Tom Benson Chevrolet

Yesterday I purchased my first car. The process has been extremely stressful until I came to this dealership. I was shopping with my mom and every other dealership car salesmen were sexist and tried screwing me over even when I have done my research and proved them wrong. From the first moment I met my salesman Austin Bowen I knew I would be treated differently. Austin was outstanding with customer service and went above and beyond to help me. The finance manager Jose was also a great sport and made the process easy and talked me through everything, everyone from Jimmy the used car manger to the Vice President were outstanding. They treated me like family and really cared about my wants and needs. I highly recommend Tom Benson Chevy to anyone looking for a car.

While I went there for the eye candy I saw on their site of a stunning 2008 Corvette, I left there in a 2015 Mustang GT thanks to the help, patience, and care given to me by Colby. We went over the performance numbers, we went over the drawbacks, we went over and over and over the pros and cons of either, and I must say, I’m surprised he had the perseverance to put up with my see-​saw between two amazing rides. In the end and after a total of four test-​drives, I chose the 50^th anniversary of awesome-​sauce, the Mustang 5.0 GT. It’s been about a week now and it’s nice to know not only do I have a good, reliable, and warrantied car, but I also got a good deal, too. Thanks, Colby!

A little public service announcement…
DO NOT SHOP AT BENSON CHEVROLET IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS!!!
I have had the opportunity to purchase 5 cars, 7 houses and the obvious many smaller items and nothing was as difficult as buying a car from this dealership. Why? At the end of the day don’t we want the same thing? Don’t I want to buy a car and don’t they want to sell me one?
I decided to purchase a Chevrolet because their vehicles now have the 4G capability. This turns your car into a wireless hotspot making the DVD player obsolete. This was the only reason I was buying a Chevrolet. With three boys, that feature would make my life easier.
What did I do? First, I called to see if Benson had any 2015 models for lesson money. Yes? Okay I’m on my way. When I showed up they informed me that the «2015 model wasn’t available for viewing but they’d sell me the 2016 for the same price.» Sounds like a deal. Just to verify (for the hundredth time), it does have the 4G? Yes? Great.
Here comes a series of lying, manipulating and general unethical conduct.
When we went to sign the contract, they changed the price on us. They were charging us the 2016 price. Luckily I was reading it. After plenty of arguing, I was informed they did have the 2015 in stock if I wanted to purchase a car with fewer features for a lower price. Oh? What missing features? You know, no back up sensors, lower quality seat material, no seat warmers… «But does it have the 4G «I kept asking. Absolutely! «ALL 2015 and newer models have that technology.» Ok. You may have been trying to trick me but let’s move forward anyway. I should have known better.
Off the lot I go, nice new car in hand.
When I got home I called onstar to set up my 4G. The response? «This vehicle does not have that capability». What?
Back to the dealership. Now I’m dealing with the manager. His response? Yeah, that lower model of car doesn’t have that capability. «But I was specifically told it did! It said onstar on the listing of features». His reply was «it has onstar but not 4G through onstar». I’m floored. What can we do? «Nothing». Can I trade it in and get what I want? «It’s your car now. There’s nothing I can do. If you want to trade it in, you will get the used car value. «. What?!? It’s been less than 24 hours. I want to speak to the general manager.
Now I’m interacting with the GM. Indeed that car doesn’t have 4G capability but to make me happy he’ll after factory install it. Ok. I’m calming down. He’ll call me when the parts come in.
5 days later… Well, the part came in but it isn’t 4G, it’s the older 3G technology. That’s not what I want. I don’t want old technology. I want what I was told I was going to get. Again, can I trade it in and get what I want? Well, today we filed the title with the state and then it’s too late to trade in. But I was told 5 DAYS AGO, when the title had not been filed, that option was not available to me. I was also told you were fixing the problem. FIX THIS PROBLEM.
Well, after they called the dps, they were able to stop the paperwork. Now I can trade the car but… they are going to sell me the really expensive (much more) vehicle at full price.
No discounts from the dealership. No «sorry for wasting your time and making this a huge inconvenience.» No concern about anything. When Darren traded in the car, he wasn’t even dealing with the GM or the manager. They just sent him to the sales person.
Don’t let the door kick you in the way out.
Save yourself the headache and find somewhere else to shop.

Best customer service. I needed air on my tires. I stopped by if they can check my tire air pressure. No hesitation and the gentleman. .I wish I got his name… even offer to wash my car. I’ve been here few times and customer service is always top of the notch.

20,000 miles later… check engine light came back on. I replaced a faulty oxygen sensor. Cost me $ 30. Problem solved.
And to think these crooks wanted $ 1500 to fix a problem that really only cost $ 30. Don’t take your vehicle to get serviced here.
And if someone from TB chimes in telling me to call them to «make it right», don’t bother. The only way you guys can make anything right is to reimburse me for the $ 40 diagnostic fee. Which I know isn’t gonna happen.

I ordered a 2016 corvette from another out of state dealer and had it courtesy delivered to Tom Benson chevy.
Before I start, if anyone is looking to buy a new vette for significantly less (more than a few thousand) I highly suggest NOT trying to go to any local dealership, including this one). Order out of state from one of the large volume dealers in the country, and have it «courtesy delivered» to a dealership (just not this one) here directly from the factory. You’ll get the car you want in a timely manner, for the best price anywhere.
Walking in the front door and being greeted by 3 looking down their nose salesman wasn’t a good start. Maybe it’s because I was wearing shorts, flip flops, and a 3 day shave. Then I was referred to David Espinoza, who handles fleet and courtesy deliveries for the dealership. Well it took Mr. Espinoza 5 min to figure out who I was (my car had already been delivered) and that I was the actual customer, not picking it up for some service.
No PDI was performed prior to deliver, which is supposed to be standard by dealers for corvettes.
It cost me $ 450, which is a ridiculous price for the service being provided. This includes inspection, a tank of gas and washing it (which I opted out of).
So when I handed $ 460 in cash to Mr. Espinoza, I wasn’t even offered change, hahahahahaha, very business like. No big deal, I just wanted my car and to get the hell out of there. After that we go out to where the car is sitting. I brought my temporary tags. So he unscrews the rear license plate and proceeds to rest what came off of the back of the car on top of the car! I about shit myself. Seriously? That is not the type of care I would expect a salesman to have when dealing with any new car.
The sole redeeming quality, and not even quite that. Is that my car was done in a timely manner, Mr. Espinoza had the vehicle ready the day after delivery as asked. Which should have been expected, I could have unpacked and drove the car out of there in 30 min by myself.
I won’t be returning to this dealership in the future for any reason, including regular service.
And unfortunately I just wouldn’t be comfortable about the quality of service I would receive in the future here due to my bad experience.
8÷31÷15 Received a call from Mr. Espinoza today in response to my review. He asked me if there was anything that he can do, and asked what it was I did not like that was done. I let him know that I would not change my review, since that was my honest experience with the dealership. But I would let it be known that I appreciate his call, I think that it says something for professionalism and I like a direct way of doing things. Unfortunately, it does not change my prior experience.
9÷4÷16 Thanks for my $ 10 in change in the mail tom benson chevy. Here’s a business tip, typically customers get that at the time of sale.

The customer waiting area is great if you are here for service on your vehicle. It is set up like a small coffee shop. Bar seating with about 6 to 8 seats, and a server behind the counter, who is very helpful. There are a couple tables with chairs, and several sofa-​type seats. Free coffee, cookies, and pastries. Very comfortable. Several TVs and magazine racks, too.
My only issue is that the wait time is extremely long. I have only been here twice — both on Saturdays — because I cannot come here during the workweek. Service has been incredibly slow. This is less of a problem because of the waiting area. But, today, for example, the wait has been so long that I was beginning to think that they were building me a new vehicle. I have been here for FOUR HOURS. I came here for an oil change and a check engine light. After FOUR HOURS, they finally diagnosed the issue and gave me a cost estimate.
Now, after FOUR HOURS, I’m waiting for the actual work to be done. So much for my day off. Glad I brought my iPad and a thick book.

DO NOT TAKE YOUR VEHICLE HERE FOR SERVICE! WHAT A SCAM OPERATION!
I took my girlfriend’s vehicle here because it was lurching and pulling when it accelerated or shifted gears and had a check engine light. About 90 minutes after we dropped it off, and a $ 40 diagnostic fee later, the service rep called to inform me that the transmission fluid had metal shavings in it, therefore the transmission needed to be replaced to the tune of roughly $ 4000. He was all to eager to offer us a trade in value of 300 – 500 dollars and put me in touch with a sales representative.
The next day I took the vehicle to Freedom Chevrolet service to get a second opinion. The service rep there determined it was an engine harness problem, with a repair cost of $ 350. I specifically mentioned to him that Tom Benson’s service techs reported metal shavings in the fluid, to which he stated that there was no way that they had checked the fluid, as the fluid could not be checked without dropping the entire pan, which had clearly not occurred. Upon completion of the repair, the vehicle ran perfectly. No diagnostic fee was charged.
Long story short is the techs at Tom Benson grossly exaggerated the severity of the maintenance issue to coerce us in to either a costly repair or purchasing another vehicle. In addition we spent several evenings driving around looking for another vehicle when our vehicle could have been repaired that day. I will never do business with them again and would strongly advise others to avoid at all costs.

I bought a car from Tom Benson on Memorial Day. The salesman was Jerry Villareal. I had a great experience and great customer service at Tom Benson and I would buy another car from them in the future.

Some car dealerships rub me the wrong way but this one didnt. At Tom Benson I walked in and met Jacob, young guy who knows his stuff, I think he should grow a beard or mustache but that’s neither here nor there. I told him exactly what I was looking for, what I did and didn’t want, and he found a truck and added a sun roof and power back window and bam. I had the truck I wanted and without any crap I don’t care about. He helped me customize the perfect truck and I rolled out of there feeling like a pirate, I might even start wearing an eye patch, but once again I digress. His manager and the finance guy were able to work me out a deal and a payment I felt very comfortable with. While waiting I stuffed my face with free cookies and coke, I may be going into diabetic shock or it could just be the adrenaline from the sweet ride I’m about to leave with. This guy wheeled and dealed the crap out of my trade in, got me top dollar even though it was in a little rough shape. In the future when I trade in my truck or look for something new I’m going to hit them up first because I feel like they did me right. Ask for Jacob, they call him «Jake the Snake»

My son ran into a pole, had it towed to Nationwide’s recommendation of the closest place of Benson Collision. Huge mistake. This was his first accident, rookie mistake and Benson saw him coming a mile away. These guys have terrible customer service, extremely over priced (getting the work done for less than half– we aren’t claiming it because the repairs are far less than the deductible– another rookie mistake on my son’s part: too high of a deductible. Live and learn!). Benson took days to even look at the car, then charged us «storage and Admin fees». What?!? It was only «stored» there because they wouldn’t call for days with any estimate or feedback at all! I could understand a small diagnostic charge but the other is typical car dealership crookedness. We will be putting in a BBB complaint for this company.

I love the car and got a great deal (way below MSRP) on my new Chevy Sonic, but Tom Benson’s customer service is terrible. Jonathan and I talked a bunch before I bought the car, but once I bought it. That wonderful customer service stopped. I purchased an accessory with my car, and was told it would be on site in a few days.
I text and ask if the part is in, and never received a response. So I swing by on lunch eager to get my accessory. After a few minutes, I find out the part won’t be in until the following Monday.
OK so Monday rolls around, and I call checking on my tray and informing Charlie, the Sale Manager, I left a parking pass in the vehicle I traded in. «Let me check and I’ll call you back and let you know about the accessory and the parking pass.» Is the response I get.
Tuesday rolls around, and I call back. Justin says «I’ll call you back in twenty minutes.» I call back two hours later (7 PM) and get an answering machine.
Still waiting for a response, but I’m not holding my breath. Think I’m done buying autos from Tom Benson. Sad because I’ll need to buy a new vehicle every five years at job that I’m at, because of the reimbursement program I’m under.
Don’t get me started on the frustration TB gave me getting a sheet listing my vehicles MSRP, first I was given a window sticker, which my company wouldn’t accept, then I was given my signed contract. Finally Lance was able to provide what I needed.
Kind of sad. It feels like once they get your money you aren’t important anymore.

The parts department guy was unfriendly and unhelpful. WE asked him how he was, he did not waste any false pleasantries on us by reciprocating the question. In fact, not even a glimmer of a smile was to be had during the entire interaction. We asked him about mostly basic questions, but when asked about the difference between an actuator for a window lock with or without keyless entry he just repeated that he did not know twice and left it at that. Did not even attempt to offer any suggestions on how we might find the answer. All in all, seemed to know less than we did and was pretty unpleasant about it.

worst experience ever I will never use them again first I got no copies of anything I signed they would answer no questions in the finance dept I asked to see another color of vehicle and the salesman rolled his eyes and wouldn’t even discuss options I know I should have left right then but I really loved the car they took two weeks before they notified me financing wasn’t done but they told me I had a payment coming up then I find out I cant even pay it because Benson never sent the paperwork so how could I have a payment due? and still I had no paperwork they kept saying they would send it if I could do it over I would have gone anywhere but here they have gone way down hill don’t waste your time!!!

I was involved in a collision in the middle of September 2013. I was hit on the driver side door and front panel. I took my truck to the collision center and it took over 3 weeks to fix it. I had to take my truck back 2 times after that, missing work and rescheduling my appointments, due to the fact that the window and wiring wasn’t working. The door paneling on the inside and outside was fixed but nothing on the inside was checked.
Last week my inside door handle on the driver’s side quit working. I called Jeff and he told me to bring it in. He explained that there was a $ 40.00 fee to take a look at it. I told him I thought that was ridiculous seeing as how they never really fixed anything in the door anyways obviously since I had to keep going back. I finally made it in to get my door handle fixed and was advised it was going to cost me $ 205.00. I told Jeff to put the truck back together and that I would take it somewhere else. He waived the fee (not sure why) and I left.
When I got into my accident I am assuming that the collision center never took the time to make sure that everything was working properly. Now I am having to pay out of pocket on this because ya’ll screwed up. After taking my truck back several times because the wiring was messed up I know for a fact that not everything in the door was looked at even though that was the side that was hit directly. All I received for the door was the outside panel and inside panel. Which I had to go back on one of the occasions that I did because Jeff did not see the scratches on it from the accident.
I am extremely disappointed with the service and customer service that I have received from Tom Benson. I have done all of my work through your dealership and I even purchased this vehicle from the dealership. For the collision center to not take the time to make sure everything was fixed and working properly is ridiculous. I’m sending this email to try to get the situation rectified before I am forced to give my review to my insurance company and the blogs. I do not feel that I should have to pay $ 205.00 when things weren’t fixed correctly by Tom Benson after my accident.

Craig Johnson went above and beyond when I came in to test drive and select a vehicle! He was not pushy at all and answered all of my questions! I couldn’t have asked for a better salesman he wasn’t like a typical «vulture» he was informative and very professional. He made the car buying experience as easy and painless as possible. I would highly suggest if you are in the San Antonio area and looking for a vehicle Craig Johnson is your man! Thank you again for the top notch experience all of you at Benson Chevrolet made it a one of a kind day.

I am 69 years old and have been to many dealers in my life. The best dealer I have encountered is Tom Benson Chevrolet. The facility is neat, clean and the most professional dealership I have had the pleasure of doing business with. The person I have dealt with the most is George Lombardo a service representative. George will take a direct interest in your problem, bird dog it, work out the best solution and keep you informed. The wait area is the best I have seen with computer stations, charging drops for many different devices, wireless connections, etc. This dealer is tops, they have gone way above and beyond with customer service. If you have a problem discuss it with them and I assure you that it will be worked out. This is the way all businesses should be run. I might add, clean restrooms to boot… other dealers need to analyze and emulate the way this business is run…
Ron Simmons
I wish they worked on Harleys!
They need to open a Harley dealership and run it the same way, I assure you the three Harley dealerships in the area would be in trouble if they did!

This is how easy it was. Don’t expect a fancy front end to this business. It’s bland. Matter of fact, park is bad. Not much space to park, especially if you are driving a land yacht.
Well about 2 weeks ago some butt wagon pulled my front bumper cover away from car and ripped the connector tab. Even worse, that culprit just left my car in the parking lot. No message, no contact information.
So going through my great State Farm Insurance, my car was in the shop 2 weeks later after my service writer Joe, had surgery on his elbow. 3 days later of suffering while driving a Hyundai Santa Fe as a rental, Thank you Enterprise; let me say they did a great job as well. But a Hyundai? Well anyways, I picked up my car and it is perfect. I am stating that the front end looks like factory, day one actually. Just need to install a new headlight. But it looks great. I can’t say the same for Red McCombs auto body on 410. I went there for the second time someone hit the front of my car and they did a crappy job, cost more, and were rude. Lesson learned. Thank you Benson Collision Center.

I’ve been to dozens of GM/​Chevy dealerships for service over the years and I’ve experienced all levels of customer service at those many service departments. My experience with Tom Benson Chevy, however, has been the very worst of one yet.
First of all, when you walk into their service department, their staff stares at you as if you’ve crashed their party — they seem a little put out that you’ve walked into their workplace looking for some help.
It took them 10 days to do a basic transmission repair and their staff became both evasive and annoyed when I tried to reach them for updates on my vehicle’s status. It was exhausting.
My service rep offered to cover my rental car expenses, however, when I showed up with the receipt, he acted like we’d never discussed it. I have yet to reimbursed for those costs.
The one positive thing I can say about Tom Benson Chevrolet is that they did respond with an apology after I sent them a letter of complaint and eventually sent me a check for my rental car expenses. But I still would not give them any more of my business.
Next time I will take my vehicle to Gunn, Cavender, or Vara.

I went to Tom Benson Chevrolet because they advertise the «For the people» financing. Great, I need all the help I can get. I went in and them all the gory details of my credit history and including that my car that I make all the payments on is not in my name. It is in my grandmother’s name but she is willing to sign anything to use the car as a trade in. I had proof to show that we made every payment. I talk to Larry Meyers, the salesman who has me provide a myriad of different documentation including pay stubs, references and other assorted items to prove that while my credit is shot, I have a good steady long term job and have been paying on two other cars for years. This happens on Friday, December 30, 2011. It’s the holiday I get it. I leave it alone for a few days. I call him today, January 2, 2011 and get no answer and no calls back.
The husband and I are out and about running errands this morning so I decide to stop and see if there is anything else I can provide to help the transaction. I pull up to the dealership, see Larry standing on the curb. He makes eye contact with me and walks off, by the time we park and get out of the car he is has «gone up the hill.» They call him and he says he will be right back. 20 minutes later, no Larry. I am getting annoyed and start contemplating what I am going to say. Another salesman, asks me if we were still waiting on Larry and when I say yes he asks who I am, I tell him and he walks away. A few more minutes pass and I get really annoyed and decide it is time to leave before I blow a gasket. As I am pulling out of the driveway I call and talk to Larry’s boss who agrees with me about his salesman’s unprofessional manner and then transfers me to a GSM who I have to leave a message with.
A quick run to Starbucks and we go back. Still no Larry. I complain and ask for another salesman to help me out. I look outside and there is good olé Larry out there with some other customers. When he makes his way inside and looks shocked that I am standing there, he starts to make excuses about other customers waiting and he usually has appointments, etc. I call him on all the BS with the fact that he saw me pull in and had been standing on the curb and disappeared even when he was called several times. He continues to make excuses and then asks if I have been called about an approval from the finance department. I say no and he starts to give me the run down on how things work. Fine, I get it but when I come by I expect some sense of professionalism and not for the salesman to run like a scalded dog. I am fine with a «No, we can’t finance a car for you» but have the decency to tell me to my face.
They hunt down my finance paperwork and then get the news that since the car is not in my name that they can’t use it as a trade because the finance companies don’t like it. So, even though I told them up front about the car situation and they assured me they could work with it they really can’t and I wasted a couple hours of my life dealing with their screwy asses.