Allen Samuels (Heart of Texas) Dodge - Austin, TX

Visit Geno's Garage for Truck accessories.

I am sorry to read that so many people have received unsatisfactory service here for either sales, or service. I enjoyed my experience so much, that I applied for work and have been working here since May 2003. I hope that anyone who has any concerns about the way they were treated during their visit will make an effort to contact me at 512-406-7000. Maybe together we can resolve the issue, and improve our performance and reputation. I promise anyone that does take me up on this offer, you will get 100% of my efforts and abilities to resolve the matter.
Sincerely, Jack H. Johnson  512-406-7000     the email address provided by Jack Johnson bounced and has been deleted - Dave F.

So, before you submit a bad report, contact Mr. Johnson and see if you can get the problem resolved. And don't forget to submit a good report if you are satisfied!    Dave

The most recent reports are at the top of the list; the oldest are at the bottom.

Sales=Don't Know, Service=Poor, Parts=Poor, bought there=No, scv_there=Yes, Buy_DaimlerChrysler_again=No,
Van was originally brought in under manufacturer warranty for noise occurring under the rear of the van. After manufacturer warranty expired van was returned for a side passenger door that would not open, rear alignment issue and the continued noise under the rear of the van. Coverage under the extended warranty was confirmed with the service department before the van was returned. The rear noise that could not be found the first time was now a lose spare tire (n/c), the power sliding door was a weather stripping problem (not covered - $200.00), the alignment would cost $75.00 but would not include camber bolts or a rear shim kit that had been discussed prior to bringing the van into the dealership. There would be additional fees for the camber bolts but an estimated could not be provided without paying a $45.00 fee to determine what would fix the alignment and now there is not a shim kit available. One story before they have a car and a different story that requires fees after they have your car. I feel like I'm paying for a snitch instead of actual service. The one part that is still covered will take 3 days to get in and require another trip to the dealership to install. Another wasted day.
Submitted by: Brian McGill
Number of dealership visits=2, Last visit date=3/16/09, Date report submitted: Mar 16 15:59:51 EDT 2009

Sales=Poor, Service=Good, Parts=Don't Know, bought there=No, scv_there=Yes, Buy_DaimlerChrysler_again=Maybe,
Note: failing to sell a vehicle at the price you want does not make a dealership bad, and failing to play the negotiating game your way does not make a dealership bad. Bad dealerships are deceptive, manipulative, etc. IMHO, this was a simply mismatch of bargains tactics. Dave F.
I went to buy and still am going to, but not from here a new or almost new dodge p-up. I looked at a 04, 05 and a pre-owned 03 dakota with a nice young man and he went get a price on the 03 for me. He came back with a price of $17000+ and I told him not to insult me with a price like that. He said what do you mean and I said look, I can buy an 04 with no miles for $21000 or less and you want $17000 for this with 30000+ miles from a lease company. I want the least amount you will take for the truck no haggle no problem, I have my my own money what can you do? He says let me ask my sales manager and they both come out. Mgr says I hear you were insulted, well you insult us. What do you want to pay for a truck. As little as possible I say, what's your bottom dollar? What will you give he says. Look I don't want to haggle or play games what is you bottom dollar for the truck? What will you give he says. At this point i said we cant deal, your selling it not me and if you don't know what you will take i cant buy, at this point i move on to another (Benny Boyd) dealership. Not what I call a good way to sell trucks.
Submitted by: claude anderson
Number of dealership visits=3, Last visit date=10/28/04, Date report submitted: Oct 28 18:00:04 EDT 2004

Sales=Avoid, Service=Avoid, Parts=Avoid, bought there=Yes, scv_there=Yes, Buy_DaimlerChrysler_again=No,
Suffice to say that I vowed not to use this dealership ever again to buy a new car, and since last year I have been taking my vehicle for service somewhere else, even though the other dealership is much father away from my house than Allen Samuels (Heart of Texas) Dodge.
Sales experience was negative, It is one of those experiences that you do not want to remember. This guy, Felix (Castanilla? - not sure about the last name, he has one arm crippled - probably birth defect), took all the fun out of buying a new car. Car (Dodge Durango 2002 R/T V8, 5.9 liter engine) had $39,000 price tag. I was paying cash, and another salesman, that I spoke with prior to Felix, told me that for paying cash there will be a discount. Felix denied it, till I told him that there should be a discount for paying 100% of the car price up front with cash, or I walk. Then he gave me this discount. He treated me like some idiot, which I was by buying that car there. He took my driver's license for some reason, and asked me to sign a paper that said, that I would agree to purchase the car, if my price expectations were met. Nevertheless, he still managed to charge me about $450 more from what I expected to pay in hidden charges, which I did not find out till I came home. This is more than "one arm bandits" robbed me of during my last trip to Vegas (sorry for bad joke). He played this game "My manager does not let me give the price you ask" for so long, I got tired and lost track of what was going on. He just wore me out. Car was not in very good condition, even though it was new. They park their cars, right next along with I-35, so if car stays there for a long time it gets all the debris, dust and small stones thrown at it. My NEW car had some scratches and there were some other problems with paint. before I bought this car this Felix guy promised me to fix everything, however after I bought the car attitude drastically changed (Surprise, surprise...). I took the car to their body shop, where it stayed for about a week, then they called me one day and told me that my car was ready. The guy simply told me that had he known what the problem was from the start he could have fixed it in a couple of days. Basically, what he told me was that my car stayed in their body shop needlessly for a week instead of couple of days, just because body shop guy did not even care to look at a car when it arrived.
Afterwards I took my car there several times for service and maintenance. All representatives were inattentive and condescending, without exception. One guy topped it all. When I stated that I hear some clanking noise in the engine, he said that I need to use 93 gas. I pointed him out that manual says I need 87. He says, and I quote,- " I do not care what manual says". Anyway, changing to 93 did not solve the problem.
This is one of those dealerships that only pretend that they care about you. But words are cheap, in reality, IMHO, you need to search quality service elsewhere.
Number of dealership visits=about 10, Last visit date=2003, Date report submitted: Apr 21 17:51:44 EDT 2004

Sales=Excellent, Service=Excellent, Parts=Excellent, bought there=Yes, scv_there=Yes, Buy_DaimlerChrysler_again=Yes,
My husband and I were shopping around at South Point and Maxwell Dodge when one of my co-workers told me to go to Allen Samuels. We walked in and told them what the best offer we had from the others was and they beat it by $900! They were friendly and did not pressure us at all. They called us several times after we bought to ask how we were doing. They also had a free Luncheon for all their newest buyers that was hosted by the service manager Randy Porter who made us feel we could take our vehicle there for quality service anytime (and we have). When we decided to add some running boards to the truck the parts and service were fast and very helpful. They even gave my co-worker $100 for sending us there.
Number of dealership visits=12, Last visit date=12-5-03, Date report submitted: Dec 16 16:49:16 EST 2003

Sales=Avoid, Service=Don't Know, bought there=Yes, scv_there=No,
I purchased a used vehicle there. Our sales person, Scott Sharp, was a great guy to work with. The trouble began when the negotiations were turned over to the sales manager, Timothy Billups. Although an agreement was made, we found him rather rude & abrupt and actually walked away from us without another word when I answered that I hadn't driven the car as yet (we had to ask the salesman what was up with that?) Upon returning home with the vehicle, we found we weren't given a key for it (just the Valet key) and that the keyless entry (part of their sales pitch) did not work as well. Four calls to the dealership found us again speaking with Tim Billups who was rather cold about the matter and said we had to buy a key and keyless entry. I felt the LEAST one should expect when purchasing a vehicle is the KEY to it!
Despite the pleasant Mr. Sharp, we will not buy another car there as long as Mr. Billups is in charge.
Jennifer Asencio       spirit<at>oplnk.net
Number of dealership visits=1, Last visit date=6/30/03, Date report submitted: 30 Jun 2003 16:59

Sales=Excellent, Service=Don't Know, bought there=Yes, scv_there=No,
We had bought from Maggies before and were unsure at first about the dealership since Allen Samuels took over. The salesman made us feel right at home with no pressure. He was totally up front and honest and it made it the easiest car buying experience I ever had. Two of our friends have already bought from them as well on our referral. We will definitely send more friends to them again.
Number of dealership visits=1, Last visit date=5-7-03, Date report submitted: 10 Jun 2003 11:26

Sales=Avoid, Service=Fair, bought there=Yes, scv_there=Yes,
I wanted to purchase a dodge ram quad cab. The used car department plays too many games with me and when I went and got another salesperson, who wanted to work with me . the used car department sabotaged the whole deal.. At last check that truck is still on the lot.
Number of dealership visits=5, Last visit date=March 2002, Date report submitted: 05 May 2003 14:31

Sales=Poor, Service=Avoid, bought there=Yes, scv_there=Yes,
Parts manager (Kyle Henning) was very rude and unhelpful..used profanity in the presence of my wife and I. The service personnel wasn't concerned with my questions relating my vehicle. Demanded that I pay for diagnostic test before they would help me any further!!! Very unprofessional..Go to MAXWELL...
The "New Guys" are certainly getting more than they bargained for buying out the wonderful Maggies Heart of Texas Dodge Co.They should have at least kept the loyal employees!
Disgrunteled Person
Number of dealership visits=40+, Last visit date=4-15-03, Date report submitted: 01 May 2003 01:08

Sales=Poor, Service=Excellent, bought there=Yes, scv_there=Yes,
I have purchased four new vehicles from this dealership and with each of those vehicles, Service Manager Randy Porter and advisor Wayne Kuntz have ALWAYS provided top notch service to each vehicle. These gentlemen always treat my wife and I like royalty every time we arrive and insure that all promises are kept as far as contacts and the time that vehicles would be ready. They are certainly the most valuable asset to a business which can be very deceptive. These gentlemen are certainly contingent to my on future purchases from Allen Samuels.
I certainly have a concern with the 'new' changes that the Samuels corporation are implementing here though. I can certainly notice the unpersonable salesmen they have shipped in from their big 'autoplexes'-- an old saying in the Austin area is 'if it ain't broke --don't try to fix it !' I have already experienced some of great service by not having calls or e-mails returned form the dealership sales department.
Tommy Nobles     nblsfam49<at>cs.com
Number of dealership visits=30+, Last visit date=04/02/2003, Date report submitted: 02 Apr 2003 12:44

Sales=Don't Know, Service=Excellent, bought there=No, scv_there=Yes,
Skip has been a tremendous help any time I visit the dealership! Always friendly and kind, he goes out of his way to make sure I, the customer, am #1 priority. Now that's great service!
Number of dealership visits=3, Last visit date=3-24-03, Date report submitted: 24 Mar 2003 07:21

Sales=Avoid, Service=Don't Know, bought there=No, scv_there=No, Did not want to work with me and my budget. Wanted to only sell me what they had and not what I wanted. Rude and not professional.
Number of dealership visits=1, Last visit date=3-1-2003, Date report submitted: 02 Mar 2003 20:51

Dealership Rating:
	Good sales department, good service
	Fair sales, fair service
	Conflicting or not enough information
	Poor Service or Poor Sales Department
	Avoid like the plague!!
	Don't Know / No Experience

This page was edited on: June 26, 2009