The Cosmic Tap - Latest Comments in Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

Roger — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 12:34:53 -0000

There is no human resources department. I worked for Herb for 5 years. Long hours, constantly changing pay plans (never for the better) and a hostile work environment.

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

paulKaz — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:31:06 -0000

I recently had the worst experience of my life with your porsche service. I brought the car in on Monday November 30 after a call from Silvano Ribiero to replace the luggage cover and make repairs on the passeger mirror. He said all parts are there and needed 2-3 days. I personally thought it was a lot of time. Unfortunately he kept the car for 11 DAYS!!!! with numerus excuses of the body shop not doing the mirror. Finally after 11 days when I picked up the car and was informed that the body shop would cover the extra car loaner insurance cost nothing happened. I was charged for the loaner insurance for 11 days, my Porsche keyring was stolen, my rear wiper cover was missing, the front wiper blade cover is missing and they just painted the mirror all that in 11 DAYS!!!!!!.
My rear wipr cover was replaced after a 20 minute argument that it was noted on his papers (that he could not find) it was missing when I brought the car in. I would certainly say without excageration this was the worst service ever received from and car service dealer. I would most certainly never use Herb Chambers for any service or buynig a new car. My Posche Cayenne S is going to IRA Porsche from now on.
Your ex-customer PAUL.

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

Herb Chambers Question — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 04:39:40 -0000

Dear Mr. Doe,

It's hard to imagine that an organization as large as Herb Chambers doesn't have a human resources department!

If there are any former Herb Chambers employees out there that follow this blog I'd be interested to hear from them.

Or maybe John Doe will comment again and update us.

No human resources department might make me think twice about buying a car there.

Everybody needs somebody to complain to now and then without fear of losing their jobs right Mr. Chambers?

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

John Doe — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:06:42 -0000

I am an employee over at the Lexus dealership and I am honestly miserable working for the new service manager. He leaves us understaffed and clearly does not care. When asked if he would be hiring replacements he told us that we would have to deal and work harder. I am all for being a hard worker but this is an outrage not to mention some other issues I have had with the man. I also can't find any information for a Human Resources Dept. anywhere, I'm pretty sure by law they are to have posters with information for that.

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

rc121 — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:27:38 -0000

almost made the mistake of buying a ford from chamberofhorrors in westborough....instead went to Ford of Hyannis ...was treated well...got a great trade in value...very happy. Not all dealers are the same...stay away from "chamber of horrors"

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

rc121 — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:06:56 -0000

Get a copy of the contract registration from insurer. The Westborough dealership sells the warranty to the customer and than does not register it with insurer ....hoping the customer will not have a repair. They pay for
any repair, but the customer is not covered at any other repair facility.

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

OLDHCEMPLOYEE — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:10:55 -0000

You were not scammed. First off there are atleast 5 or 6 links to SMART price that you overlooked before you left. Secondly driving 3 1/2 hours without ensurring the vehicle was there was not a good move. I have seen cars gone in minutes really. Thirdly why would you have not done anything more proactive to your cause other than sending an email. Thirdly I know for a fact that durring normal business hours Herbs response time to email and phone calls is minutes. Mike most likely called and told you where he was calling from, there is a script he HAS to follow. You drove then to Danvers. I also know for a fact that the emails Mike sent, Pre-owned info and SMART pricing info in the first minutes both have his dealer location listed.
It seems that Herb and his people did what they could and to ask for BOOK? for your trade is absurd. I am sure you have bought a few cars or trucks and know well that noone pays book. Dealers can get close.

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

Shopping New Cars — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:23:23 -0000

Well it was a great weekend to kick the tires!

Herb Chambers and Ernie Boch both got visits. Ernie Boch folks were the most aggressive and not all that pleasant. Maybe the weekend warriors are to blame. I'll try Ernie Boch one more time during the week.

Since we're shopping Toyota it's time to say that both Herb Chambers and Ernie Boch are BOTH very competitive price wise.

Herb Chambers sales types were nice enough and easy to deal with.

I think that things may come down to the Herb Chambers variety of locations that are closer to home.

Next installment could be the dreaded financing confrontation.

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

Shopping New Cars — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 04:37:51 -0000

Can't help but think there has to be a better way to sell cars.

I've purchased so many cars from various dealerships including Herb Chambers (new and used) and none of them are perfect.

I've been dissatisfied on occasion but never felt scammed.

They all tell you to "Come on Down" right???

I guess we all need to ask better questions when buying just about anything site unseen.

If it sounds too good to be true don't leave the driveway.

We're currently shopping Herb Chambers, Prime & Ernie Boch.

Updates to follow.

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

hankg — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:19:56 -0000

Since writing about this bad experience three weeks ago I feel it is only fair to tell any and all readers how this incident has ended. I spoke to my sales rep and told him how badly the Mercedes Benz people had treated me (I have always claimed that it is a design problem and Mercedes Benz has continued to stonewall me). He in turn talked to the manager of the dealership who advocated on my behalf with Mercedes Benz. They bent a little but it was the Herb Chambers organization that made me whole again for which I thank them. I must say that in all the years I have dealt with the Chambers organization I was always treated well and while I got off to a rough start in this instance all is well that ends well. Thanks Herb Chambers!!!

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

Guest — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:53:04 -0000

Since writing the above comments Herb Chambers organization went to bat for me and I can't thank them enough. They advocated on my behalf with Mercedes who are the real culprits in tis issue and have gone overboard to see that I am made whole again. This is the kind of experience I have always experienced in the past with the Chambers organization. I'm just sorry that Mercedes Benz was so stubborn to begin with.

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

larry k — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:15:59 -0000

i never bought a car at herb chambers but this guy larry is a real peace of work.....i'm getting a coffe at the dunkin donuts on the corner or caddillac drive in prov. ri. this larry guy pulls in on my ass almost hitting me, he says to my wife you got a problem? i get out the car this punk runs into his cady with the dealer plate and takes off never got his coffe, so i get in my car go to the dealership and he runs the place great!! then he still talking a lot of put your hands on me first so i can call the cops ...and all this tough guy stuff he wasn't talking at the corner...real punk

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

Anthony Rea — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:51:19 -0000

I live in the Western Mountains of Maine. I surfed the web and landed at Herb Chambers Danvers, MA. I was looking for a 15 passenger van (still am). When I clicked on pre-owned it gave me a lot of options at great prices. @ $3,000.00 less than competition. I decided to drive there (@3 and 1/2 hour drive). Mike from Westborough got my online inquiry and called me as I was driving down. I told him I had my truck with plow attached (in October) and my title in hand and ready to make a deal. When I arrived in Danvers, MA I was told there was no Mike there and the vehicles were in Westborough (another hour away). The dealers all share the same internet inventory but don't inform you of that. I went to Westborough where I was told that because they had "SMART" prices there was no room for haggling. The salesperson also told me that they could not give me book value on my trade because they had already discounted the price of the van. To summarize...Herb Chambers lowers their price to lure you in, but discounts your trade to make the money back. It comes out the same as any other dealership. I heard a bunch of lies about them listening to what their customers want and they have a no hastel experience. NOT ! As I was driving back home to Maine, I received a call from the dealership asking me how everything went and was I satisfied. I was enraged. I told them about my having to drive eleven hours, the $100.00 gas and wear and tear on my truck with a plow attached, the inconvenience, and the attitude of the manager who did not even try to work out a deal as well as possessing no tact as a salesperson. I was scammed. I also told them that discounting a trade is dishonest because if you were to go in with a barrel full of money, they would have to honor their price (or maybe not?). Why is it OK to recoupe their loss on a trade...because they can? They should have just been honest with me and told me to stay home. I WAS SCAMMED!

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

Guest — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:23:44 -0000

I have a new 2009 SLK Mercedes Benz. In less than 1000 miles the GPS/central control system screen went blank. I took it in for service and was told that I ruined the system by dropping coffee on the unit which friied a circuit board. The cup holder sits above the GPS and there is nothing to prevent coffee spills when going over bumpy roads in this tightly sprung car. They want $6,000 to replace a unit that costs #2,800 when ordered new. They reuse to discuss it and so I am taking them to arbitration. Considering the more than one million I have spent with this organization you think they would have gone to bat with MB for a good customer.

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

too bad — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 23:22:20 -0000

how rude and insulting...you might be a happy herb employee, but with an attitude like that, you've done more to hurt your cause than help.

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

Undisclosed Sender — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:05:37 -0000

I applaud your effort/s / challenge of 'fighting the good fight'! Keep up your noble effort/s! Thank you.

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

thomasjpeters — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:52:18 -0000

I found 2 seperate hangars open to anyone( a terrorists dream) at the Waterbury Oxford Airport,CT ( Key Air ).I made sure they were secure,called the State Police,FAA,TSA,Homeland Security,Herb Chambers(he has a Gulfstream 450 and was a shipmate on the U.S.S.Lake Champlain(CVS39). I was forced by Key Air from their hangar where I was working for a tennant as a Pilot. I was thanked by Herbs secretary for letting him know about the bad lack of security. I had to retire. Just getting Social Security. Filed lawsuit against Key Air. Judge Droney dismissed my case a "Frivilous". Our troops are dying and Droney thinks
everything is " frivilous". Herb has his plane on charter with Key Air I found out later. Somebody got their ass chewed and I lost my job for securing the hangars ! I was working for AC Aviation.
Any thank you's can be addressed to: Thomas J.Peters,11013 Fuqua St.,#163,Houston,TX 77089
I was an FAA Safety Counsellor,ATP Pilot with 40 + years exp and A&P Mechanic

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

frankiez — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:59:04 -0000

I used to work for a dealership in Rhode Island several years back. Worse job of my life. We were encouraged to basically lie, cheat our way to sell and were pressured to work bell to bell everyday inc days off. If you took your scheduled day you basically signed your own death warrant as the contempt from managament and other sales team members was overwhelming. I was told during my training that the "Documentation fees could never be negotiated or waived as it would open the Herb Chambers Auto Group to a potential lawsuit. When I asked why I was told all his dealers charge those fees and it had to be consistant. I asked then what are the fees for and was told by my GM, gas for Herb's yacht. I quit after a few months as I could not stand how I felt ripping people off all the time and the joy those I worked with took in screwing people over.

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

cfick — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:24:15 -0000

Hi i just bought a Jeep at herb chambers and i was talked into buying the extended warranty (250 month for 12 months) for a 3 year ext. warranty....any experiences with this extended warranty....i bought a used jeep with aprox 75,000 miles

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

Fly On The Wall — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:40:19 -0000

Foreign Motors West is no longer, it was sold to The Herb Chambers Company over 2 years ago. Tom Mix (the late former owner) would be sad to see the way Mr. Chambers has taken it. Yes, FMW was employee owned and we needed to sell and good thing we did or we would have lost our investment dollars, the car biz is tough now. Most of the long time employees of FMW are now gone, weeded out by the new GM. My take on a Herb Chambers dealership, hostile work environment, this can not be good for the consumer. If a employee does not meet their numbers, they could be fired, so it's sell sell sell. So do your homework before you buy a vehicle, know all the rules, be firm and don't be bullied into buying something you don't want or need. And when you get that survey call/card, think before you answer and be fair, someone's job is on the line ( I have seen it happen ).

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

carsalesguy — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:30:09 -0000

Until recently I sold cars. I worked for Herb Chambers' years back. I am surprised to see these postings. Herb Chambers would be on the phone personally making things right when stuff went wrong. I worked for a lot of dealers. As far as the big guys' he was more customer friendly than any. But either way, he can't watch every employee, their job is to make money, use your heads, the business office is where you get hurt when you don't. The business manager is usually the highest paid and greasiest. Best advice, check your local credit unions' rates and do a little bit of price research b4 you go anywhere. Oh and be nice! I have never once been bullied into a deal, If I had to give something away, it was to someone who was nice to me!

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

deirdre138 — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 22:00:59 -0000

I had a recent experience that left a bad taste in my mouth. To be fair I will start with the positives. The first sales person I met who took me on my test drive was very accomidating, helpful and friendly despite being a brand new employee she was fantastic. The senior sales person I dealt with on my first visit there was also helpful in that he was respectful to the time limits I had set for being there. I was able to negotiate a pretty good price and a pretty good APR. When I called off the deal the business manager and salesperson exercised restraint and were not rude to me like other peoples experiences I see listed here. Here is the negative. It turns out that in the beginning of the transaction despite my repeated questions for clarification we had a complete misunderstanding on the value of my trade-in. Which instead of taking 2,000 OFF the price of my car, added 2,000 to the amount I was financing. The phrasing was strange and I thought they were offering me more than my trade in was worth. In reality they were offering me much less than it was worth. I walked out on the deal about 5 minutes after the dealership closed for the night and they stated they could not return my deposit until the cashier returned the following day. The paperwork that I did sign stated that I was intitled to a full refund since no finished contract had been made or signed by either party. I called the next day to just touch base and confirm that the credit had been made to my account and was told by the sales manager that he couldn't find the paperwork, which seemed fishy to me. I called later and he said he still couldnt find it but he would talk to the sales person and call me back immediately to let me know it was taken care of. I called back after not recieving a call from him and was greeted by rudeness but told that I should see the refund post in a couple of days. I can't help but feel like they are screwing around with me here. I have called my bank and by my accounts having worked in retail I should have seen a pending transaction come through by Thursday and have not yet. Hopefully it is coming through soon. My bank says to wait until Wednesday and if it doesn't post by then they will launch a fraud investigation and refund my money. That's one thing Bank of America is good for! What I learned from this experience. 1) Keep your deposit as cash on the table. 2) If somethine seems too good to be true, it is. 3) If there is something that the wording is fuzzy on, ask them 100 times and 100 different ways till you fully understand it from all angles. 4) If they screw around with you too much you can always call your bank, the attorney general, the news.... and bitch on the internet!

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

shannonhodge — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:26:38 -0000

i went to greg coats in louisville ky i took my 2001 eddie bauer expedition in to trade in , i picked out a 2005 expedition xlt i filled out credit app they sold my trade in, in 3days and 44 days later not approved they sold my car ,want there car back and for me to take bus home , what should i do ? kay

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

lucysandini — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:56:36 -0000

ya sure WTF. And how did they get your number posting on this website? Nice try Herb.

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

lucysandini — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:43:51 -0000

I have been given the run around and lied to several times on the cash for clunkers program since I attempted to buy an Elantra on 7/27/09 from their Auburn location. For example they changed the negotiated price once I disclosed I had a clunker. They told me at 1st my vehicle didn't qualify and then reversed themselves once they realized I wouldn't buy a new car if it wasn't under the program. I still don't have my new vehicle and now I can't get back my title to my old vehicle.