I’ll never deal with John bear in St. Catharines again. The agent, Sarah Small, was clueless about much the vehicle,’s history and functions, fumbling for answers, etc, imo, she seemed desperate for a quick sale - shady!
Very friendly and very professional team in the midst of COVID. One of our many purchases over the years thanks to Jeremy Van Keulen's help. Joe Sacco was instrumental in negotiating a very impressive trade for our 2018 Buick Enclave. Moved up to our dream vehicle; a Yukon Denali. Also a special thanks to Taf Tsuro for being an amazing sales representative. He was friendly, professional, informative and absolutely made the entire transaction feel very comfortable and stress free.
Andre K.
I have brought all four of the vehicles I've owned since moving to Ontario in 2011 here for all maintenance and service. I will not be coming back after my experience with the service department in the summer of this year.
>I purchased a CPO used Colorado from another dealer based on availability, in May.
>I called John Bear 4x times when I experienced issues with the AC and left multiple messages; eventually a woman calls me back.
>I explain that I have a CPO truck and only a few months left in warranty and exactly what my issue is (sporadically not having cold air with AC) she said "ah yeah, sounds like a compressor issue, definitely bring it in before your warranty is up, best to do so just in case"
>I bring the truck in and leave it for the day.
>I get a call from Matt (most condescending person I've ever interacted with at a dealership) saying that they did XYZ and couldn't find an issue so that means it's almost guaranteed to be a very small leak, they replaced the coolant because it was a little low and did some other things, they put in blue light dye and I have to come back in two weeks to see if they can find a leak, and I owe them $265~ for work that wasn't covered under warranty.
>Nobody called me to tell me I'd have a surprise bill of $265 or that they would be performing out-of-warranty work. Why not?
>Matt said not to worry, I have to pay it but they can refund me once they find the leak that has to be there because the coolant was low, he can file a warranty something-or-other once the leak is found, he just can't do it until after that happens.
>I say "well can we just avoid all of that and I come back in two weeks for the leak" - and I get "No, how do we know you'd come back?" - so I said "I want it fixed and you know where I live..."
Him: "No we don't, you've never even been here before"
Me: "Um, I've brought ever vehicle I've owned in the last 9 years here," Him: "Oh, well I didn't know that, but anyways I can't do that, my boss won't let me, you have to pay it and we can refund you when we find the leak."
>I begrudgingly come in and do so.
>Two weeks later (after experiencing it blowing hot three times) I bring it back and he says they can't find any issue and I can't have my $265 back. >I am not pleased and I experience the absolute worst customer service I've ever experienced from the same employee (Matt), saying I should go to the dealer that sold me the truck and re-read everything. No, you're an OEM dealership that's part of the CPO program, I don't need to drive a few hours away to be serviced. You could also treat your long-time customers with respect.
>I was repetitively called "dear" like a child, talked over, and incorrectly informed about the CPO program on this call. Better yet, I was told that the person who set up the appointment should have told me that it wouldn't be covered under warranty (not my problem, and yes, they should have, since they encouraged it instead).
>Regardless, before work was done, I should have been contacted so that I know I'm arriving to a charge and given the opportunity to say yes/no/get another opinion.
>I was not expecting any of this and was very upfront about bringing it in exclusively because of the warranty. That issue really could have been remedied with respectful customer service, but it wasn't, it was driven into the ground and put a terrible taste in my mouth to the point of me writing this, and finding an alternative location to service our family's vehicles moving forward.
Polite staff, gave me a nice shuttle ride home and back. Driver was polite as well. Clean space. This will be my go-to service shop.
Thanks to Shirley I now have my dream car. She was very helpful and kind throughout the whole experience. Really happy with my experience with Shirley.
Had a good experience from start to finish. Shirley was very helpful and informative. Had no reservations to travel from Manitoulin island to do the deal. Thank you.
Shirley and the team at John Bear were excellent to deal with. She was always quick to answer any questions and was a true professional from the start. Shirley’s non pressure approach made it a very easy process to purchase our new vehicle. We wouldn’t hesitate to deal with her and the team again.
I recently purchased a vehicle off the used car lot, and I had an excellent experience with the sales staff and service department. I would like to extend my thanks to Andrew Penn my sales rep for all his time and effort , as well as Sally Germond ( financial service manager)and Joe Sacco (used car manager). You all made my experience very easy and enjoyable 😉
Warm regards,
Jamie Lanctot
Everyone is super friendly. I needed my truck ready for 2 days after buying it, Andrew Penn made sure it was ready on time. I'm very satisfied with their customers service.
Jeremy and Matt were TOUGH BUT GOOD. WE got a fair salmon a Brand New 2019 Buick. They let is drive the vehicle we bought for 2hrs. We Shopped Hyundai and Ford. This was the best Warranty and Deal. Thanks Guys. I love buying cars. As I am an ex.car SALESMAN myself. Being a back alot of GREAT memories. Once again thank you very much Jack .
Recently purchased 2019 Equinox (May 8/2020) from Shirley Griff at John Bear St. Catharines. It was a challenging time to do any kind of business as we were just beginning to crawl out of some of the Covid-19 restrictions and Car Dealerships were just beginning to reopen. Despite the health protocols that were necessary, she made the experience quite comfortable. If you are in the need for new set of wheels give Shirley a call, she’ll treat you well and fair.
Matt and Ross from service and Steve from Parts, absolutely gems to work with. They have helped me for years with dozens of cars- have not seen this kind of service and parts employees anywhere in the city. They are truly top of their game.
This place was awesome, Jon Rahman at the used car dealership was very pleasant and super helpful for a first time car buyer. I had a great experience with this dealership as they were able to help me with all of my needs, which included helping me find snow tires. I would recommend going here to buy a car!
We recently purchased a 2019 Buick Envision from John Bear in St. Catherines. Our saleswoman was Shirley Griff. She is an extraordinary professional to work with and steers you easily through the purchasing of a new vehicle. Definitely would recommend her for any of your vehicle purchases.
The staff that we encountered Jeremy and Sally were very helpful and informative. This is our second car from this dealership and we will return in the future.
Good buying experience @ John Bear. My salesman Andrew Penn, was on point answering many specific and detailed questions I had about the vehicle. We got the sale done. I'd consider myself a bit demanding and particular, Andrew was patient with me and went out of his way to make the process go smooth. He provided excellent service that didnt stop after the paperwork was signed. Thanks!
Great experience, been to a lot of dealerships over last couple months, at Johnbear I wasn't chased and followed around like I was going to buy on the spot. Shirley was so pleasant, no pressure sales, she explained everything I needed to know. Purchased a Sierra and she and Joe hunted around until they found an Envision that my wife liked, purchased that too. They got the floor mats, visors and mirrors I wanted for both vehicles. We will be back so Shirley can take pictures of both of us with our vehicles when the weather is nice. Thanks from Jim and Judy.
Purchased a used Buick encore from Jon today. Love my vehicle and had the best experience with everyone. I was on a time crunch and everyone was able to help me get in the vehicle I wanted in a timely manner. Highly recommended Jon and the team at st.cathrines John bear!
Came in to look at a vehicle and was greeted by Darcy Heafey.
Took a look at a few vehicle and went for a drive. Really enjoyed the test drive and was impressed with the knowledge of the vehicle that he provided.
great customer service without all the pressure. Would recommend any friends purchase from Darcy at John Bear.
Came in to look at a vehicle and was greeted by Darcy Heafey.
Took a look at a few vehicle and went for a drive. Really enjoyed the test drive and was impressed with the knowledge of the vehicle that he provided.
great customer service without all the pressure. Would recommend any friends purchase from Darcy at John Bear.
I will never deal with the dealership ever again! Me and my husband went to look at new trucks in August. When we were out on the lot, no one came out to help us. As we waited, customers that showed up after us got service before we did. When I went inside to complain, they said they were short staffed and would help us as soon as they can. We gave them a chance and in a couple minutes someone came out. We ended up buying a truck that day with a deal of receiving a $500 Costco card and a pickup date. We got a call on our pickup date saying we have to wait another day to get our truck. When we did get it, we were told one of the staff members took one set of our keys home so we have to make another trip into the dealership to get a new key programed with the truck. We live 30 minutes away, gas isn't cheap, and I had to hire a babysitter to do so. They promised a gas card for the inconvenience which they didn't give to me in hand at the time and said they would mail it. After weeks not receiving either the gas card or Costco card, we called and bugged them about it. We finally got our gas card weeks after that and were told we have to deal with Costco ourselves to get that card. Still haven't received it. We also have non-stop trouble with the truck. The 2 times we used the 4 wheel drive it has said that it needs servicing both times. Nothing but bad experiences with this dealership and we will never go back. They got their sale and now don't care about us
I was in no rush to buy a vehicle (my car was fine but getting old, it was a matter of time and it's better to buy when you want, not need!), so when I saw the SUV I had my eye on I had to make the trip from Toronto to at least have a look. From the moment I arrived at the John Bear, I felt instantly welcomed. Darcy Heafey greeted me at the door, there was a welcome sign with my name on it and I felt zero pressure. All of his colleagues in the office made it a point to say hello which added to the welcoming environment. Darcy and I chatted the entire drive as old friends do, about the vehicle I was in and vehicles to compare it to, which made the drive very comfortable and I knew I was in good hands. Upon returning to the dealership, I was treated as one would expect - with Zero-Pressure, Respect and Honesty. The vehicle I was in no rush to purchase was an easy deal to make. ZERO pressure and always a true professional attitude. Manager Joe was great to deal with as well, he helped move the deal along and in the end, I was very satisfied with the way it was all handled. In my opinion, Darcy and Joe were not out to make a sale, instead they wanted to make a connection. That made the whole experience a stress free and actually fun one. I have no hesitation in recommending Darcy and the team at John Bear. It was certainly worth the drive for me, I would say it will be worth the drive for anyone, even if just to check them out.
John, Joe, Jason and all the crew here deserve a big round of applause! Wife and I were searching for a second/commuter vehicle. We originally went online to search and found a vehicle that met our needs. We felt very much at ease with the whole process! There wasn't any pressure and they even have us a fair deal on our falling apart trade in.
In short, go see these guys at John Bear!
Met with Shirley Griff to look at a vehicle. Extremely pleasant, extremely knowledgeable, no pressure and very nice to work with. One hour later, traded in my car on a newer car and could not be happier. Thank you Shirley
Gerald
My experience with John Bear was great. The lengths they went to in order to fix my car were incredible - they really went above and beyond. Ross, Matt and Brandon were all fantastic to deal with and I will be returning there in future.
Very reliable and always consistent. Alonso showed excellent customer service, and the team did an awesome job. Thanks for a great experience!
Fast, and great service. Making an appointment was easy as well. Would 100% recommend, Alonso was great! Helped me get everything I needed
Was a fine experience. Making an appointment was easy and they were finished with the work in a timely manner
The best customer experience I’ve ever had! Shirley went above and beyond to help me find an affordable and reliable vehicle. Amazingly honest and great at communication. Would definitely recommended this team for all your car buying and mechanical needs. Jason and his team gave me a great deal on my winter tires and did amazing work on the car. Many thanks and absolutely recommended!
Shirley was amazing! She went above and beyond to help me out with the purchase of my 2018 Mercedes benz. I love the car and I couldn’t of asked for anything else Shirley did it all.
Shirley is the nicest lady I had met. She tried her best to give me more information about the car. This dealer is honest, nothing hidden. It has lots of high quality cars. Best experience, definitely will come back! Thanks, Shirley.
Two mechanics said I should take my car to John Bear for a diagnostic. It wouldn't start and wanted to find out why. They took it apart and tried to find the problem. They called on a Tuesday and said it had cost them $500 allready what did I want them to do. I said I would call back. I called a friend and said what should I do they couldn't do the diagnostic. I was told to call back and tell them I was calling a tow to pick it up and would pay the $140 for the diagnostic but would not pay the other because I did not authorize them to do anything but the diagnostic. I went to pay and was kept waiting . They charged $316 which I payed because I was fed up and just wanted it over with. The tow picked it up and delivered it. He had a bunji cord over the hood to keep it down. It wasn't attached the hood support was off. Not only was the hood not attached but it was dented. They did not attach the computer or any of the covers. It was in worse shape than when I took it in. It is deplorable that they would send the car home like that. Not only that but Ross was very rude. He told the guys to just push it out I just want her out of here.
We are very pleased ..good service and willing to look after you..Hi five 👋 to the used car lot sales people and we can't forget about the service department. The people who continuously cleaned our car ..we Thank You. A Big Shout Out to John Bear dealership.
Joe and Shirley were great. Took care of me, very quick responses and service. I'd go back to them in a heartbeat!
Needed service, all other dealers fully booked! Courtney worked me in same day and provided one of the best customer service encounters I've had all year! Kudos to Courtney and mechanic Shane! :)
Picked up a 2016 GMC Acadia Denali from John Bear Buick GMC the other day and both my wife and I love it !!! Special thanks to used car salesman Dave Cabansay for setting up us with this great vehicle !!!
I just bought a GMC Acadia and we had Shirley she was amazing helped us out even on a day it was closed she allowed us to take it for a test drive she went out of her way to help us and if I was to buy again i would use her.
Dave was very helpful and considerate through the process of purchasing my new certified pre-owned vehicle. He answered my questions, and I feel confident I am making a great investment for my family.
Recently, my husband and I purchased a 2016 Hyundai accent at this location. Our sales representative, Jesse Collins, was great from start to finish. Any questions we had were answered and the whole process was stress free. If you ever want to feel like family, go see Jesse.
I am extremely dissatisfied with a recent issue at John Bear Buick GMC in St. Catharines Ontario Canada. Here are the facts:
1. I took my 2011 Chevrolet Traverse with 3.6L V6 engine to John Bear Buick GMC's service department on a Wednesday. They replaced the steering pump, steering box, and transmission cooling lines. Total cost to me was approximately $2700 CDN. The engine and car were both well maintained, and prior to the visit the engine was running fine with no issues. I had been taking both my cars there for warranty and then ongoing service for several years; in fact the Traverse had been purchased new through John Bear.
2. On Thursday - the next day, after 24 hours and less than 100km of driving - the engine quit while being driven on a local two-lane highway and could not be restarted. I had the car towed back to John Bear service.
3. On Friday, John Bear service told me that a) the engine was destroyed internally, b) it was a coincidence that had nothing to do with the work they had performed the previous day, and c) it would cost me approximately $8400 CDN to have them install a new engine. I told John Bear service that I did not believe it was a coincidence, but they refused to acknowledge any responsibility. They were unwilling to even tear down the engine to determine the root cause: they charged my approximately $250 CDN for the initial inspection (which amounted to putting the car on a hoist and opening the oilpan drain plug to observe that both oil and coolant were coming out), and wanted to charge me between $700 and $1000 to open the engine up. I refused and had the car towed off their site.
As a result, I no longer trust John Bear Buick GMC: I will not have my vehicles serviced there, and I will not purchase my next vehicles from them (we ended up buying a 2019 Equinox from Falls Chevrolet in Niagara Falls). If asked about this situation I will simply repeat the three facts and let people come to their own conclusions. So far everyone with whom I have spoken - existing customers, potential future customers, and at least one mechanic - agree that it is hard to believe that it's a coincidence.
My family took our 2011 Chevy Traverse in for servicing this past March. Our car has never had any major issues in all the 8 years we've owned it and had always been a reliable and safe vehicle to drive. Less than 24 hours after being serviced by John Bear, the car engine completely died while on the highway.
People we spoke to, including mechanics, said that there's no way this could have been a coincidence (the time between when John Bear worked on our car and when it died was just way too close), but John Bear refused to acknowledge even the POSSIBILITY that their work on the vehicle had something to do with the engine failure. They wouldn't even cover the cost to take the engine apart in order to perform a proper diagnostic to actually see what went wrong.
Ross in particular displayed zero accountability and absolutely no professionalism throughout the entire situation. When pressed about the issue, he merely shrugged his shoulders and said it is what it is (I wish I was kidding). We had to have our car scrapped because the cost to repair the engine it was just too much, especially for an 8-year-old car.
So basically, if you want to spend upwards of $2500 on maintenance on your car only to have it completely die less than 24 hours later, go to John Bear and they'll get right on it for you.
Also, the cherry on top: throughout this whole mess, our family received 3 "Thank you for choosing John Bear!" letters in the mail. Clueless, tone deaf customer service at its finest.
(Disclaimer: if I could, I would give zero stars, but to post a review you have to give at least one.)
In 2014 I traded in my two door G5 for a 2014 cruze. I was offered a very fair trade and the car served me well. In 2018 I traded that cruze in for a 2018. Again, the trade value was great and the service was second to none. This is the only dealership I will deal with for all my vehicle needs. Highly recommend.
Ask for Salesman Matt or Sales Manager Joe. They were so helpful and kind with no pressure at all. They made the experience very pleasant for me.
Mitch helped me out with my recent purchase of a truck. He went above and beyond both during and after the deal to ensure I had a positive experience. He promptly responded to my messages and always had the time to deal with me. The sales team were very welcoming and worked hard to put together the deal that worked for me. The entire experience was quick and easy going and overall enjoyable. I am enjoying my new wheels and look forward to dealing with John Bear in the future.
Courtney in service was amazing! Helped me with all my car issues and questions, so was Jeff in mechanic's. He explained my cars issues and helped me figure out a solid plan of action to correct them. They were real, helpful and made sure I was 100% comfortable. Thank you so much guys best Chevy in the area and best John Bear I have been to thus far.
I found the car online and visited the dealership to inquire about it. The dealership representative was very helpful and answered all my questions with friendly professionalism. I only wish the lending rates were better. Also I forgot to inquire about a veterans discount if one existed. Overall a good purchasing experience.
Horrible experience. Think twice before dealing with these people! I wasn't able to put my whole review in because it was way too long. Lets just say it took 3 months before i could enjoy my new truck. Well its good that the owner is glad people have a good experience. i wonder why i never got a response from him when i was having difficulties with his staff. My message to you was ignored. Thanks. Where were you!?
We're now driving the nicest car we've ever had. Thank you Diana Oddi for all your help! The purchase was fast, efficient and ran smoothly from start to finish. We will be back to see you next year when we're ready to replace our other car.
I did not like the service I got at John Bear, I LOVED IT! The satisfaction to all my needs where incredible. The staff are very very friendly and professional, I would definitely recommend anyone who is looking to buy a new or use vehicle to go there, besides them being great people, Mike and Jason gave me a great deal on a used GMC Terrain SLE that I just purchased. 5 stars for all of the staff at JOHN BEAR and once again THANK YOU!!!!
A positive experience is worth sharing & I have definitely had just that at John Bear. The main reason, I believe, was the professional, friendly & kind sales representative, Jason Cowie. From the many test drives to the actual point of sale, Jason was a pleasure to deal with. My numerous questions were always answered & I knew for certain that I was in good hands. He has established a customer relationship with me that will go the distance. His manager, Joe, was very reassuring also & they both stressed that they, & John Bear, would be on board to meet all of my future needs. I highly recommend this dealership & already know I will be shopping for my next car there. But for now...my 2013 Chevy Malibu is amazing & I am one happy driver! Thank you Jason. Janet Janzen
I'm taking the time to do this review because John Bear deserves the recognition for customer satisfaction!! I had a goal in mind to find myself a newer vehicle so I can continue to re-establish my credit! That was no problem for the professional and friendly staff. Jeremy was very helpful, it was nice of the manager Joe to introduce us and made sure we were happy !! They took the time to understand what I was looking for and expecting, then added their professional opinions to help me achieve!! I'm now a proud owner of an almost new Chevrolet Cruze. Thanks guys !!
Towards the end of January 2014, I had the wonderful opportunity of meeting with Jeremy VanKeulen to discuss the purchase of a new car. I felt bad to show up on a Saturday in which we just received a load of snow, but nonetheless Jeremy was more than professional and cheerful and despite awful weather conditions, still took me out for a test drive with a Chevy Cruze and Chevy Malibu (two cars I had my heart set on).
After test driving the Chevy Cruze, I was able to determine it just wasn't the "right fit" for me and Jeremy assisted in finding my second choice, the Chevy Malibu. We stumbled across a 2013 Chevy Malibu and I immediately fell in love. I am so very happy with my purchase and so thankful that Jeremy spent the time explaining all aspects of the car from top to bottom.
Jeremy made my first car purchase the most memorable. His patience, kindness and professionalism are what make him an outstanding car salesman; always going above and beyond expectations. He ensured that my experience was "all about me"; what I liked, what I disliked, what I had interest in etc.
Jeremy was an absolute pleasure to meet and I highly recommend him to anyone and everyone interested in purchasing a car. He is extremely knowledgeable and it is exemplified in the descriptions he provides for each and every car. John Bear is very lucky to have someone as highly talented as Jeremy on their team and I am privileged to be a client of his. THANK YOU JEREMY!