Paragon Acura 5-Star Rating on Yelp

Yelp Review
Paragon Acura staffs are very nice. I bought a MDX from there 2 weeks ago and got the best deal ever. Cheap prices, reasonable finance rates, and good warranty services! I suggest you to meet Mr. Deng, and Ms. Deshals for the great helps you would deserve in Paragon Acura.


Dear Mr. Chae
Thanks for the great review! We're pleased that we could provide service you deemed worthy of praise. Mr. Deng and Ms. Deshals will both be happy to hear that you're enjoying your new MDX and that you appreciated the service they provided. Please check us out on Facebook and Twitter for specials and promotions for the next time you take your MDX in for service.

Regards,

Brian Benstock - GM
718-507-5000 ext. 271
bbenstock@msn.com

Brian Benstock - Driven To Succeed

HAUTE LIVING MAGAZINE
Driven to Succeed
By Chan Tran Huth on October 28th, 2010

They say never to trust a car salesperson, but they obviously haven’t met Brian Benstock, partner of Paragon Honda and Acura. During the crash of 2009, when many U.S. car dealerships were struggling, New York-based Paragon Honda jumped from No. 17 in the U.S. market share for Honda to the No. 1 New and Used Honda dealer in the state, nation, and world. In Acura sales, Paragon Acura shot up to No. 2. It only took them seven months, and so far at the end of 2010, Paragon Auto Group still owns the top.
What’s their secret? Evolution. “If you don’t change, you become a dinosaur,” says automotive pioneer Benstock, who joined the company in 1982 under the mentorship of Paragon’s late founder Paul Singer. Today, Paragon Auto Group is lead by Benstock; Edith, Singer’s wife; and Michelle, his daughter. Their hiring of a marketing company (Tier 10) as well as other vendors (vAuto, Car-mercial, Level 5, Team Velocity, and CallRevu) revolutionized Paragon’s business model. Out-of-the-box marketing and advertising strategies have placed competitors completely out of reach of Paragon’s supreme numbers in selling and leasing used and new Hondas and Acuras.
For example, Paragon has changed the way the world buys cars on the Internet in just less than a year’s time. The company has exhausted almost all channels of digital marketing, including search engine optimization, campaign micro-sites, pay-per-click searching, e-mail marketing, banner ads, and video search optimization, and has developed several thousands loyal followers (i.e., returning customers) on social media websites like Facebook and Twitter—all which have placed the dealership literally at the top of almost all Internet car searches.
“Eighty percent of our customers go to the Internet to find out where to buy a car,” says Benstock, whose next goal in targeted marketing is capturing 1 million relevant e-mail addresses. “A lot of dealers may not recognize the value of email addresses,” he explains, “but if you make a special offer to these clients, and only get a 2 percent response, it’s still a huge number.”
Yet, in today’s digital information overload, transparency is everything and, if you take on the old stereotype of a slick-haired, unsavory, sleazy salesman, the Internet will expose your dishonesty and unethical practices. Unless you’re Paragon, of course, in which case the raving customer reviews are driving in your sales. And if someone has a negative thing to say about the dealership, Benstock says he responds personally to each and every less-than-stellar review on the Web.
Their numbers are certainly there: Paragoncars.com boasts 20,000 unique visitors per month, and Paragon Honda and Acura are selling twice as many certified cars as their closest competitors. Even more, customers come as far away as 500 miles to the premier Honda and Acura dealership in Queens, according to Benstock. And why not travel the distance to the dealership that boasts the best selections at the best prices? With a flagship store spanning three city blocks, Paragon Auto Group holds the largest inventory of Hondas and Acuras in the New York market and positions their cars comparatively at the best competitive prices. “We’re making less per transactions, but we’re doing more transactions,” Benstock says.
Whether it’s leasing a new car or selling a certified used one, Paragon has both strategies covered. Their billboards advertise convincing campaign messages of $5 a day or $6 a day for leasing Civics and Accords, respectively. The auto group has its own Certified Pre-Owned program and a sharp vice president who knows all the different opportunities to out maneuver the competition. “These Hondas can last 200,000 to 250,000 miles,” Benstock makes his sales pitch. “You don’t pay 90 percent of the value— maybe just 60 percent. But you’re still getting 90 percent of its use.
Seen as a separate franchise, Paragon has allotted a stand-alone facility for the pre-owned Hondas and Acuras with its own staff and merchandising. “We’ve made the certified pre-owned building look like a factory facility to offer our customers the same experience as buying a new car.”
With 250 Paragon Auto Group employees, Benstock admits they overstaff themselves to reduce the wait time for their customers. “We’ve made it easier for people to buy a car with us,” he says. “We get people from start to finish, in and out, in less than an hour.” The company utilizes mobile technology, alerting customers via text when their car is ready from the service shop. “People don’t have to call us and get put on hold.” Text messaging has also reduced photo traffic to the dealership, allowing personnel to spend more time with the in-store customers.
The Driving Force
As the face behind Paragon Auto Group since Singer’s passing in 2006, Benstock has made himself one of the most recognizable names in the industry. The marketing company he hired has booked him interviews with the local press and landed him in stories from the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and New York Post as well as other national media outlets. Search his name in YouTube and you’ll pull up 18 video interviews with the Honda “Dealer of the Year.”
But Benstock is not just showing face in the media. He’s at work seven days a week, 12 hours a day, much like his former partner and mentor. “To call Paul Singer a workaholic was an understatement,” Benstock explains. “His work ethic was second to none. I would arrive at the dealership at 9 a.m., and his car would already be there, even though he lives 1.5 hours from work. I would leave the dealership at 9 p.m.—12 hours later—and his car would still be there. The next day at 9 a.m., Singer’s car was there. And this was seven days a week. The man didn’t need the money; it was something much greater. It was passion.”
Benstock adopted Singer’s work habits as well as his hobby. Competing in his 13th marathon this November in New York City, Paragon’s VP runs for the man who taught him everything he knows about the trade. Singer and his doctor were both marathon runners and the goal was for him to beat the lung cancer and run the 2006 NYC marathon. When he didn’t, Benstock volunteered to run in his place. “We were partners,” he simply justifies.
With absolutely no prior training, Benstock ran the 26.2 miles in 4:35:35 (his PR, however, is 3:20:18). “I crossed the finish line crying like a baby,” he recalls. “I kept on thinking about all the things that man has done for me. He wasn’t there, but he was still guiding me. After that, I was hooked and signed up for the next.”
But even in running shorts and shoes, Benstock still maintains the mindset of a dealer. “Business is a marathon. There are miles you feel great, and there are miles you feel terrible. But the goal is always to finish and to finish it strong. We don’t ever stop.”

Paragon Acura - 5 Star Review on Edmunds

Would highly recommend Paragon
by mdxowner3 on 11-01-10 (08:41AM)
Pros: professional, fair and pleasant reps
Cons: nothing to complain about

I had a great experience buying a pre-owned 2008 MDX at Paragon. My salesperson, Camilo, was very professional and responsive, and was a pleasure to deal with. Jean, the finance rep was very helpful and fair, and Wendy, my delivery rep was very knowledgeable and patient. I would highly recommend buying an Acura from Paragon.


Response to "Would highly recommend Paragon"
by paragonacura on 11-01-10 (01:15PM)
On behalf of Paragon Acura, thank you for the wonderful review! We're please to see that you had a pleasant experience at Paragon Acura. Every positive review we receive is validation to our staff that we're doing a good job of helping our customers have the best experience possible when visiting our dealership. Camilo, Jean, and Wendy will be pleased to hear that you enjoyed their service. If there is anything we can do in the future to help you enjoy your 2008 MDX, please let us know.

Regards,
Brian Benstock GM
718-507-5000 ext. 271
bbenstock@msn.com

Paragon Acura - 5 Star Reviews on Dealer Rater

yorsteven
11/1/2010 1:32:38 PM
I recommend this dealer: Yes
Employee(s) Dealt With: Camilo

My Review of Paragon Acura:
I am soo excited that I found a dealership like Paragon Acura because I went to more than 5 car dealerships and everyone turned me down, but the the minute I walked in there the first thing they told me if I want to test drive the car that I wanted and they didn't ask me how was my credit or if I can afford the car, they just ask me what's the car i was looking for and right away I spoke with the Sale person Camilo and less than 48 hours I drove away with my dream car, this was the best experience ever, the Staff are really friendly and also the Manager and the Finance Manager made sure I left happy and statisfied, I will definitely come here again to purchase my next car and I recommend everyone to come visit this dealership because you will leave happy :)


ajoloumi
11/1/2010 10:08:38 AM
I recommend this dealer: Yes
Employee(s) Dealt With: Camilo

My Review of Paragon Acura:
Great service, great experience, great new car. Made the process relatively quick and easy, and met our expectations for out of pocket and monthly payments. Friendly attentive staff who answered all our questions but weren't to pushy for us to make the deal. Overall great job.

Interview With Brian Benstock From Paragon Honda And Acura

Paragon Honda and Acura in New York is a great family success story, says Vice President and Partner Brian Benstock. Paul Singer and his wife Edith acquired the Honda franchise back in 1970. At the time, Paul was an Oldsmobile dealer but fell in love with one of those Honda motorcycles. So he went out and got a franchise for the car. Singer set a portion of the showroom aside for a couple of Honda vehicles and people were laughing, but where’s Oldsmobile now? Benstock asks.

Paul was a well-respected dealer when he died in May 2006. The store has continued to be one of the country’s top dealerships under the leadership of Edith, her daughter and Brian. This year, Paragon is the top selling Honda dealership in new and certified sales combined and is one of Honda’s top CSI dealers.

Brian shares with Dealer magazine how Paragon has been able to survive the recent downturn while continuing to grow.

Click here to read about Brian Benstock’s story and more in the Dealer magazine September 2010 issue.

CNN Interview with Brian Benstock - Relax, car shopping’s getting easier

By Peter Valdes-Dapena, senior writer
September 10, 2010: 12:49 PM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — The cutthroat world of car pricing is getting simpler and gentler for car buyers but more ruthless for car dealerships.
That’s because in the power struggle between dealers and shoppers, the buyer has prevailed, thanks to the Internet. Getting a straight answer on price from dealers used to be like pulling teeth. Now, as car dealers hunt for dwindling buyers they’re freely quoting prices on web sites.
With a bit of research, savvy car buyers can pit dealers against one another, from the comfort of their own homes.
Here’s how it’s done: First of all, know exactly what you want: make, model, options, even the color. And make sure the price the dealer is quoting you is for the precise car you want. If it isn’t, make sure you know exactly what’s different.
Don’t go to the dealership. Instead pick up the telephone, write an email and use a car buying Web site.
Any of the Web sites that partner with Zag.com make great places to start. Among them are Consumerreports.org, Overstock.com, USAA.com, AmericanExpress.com, Aol.com and others. (The Zag.com Web site has links to them all.)
At these sites, you’ll see actual prices from several competing dealers in your area before you have to provide any of your contact information. That means you can choose to start a dialog only with those dealers that offer competitive prices and that have good customer service ratings.
With on-line pricing, each dealer knows a better offer may be only a mouse click away, so they all get to the bottom line price faster saving you time, stress and hopefully money.
Even when you call or email, some dealers may still try to get you to come into the dealership before they’ll discuss price. Ignore them and move along, advised Phil Reed, consumer advice editor for the automotive Web site Edmunds.com.
“If you find yourself being turned over to a traditional salesperson, or there’s resistance to giving you a price over the phone, you may be at the wrong place,” he said.
Scott Painter, who runs Zag.com, thinks we may finally be seeing the end of car sales as we know it. “I think the dealer today that does not embrace up-front pricing will be out of business,” he said.
Eliminate the car salesman: The car salesman as we know him is on the endangered species list.
In the future, Painter said, cars will be sold in much the same way that major appliances, such TV’s and refrigerators, are sold. Pricing will be decided on a store by store basis and salespeople will be valued for customer service rather than tough negotiating.
To a dealership, an aggressive salesperson who makes you uncomfortable has become more of a liability, and one who listens and makes you feel understood more of asset. Let’s face it, that Chevrolet Equinox or Toyota Avalon you can get from one dealer is the same as you’d get at another. While that’s always been true, it’s now much easier to shop around.
Auto sales consultant George Dans, who bills himself as “the world’s greatest closer,” said he sees the changes already. With pricing power in the customer’s hands, the way for car salesmen and dealerships to fight back is by being nicer and more attentive than the other guy.
“You’ve got to come up with five to 10 good reasons they should buy from your dealership,” he said “otherwise they’re just going to buy from the guy with the lowest price.”
Dealers who don’t play fair — for instance, not honoring prices they quote on-line — will quickly realize the Internet’s other equalizing effect, said Brian Benstock, who runs Paragon Honda and Acura in New York City. Word of bad customer service gets around.
“The same customers that are out there using the Internet to find you will use the Internet to destroy you.”
Car dealerships see the light: As the Internet gives car shoppers more power, the nation’s biggest auto dealers aren’t fighting the change. In fact, they see an opportunity.
All the emphasis on competitive on-line pricing means lower prices for customers and slimmer profit margins on new car sales, but those profits have been paper-thin for a long time, anyway. The benefit to the dealer in all this it speeds up the sales process, said Paragon’s Benstock.
“If you want to make a lot, make a little and you can make a little a lot of times,” he said.
Besides minimizing the time and hassle needed to earn that small profit, easing the new car sales process means creating more customers. Those customer relationships allow dealers to cultivate profits in other areas like parts, service and used cars.
Autonation (AN, Fortune 500), the country’s biggest dealership chain, is experimenting with up-front Internet pricing in several states.
Sonic Automotive (SAH, Fortune 500), another of the nation’s biggest auto dealers, is refocusing its 120 dealerships’ to emphasize phones and the Internet as the initial point of contact for most customers.
“Our vision is to have 100% of our dealerships modeled as e-sales offices,” said Rachel Richards, vice president of retail strategy for Sonic.
Asbury Automotive (ABG), another top dealership has also been experimenting with up-front pricing at its Nalley Toyota dealership in Roswell, Ga., said Chief Operating Officer Michael Kearney.
For now, he said, most customers still negotiate in person, but their numbers are declining.
“If you want to place me out there 10 years from now, I’d be surprised if the vast majority of pricing isn’t settled on-line,” he said.

Paragon Acura

Paragon Acura 2010 BuyBack Program

Stop by at Paragon Acura this weekend and find out how you can value your trade by receiving up to $2500 over Kelly Blue book with our 2010 BuyBack Program.

Paragon Acura 5-Star Rating on Dealer Rater

DH789
8/27/2010 9:04:53 PM

I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Frank Lopez, Peter Pazmino, Wendy D

My Review of Paragon Acura:
While purchasing an RDX at Paragon, I spent time with three different people. My initial contact was with Peter Pazmino. I told him the car I wanted and gave him my budget. Within hours, he came back to me with several options and was willing to work with me. He is a very good salesperson and was a pleasure to deal with. My primary contact was Frank Lopez. I've purchased a number of cars in the past 20+ years and I've never worked with a more complete professional. Frank is honest, hard working, responsive and an overall great guy who understands the importance of top-notch customer service. If you go to Paragon, I strongly recommend insisting that Frank be your point person to ensure all goes smoothly. My last contact was with Wendy. Wendy's job was to ensure I was comfortable with the vehicle. She has a complete understanding of the techonology packages and does an outstanding job sharing her knowledge. Her terrific personality made an already great experience even better. My overall experience was absolutely fantastic and well worth the trip to Queens.

Paragon Acura 5-Star Rating on Dealer Rater

friedlam
8/27/2010 12:38:19 PM

I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: sam yip and wendy deshals

My Review of Paragon Acura:
I just wanted to tell you what a great experience I had yesterday. I leased a 2010 accura tl and the service I received was fantastic!

Sam yip and wendy deshals were both courteous and professional. All my questions were answered I a timely manner.

Also, the time wendy spent with me going over all workings of the car was invaluable! I cannot stress enough what a help it was and what a pleasure it was dealing with wendy.

In sum, I give sam and wendy my highest commendation and I will tell my friends.

Regards,

Michael friedlander

Paragon Acura 5-Star Review on Dealer Rater

Briso1212
8/26/2010 6:14:33 PM

I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Sam and Wendy Deshals

My Review of Paragon Acura:
Sam was so accommodating as usual, not to mention that with the cooperation of his managers "great guys too!" we managed to get me in another brand new MDX. Last but not least, Wendy Deshals was absolutely fundamental in my purchase as-well. Her familiarity with all the new features and updates made my purchase even more enjoyable. Once again , to the team at Paragon Acura, Many Thanks!



Sincerely
Brian Soto

Paragon Acura 5-Star Review on Dealer Rater

cg1234
8/24/2010 5:47:51 PM

I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Peter Mills and Wendy Deshais

My Review of Paragon Acura:
My wife and I had a great experience at Paragon Acura. This dealership was recommended to us by friends. Called first and met with Peter. He was extremely professionally and very helpful. Took delivery of our 2010 RDX two days later. Wendy Deshais, spent a lot of time with us reviewing the many features of my new RDX. She helped us set-up all the electronic features and made sure that we were comfortable with the operation of the car before we left. She is extremely knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with.
I would recommend Peter and this dealership to anyone.

Paragon Acura 4-Star Review on Dealer Rater

lightba
8/24/2010 3:01:32 PM

I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Sam Yip, Michael Francis, Rachel Carhuayo

My Review of Paragon Acura:
This was my third lease from this dealership. Overall each experience has gone smoother. Sam Yip and Michael Francis were very helpful in getting me into the car of my choice. Rachel Carhuayo was extermely informative in expalining the many features of the vehicle (TL SH AWD Tech Package). My only complaint was when the car was delivered it was a rainy night and I couldn't inspect the car properly, the next day I noticeed some chips on the back bumper which were painted over (not very well). It was repaired of course but I feel that something like this should have been noticed and fixed before delivery.

Dealer cashes in, again, on own clunkers spiffs

Dealer cashes in, again, on own clunkers spiffs
Diana T. Kurylko
Automotive News -- August 23, 2010 - 12:01 am ET



Sales at Brian Benstock's Honda and Acura dealerships are soaring because of the cash-for-clunkers program, in which customers get thousands of dollars for trading in vehicles for more fuel-efficient models.

Wait, wasn't that last year?

Benstock liked the federal government's 2009 clunker program so much that he's running his own program this year at Paragon Honda and Paragon Acura in the Woodside neighborhood in the New York borough of Queens.

Instead of destroying the cars traded in, which the federal clunker program required, he's getting lots of used cars -- enough, he says, to make him the country's top Honda and Acura certified used-car dealer. Honda confirmed those rankings.

Benstock is offering customers 20 percent, or $3,800, whichever is less, over the Kelley Blue Book value of their trade-in. Any new or used vehicle on the lot is eligible as long as the purchased vehicle has better fuel economy than the trade-in.

Benstock says he's paying the bonuses even on relatively new trade-ins -- vehicles whose fuel economy was too good to qualify them for last year's cash-for-clunkers program.

The clunkers program, which began last month and runs through August, accounted for about 30 percent of sales at both stores in July and helped boost new- and used-vehicle sales 24 to 36 percent at both stores in the first seven months of 2010. Meanwhile, the Honda brand's U.S. sales rose 8 percent through July, while Acura sales rose 24 percent.

Benstock says the new clunkers campaign has helped make Paragon Honda the country's eighth-biggest Honda new-car dealership in unit sales through July, up from No. 17 in the year-earlier period. He says Paragon Acura was the fifth-biggest Acura dealership through July, up from No. 12 a year earlier.

Benstock says he never planned to sell cars. After graduating from college in 1982, he decided to work as a car salesman for the summer “until something better came along,” he says.

“There were these guys with white shoes and plaid pants selling cars. As a 22-year-old kid, I didn't want to be one of those guys but figured if they're not good and making enough to support a family, what can I do if I am good?”

After three months at Bright Bay Mercury-Lincoln in Bay Shore, N.Y., Benstock says, he was hooked.

“I didn't know at the time we were in a recession or that you couldn't sell cars when interest rates were 18 to 19 percent,” he says. “But I had an annual income of $30,000 and, living at home, I was rich as far as I was concerned.”

Benstock left after several months to go to Paul Singer Honda as a salesman. He became sales manager there in 1986. Singer ultimately sold that store and took Benstock with him to Paragon Honda in 1992.

By 1997, Benstock was a partner. He now owns both Paragon stores, with Paul Singer's widow.

Benstock says he's profitable because of high volume. “My business philosophy is if you want to make a lot, make a little,” he says. “You can make a little many times.”

He's also convinced that buyers want to be in and out of a dealership with little fuss and without lengthy negotiations.

“Most of our arrangements are done over the Internet before the customer comes in,” Benstock says. “We even have the trade-in and finance information, and that gives us an edge over the competition.”

Customers said they wanted better service hours, so Benstock decided to mirror competitors Pep Boys and Jiffy Lube, staying open seven days a week. Service hours on weekends are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Saturday and Sunday have become Paragon's most profitable service days. Says Benstock: “We see license plate frames from all over the metro area -- the dealerships where they purchased the cars that are not open.”

Benstock's promotions, whether longer service hours or cash-for-clunkers programs, are necessary, he says.

He has to come up with creative incentive programs to thrive because of the high cost of advertising in the New York metropolitan area, Benstock says.

This spring, he ran a “Triple Zero” campaign with no money down, no security deposit and no first month's payment.

Benstock knew that this year's clunkers program would work because he ran a similar promotion last year during the government's program to snag those who didn't qualify for the federal program. It was such a success that when the government program ended last August, Benstock continued his through December.

Anticipating a slump in summer sales because of the lingering recession and last year's high sales, he decided to revive his promotion last month.

Benstock says the program has a secondary benefit: He gets more used cars, especially newer models that can be sold as certified used vehicles. He's paying over book value for used vehicles -- but so is everyone in the industry, he says.

Says Benstock: “We wanted this program because we have to buy 10 Hondas seven days a week because of how many certified cars we are selling.”




Jason Graciano wrote:
Brian Benstock and Paragon Honda always on the cutting edge, keep up the great work, I too was going to do this "until something better came along," and it did... I got serious!!


Read more: http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20100823%2FRETAIL07%2F100829960#comments#ixzz0xXZeuMNt

Paragon Acura 4.4-Star Rating on Dealer Rater

cmr266
8/23/2010 10:01:34 AM

I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Sayed Abu & David Pena

My Review of Paragon Acura:
I purchased a 2007 Acura TL from Paragon in August, 2010.

Sayed, my salesperson, was great! He did not pressure me into buying, but did provide great service when I did. He was patient and disclosed all details throughout the process. I would recommend him to anyone purchasing an Acura.

David, my Delivery Coordinator, was also great. He took time to show me very nuance of the vehicle, and helped me program a few items. He was well-informed and friendly.

Overall, the experience was very good.

Claude

Paragon Acura 5-Star Rating on Dealer Rater

amer83
8/21/2010 8:22:52 PM

I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Mike & Kevin Service Dept.

My Review of Paragon Acura:
I bought my 2009 Acura TL for service, I had some issue with my speakers so i decided to go Saturday morning i didn't have a appointment, they took my car in for service and repaired my problem same day i was out of dealership in less then 2 hours. I highly recommend Paragon Acura service for having a great customer satisfaction, that i didn't have to take a day off from work to bring my car in for service. I also received a free car wash. Thanks to Mike and Kevin great people to work with.

Paragon Acura 5-Star Rating on Dealer Rater

lbl
8/17/2010 8:22:20 PM
I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Peter M and Wendy

My Review of Paragon Acura:
my experience at Paragon was excellent! from selecting the car to a thorough (and patient!) walk through of all of the bells and whistles at delivery, it was nothing short of a pleasure. i already have and will continue to recommend them to friends without hesitation!

Response from: Paragon Acura
Added: 8/18/2010 12:12:47 PM
Dear Customer-
Thank you so much for your review, and kind words about Peter and Wendy. At Paragon Acura, we take great pride in our team and ensure they deliver the utmost customer services to our clients like yourself. Please let us know if we can do anything in addition for you. We
appreciate your business and look forward to servicing you in the near future.

On behalf of the team, Thank you.

Best regards,

The Paragon Acura Team

Paragon Acura 5-Star Rating on Dealer Rater

sadielove
8/12/2010 11:35:28 AM

I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Ibis Andion

My Review of Paragon Acura:
so i had something wrong with radio in my car so i brought it in with no appointment they were very quick to help me i thought it was gonna take forever , it took them about a hour and i think thats kind of fast for such a busy place .. it's a nice big place clean and on point love them thanks Paragon of Acura i will always go back to them

Paragon Acura 4.8 Star Rating on Dealer Rater

kellyscott
8/11/2010 12:18:07 PM

I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Sam Yip, Rachel

My Review of Paragon Acura:
Sam Yip was a great sales person, it was a pleasure dealing with him. Very personable, straight forward, honest and looking to please the buyer. I would definetly recommend Sam to my family. Rachel was also a pleasure to deal with, she was very detailed showing me the inside of my vehicle.

Paragon Acura 5-Star Rating on Dealer Rater

EzmecAcura
8/10/2010 12:34:11 AM
I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Melvin Salcedo

My Review of Paragon Acura:
With a friend's recommendation to purchase my 2010 TSX at Paragon Acura, I am highly satisfied with the dealership. So I am happy to rate all 5's for the criteria.

Customer service was very nice. I felt like being treated with the highest respect. It was a quick purchase but I had my desired service. Mr. Salcedo has been working professionally with passion; I am very satisfied with his attitude dealing with customers. Also, he helped me to narrow down to a well-accepted price.

The delivery was very fast! Everything was ready by the next day. Thanks to Rachel to show me how to use all electronic equipments in this brand new car. She was nice. Right after placing my foot on the gas paddle, I have already felt used to it immediately.

I wouldn't hesitate to tell my friends to go Paragon Acura whenever they are looking to buy an Acura.

Paragon Acura 5-Star Rating on Dealer Rater

PPantano
8/9/2010 7:19:33 PM
I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Melvin Salcedo

My Review of Paragon Acura:
After 40 years of purchasing and leasing many vehicles by far Paragon Acura has been the most satisfying experience I have ever had. The experience was painless. The sales consultant Melvin Salcedo was knowledgeable,honest, courteous and willing to work with me to get a deal which I was pleased with.
In the past more times then not, I would leave a dealer feeling I was racked over the coals and getting a new car or truck was not pleasurable. Dealing with Melvin and Paragon has been absolutely wonderful. I will recommend Melvin Salcedo to anyone looking to purchase or lease a vehicle.

Paragon Acura 5-Star Rating on Dealer Rater

wellingtonzeta
8/5/2010 9:56:49 PM
I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Joe Rosa and Wendy

My Review of Paragon Acura:
I just leased my third vehicle from Paragon, and I will be coming back for my next vehicle. My daughter had leased vehicles from them, and other family members as well. They always been professionals, very knowledgeable, and they have the best deals in the tri-state area.

Paragon Acura 4.8 rating on Dealer Rater

Timie09
8/5/2010 11:01:37 AM
I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Jaime Wong & Wendy Deshais

My Review of Paragon Acura:
Overall I had an excellent experience at this dealership. I was apprehensive at first about getting an ACURA TL - leaning towards the Infiniti G series- but working with these employees made this purchase a very relaxed and enjoyable one. Starting with Jaime Wong and ending with Wendy Deshais, your knowledge of the vehicle, warmth and willingness to work with a prospective client is deeply appreciated. I love the car.

P.S. I will definitely recommend your dealership to friends who might be in the market for a new car.

Thank you

Congratulations to Brian Benstock and Crew…

Paragon Honda had a record CPO month with 304 units delivered- this is an all time National Record For Honda CPO.

Paragon Acura had a record CPO month with 117 units delivered- this is an all time National Record For Acura CPO.

Dale Pollak

Brian Benstock on AutoSuccess 2010

Autosuccess 2010- Dealer of The Year Profile:

Brian Benstock

Paragon Honda leap-frogged from #17 in U.S. market share for Honda to the #1 Honda New and Used dealer in the world in only 6 months. “We had a record year for volume and profitability during a record low year for the car business,” said Brian Benstock from Paragon Honda in Queens, New York. We met with Brian to find out in his own words what led to their success. Some of the companies Brian works with are on our Top 10 list this year (Tier 10, Level 5, Team Velocity, CallRevu, Car-mercial and vAuto).

Read the rest of this entry »

The Birth of Acura

1986 - Acura makes its debut with the Legend 4-door sedan and the sporty Integra 3- and 5-door models. Dealerships open in 18 states, selling the first Japanese luxury automobile in the U.S.

Paragon Acura 5-Star Rating on Dealer Rate

BarbB
7/30/2010 2:11:21 PM
I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: John Carey, Wendy Deshais, Jaime Wong

My Review of Paragon Acura:
This is by the far the BEST experience I have ever had at a car dealer. "Paragon" is the perfect name for this operation. I began on the website searching the pre-owned inventory. I found competitive pricing and a transparent description of the cars-including a direct link to the CarFax report. This of course brought me into the dealership, where I was given considerable time by the pre-owned manager, John Carey. John really took the time to make sure that I found the exact car that met my wishes and budget. Upon the prompt delivery of my vehicle, I met with Wendy Deshais, who is an Acura product expert. Wendy also spent a lot of time with me reviewing the many features of my new RDX. She helped me set up the electronic/digital features to my liking, and made sure that I was comfortable with the operation of the car before leaving the lot.
Acura is lucky to have Paragon on its team.

Paragon Acura 5-Star Rating on Dealer Rater

DC86
7/27/2010 9:39:17 AM
I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Murat, Camilo

My Review of Paragon Acura:
If you are looking for a new or certified vehicle save yourself the hassel and go straight to paragon Acura certified center you'll get the best deal and be treated as a customer should. The sales manager Murat and salesman Camilo took very good care of me and I was fully satisfied from the moment I signed the buyers order to when I drove off the lot. Dealer is highly recommended......

Paragon Acura 5-Star Rating on Dealer Rater

Joan Margarella-Dimech
7/26/2010 4:49:06 PM

I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Melvyn Salcedo and Wendy Deshals

My Review of Paragon Acura:
My husband and I went to look at the dealerships on Northern Blvd. as we wanted to buy a new car. I previously owned a new Acura and I was very pleased with it. We enitially stopped by Honda and since Acura was across the street, we decided to check out the Acura. We didn't need to go any further. Our salesman, Melvyn Salcedo was extremely courteous, knowledgeable and professional. He went out of his way to make sure all our questions, concerns and needs were met. The Delivery Manager, Wendy Deshals, took as much time as we needed to go over and explain all the details of the "tech" package. After we left the showroom with our car, we received a separate phone call from both Wendy and Melvyn the following week to make sure everything was still alright and if we had any further questions. They assured my husband and I that they are available anytime should the need present itself. It was a very reassuring feeling. We trust Paragon Acura and we would highly recommend them to anyone looking to purchase a luxury car. The experience was very pleasant and smooth.

Paragon Acura 5-Star Rating on Dealer Rater

detailz0
7/26/2010 9:11:22 AM

I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Adnan, Wendy Deshais

My Review of Paragon Acura:
I had a pleasant experience at Paragon Acura. My plan that day was to go to a few dealerships in the area, decide on a car and maybe sign papers for a delivery date. Needless to say I drove out of Paragon Acura in my new TSX. After going over everything at Acura I went to another carmaker's dealership in the area. I test drove three cars and found the Acura much more upscale and refined, but lacking a little in the raw power delivery. The customer service and level of included amenities are what sold me on the Acura. That, and after haggling and the free initial month payment, made my decision an easy one. I went back to Acura, and after we settled on a price, I was told my car was already on a truck on i ts way over from the warehouse. I saw it pull up 10 minutes later. The only problem was now I was going to be late to an appointment, but I decided getting the car then was best. It took a few hours for them to unwrap, clean, wash, and set up the car for us. Not unheard of I guess when the car is just out of the warehouse off the boat. I received a follow up call and two postcards from the dealership. As well as one from Acura directly. I guess this is a good thing. All in all, I am a a very satisfied customer. I never thought I could just walk in and get a car, insurance, and plates all in a matter of hours. Great job!

FYI: One last tidbit, I had gone to Acura in Brooklyn about 3 months earlier and they didn't even have a car I could test drive. Weird. It was Sunday, but that shouldn't matter right? Anyway, I went to Paragon Acura on Saturday July 3rd and made an appointment to avoid any of these issues, but I don't think I even needed to. It is an extremely professional business.

Paragon Acura 5-Star Rating on Dealer Rater

weichen718
7/24/2010 10:48:53 AM
I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Peter Pazmino

My Review of Paragon Acura:
Peter Pazmino on 48th Street and Northern Blvd is everything you can ask for when it comes to a car salesman. He was very honest, tentative to questions, and very fair in pricing. I worked with him for over 6 weeks and he was very patiently in finding me a car I wanted for a fair price. If you go to Paragon Acura ask for Peter and he will definitely take care of you.

One thing that was weird was that the finance manager Jean said that we had to purchase something like a lojack or extended warranty in order to qualify for special financing. That is not TRUE!!!!!!!!! Please do your research like I did to know what the requirement to receive special financing.

Paragon Acura 5-Star Rating from Dealer Rater

evnguyen
7/23/2010 3:23:39 PM
I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: 3

My Review of Paragon Acura:
I recently purchase a 2007 Acura MDX from Paragon Acura. The service was OUTSTANDING. Wendy Deshals was wonderful! She was funny and knowledgeable about the car. She explain everything we needed to know about the car. Joe Rosa, our sales guy, was excellent! He went above and beyond for us. There were issue with the Mass registration but Joe did everything he could to get it done on time. Joe even came to work on his day off to make sure everything was okay when we went to pick up the car.

Thank you so much!
Ethan (Boston Mass)

Paragon Acura Seeks Receptionist

Receptionist Needed at Paragon Acura
Our receptionist would be greeting all customers that
come into showroom, managing a multiple line switchboard and data entry.
Available:
Vacation pay
401k

Contact Angela Ortiz at 718-507-5000 ext. 265 for more information.

Paragon Acura Cash for Clunkers

Paragon Acura, a participating is bringing back "Cash for Clunkers".

Paragon Acura 5-Star Rating from Dealer Rater

kkowalska
7/19/2010 8:22:24 PM

I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Melvin Salcedo

My Review of Paragon Acura:
I have really enjoyed the service. It was my fourth car that I purchased and Melvin Salcedo was the best sales representative I have ever dealt with. He was very friendly, knowledgable and professional in every possible way. I am looking forward to getting my next car from him. Thank you for unforgettable buying experience.

Laura Smith of 77WABC Radio Interview with Brian Benstock

Laura is talking with Brian Benstock of Paragon Auto Group, the number one Honda dealer in the country, giving you tips on car buying and how the auto industry affects your pocket!

77WABC Radio

Paragon Acura 5-star rating on Dealer Rater

albangp
7/16/2010 12:06:51 PM
I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Alberto Escobar, Jose Luis Arias, Gary Lin, Wendy Deshals

My Review of Paragon Acura:
Last month my wife and I upgraded our car from a Honda Civic to an Acura TSX. I have to say that my experience with Paragon Acura was as rewarding as the first time I purchased my Honda Civic from Paragon Honda, three years ago. After visiting many other dealerships located in Northern Boulevard, Queens. I believe this is the best dealership in the area.
From the beginning I was welcomed by sales professionals Alberto Escobar and Jose Luis Arias, they help us trough out the whole process of choosing the right car for our needs and answer all our questions promptly, their expertise in the car market was noticeable. When it was time to close the deal, business manager Gary Lyn, was very helpful by helping us finance our car with the lowest APR in the market.
Once we got the technologically advanced Acura, Wendy Deshals was there to help, she was very knowledgeable and professional and taught me how to use every single feature in the car from the power windows to the satellite radio, to the blutooth.

The biggest asset that Paragon Honda and Paragon Acura has, its the professionalism, and courtesy of its employees.

A. Alban

Paragon Acura 5-Star Rating from Dealer Rater

Sammieb
7/13/2010 5:04:35 PM
I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Maurice Martin, Wendy Deshals

My Review of Paragon Acura:
Maurice Martin and Wendy Deshais were very friendly and answered all of my questions about the car I leased. Wendy sat with me in the car and showed me all of the features, which were alot different than my old Acura, since there were many new featues in general, and I was moving from a navigation system to a car without navigation. I contacted Maurine with questions several times after I took the car home, and answer my questions and answered them promptly.

Paragon Acura 5-Star Rating from Dealer Rater

prd28
7/11/2010 9:42:33 PM
I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Mike Timpone (service manager), Kevin Cunningham (service advisor)

My Review of Paragon Acura:
I purchased a new 2010 TL AWD Tech, upon delivery I noticed 2 license plate screw marks on the back bumper. I notified the sales person and they gave me a we owe slip to bring to service to fix the bumper. The car went to the body shop to be repaired. when it came back it had a ding on the front grill. I was very upset. I spoke to kevin and mike about the problem and mike asked if I liked the chrome sport grill they make for the TL, I said of course. Mike told me not to worry and they will replace my grill with the sport 1. I was so happy that he made a worse scenario into 1 that I was happy that happened. Mike and kevin are the greatest at paragon. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND bringing your Acura to Paragon for service and see kevin to write up you car and if there are any problems to talk to mike which is the service manager.

Thanks Guys, See you soon.....

Paragon Acura 5-Star Rating from Dealer Rater

eduardoherrera
7/10/2010 12:22:45 PM
I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Melvin Salsedo and Wendy Deshals

My Review of Paragon Acura:
Every body That I met in Paragon Acura gave us good treatment, I have a very nice experience with Melvin Salsedo y Wendy Deshals, before and after the purchase, I steel talk to them when I need some information and they take the time to answer my questions,

Warm Regards,
Eduardo Herrera

Paragon Acura 5-Star Rating from Dealer Rater

beerhunter
7/9/2010 4:44:13 PM
I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Wendy Deshais and Sam Yip

My Review of Paragon Acura:
I picked up a new 2010 TL for a friend of mine because she was out of the country. Sam as very helpful in the sales process and introduced me to Wendy for the delivery. I have never driven an Acura or Honda so I am not familiar with the car at all. Wendy was friendly, concise, and thorough in explaining how each feature worked. In fact, I left there excited about driving this car , which was not mine! Well, I just may consider Wendy's suggestion of switching from my BMWs to an MDX. I will just have to run down for a test drive one of these weekends.

5-Star Rating from Dealer Rater

willwong1012
7/1/2010 4:16:45 PM
I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: James Chan ( service advisor )

My Review of Paragon Acura:
finally my car got fixed on water leaking and clean the interior headliners and the replacement for the low & high horn for me. And the service adviser james chan (JESSE) is the best and experience on this job. He took care with me nice and followed up everything over the phone when my car still in the shop. He ran all the paperwork fast and smooth with the loaner car. he made me feel totally different experience on last few visits. and also i need to thanks him(JESSE) , mike (manager) and angela(internet sales manager) for helped all the problem i had .

** if you go for car service at paragon acura, please check it out with JESSE . the best service adviser in the field.

5-Star Rating from Dealer Rater

Abdulnafea
6/28/2010 10:52:45 PM

I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Wendy Deshais and Maurice Martin

My Review of Paragon Acura:
Best Price, Best customer service.

Maurice was profesional, friendly, and patient. made us feel like we can trust him . Unlike other dealerships. We started the search for MDX at Paragon then visited 3 other dealerships. The best price and customer service was at Paragon. Don't Shop around and waste your time, just go to Paragon.

Wdndey was very nice, funny and she knows the car inside out. She saved us a lot of time in reading the manual etc.

If you are in the search for Acura just go to Paragon. You'll be in good hands.

5-Star Rating from Dealer Rater

jessiprncss
6/27/2010 8:10:38 PM

I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Mark Ma & Wendy Deshals

My Review of Paragon Acura:
I was very impressed. I would recommend Paragon dealership to anyone who is in the market for purchasing a car. Paragon has out done themselves with their professionalism and courteousness. My husband and I have been researching our next car for the past 6-9 months. We have been to other dealerships, and nothing compares to the experience we both had at Paragon. The other dealerships we visited left us with a weird feeling in our gut (you know the one, that makes you feel violated). We never felt like we were really valued as a consumer. But not here. We really felt as if we were appreciated for our business and would always be welcomed back with any concerns we have.

Mark meet beyond our expectations. We told him what we were looking for with features in a car, and he was able to produce the product. With no shady salesman tactics. I never felt like I was being taken advantage of. On the day of pick up we informed him that our son was going to be with us, and our window was very small for all the paperwork to get done. And once we walked in, it was ready and waiting. The car was in the garage waiting to be driven out. The paperwork was all in order and just needed us to sign it. Very fast and painless.

Wendy was also wonderful. In addition to her professionalism, she was very knowledgeable about the car. She walked us through all the new features with ease. She also went over and beyond herself to entertain our 1 yr who was slightly overdue for a nap while we finished installing our infant car seat with Mark's help. Even though she explained everything with thoroughness she offered us to call her with any questions if we needed help. I am confident to call back at a later date if I forgot something she explained to me, and not feel like I am inconveniencing her now that the transaction is complete.

Paragon is also an immaculate establishment. I have been to a few dealerships that I felt that they lacked in the appearance department. My son dropped a few pieces of food on the floor. And I was not hesitant to lean down to touch the floor myself and pick up his crumbs. My son making a slight mess with his new found learned motor skills made me actually care about their place as if it was my own. That is how clean they keep it. They also made sure when they presented our car to us it reflected the same image as well. Not a flaw was found.

5 Star Review from Dealer Rater

eweisblum
6/22/2010 12:30:17 PM

I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Wendy Deshais and Melvin Salcedo

My Review of Paragon Acura:
I had tried a few other dealerships, and no one gave me the personalized service like paragon. Melvin was extremely helpful and knowledgeable when it came to finding the car that fit our needs and our budget.

Wendy sat with me for 2 hours, going way after closing, so that I felt comfortable using my new car and its features before I left the lot.

I would STRONGLY recommend using Paragon Acura.

5 Star Review from Dealer Rater

tony ng
6/22/2010 8:13:26 AM

I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: stephen yi

My Review of Paragon Acura:
I would definitely recommend this dealership to any who is looking into purchasing Acura. I went to other dealerships and shopped around but no one gave a reasonable price for me. However paragon acura gave me a competitive price and i could not refuse it. I dealt with a salesperson named Steven Yi. He was a great person and went out of his way to give me everything i needed. When the car was delivered Wendy Deshals showed me all the features and how everything operated on the car. She knew the car inside out and was extremely helpful. excellent job and will purchase my future car from them.

5 Star Review from Dealer Rater

"i am pleased to say that i had the best customer service experience at this dealer.i had visit other dealers and i was not served the way i was greeted here. i was served refreshments, very friendly, excellent price.. i would recommend this dealer to any one and specially my sells rep.. angelo great person.."

Dealer Rater

5 Star Review from Dealer Rater

After reading through many postings on this website, I decided to go to Paragon Acura for my new ride three weeks ago. The process was pretty smooth, and my sales person Jaime was more than helpful. Paragon Acura is the No 1 Acura dealer within US in terms of volume and I feel that they are very willing to work out good deals with customers (but you need to do your homework on pricing before you walk in, it would make negotiation much more efficient). I got good pricing (perhaps not the best, but very good) on my new MDX as well as the Accord trade-in. Financing and plate/title transfers were as easy as that.

The best part of Paragon Acura is their delivery Manager Wendy. She will make you fall in love with your new ride. After deal was done, she gave me a great tutorial on MDX - the technologies, bluetooth, hands free features, etc. I could not enjoy more of driving MDX now.

Overall this is a great dealership. I'd definitely come back for my next ride.

Dealer Rater

5 Star Review from Dealer Rater

I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Joe Rosa

My Review of Paragon Acura:
I purchased my first vehicle this past weekend and was fortunate enough to have been introduced to Joe Rosa at the Paragon Acura dealership in Woodside NY. Being a new car buyer, the process was more than a little daunting but Joe and his entire team at Acura made the experience completely pain free, understandable, educational and even at times enjoyable. From my initial encounter with the receptionsit to Joe personally delivering the vehicle to my apartment later that same day, the Acura team went out of their way to make me feel comfortable and confident in my purchasing decision.

Joe Rosa is an experienced, knowledgeable, professional who listens to what you want and then delivers the best deal possible within your budget and time frame. In my case, I wanted a specific vehicle that day and Joe made sure that I got what I wanted with the least amount of inconvenience to me.

I highly recommend Paragon Acura, Joe Rosa and the entire Acura team for your vehicle needs. I will certainly be back in the future!

5 Star Review from Dealer Rater

KCiemniecki
6/14/2010 1:08:25 PM

I recommend this dealer: Yes

Employee(s) Dealt With: Mark Ma and Wendy Dashals

My Review of Paragon Acura:
Mark was extremely nice and patient. He took care of all my car needs and even helped in transferring my insurance provider. When there were times I had to consult with my fiancé he was willing to give us privacy and never overbearing. He was very attentive and never pushy. I would definitely recommend him to a friend or family member. When it was time to learn about the car, we were introduced to Wendy who was very pleasant and enthusiastic. She had a smile on her face the entire time she was explaining the features and was willing to take the time to sit with us for as long as it took. Wendy even gave us her business card and told us to contact her with any questions we might have about the vehicle. Even after the dealership had closed, both Wendy and Mark were washing our windows before we took off in our new Acura. This was one of the best experiences at a dealership I'v ever had.

5 Star Review from Dealer Rater

5 Star Review from Dealer Rater

5 Star Review from Dealer Rater

5 Star Review from Dealer Rater

5 Star Review from Dealer Rater

5 Star Review from Dealer Rater

5 Star Review from Dealer Rater

5 Star Review from Dealer Rater

5 Star Review from Dealer Rater

5 Star Review from Dealer Rater

5 Star Review from Dealer Rater

5 Star Review from Dealer Rater

5 Star Review from Dealer Rater

5 Star Review from Dealer Rater

5 Star Review from Dealer Rater