Dennis Baglier holds the J.D. Power Dealer of Excellence award his Buick GMC dealership recently earned. Only 11 dealerships in the state and 290 nationwide received the honor.

Buying a vehicle isn't just a major investment, it often can be a stressful, time-consuming endeavor from the initial search to signing on the dotted line.

But Dennis Baglier and his staff at Baglier Buick GMC always strive to make the end result worth the effort.

And their customers not only noticed but helped the Butler dealership earn a prestigious J.D. Power Dealer of Excellence award for 2020.

“It's always good to be recognized for the hard work the team does to take care of our customers,” Baglier said of the recent recognition. “And we plan to keep doing it for a long time.”

For more than 50 years, J.D. Power has surveyed and analyzed customers across more than a dozen industries, according to its website. The company releases annual data results as part of its U.S. Sales Satisfaction Index Study compiled by more than 800 professional analysts, statisticians, economists, consultants and experts in demographics and consumer behavior.

In 2017, the company started recognizing car dealerships demonstrating “commitment to exceeding customer expectations” based on its annual survey, as well as passing an audit proving they meet or exceed several key best practices for the industry.

Of the 17,000 car dealerships nationally, just 290 have been certified as Dealers of Excellence by J.D. Power, with just 11 of those in Pennsylvania — including Baglier Buick GMC.

No stranger to being recognized for its customer service, Baglier Buick GMC also has received the General Motors Mark of Excellence Award 14 times.

J.D. Power bases dealership experience scores not only on the vehicles, but also customer opinions about the car-buying process and their experience with repair and maintenance service.

Baglier said his team works hard to ensure customers keep coming back to the dealership and often have entire families who have worked with them for generations.

He points out that it's not always about the sale, but also about the relationships his team builds with their customers — from the first test drive to maintenance down the road.

“It's one of our goals,” Baglier said of his team's approach to building strong relationships with its customers. “We depend on repeat customers.”