This incident occured at 5:30 PM on November 6 at Camelback Subaru. I met my girlfriend there because she was looking to buy a used Nissan Xterra.
When I got there, I asked the salesman if I could use a computer. I was going to use it to look up prices to make sure she was getting the best deal.

So the salesman is standing right behind me, watching over my shoulder. I ask him if he could stop watching over my shoulder and stand somewhere else. He responded with a growl and said "Don't tell me what to do". He ended up standing a couple steps away.

So after doing some research, we find that the xterra isnt any great deal, so she asks the salesman for her keys back and she was going to leave. The guy turns to me and yells at me "You don't ever tell me what to do. Im not a slave. I'm an American. The only reason people like you are here is because of me"

I am asian american.

I ask him "what did you just say" and he repeats it and my girlfriend holds me back. I did not throw any punches, nor even say much, just glared at him. After a big scene, the manager comes out, we tell him the story and he doesn't give a s*it and asks us to leave the property after offering an insincere apology to my girlfriend, NOT to me.

The salesman's name is Carl Rossi.
The director of used car sales is named Scott Vickery.

This is to let people know about the way a Camelback Subaru employee treats its customers.

Please think twice about shopping there if you do not tolerate racism.

Yep, sounds like Camelback...head over to PITRE, the SW REGION NASIOC approved(unofficially of course) dealer up there ;)

Sorry to hear what happened, it is completely unacceptable. So called "Americans" like this belong someplace else, not in America...

Take it as a grain of salt, don't let it get to you...sadly there are people with that mentality in this country, and probably others, but thats life.

I'm sure Camelback will be going bankrupt soon, especially with representatives such as those, so that can be your revenge! Thanks for spreading the news.

Try to smile, and good luck with your car search.

fibuz

The salesman's name is Carl Rossi.
The director of used car sales is named Scott Vickery.

This is to let people know about the way a Camelback Subaru employee treats its customers.

Please think twice about shopping there if you do not tolerate racism.

Jeez, I had a really good experience there in the new car area. Don't worry about one rogue d&%#head salesman. He was probably just bitter because it's starting to be the slow holiday season and he was working in the USED car section. :lol:

I have had trouble with people being idiots and not knowing what they are talking about (parts dept.) at PITRE. But thats not as bad as racism! I'd rather talk to a ****ing idiot than a ****ing idiot racist!

Thanks guys for the support.

The most frustrating thing about this is that I feel helpless. Sure I can post everywhere about this experience, complain to all the upper management, and he will probably lose his job. But that is all cold comfort when you get slapped in your face about your ethnicity.

I just hope to open some eyes about the way people still think these days... Also kinda ironic that he is selling japanese cars eh?

Thanks again for listening.

If it makes ya feel any better, my gf calls me a wannabe asian bc of my car, my friends, my food tastes, and my taste in women, and I'm just a tall white dude.

on a serious note, there is no room for that in todays business world. I'm sure he was just upset that he lost the sale and was about to get fired for not meeting his quota. Just look at Gil from the simpsons :D

...The most frustrating thing about this is that I feel helpless. Sure I can post everywhere about this experience, complain to all the upper management, and he will probably lose his job...

more than just his job... I, an Asian American, will no longer look to Camelback for anything...

I realize that every workplace has there share of douchebags... it not the treatment you get from the douchebag that's important, it's the management taking responsibility for their employees and showing the customer that THE CUSTOMER is the reason THEY have a job... I make it a point to never go to places where I've experienced treatment less than the slogan "the customer is always right." You know the age-old question in ANY successful business, "what do you do with a bad customer?" Answer: There is no such thing as a bad customer...

Thanks for the info, and I hope that the people who run AzScooby will get hot on this also...

-Shane

Shane, I think you put it perfectly... I hope this doesn't just open the eyes of the Asian community, but to everyone of different ethnicity.

PS: What is AzScooby? I am trying to spread the word to everyone I know. Even going to see who I can contact at the Chinese culture center to spread the word.

PS: What is AzScooby? I am trying to spread the word to everyone I know. Even going to see who I can contact at the Chinese culture center to spread the word.

Azscooby --> www.azscooby.com is the local subaru club that has setup some excellent ties with Pitre Subaru. That's a official statement. Pitre is the official Subaru dealer, parts department and factory service location approved by Azscooby.com

We (Aaron and Dan, and a little from myself) have worked extremely hard to create a very trusting environment between Azscooby and Pitre. We always get treated right when dealing with Richard (GM), Dave Revere (the only sales person you should talk to) and Harris / Carter in the service area.

There is another local subaru group that has promoted Camelcrack, and I'll say "CamelCrack" again. Consider it broughten. :disco:

Thanks kastle. Should I send an email to the contact on the AZScooby website? Also, who is promoting Camelback Subaru? I want them to know about this also. Thanks!

That sucks that you had an experience like that, especially because of the image that car salesmen/women have in the first place. It really is too bad when one person in an already maligned group goes so far out of his way to reinforce the classic stereotypes that exist in that profession.

I work with car salespeople from lower end import manufacturers all the way up to the higher-end European companies and I can tell you that there are true jackasses no matter who or what brand you're dealing with. There will always be people that take calls in the middle of a meeting, that think of customers as victims and that consider taking advantage of a customer proof of their manhood. The majority, however, are just trying to make a living and are for the most part good people. I've met salesmen with Ivy league doctorates that sell just because they enjoy interacting with people. I've met convicts that are trying to get their life together while supporting a family through the only profession that will readily hire people fresh out of prison. Most of them are good guys, but there are a lot out to make a quick buck.

I guess what I'm saying is that I'm sorry you had this experience, but don't let it color your opinions of all car salespeople. The guy you talked to was a jerk, and won't last more than a couple months in the business. The real professionals are the ones that treat you like they want to see you again for your next car. Unfortunately, they really don't stick out too well in the crowd.

Good luck finding the Xterra your GF wants. And I'm throwing in one more vote for Pitre as a stand-up dealership. I've had my conflicts with them in the past, but they've done what they could to make things right, and that in and of itself is rare these days.

Pitre is the way to go for sure...

-Matt

Thanks kastle. Should I send an email to the contact on the AZScooby website? Also, who is promoting Camelback Subaru? I want them to know about this also. Thanks!

There is another Arizona club that, IIRC, didn't like the way things were run so they started their own club and made contacts at Camelcrack (yes, I said it again). They are on the boards here (AZ-subaru is the club name and it's run by dublurx).

Just shoot a PM to AaronB if you want more club information about AZScooby or goto the website (www.azscooby.com).

Pitre is the way to go for sure...

-Matt

Too bad I got a much better deal on my car/trade at Camelback.

Michael Ehle here at 21Bell Subaru. I just have to add my two cents to this because, as some of you know, I used to work at CamelCrack. Yes, Kastle, I'll say it too! I left 21Bell when they switched management over a year ago and told me that I would have to pound customers to get them to buy a car. NO WAY! I went to CamelCrack with Dan Oliver, who has also been recommended in this forum along with me, and we did well together for almost a year until they fired Dan for no apparent reason, then the new sales manager Vern Chamberlein told me to do his job for him and I chose to leave immediately. With their revolving door philosophy of employee management this incident does not surprise me at all. BUT.... This type of behavior is unacceptable no matter what business you're in. PERIOD! :furious:
I have returned to my roots at 21Bell Subaru because I was promised that we would never have to lie to, or work a customer hard, just to get them to buy a car. There will be new owners here soon but it will remain a privately owned dealership and I will post more about this change when the timing is appropriate. In the meantime, I cannot say anything bad about PITRE, I know most of the guys there and enjoy their company at every Subaru training session. The previous GM here has moved to PITRE so watch out for Frank Vaupell, see Dave or Richard as noted above, or... if you're in my area, then please give me a chance. As long as I have a breath left in my body NOBODY will ever be treated in any way but with the utmost respect and integrity at any dealership I work with.

Michael D. Ehle, Internet Manager, 21Bell Subaru, 2141 E. Bell Rd. Phx, AZ :)

I got my car at 21 bell and Michael was my sales guy it was a great experiance working with him

Go Michael!!

-Matt

There is another Arizona club that, IIRC, didn't like the way things were run so they started their own club and made contacts at Camelcrack (yes, I said it again). They are on the boards here (AZ-subaru is the club name and it's run by dublurx).

Not to be confused with DubuRX... ;)

Sorry to hear about what kind of ******** there are out there...

thats kind of weird, because i'm also asian and I went to camelback subaru not too long ago. They were friendly and nice when I went in there, and helped me with all my needs.

Just got a response from Subaru of America pretty much saying that they were not going to do much of anything:

"The circumstances do not warrant that we
require written correspondence from them, or the demand for the termination
of one of their employees"

Amazing what people can get away with nowadays...

TPC, i do not think you understand. First of all, of course Camelback Subaru isn't going to outright discriminate against asians. Second, the comment made my Carl was not just towards asians, but towards anyone of different ethnicity.

Thanks again everyone for their kind words.

don't forget about me guys when I get into Avondale Subaru (when they are done building it) for those of you who don't prefer to drive to Snobbsdale :p

Michael D. Ehle, Internet Manager, 21Bell Subaru, 2141 E. Bell Rd. Phx, AZ :)

I can vouch for Michael. I purchased a car from him at Camelback. Really nice guy and no B.S. Trust me, this is my 5th new car in 7 years, so I can smell the B.S. from a mile away(***cough***ABC Nissan***cough***)

:banana: :disco:

Michael D. Ehle, Internet Manager, 21Bell Subaru, 2141 E. Bell Rd. Phx, AZ :)

I can vouch for Michael. I purchased a car from him at Camelback. Really nice guy and no B.S. Trust me, this is my 5th new car in 7 years so I can smell the B.S. from a mile away(***cough***ABC Nissan***cough***)

:banana: :disco:

Matt F.

I can't say I'm completely shocked about this incident. I approached Camelback over the web asking for a price on an 05 STi. They only had one STi on the lot. When I went there to look at it, they did the same thing of taking my key to my old car to evaluate its worth. They made me stand around a long time before coming out to tell me what my current car was worth. I had to specifically ask for my keys back. Later when Pitre offered me a better deal, the sales person acted annoyed and frustrated telling me 'I've been working with you for a month now'. They were unprofessional and borderline rude. Camelback used salesmen tactics where Pitre was friendly, honest and matter-of-fact (they even had an STi you could TEST DRIVE).

That's my $.02

It really seems like it is luck of the draw as to the salesman and the quality of service....
I bought our car from Camelback a few months ago. I dealt with people from 21 Bell and Camelback. I would say that I would have preferred to by from 21 Bell and they were more helpfull, but they couldn't quite match the deal I got from Camelback. Camelback weren't bad, but definitely not as nice as those guys at 21 Bell ;)

I have never been to Camelback Subaru but I did go to Pitre ONCE. Stopped there in December of '02 while Christmas shopping with a friend. I stood in the showroom for about 10 minutes and didn't get even a glance. Salesmen walked in and out of their offices talking about football and whatever drunken adventures they had had the night before. Now I am young, and I understand that young people usually don't have money and they have to wait for mom and dad to come pay for it, but you should at least give them service. Because, if you're nice that kid will go to mom and dad and say "that dude was nice, can we buy the car there". But no, I didn't get anything. So I walked out the door yelling out "Way to lose a sale!” When I did get the money to get the car the following February, I contemplated traveling to Exclusively Subaru in Ontario, CA. However, I decided to give Emich in Tucson a chance. Pulled up at 6PM and was out with my WRX at 7:15. Twas my first car buying experience and it was not at all bad.

~D
BTW, I went to Exclusively Subaru in August with my brother and they are dicks also.

bobturismo-you gonna guarantee fairness and great customer service? ;)

I wouldn't mind going to another dealership other than Pitre but, I have yet to come across one that compares...that's on any dealership level. I went to Bell and I got the worst customer service I've ever had. I was by myself, my battery was dead(running because I was jumped) and told leave the car or lump it...I'm mad to this day because of his rudeness....Dave at Pitre is the BOMB!!!!

Melanie