John W Smz
map-marker Palm Harbor, Florida

Service long wait

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made apointment for 915 left at 140 . a oil change tire rotation and check why my 2018 f150 using oil and a electric outlet wasnt working . they new i was waiting you would think they would tell you how long , at 1230 i ask how long the lady at desk says 20 minutes a hour later it was done . T he last hour i could see the tecknican put the oil in and rotate the tires and now i have to come back to check the oil for the 3rd time
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Preferred solution: hope they can improve

User's recommendation: long wait time , your time is not important

Wlliam B
map-marker Tarpon Springs, Florida

Don't Buy a car from them

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Karl Flammer Ford - Don't Buy a car from them
Bought a 2003 Ford T-Bird from them. After I got home I discovered the following: The transmission was showing an "E" indicating a bad transmission, had it fixed ($2,441.25) Brakes are bad, almost can't stop. Goodyear couldn't fix them. Hard top leaked rain water in front, was not installed right. Moldy odor coming from soft top boot, probably put away wet. The radio audio started to cut in and out. My sales person said "AS IS" the dealership has NO responsibility. I won't go into all the lies I was told, just don"t trust them as they will screw you over.
View full review
Loss:
$3000
Pros:
  • Good coffee machine
Reason of review:
Not as described/ advertised

Preferred solution: Let the company propose a solution

Steve w Lkl
map-marker Tarpon Springs, Florida

AC problem misdiagnosed

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Went in for a problem with my AC. Was told I needed a new evaporator at a cost of $ 1750.00. The problem ended up being a broken piece with the recirculating system. I went back and explained the problem to the service advisor and showed her the broken part. All she wanted to do was argue with me that I was wrong. I was told I needed to speak to the service manager if I wanted a refund on the misdiagnosis. After waiting 30 min to no avail I gave up. I recommend that you get a second opinion for all major repairs.
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Loss:
$77
Reason of review:
AC problem misdiagnosed

Preferred solution: Full refund

Anonymous
map-marker Tarpon Springs, Florida

This place will *** you around

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Never fealt more jerked around by a dealership and i wont purchase anything from them. They will say whatever it takes to get you at the dealership and promise you all kinds of things then they will back out while you are signing papers or act like they forgot. Cant miss there sales manager he is the biggest tool in there, pretty tall and the personality of a diaper.
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Reason of review:
Poor customer service
Anonymous
map-marker Brooksville, Florida

Karl Flammer Ford - Car Review from Brooksville, Florida

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I purched two vehicles. I found out two years later that both vehicles had been involved in a crash. Carfax showed no damage to the vehicles. I contacted the prior owners and they confermend the damage to the vehicles. I feel the fix for a water leak was fixed by stopleak. I fushed the system to update the Antifreeze and found the head leaking. I feel this is how Flammer repairs their used cars and sale as is. Don t purchase a used car from these cons. I feel I bought a car fom a buy here car lot.
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Reason of review:
Not as described/ advertised
Shekita Ldh
map-marker New Port Richey, Florida

Karl Flammer Ford - Customer Care Review from New Port Richey, Florida

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Karl "Flim" Flammer Ford. A small Podunk redneck car dealership that hires brainless monkeys, yes men, and flim flam flunkies. Don't waste your time taking your car to their body shop...they don't know how the game is played and they cater to the insurance company not the customer. Beware!
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Reason of review:
Poor customer service
2 comments
Guest

I am sure your comment of "they don't know how the game is played" is referring to having the body shop absorb your deductible. If so, I need to comment on your statement.

I have been in your shoes before. And, I have had the opportunity to work in the transportation and insurance industry for 30 years.

Let me begin by asking you what you pay an electrician for an electrical repair in your home; an air conditioning repair on your a/c unit in your home; or a plumber to unclog your drain; a computer expert to clean your hard drive...

Most of those companies get 100-200 per hour and many charge much much more. Sometimes a 10 minute repair on your a/c unit blower fan costs upwards of $800. Little do you know that the fan can be bought for $100.

And $700 in labor is charged. The job was quoted to you as a "complete repair".... you don't know the breakdown of the bill; all you know is that the repair costs $800. Huge profits for that industry and everyone in that business will agree.

How about the computer repair that was an hour.

Maybe 10 minutes of actual work and 50 minutes of computer back-up download for $200.

The hour rates on those 2 examples are startling and shocking. Yet, it's accepted because it's free enterprise. And, there are many many other examples that are right in front of us everyday that... if we took the time to see how much we are paying for the actual labor involved with the service, we would be shocked.

The body shop industry has been under the arm-pits of the insurance companies every since the first insurance company wrote a claim on a vehicle. Some little know facts about this industry: The majority of a body shop's business is insurance related (except specialty paint shops). The majority of states allow insurance companies to dictate where you repair your vehicle. These Insurance companies have "DRP's" (Direct Repair Facilities).

If you have a claim with an insurance company due to an accident in one of those states, you will be forced to go to an on-site evaluation center, have your car reviewed for damage repairs by an adjuster directly employed by your insurance company; and then you will be told where you must repair your car. You may have a couple choices but only shops that are in their DRP program. You see, shops that are a DRP for a particular insurance company must accept their demands; their hourly rates for repair; and their guidelines. Some insurance companies, depending on the state, pay as little as $35 per hour to their DRP body shops.

Some will pay a little more. And, many pay about $45. Now lets see... a little research can show you that a good body man will demand $20 per hour and a good paint man about $30 per hour.

But, if the body shop is only collecting $45, there is only about $15-25 per hour in profit.... Maybe. Then the shop has it's overhead, rent, taxes, OSHA regulations, federal employee matching taxes, Workers Comp, benefits, and many many many more expenses. Yes, the body shop also makes money on the actual part itself.

That fender that needs to be replaced, is procured from a dealership. The difference in the cost that the dealer charges and the amount that the insurance company pays for the fender is also profit for the body shop. BUT... this profit is minimal.

And, the insurance company at times also dictates where to buy those parts... especially if the part is used. The insurance companies dictate this business now. Their lobbyists are always padding the pockets of the politicians in order to maintain control.

the insurance companies have the biggest profits... the multi-million dollar commissions earned by keeping a low cost per claim paid... Local body shops are disappearing across the country. Businesses that have been around for 50 years are closing due to insurance regulations and limitations on rate.

Insurance companies WANT that to happen. They WANT these shops to close. Insurance companies have already begun to create their own "one stop repair centers"... owned and operated by the insurance companies...

so THEY can retain even more profits by eliminating the middle man. Back in the 70's and 80's, "playing the game" as you put it was wide-spread. Body Shops could work with insurance adjusters, partake in "over-writing" claims (insurance fraud), pay off adjusters to get a higher dollar claim; some body shops would create additional damage on vehicles just to make the claim more in value; and some shops would repair parts in-lieu of replacement of a damaged part. All this, so body shops could be more profitable; so the body shop could absorb the customer's deductible; so the body shop could be competitive against other body shops.

Those days are long gone. I could write so much more about this business... but, in the end... if your comment was directed towards absorbing the deductible that your insurance company charges...

blame the insurance companies... Body shops should never take part in insurance fraud. But, they could absorb the deductible a lot easier if the noose around their neck wasn't driving current trends. Less insurance regulation allows for better competition, a better repaired vehicle, and for America's small business growth.

E-mail your congressman to always vote against insurance regulations...

against the insurance company's control of our small businesses...

Guest

Sounds like this knucklehead is upset because he couldn't get this repair shop to partner in insurance fraud. How is that a bad thing?

And if would-be fraudsters stay away from Flammer Ford, it should leave more doughnuts for the rest of us!

I note that there can be some delays in this shop.

For an oil change, I dropped off in the morning and will go back at close.

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Anonymous
map-marker Chicago, Illinois

Karl Flammer Ford Staff Review

Would just like to say thank you very much to jeremy! He was kind enough to rescue my daughter and i when we had car trouble on highway near the dealer! He saved the day for us!took time out of his busy schedule to walk across busy road to assist! What a guy you have working for you!
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Reason of review:
Good customer service
Anonymous
map-marker Dunedin, Florida

Other Product Review

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Robbie Bender is the only go to professional. Period!!!
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Anonymous
map-marker Tarpon Springs, Florida

Horrible Service!

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Women beware! The service manager talks down to women as if they know nothing about cars and trucks! Even if you know exactly what is wrong (because you drive the vehicle every day)! He will argue with you as if you do not know what you are talking about! AND he is a complete ***! He says one thing, and then a few minutes later, he forgets and claims something completely different. If you call him out on it, he insists that he never said that. If he is not a crack addict, he must definitely be medicated or something! Don't waste your time getting your blood pressure up with this *** and getting nothing done!!
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Reason of review:
Poor customer service
5 comments
Guest

Odd comment - 2 of the 4 service advisors are female. If you ever go back, I suggest you ask for Darlene.

She takes a little too long with every customer, but everyone of us trusts her to get it right, get it on time, and to find a better than fair price for the requested service. (Particularly good on getting warranty coverage.)

Guest

Settle down little momma. Is it that time of the month?

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1007104

This is the kind of response you should expect from the *** service manager, Rob!

Guest

Wow, I came here, via google search. Because my wife has had the SAME issue on, now, 3 different Ford's !?!

Couldn't agree with you more that FLAMMER FORD SUCKS! Our family has owned 6 fords & we live in Tarpon Springs and have avoided Karl flammer for 15 years.

**Go to Tampa or Port Richey.

: / How sad we can not go to a dealer 6 minutes down the street, because of continued Lies, False stories, Rebate Cheats, Condesending Service Creeps!!!

I have known fellow Tarpon Ford-owning, business owners for the last 18 years and they all go to SunCoast Ford or Elder.

Real people have no time for to make Flammer Ford Complaints or allow Karl Flammer Ford Scams.

Thanks for writing this..

BEWARE: VETERANS Ford SUCKS TOO!!

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-1007100

I would hope that you go back and thy this dealer again. I have had great experiences there.

In addition, the place looks like it has been upgraded, some of the people are new so they must have eliminated the problems. The donuts are the same, but the smiles and a genuine caring attitude from everyone I met is a good welcoming.

View more comments (4)
Anonymous
map-marker Tampa, Florida

An oil change that got my car lost

I went in for an oil change dropped off my car, they said they'd call when it was done. They called, I showed up to pick up my car, but it wasn't out waiting for me. So I waited for about half an hour before asking if my car was done and they said it was but they didn't know where the porter had left it, before he went to lunch. What! So my cars done and ready to be paid for but you don't know where it's at other than on the lot. So needless to say I'd lost over an hour, which made me late for work. But finally another hour passed before the porter came back from lunch, and pulled my car up from wherever it was that the service department couldn't find it at. Just kinda makes you wonder where it was that it couldn't be found. My best guess is it was out to lunch with somebody who works there. Use caution when leaving your vehicle here.
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Loss:
$150
Anonymous
map-marker Tarpon Springs, Florida

HORRIBLE SERVICE AT KARL FLAMMER FORD!

Tarpon springs, Fl location.. My truck was left there over memorial day weekend. When i received it back, there was a crack in my windshield & not only did they take it for a joy ride, well over 50 miles.... they spun my new tires which caused a flat spot Now there is a thumping sound when i drive it...reminding me daily of what theyve done. . No apology. Horrible customer service! Stay away!! BOB the Service mgr was extremely rude & unproffessional! Even called me a liar. After i spent $990..this is how im treated?? Very unacceptable. They ruined all chances of me returning to get the rest of the work done. Dont go here! You will be sorry!!!
View full review
Loss:
$1500
1 comment
Guest

The service manager's name is Rob, and he is a complete ***! He is VERY rude and unprofessional!

He refused to coordinate service for my truck and insisted that there was nothing wrong with it--without even looking at it! I'm the one driving it!

Wouldn't I know if a brand new truck is not responding the way it should?!! Go out of your way to stay away from this calamity!!

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