Check out Mitchell Pavelko's reviews on DealerRater

July 27, 2025

Dealership Rating

Employee Rating

Extremely Disappointed – A Cautionary Tale After several days of working with the sales team at Elder Ford, during which I repeatedly confirmed I would be using 0% financing (something I had already several days of working with the sales team at Elder Ford, during which I repeatedly confirmed I would be using 0% financing (something I had already secured prior to engaging), we finally came to an agreement on numbers and were moving forward to close the deal on my husband’s new vehicle. However, during the final walk-through and finance steps, a small discrepancy arose that required clarification. Jim from the finance team said he would consult with the sales manager and get back to us. The next day, after hearing nothing, I reached out only to be told the car had been sold to someone else—the very car we were actively closing on. I was completely stunned. They knowingly sold the vehicle while we were in the financing stage—something I find not only deeply unprofessional but incredibly underhanded. It feels like they used the opportunity to backtrack on our deal and chase a higher-paying offer. To make matters worse, they had another similar vehicle we would have considered, yet showed zero interest in continuing the conversation or salvaging the relationship. We were met with complete indifference and dismissal. This experience has left me both frustrated and disillusioned. I had hoped to leave with a vehicle and peace of mind—instead, I was left with a sense of betrayal and disappointment. I would strongly caution others to think twice before trusting Elder Ford with your business. More

by Erinortiz1

Sales Price Transparency

Trade-in Experience

Purchase Time

Finance Experience

Recommend Dealer

No

Report | Print

Jul 27, 2025 -

Elder Ford of Tampa responded

Hi, We strive to earn customers for life and I am extremely disappointed to hear of your negative experience with our dealership. I would like the opportunity to try and regain your trust in our business by attempting to resolve this matter for you, if I still can. I take our customers’ comments and feedback very seriously, so please take a minute to give me a call at 813-279-7301. I would like to understand exactly what went wrong and hopefully turn your experience around. Thank you, Dan Sills General Manager Elder Ford of Tampa

July 22, 2025

Dealership Rating

Employee Rating

Best price and delivered my car the same day as check arrived as agreed upon arrived as agreed upon More

by darrynfrithconstruction

Verified Customer

Recommend Dealer

Yes

Other Employees Tagged: Mitchell Pavelko

Report | Print

Jul 24, 2025 -

Elder Ford of Tampa responded

Hello, we are happy we could make your experience a positive one! We hope to be of service to you again! Take care!

June 11, 2025

Dealership Rating

Employee Rating

Added $2250 onto my contract without telling me anything. Promised me the difference overnight. Never received the money. No customer support after sale. A real shame because their prices are good. Promised me the difference overnight. Never received the money. No customer support after sale. A real shame because their prices are good. More

by jonsamuel.harris

Verified Customer

Sales Price Transparency

Purchase Time

Finance Experience

Recommend Dealer

No

Other Employees Tagged: Chris Hesterberg

Report | Print

Jun 13, 2025 -

Elder Ford of Tampa responded

Hi, We strive to earn customers for life and I am extremely disappointed to hear of your negative experience with our dealership. I would like the opportunity to try and regain your trust in our business by attempting to resolve this matter for you, if I still can. I take our customers’ comments and feedback very seriously, so please take a minute to give me a call at 813-279-7301. I would like to understand exactly what went wrong and hopefully turn your experience around. Thank you, Dan Sills General Manager Elder Ford of Tampa

Jun 13, 2025 -

jonsamuel.harris responded

I want to change my rating. Although there were some obstacles, Cheyenne fixed everything for me. She’s awesome.

May 15, 2025

Dealership Rating

Employee Rating

Dealership is quick, efficient, and transparent when it comes to customer service and availability with the team comes to customer service and availability with the team More

by SVIRDEN2986

Verified Customer

Service Price Transparency

Workmanship

Service Time

Service Communication

Recommend Dealer

Yes

Other Employees Tagged: REINALDO DUARTE, WILLIAM LEIMBACH, Cheyenne Lightfoot, Dayna Glover, Daniel Arias

Report | Print

May 18, 2025 -

Elder Ford of Tampa responded

Hi, we're pleased to hear everything was completed to your satisfaction! Please let us know if there is ever anything else we can do for you! Safe travels!

May 08, 2025

Dealership Rating

Employee Rating

The customer service team saved the day; Cheyenne and Jenn were incredible to deal with and made a difference. Jenn were incredible to deal with and made a difference. More

by surfms001

Verified Customer

Recommend Dealer

Yes

Other Employees Tagged: Mitchell Pavelko

Report | Print

May 10, 2025 -

Elder Ford of Tampa responded

Hi, thank you for leaving such a great review and high star rating. We hope to be of service to you again! Take care!

May 06, 2025

Dealership Rating

Employee Rating

Great dealership. I don't know who Mitchell Pavelko is but I dealt with Evelio Lopez-Brown. He was great and helped me get the exact truck I wanted. Definitely going b I don't know who Mitchell Pavelko is but I dealt with Evelio Lopez-Brown. He was great and helped me get the exact truck I wanted. Definitely going back to him whenever I'm ready for another vehicle. More

by jose.dhys

Verified Customer

Recommend Dealer

Yes

Other Employees Tagged: Mitchell Pavelko

Report | Print

May 10, 2025 -

Elder Ford of Tampa responded

Hello, we are very happy we could provide you with a positive experience! If you ever need anything else from us, please feel free to give us a call or stop by. Have an awesome day!

April 10, 2025

Dealership Rating

Employee Rating

John and the Elder Ford team made it quick and easy to find a new (to us) truck. They got us a good price trading in too. find a new (to us) truck. They got us a good price trading in too. More

by Paigewhit44

Sales Price Transparency

Trade-in Experience

Purchase Time

Recommend Dealer

Yes

Other Employees Tagged: John Weicherding

Report | Print

Apr 14, 2025 -

Elder Ford of Tampa responded

Hi, we are happy we could make your experience a positive one! If there is anything else we can do to assist you, please let us know! Take care!

March 25, 2025

Dealership Rating

Employee Rating

I didn’t really meet Mitchel. He just sent me a text with a price. Jose service was awesome & the experience with the dealership was great. He just sent me a text with a price. Jose service was awesome & the experience with the dealership was great. More

by chrissygala

Verified Customer

Sales Price Transparency

Purchase Time

Finance Experience

Recommend Dealer

Yes

Other Employees Tagged: DAVID FUNK, Jose Sanchez

Report | Print

Mar 28, 2025 -

Elder Ford of Tampa responded

Hello, thank you for taking the time to leave us your response to our staff's outstanding customer service! Please let us know if there is ever anything else we can do for you! Safe travels!

March 24, 2025

Dealership Rating

Employee Rating

The car buying experience at Elder Ford was excellent! The staff is honest, friendly, professional, & knowledgeable. Great vehicle at a good price. I will buy my next vehicle from Elder Ford. Thank you J The staff is honest, friendly, professional, & knowledgeable. Great vehicle at a good price. I will buy my next vehicle from Elder Ford. Thank you Jayson & David! More

by acdswiderski

Verified Customer

Sales Price Transparency

Purchase Time

Finance Experience

Recommend Dealer

Yes

Other Employees Tagged: JAYSON SIERRA, DAVID FUNK

Report | Print

Mar 28, 2025 -

Elder Ford of Tampa responded

Hi, our staff is dedicated to providing all our guests with outstanding customer service and quality work you can trust! Please let us know if there is ever anything else we can do for you! Safe travels!

March 23, 2025

Dealership Rating

Employee Rating

My sales experience with this dealership was very poor. I bought a maverick around sept 20,2024 I bought a maverick around sept 20,2024 More

by joetran98

Verified Customer

Sales Price Transparency

Trade-in Experience

Purchase Time

Finance Experience

Recommend Dealer

No

Report | Print

Mar 23, 2025 -

joetran98 responded

I bought a Ford Maverick on 9/20/2024 at Elder Ford. My salesperson was Ernesto Ricardo. After the sale is finalized I was told by the finance specialist who did the paper work for me to get my Maverick certified at a local DMV. I never experienced this before and I have bought several new cars in my life. So I asked my sales person Ernesto to go with me to the DMV ; at that time it was 4pm and Ernesto said he could not go with me even though he told me he's off work at 6pm that day and he seems to have nothing to do at the moment. He said he is obligated to fill my Maverick with a full tank of gas so he and I drove to a gas station nearby. He did not know how to open the gas tank cap on my new vehicle so he casually try to crank the cap open with one of his keys in his pocket. I stopped him as I didn't want to damage my gas tank cap. We eventually found the correct way to open the gas tank cap inside the truck cockpit. Ernesto did not teach me how to operate the truck ie all the buttons inside the truck etc especially the infotainment screen with different functions. I had to remind him to do it. I felt as if after the sale they didn't care about me anymore and left me orphaned. Atter almost one month I contacted the dealer to check if they had submit my registration paperwork to DMV and I had a hard time contacting them by phone because they put me on hold almost forever without answering the phone. It seems the dealership is vacant as they put caller on hold forever. Cheyenne Lightfoot was helpful to me, she reply my texts and help me with my needs ie getting the temporary plate to me among other things so I would like to give her good rating. I would be on extra guard if I have to deal with this dealership again. I certainly will not recommend this dealership to my friend and family.

Mar 23, 2025 -

joetran98 responded

I bought a Ford Maverick on 9/20/2024 at Elder Ford. My salesperson was Ernesto Ricardo. After the sale is finalized I was told by the finance specialist who did the paper work for me to get my Maverick certified at a local DMV. I never experienced this before and I have bought several new cars in my life. So I asked my sales person Ernesto to go with me to the DMV ; at that time it was 4pm and Ernesto said he could not go with me even though he told me he's off work at 6pm that day and he seems to have nothing to do at the moment. He said he is obligated to fill my Maverick with a full tank of gas so he and I drove to a gas station nearby. He did not know how to open the gas tank cap on my new vehicle so he casually try to crank the cap open with one of his keys in his pocket. I stopped him as I didn't want to damage my gas tank cap. We eventually found the correct way to open the gas tank cap inside the truck cockpit. Ernesto did not teach me how to operate the truck ie all the buttons inside the truck etc especially the infotainment screen with different functions. I had to remind him to do it. I felt as if after the sale they didn't care about me anymore and left me orphaned. Atter almost one month I contacted the dealer to check if they had submit my registration paperwork to DMV and I had a hard time contacting them by phone because they put me on hold almost forever without answering the phone. It seems the dealership is vacant as they put caller on hold forever. Cheyenne Lightfoot was helpful to me, she reply my texts and help me with my needs ie getting the temporary plate to me among other things so I would like to give her good rating. I would be on extra guard if I have to deal with this dealership again. I certainly will not recommend this dealership to my friend and family.