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In December 2021, I received a call from van manager Jim Foster stating that I would pay an additional 3.5% over MSRP. He said all customers would be charged that due to difficulties in getting parts for the new builds. I reluctantly agreed. There was never any paperwork exchanged between me or Mercedes Benz of Tacoma.
In February 2022, I received a phone call from general manager Brandon Kindle stating that all vans including mine would have an increased price of $25,000 over MSRP in addition to the 3.5% I agreed-upon in 2021. He mentioned a high demand for these vans and high demand causes higher profit margin, read GREED. I told him that I had budgeted for the 3.5% over MSRP and I’d also put down $54,000 towards a conversion on my van back in November 2021. General manager Brandon Kindle said he would get back with me within a few days, he didn’t , read POOR CUSTOMER RELATIONS.
Approximately two weeks later I received a call from van manager Jim Foster telling me that my van had arrived and that Mercedes-Benz of Tacoma was going to charge me $7500 plus tax over MSRP, or $8272.50. He also stated that I got a good deal compared to other buyers, one that paid $15,000 over MSRP and one that paid $10,000 over MSRP. I had waited nearly 8 months for this van so I did go in two days later and picked up the van and spent $8272.50 over the original MSRP agreed-upon price in December 2021.
I asked for MSRP as I had put a deposit down, they said take it or leave it. Due to money already invested, I took it as they also said they would have no problem selling van at $25,000 over MSRP.
In March 2022, I received an email requesting a review of Mercedes-Benz of Tacoma and I gladly filled it out. I mentioned that Mercedes-Benz was unethical and unfair and in how they had handled my increase in MSRP. Again nothing was ever formally written down. I wrote in the review that their greed towards their customers was in part due to old man Larson using the extra money that he was on ethically charging in price was being used towards for his $30 million dollar new home being built in Horsehead Bay Gig Harbor. Within two minutes of sending that review out, I received a phone call from their manager Jim Foster saying his three out of five star review hurts his standings within Mercedes Benz of Tacoma, read GREED again. Approximately two minutes after that phone call, I received a call from general manager Brandon Kindle stating that he had just gotten off the phone with the company‘s attorney and I couldn’t mention that old man Larson is building a new home at a cost of $30 million dollars in Horsehead Bay Gig Harbor. I politely declined to speak with Mercedes Benz of Tacoma general manager Brandon Kindle and hung up. Within about two minutes of hanging up with general manager Brandon Kindle, I received from his personal cell phone a screenshot of my personal information. Was that a subtle threat that he could put my personal information out there and have all to see? Yes I save the screenshot.
The point being, Mercedes-Benz of Tacoma owned by the Larson‘s group is an unethical, shady, unfair, lying, cheating self-serving business who will treat their customers without regard, horribly. They will change the agreed upon price without any regard to you the customer and any earlier deals sealed with a handshake.
What is sad to see is that old man Larson allows this to happen. Leadership of his trusted employees is sorely lacking and it’s evident in how they treat their customers. I’m sure they have all the plaques and awards for community involvement but at what cost to their individual customers? Mercedes-Benz is a world-class business and vehicle, Mercedes Benz of Tacoma is self-serving.
I do not recommend Mercedes Benz of Tacoma Washington.