NOTICE: Most of this website will soon be taken down!

Well it appears that the Larry H. Miller Used Cars store in Sandy has ceased its manipulative online review scheme.  So this site was somewhat a success.  I am glad the practice was finally abandoned, and it appears that they have done nothing to replace it with an ethical strategy for getting online reviews.  That’s unfortunate.  The purpose of this site was not to negatively impact business for the store.  It was to change something that needed to be changed.  I haven’t been back to buy another car yet, so I can’t speak as to whether changes have been made in how they sell finance products such as anti-theft registration.  However, looking at the recent “real” Google reviews, I can’t say that I want to give ‘em another try!

That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t purchase at all from Larry H Miller.  It just means that the individual store may not be the best fit for you.  I have friends who work at LHM dealerships.  I worked at one in Lakewood, CO for a time.  It’s a GREAT company!  I can’t stress that enough.  Larry Miller was a great member of the community.  His businesses are still run very well.  His employees are happy (the ones I know anyway), and he continues to have a positive impact on our economy and communities.

It appears that some changes have occurred at the Used Car Supermarket in Sandy.  But I don’t think they are the result of this blog.  Ephraim Williams appears to no longer work there.  The Internet Manager seems to have moved on as well as the finance manager who worked with me.  The complaints you see online are kind of “frivolous” for the most part and typical of a car dealership.  Keep that in mind when reviewing complaints of car dealerships.  If the customer says they were “lied to” or that the salesman promised one thing, but didn’t include it in the contract and you were ripped off, you can disregard many of those complaints.  The solution to making sure you don’t end up feeling bad is to just get everything in writing.  Review the line items on the contract.  If something is in there you didn’t agree to, raise the concern THEN.  Don’t sign and think you can walk out and just bring it up with the salesman later.  That’s what I did.  As soon as I noticed something on the contract that I did not agree to, I raised the concern.  In my case, I was told I didn’t have the option to refuse the anti-theft registration.  Steve Starks later affirmed that I should have been able to refuse that line item.  They met with that finance manager and addressed the issue.  I am happy with how the LHM group addressed my concerns.  I have no problems doing business with the LHM group in the future.  Although, I will try out a different store next time!

As a result I will be taking down most of this website as it has served its purpose.  However, the Stockton 12 Honda post will remain.  That LHM Auto dealership continues to engage in manipulative and unethical Online Review tactics.  It was bad…and now it seems to have worsened.  Read the text of the following review.  It doesn’t sound like a “5 star review.”  It sounds like the customer was very disappointed and felt mislead about an Internet advertisement they didn’t qualify for, yet the company hired by Stockton 12, likely reviewboost.com, still posted it as a 5 star review.  Here’s a screenshot:

As a side note, I’m going to actually go in and check these guys out shortly.  I have a 2007 Honda Odyssey that has a power steering pump issue covered under warranty.  I’ll be sure to post my authentic review to all of the appropriate websites once that service is completed.