Car dealerships frustrations

Car dealerships

I’ve wasted several hours now attempting to prove that I own my car — to Kia. And while this interaction is with the car company itself, it all goes back to the lack of follow through and knowledge of car dealerships.

In today’s connected world, email addresses get associated with individual vehicles. So, attempting to use Kia‘s smartphone app was blocked by the car’s previous owner’s email address. I set the issue aside as it seemed there was little the app would provide.

However, Kia recently announced that owners now have access to Tesla’s charge network and that the app would hold the key. Now its important.

After a half hour on the phone, I sent sales documents to Kia Connect — not good enough. Another half hour on the phone finally got clarification of what was needed — the title. Now came the true test. An hour attempting unsuccessfully to scan said title and finally getting it done — after three tries — at the local library (a new computer refuses to recognize my scanner — my issue, not Kia‘s).

But the real question is why was a car sold by a Kia dealership not properly assigned to its new owner??

Issue two had to do with a cargo cover that was listed as part of the deal but not included. Ultimately, I had to send them a part number (they are 60 miles away) before they understood what it was. They refunded me its cost and I had one delivered by Amazon.

Issue number three. The selling dealer put terrific Weathertech all weather floor mats in the car — that didn’t fit! I ordered some from a local Kia store — which didn’t fit either!

They did enough investigation to conclude the floor layout is different in the electric version than the gas and hybrid versions — and Kia doesn’t make all weather mats for the EV!!!

To a man or woman, nearly everyone I know cringes at the thought of going to a car dealer for anything. I have years of experience in dealerships and I share the cringe.

Is it any wonder?

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