrespected, ridiculed, intimidated this much was in Barcelona and by the Israeli mafia and the Camorra's local clan next door. I have been taking my car the past 2,5 years since I purchased it to Countryside Mitsubishi. I have spent on an older used car over 1O OOO USD to fix it up and keep it up to date. I am their most loyal costumer they say in the service department. However in the Sales department it is not the first but the last time they have been treating me like I have ever done anything wrong. I have been treated as a criminal. After the very first oil change I noticed the fender broken. Looking like a too large mechanic leaned on it a bit too much at the oil change. I drove back there and told them my complaint when a sales manager have accused me of trying to stiff them for a fender. This is how it all started 2,5 years ago with these Sales people I have never even bought a car from, I bought the car from a private party. When he accused me 2,5 years ago with criminal deeds I told him to go f himself. The crazy sales manager guy couldn't just get my fender replaced and get done with it. Rather accused me of trying to pull them down for a fender. I rather had left because it was about to get physical. For 2,5 years I kept taking there my car to the service department, trying to avoid the sales people, not even going to the showroom. 3 weeks ago I was there on service, Nancy called me from the Sales Department, and she offered 75OO USD for my car if I trade it in for a 2O22 Eclipse Cross or 7OOO USD if I sell it. She told me the offer is an official form and they want to appreciate my loyalty. I love this car. It is a great car. I was thinking about it. The 14th of February I called them asking if the offer is still valid, to make sure. Yes, the sales employee gentleman told me that the offer is still valid, he said "yes I can see it in the system as it is an official form in our end on the computer, we have this offer still here valid for you as Nancy called you the 25th of January with the offer on the phone." Yes. We clarified it. The 15th of February yesterday I called them to schedule an appointment to sell my car. I even told the employee on the phone that I don't want to risk driving it the weekend anymore because I am worried a drunk driver would crash it when I would go to McDonald's nearby. I told the employee I want to sell my car if the offer is still valid. Yes yes the offer is still valid. We have schedule for today 11:15 AM the 16th of February 2O24. I have called my insurance company to cancel the policy as I take the offer I got from Countryside Mitsu. I have signed the document cancelling my policy. I drove there carefully in the traffic hoping I can make it there without anyone crashing it in the last minute. I drive there an hour, I give them the documents, everything. Nancy was already having the keys, took picture of the car, the milage, ran the title through her system, filling out the documents, when she walked away. Walked back. And told me "we don't buy cars, sorry." I told her I would like to talk to her manager. A gentleman started to talk BS saying "upon inspection we decided not to buy your car" ... I told him no that is BS, because quote "upon inspection we offer you 75OO or 7OOO for your car" was what Nancy has said on the phone 3 weeks earlier. He said he cannot do anything for me they don't buy cars and with such milage. I told him I have emails, texts, phone calls confirming the scheduled appointment to go sell my car there and then, for 7OOO USD cash. I did not expect that it would get physical with criminals inside the facility, I was armed to protect myself and the 7OOO USD cash once I walk out from the building. Suddenly a sales manager ran out from a room towering above me sitting at Nancy's desk like a school kid in the chair trying to intimidate me. It was about to get physical, while he told me I have to...

Was hung up on by a sales manager after being in talks on a car. Went back in for information on their manager and completely rude behavior beforehand and am kind of appalled at how they do business or try to do business. Rude, no accountability, and no wiggle room on prices. Their cars sit for months because of incompetence.

Went down to Mercedes Benz of Naperville and had a great experience buying my new Mazda CX-5 Carbon righter after dealing with them. I honestly would have gone back and bought their car if they hadn’t been so rude and yelled at me and hung up on me with my dad by my side, but I’m so happy I didn’t after seeing the same model at another dealership that had more features and great customer service. The car at Mitsubishi Countryside was dented, dirty with coffee stains and crud (I test drove it twice and they couldn’t even clean that out until I asked if they could if I bought it. It’s been there for 4 months already so I bet it’s still dirty and sitting there). They even tried lying about the current market value being exactly what they paid showing it to me as their “receipt” to not lower their price. I value when people treat me with respect and not like I’m an idiot, makes me want to do business with them and really not do business with people that literally band together to not give information on their fellow employees that actively lose business for them. I asked for names and numbers to reach out to there and they stonefaced me and sent me out the door feeling some type of way.

Find a good dealer with people who care about you and your business if you’re dropping that much money. These people are not it, they banded together and took no accountability when I went back in after being treated that way and said the GM was gone I couldn’t speak with him and that even the person who hung up on me was immediately gone 2 minutes after I was hung up on. So happy I didn’t give hacks my business.

Frank Carlo apparently was the one who demeaned, demoralized, and eventually hung up on me and then wouldn’t answer my calls afterward. I was asking for movement on price in respectful ways and he didn’t like when I tried to make him accountable to his behavior and the way he was treating me. Good managers can handle situations like this with ease, I do it every day. Sad to see people be put in places of small power and it being abused. You lose business you’ll never get back when you promote someone who is incompetent...