This would be a five-star-plus review, save for one matter discussed below.
Sewell dealerships are dramatically different from the stereotypical auto sales environment. We helped my son purchase a vehicle from their Infiniti location a couple of years back, and were impressed with the experience. Sales associates are true professionals ... college graduates, articulate, well-dressed and exceptionally courteous. The atmosphere is calm and welcoming, and every aspect is focused on the customer. Pre-owned vehicles not of their brands are exclusively buyer trade-ins ... no used rental cars or "auction specials". I thus had every confidence that the 2017 Acura MDX Advance I was interested in would be a quality automobile.
I was warmly and almost immediately greeted by Amy Douthit, who verified that the car was available, and went over Sewell's way of doing business, emphasizing that if any pre-owned auto does not meet its stringent criteria, it's shipped out. The MDX was in virtual showroom condition, the test drive went well, as expected, and negotiations were conducted in a low-key manner. We couldn't agree on the value of my trade, despite Amy's couple of back-and-forth trips to the manager's office, as well as a visit from AJ, the man himself. There was no pressure, no hesitation returning my keys, no chasing me in the parking lot with another offer, and no insisting that the deal was "good for today only" ... the way it should be. The disagreement notwithstanding, we parted on favorable terms, although I still had considerable interest in the Acura.
The following morning, I took my vehicle to one of those Sell-Us-Your-Car places, and was offered what I anticipated was its value. I relayed the information to Amy, who presented it to the manager on duty. Here's where the "Until ..." comes in:
Amy called me back, obviously repeating management's contention that they actually beat the offer, when the difference in sales tax between selling and trading is factored in. It's an age-old gimmick used by dealers to allow less for a trade-in. Sales tax has absolutely nothing to do with the value of a vehicle ... whether selling outright or trading in, it's worth what it's worth. I expressed my intense disappointment, stating that I didn't expect such trickery from Sewell. This tactic shouldn't ever be in their playbook, considering their reputation. Shortly thereafter, I received a call from Jack Mah, apologizing for the "misunderstanding", as well as agreeing to match the better offer. While the deal was to my liking, I still wanted to think it over, especially given what had just occurred.
I ultimately agreed to the terms, returned, and drove out in my new (to me) Acura. Katy Murray handled the final paperwork in a manner consistent with Sewell's philosophy ... courteously with no sales pitch for extras, and a very understandable description of everything I signed (it was a cash transaction, so there was considerably less work for both of us).
I trust that those I dealt with took my comments in the spirit intended, and that upper management will eliminate that bit of deception from its lexicon. The car is exceptional, and I'm glad that all eventually turned out well.