Team Mazda Subaru

“Car buying can be a terrifying experience. It’s the second biggest purchase next to buying a home. We want to make your experience here a positive one.”

Buying a new car should be a happy experience, and Rob Studebaker of Team Mazda Subaru and his crew work hard to make sure it will be exactly that for their customers. As the store’s general manager, his focus on top-notch customer service explains why the dealership was rated number one in customer satisfaction in the state for Subaru and Mazda by independent agency Dealer-Rater.com. Featuring quality Mazda and Subaru cars, this is the place to “buy happy,” as their motto states.

Good service starts from the top down, added Aaron Ulrich, who as general sales manager has worked closely with Rob for the past six years. “We really have a ‘family and team first’ culture,” added Rob, who has 20 years in the automotive industry under his belt, nine of them with Team Mazda Subaru. “When we look to hire, we match our values of honesty and integrity with those potential employees. All of my staff is customer driven, and when you focus on providing a great customer experience, your business tends to do well.”

The proof is in the pudding, as Team Mazda Subaru has been the number one store for almost three years, surpassing the owner JKC Auto Group’s other eight dealerships. They also captured Subaru of America’s Stellar Performer award, which the team worked hard to attain last year. Winning this award represents more than just superior customer satisfaction; the team had to pass a difficult building inspection with a long list of stringent criteria in transitioning into a “green” facility, according to Rob. They are proud to be the only Subaru dealer in Idaho to win this recognition.

“What sets us apart from our competition is that we specialize in all types of credit and can offer 28 lending sources to our customers,” said Rob, who worked as finance manager in this industry before moving up through the ranks. “Team Mazda Subaru gets loans for our customers, even those with challenging situations such as disequity in their trade-in value, no credit or those who are just starting out.”

Customer satisfaction begins from within by keeping a happy staff. Offering professional growth and promotion opportunities along with a friendly work environment is the key, said Sherri Byington, the dealership’s comptroller. As one of the first employees hired when they opened the doors in 2005, she watched the franchise grow from 24 to 55 employees. “Team Mother,” as she is best known, Sherri adores her co-workers but isn’t afraid to chew them out when needed. Aaron echoed her sentiments, adding that the family atmosphere and positive attitude allow them to give back to the Treasure Valley community. They donate cars for charity auctions hosted by organizations such as St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital, the Jayden DeLuca Foundation, Advocates Against Violence and the Bogus Basin Ski Resort Educational Foundation. Team Mazda Subaru gave away 20 cars last year alone. Together with radio station WILD 101, they truly change people’s lives with car giveaways to those in need of transportation.

Even the test drive at Team is not the run-of-the-mill, turn right and make a left into the parking lot, type of deal. “We take our clients on an incredible test drive, over hills and at 60 miles per hour, to show them what the car can do,” Aaron chuckled. “They really get to know the car inside and out, even the amenities like Bluetooth. It’s thorough and fun, because buying a new vehicle should be fun and not arduous. On both ends of the sale, if you do the deal right—give the customer what she wants and can afford—then the dollars will follow great service.”

The car-buying experience has changed dramatically in the past 10 to 15 years. Jay Noller, the team’s Internet Marketing Director and guru of all things digital at the dealership, who has been with the company for a year and a half, said, “The Internet has allowed more access to information about various cars with just a few clicks. People want to be educated before they even step foot into the dealership to buy a car. Car buying can be a terrifying experience. It’s the second biggest purchase next to buying a home. We want to make your experience here a positive one.”

Not only is Team Mazda Subaru obviously committed to outstanding customer service during the sale of your car, but they also take care of you after the purchase is complete. The service department is equally focused on customer satisfaction when it comes to your service needs. They have a qualified and experienced crew that treats you like family. The Team has committed to hiring a new technician and plans to expand services to include new oil change and lubrication racks. They also have future plans including growing the Subaru franchise with a half-million-dollar upgrade to the facility. This will further improve the comfort provided to customers while visiting the dealership.

Recently, an acre was added onto the property for storage purposes. The Team knows how important it is to provide a huge selection of both new and used vehicles. So although they are typically able to find you any car you need, regardless of having it in stock, they want to be sure to have space to house enough variety for you to “buy happy” at all times.

     Stop by Team Mazda Subaru, located at 6218 Cleveland Blvd. in Caldwell, for an unforgettable test drive. Call the crew at (208) 455-0322 or visit their website at teammazdasubaru.com for more information.