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

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

tim — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 17:28:37 -0000

Last week went in to herb chambers toyota in auburn, looking for new vehicle for my daughter the experience was terrible the salesman lied the managers were yelling i think the general manager was yelling it was terrible, very unprofessional.

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

Mike — Sat, 30 May 2009 12:27:29 -0000

I couldn't disagree with you more! I purchased my Honda S 2000 from the Herb Chambers dealership on Commonwealth Ave and was treated with the utmost of respect. I've had my S 2000 in for service and found the service department to be fantastic!

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

Boston20 — Wed, 20 May 2009 20:59:47 -0000

I will never set foot in a HC Dealership. I asked the Volvo dealership to sign an agreement that he would not sell to HC, he laughed. While I was in the showroom another customer came over to me and shared his HC horror story

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

Shari — Tue, 05 May 2009 15:01:33 -0000

Mack,

Go to Dealer Rater.com and search out the Prime Motor Group...You will find that they are a truly reputable company that take customer and employee satisfaction to a a whole new level...I wish you luck in your search. The automotive industry is a rewarding and exciting industry and I have enjoyed it for over 20 years!

sdoran@primemotorgroup.com

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

CodyRidley — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:13:34 -0000

So, all of Chambers' customers should come here to complain and then sit patently waiting for a positive experience to come their way? Sounds a bit fishy to me. Or more like a fake ass response.

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

CodyRidley — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:10:13 -0000

Based on what I'm reading here - you could either go in and try to make a difference, or seek employment with another more reputable auto group.

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

CodyRidley — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:05:12 -0000

Herb Chambers' company is responsible for these dozens of complaints and frankly, I'm happy to have found this site while searching for the dealers name. It's an excellent example of the power of the Internet and I'm happy that an article written nearly four years ago continues to be relevant in the eyes of Google.

Have you actually searched for their name before? It's sickening just how many paper thin sites are out there. It makes finding legitimate information like this next to impossible.

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

Boston20 — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 23:41:14 -0000

Bill,
Are you smoking drop or Herb Chambers himself ? They have had my BMW for a total of 63 days over the last year for the same problem. I just wonder how many people would panic if you asked for "Green Card" in the repair dept.

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

Keith — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:14:16 -0000

Bill, too obvious

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

Bill — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 07:55:50 -0000

Over the past 10 years, I, and my family (2 brothers and parents), have purchased a number of vehicles from Herb Chambers Lexus, Honda, Acura, Porsche and have had no issues whatsoever. In fact, contrary to what I've read on this blog, I find their sales staff to be courteous, friendly and HONEST from the first handshake to the handing over of keys. Other dealerships, BOCH to be specific, routinely advertise "to good to be true" deals that they never intend to make good on, which serve as a loss leader to bring customers in the door. In my opinion, BOCH should be shut down for their false and misleading advertising and deceptive business practices, but until something happens to change my opinion of Herb Chambers, I'll continue to be a loyal customer of their dealerships. My experience with Herb Chambers has been nothing but positive.

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

Gretchen — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:50:37 -0000

Having terrible problems with our car from the Burlington Herb Chambers Honda. Every time they return our car to us with more problems than we started with. At this point we don't know what to do! In the three years that we've had our Honda Civic Si, only the first year was problem free... Terrible organization, I wish that I could stop every poor soul that wanders in there and WARN THEM!

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

EX EMPLOYEE — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:08:47 -0000

HERB nEEDS TO GET RID OF THE GM AT TOYOTA OF BOSTON HE TREATS THE EMPLOYEES LIKE CRAP AND I ALS0 THINK HE IS THE MOST PREDJUDICED PERSON IN THIS WORLD HE THINKS HE IS THE GREATEST BUT I THINK HERB CAN DO A LOT BETTER THAN HIM

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

Mack — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 14:24:29 -0000

I am recently unemployed and had been considering the a career in the automobile business in sales. I have done alot of reasearch looking for jobs and chambers has a few openings so I thought I might apply.I stumbled upon this blog about herb chambers and was knocked back on my heels.
Whats it really like working for a HC company.
Which one is the best to work for. Can anyone recommend a reputable dealership I could contact..
I am over 50 years old with experince in acustomer service industry. Would that be a detriment?

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

ADAM — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 20:40:39 -0000

I WAS IN TOYOTA OF AUBURN LAST WEEKEND AND WALKED OUT. I WATCHED AN OLDER GENTLEMEN WITH THINING GRAY HAIR AND ABOUT SIX FEET TALL YELL AND SWEAR AT A SALES PERSON FOR LETTING THE CUSTOMER PARK THERE TRADE IN THE HANDICAP PARKING SPOT. KEEP IN MIND THIS CUSTOMER HAD A HANDICAP SIGN IN THE WONDOW. I GUESS THIS IS THE TYPE OF PLACE EVERYONE TALKED ABOUT.

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

scott — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 21:49:31 -0000

i bought a car from herb chambers cadillac in providence RI 2 years ago. i had electrical problems since. The car has been in their shop several times with no success. The last time in the shop approx 25 days, no success. But the car came back to me with a smashed up front end and real bad cover up job! I met with the general manager ( Larry Skinner ), and the service manager ( Dana Parenteau ) and there respose was " not our problem, take the car and sell it if you dont like it". I've since spoke with channel 7 on your side, Channel 10 eye witness team, R.I.DMV, and the attorney General with all possitive responses. I will be back in touch with results, Scott

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

Brendan — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 21:56:36 -0000

Herb Chambers SUCKS! They are all slime balls at ALL of the dealerships.
Do yourselves a favor and go on dealerrater.com
Check out the dealer's rating before buying there.
I used to be a customer of Foreign Motors West in Natick, but as soon as Herb "I have too much plastic surgery and my ads suck" Chambers bought them out I never went back. I have since bought 2 cars from Prime Motor Group. I recommend you go to Prime Audi if you want an Audi. They are professional, courteous and just plain awesome.

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

Ryan — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 11:46:38 -0000

In May of 2008, I had a very poor experience with Westboro location of Herb Chambers Honda. I wanted to come back onto this site and reiterate how impressed I was with the way they resolved my issue promptly once they found out they had a dissatisfied customer.

Like any line of business, there are employees that do not care about rhe customer and are simply looking out for their bottom line. Theie are some of those people working at every single car dealer whether the name starts with Boch, Herb Chambers, or whatever.

What truly matters is what the company (with management acting as the face of the company) does when faced with an unhappy customer. Do they chalk it up to "oh well, we'll get the next one" or do they seriously think about the impact of one unhappy, dissatisfied customer on their business?

The GM of the Westboro Honda location falls in the second category.

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

Pissed off customer — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 21:07:38 -0000

Herb is a real asshole... A greedy Son of a Bitch too!

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

Jerry — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 21:54:39 -0000

This is a list of events that took place at The Danvers location over three years ago now, I had Googled dealership documention fee's for research and discovered this forum and could not resist to post this email which describes the list of events in detail. It seems to concur with the majority here and I am amazed that the general public supports the behavior by continueing to complain and ultimately to return with the misconception of saving a buck!!.

The following is the list of events as they occurred on the evening of September 27, 2005 at Herb Chambers Dodge in Danvers.

At approximately 6:15pm I was called upon by the General Sales Manager, William Lee to assist Matthew Fallows in the sale of a Dodge Ram pickup truck.
Shortly there after I would meet Robert Frost who would be the person attempting the purchase.

After meeting Mr. Frost I qualify his needs and there level of importance. Mr. Frost will share that he has interest in keeping the monies at where they are currently which is a payment of approximately $730.00. he would like to obtain this payment with little if any out of pocket cash and to include a remote starter like his current Ram pickup truck has, which he will be trading in and was part of his last purchase from Herb Chambers Dodge.
I will solicit from Mr. Frost a credit card which takes the vehicle off of the market and explain that I will present his offer to William Lee and work to gain approval. After arriving at the sales desk I begin to present the offer to William Lee and at the mention of to include a remote starter I begin to be critized by the Finance Director, Mr. Joseph Dipietro. Mr. Dipietro raises his voice to me to say that we do not include remote starters and that he has to buy it himself or he can't buy the truck. I respond in saying that I have never heard of such a thing which William Lee confirms and I continue to present the figures and seek approval. I give an attempt to sell the truck at $739.00 which is slightly higher than current and to not include the remote starter, the customer would decline leaving me the choice of not selling the truck or to include the remote starter. I once again converse with William Lee, suffer more abuse from Mr. Dipietro who is now calling me weak and telling me that I suck. Nevertheless William Lee agrees to accept the offer and to sell the Ram Truck. I share the results with Mr. Frost, congratulate him and proceed to my office to respond to a page for a telephone call.
Mr. Dipiero would follow to my office to ask if I had explained to the customer that he had agreed to a twelve thousand mile per year lease now knowing that his current lease contract was at fifteen thousand miles per year. Mr. Dipietro would further explain that a salesperson by the name of Simon sold this customer his current truck and made $4,000.00 in doing so and did NOT include a remote start. Mr. Dipietro would say again how much that I was weak and that I sucked. I leave my office to return to the area of the sales desk.
Once arriving back to the sales desk Mr. Dipietro accuses me of taking his brothers personal keys which had happened some two weeks ago, I try to explain to Mr. Dipietro that I did not take his brothers keys but that it was good to know where his brother had gotten the idea from because the lord knows Joshua his brother is not capable of thinking for himself. He now begins to call me a wise ass and to say that he will take me outside and bash my head off of the grill of a car. It is at this point that Mr. Joseph Dipietro jumps at me to push me backwards with both of his hand into my chest, he grabbed me by the throat with both of his hands and had to be restrained by Frank Dalton.
Once Mr. Dipietro is restrained I leave to go back to my office and gather my personal belongings where there stands at the fax machine Jim Klimas the General Manager. I explain to Mr. Klimas that I am going home to be asked why what's wrong? Joey just grabbed me by the throat because we included a remote starter to sell a truck. What? Jim would leave the office and I would proceed to gather what pictures of my family and other personal belongings that were kept in the office.
Leaving the showroom I notice that Jim Klimas coming out of Mr. Dipietro's office and has already finished his discussion with him.
I proceed to leave my place of employment where I have dedicated nearly seven years.

I arrive home at approximately 7:30pm explain to my wife what had taken place.
At approximately 9:15pm Mr. Dipietro calls my home to apologize for his actions and that he hopes that I will return to work and he also knew that I had not taken his brothers personal keys.
Mr. Dipietro would call again at near 10:00 pm to again explain that how sorry that he is and that we are suppose to be friends he is going to go to anger management classes and that I should golf the following day that he will not be attending, I insist that I will not be golfing.
Later that same evening Mr. Klimas call at approximately 10:30pm to question what had taken place and to explain that Joey Dipietro had been going through a hard time as it was the one year anniversary of his father's death, he would further explain that he was not making excuses that Mr. Dipietro was wrong in what he had done. Mr. Klimas would also explain that he believed that Joshua had hidden his own keys so that he could borrow a used Chrysler 300C. Mr. Klimas would also make an attempt to convince me golf the following morning now knowing that Joey Dipietro had said that he was going to anger management, Jim Klimas was ignorant to what anger management was and I would attempt to explain it to him. He was going to call Joey and that he would call me right back.
Mr. Klimas would call again at now nearly 11:30pm to discuss the Red Sox game and explain that he wishes that I would play golf in the morning. I further insist that I won't be playing golf tomorrow.
September 29, 2005 Mr. Klimas would call to wonder why that I was not at work.
September 30, 2005 William Lee would call to ask questions of vehicles inventoried and there status, he would ask what my situation was and would understand that if I did not return. He would also if there were would be anything that he could do for me tot hesitate.
On October 3, 2005 I submit that I am resigning the Used Car Manager position for Herb Chambers Dodge which I have held for nearly two years. From a company which I have dedicated nearly seven years and have succeeded in numerous management positions.
On October 6, 2005 I file a criminal complaint against Joseph Dipietro for physical assault and treats to do bodily harm. Scheduled to appear on November 2, 2005
On October 14, 2005 Mr. Dipietro would call both my home and cell phone numbers several times to eventually leave a message on my cell phone voice mail asking my intentions and my motive.
November 2, 2005 I have left Salem District Court where I have failed to meet the burden of proof, Mr. Dipietro sat proudly present with an attorney, a "witness", and signed affidavit's from four members of the sales staff, along with an affidavit from a Peabody police officer who was somewhere in the showroom and herd yelling but did not witness the physical assault.

Sincerely,
Jerry

People seldom use the word WAR when it comes to performing their profession. I can't emphasize to you enough, I feel although I may have lost battles over the years or turned the other cheek to not create a war.
I have described to you a list of events that did occur and although I left that courthouse today somewhat humiliated in my lack of preparation and knowledge of the proceedings. I am more embarrassed by the fact that I have spent so many years of my life working for a Company and spending so much personal time with people that would encourage such proceedings.

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

B Jaspon — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 17:09:22 -0000

I purchased a used BMW from Chambers. I had it in for service at another dealership and they noticed that the cluster tamper light was on. When they linked in to the computer system in the car they were able to determine that the car had 40,000 more miles than what was on the cluster and what Chambers told me it had.

The general manager of the Braintree store told me he was not going to do anything about the issue and corporate won't return my calls.

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

Geoff — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 17:00:05 -0000

I wrote here three days ago about my car and the mechanics not being able to fix it. I towed it from the Hyundai dealership and got it fixed by a different mechanic for $75.00 not the $142.00 for parts and additional costs of labour as I had been told by the service clerk. Problem is that they did work that was not necessary and I want to get my money back. They installed a starter for $603.00 and the car did not need the starter. I want to know how do you confront them about this and how do you get you money back? Any help out there?

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

Geoff — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:52:30 -0000

I am a Canadian who thought all Hyundai dealerships mechanics could actually fix Hyundai vehicles. Unlike everywhere else in the world, Auburn Hyundai technicians have no clue how to fix Hyundai cars. I walked into the dealership to have my vehicles fixed to the sound of a very irate gentleman swearing that the morons had no idea what was wrong with his vehicle and his wife calming him down explaining that they can leave the vehicle there not knowing that five days later it will be my turn. They charged me a handsome some and I still have the same problem. I want the money the incompetent morons charged me and my brother will to tow the vehicle to back to Canada. The Hyundai dealership technicians there know their job, they can fix hyundai vehicles.

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

Anonymous — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 19:38:08 -0000

I worked for the HC Companies for a number of years in several capacities. I must say that I like the interaction of dealing with the public, however my experience with the company is less than desireable. I beleive that Herb is an honorable man, however is not really trully aware of the actual goings on within his dealerships, or in many cases he turns a blind eye to what makes him money, I suppose this is what happens when one becomes a billionaire.
The dealership that I worked for did not drug test until after an employee was hired, and in many cases if they failed they were allowed to re test until they passed. They were supposed to conduct background checks and driving records, however about 50% or more had either no driving license or a felony record or both, this was routinely overlooked. Employees that were fired for drug test failures were rehired, employees fired for forging customer signitures on legal documents were rehired. Employees were routinely harrassed and verbally degraded by both managers and co workers, and this sort of behavior was commonly allowed. The working hours were ungodly and employees had no life whatsoever, if you wprked there that was to be your life, and if it was not you are blackballed......so sad but so true and so happy to be out of there. Herb or Jim if you read this please take a long hard look at your operations especially your GM's I won't say which onesm just look long and hard

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

Mr. Morris — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:08:58 -0000

Thank you for that comment. I didn't read your entry before I wrote mine. I'm Mr. Morris. It is so true. Christian men who love the Lord have to almost sneak to church on Sunday and if they come in late they get read the riot act and are threatened with termination. Men with mouths to feed. Like the guy I had to pray with in the lunch room. It's good to see a customer who is sensitive enough to recognize that this is going on there. They tried to make me work like 3 17 hour days over one holiday. I told them "no". One of the days was my regular day off and I was taking it. They looked at me like I just kidnapped the Lindbergh baby. (I know I'm giving away my age but being over 50 is not a birth defect) Your comments are right on!!!

Re: Herb Chambers complaint, commentary & update

Mr. Morris — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:57:37 -0000

I've been out of the Herb Chambers Toyota location working in the BDC for about six months now. I have my life back and it feels good. In my new position I get off work at 4:30 and have my evenings to devote to my personal life and my weekends. The pain and anxiety of being there is gone. It's like being delivered from evil. Looking back the worst part about being there was having to work with this die-hard HC devotee named CK. He really knew how to get over in that culture. He was a total phony. He looked upon the customers as a commodity. He lied to get them into the showroom. Treated the rest of us in the department like we were a virus and only thought of himself. The ironic part was he was ripping off the company too. We got paid for bringing people in. Not much by the way. I don't know how much he made but they gave me $400 a week, $5.00 when the came in, and an extra $10.00 if they bought a car. I'm black and CK is white. I was floored when this black guy working at Honda told me he only made $300 a week. What CK would do every day was steal as his own walk in customers. No one questioned him. He tried to steal one of mine which is how I found out about it.. Between the time the lady first came in and when she purchased, she'd gotten married and had a name change. Not knowing she was really my customer, CK tried to steal her from me and I caught him. They didn't do anything about it. I'm a competitive person but I like a level playing field. I could never do better than CK because I refused to cheat and lie. They loved him like he was the second coming of Christ. Once when I honestly reported the reaction of a customer after following up, they wouldn't let me do it anymore. The sales manager accused me of trying to make his salesmen look like a bunch of idiots. He zeroed in on me like an heat seeking missile after that to the point where every day took one more piece out of my pride. Eventually, one day when he was going to drop the boom on me for the umpteenth time, I literally ran out of the side door and never went back there. Now I bump into a lot of the people I trained with on the street and none of them are there anymore. Like me they are happily out of that rat's nest. The only good thing I can say about working there is that my supervisor, Brian Jung, was one of the nicest people I've ever met and worked for. A real professional and a gentleman. I'm sure one day he'll come to his senses and find a position where he can make as much as he does there without having to sell his soul. CK will probably never leave. He's got his racket so fine tuned that he probably can't make an honest living anymore. One day I went into the lunch room to find one of the salesman crying. He was so hurt that he couldn't go to church because he had to work every Sunday. He was a nice guy too. I felt so bad for him we prayed together right there. I wanted to comfort him. Some of these guys have families and can't just run out the door like I did. They're the ones I feel most sorry for. Like another salesman who told me his wife calls HC "prison time". His job there separated them to often. He couldn't wait to be "released". The real shame is it doesn't have to be like that. I survived.