Quote:
Originally Posted by PieNsky
Sure, I MIGHT BE CHANGING THE SUBJECT but what really pisses me off to no end is the price gouging dealers.
I called up Coyle Chevrolet in Indiana and was told to write a check for a grand and I will be buying a Camaro for MSRP. I get there and am told to write a check for 7 Grand and when the Camaro comes in, I'll buy it for MSRP and they will just keep the 7 Grand deposit.
I called up Champion Chevrolet in LaGrange , KY and they were only go to **** me for 5 Grand.
I stopped in at Bachman Chevrolet and the also wanted a nonrefundable deposit but only for a 1 Grand but the price will be whatever the Louisville market will be bearing when it comes in....SURPRISE!!! I rather not be surprised by something as expensive as a new car price.
I gave my C.C. # over the phone to a central Indiana car dealer whose internet salesman told me I was 25 of 26 back on 11-4 only to find out that they had 4 allocations.
I finally found a dealer that is going to sell me at MSRP an LS.
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Your situation is the reason I am exploring what would be involved in getting ground work together for fighting unfair franchise laws. In fact, here is my vision:
The way it SHOULD work is you go into any Chevy (or GM "store" as I would prefer them to be called), and order your Camaro exactly the way you want it. You pay the same exact price as every other single American who orders their Camaro in the same color, options, and engine. Or, what would really be revolutionary is being able to order the car online. And have a direct contact to a live person at GM if you have any problems or concerns with your ordering process. This same person would have the power to investigate issues and resolve any problems you might have encountered in the process of ordering your car. When your car is built, it is shipped to your local Chevy or GM store (of which there would only be maybe 10 in every major metropolitan area, one or two for every GM division).
At this Chevy store, there is a parking lot of cars and trucks you can buy right there, but not an entire 5 acres of Cobalts and Silverados lined up like Soviet militants (like I see when I walk on to most Chevy dealer lots). There would be a good selection of all the vehicles ready for your purchase and test drive, but not overkill. The streamlining of production has been remedied by eliminating redundant production processes, redesigning all GM assembly lines to be the most efficient in the world (which would unfortunately eliminate many jobs due to the vast robotics invovled in producing the cars) crosstraining all employees how to multi-task on the job, and employing a notion that if something has to get done just do it (instead of the "it's not my job" attitude that still seems to permiate some production facilities)
All the employees would be required to wear sanctioned business casual attire, most likely a blue or white button down or polo style shirt with the insignia of the division they represent or the GM blue square on it. Kakhi pants, skirts, and matching shoes are a must. Everyone must be clean cut, no tatoos showing, and present a professional attitude without the "salesman" edge (think Apple Stores).
The stores themselves.....
Whether you're buying a Cadillac XLR or Chevy Aveo, they must all be modern, sophisticated, and still be warm and inviting. Clean and bright. Computer - er, Mac - kisosks available to everyone for looking at the options and colors of every car they want would replace brochures stacked up on rack upon rack. There will not be a single board anywhere in the room showing, to the public, the list of salespeople and how many cars they've sold. Those days are gone now that all of the "product specialists" are paid a salary or hourly stipen. And when I say specialists I mean that.
The employees.......
To work at a Chevy store, you must first pass a simple test about cars in general. Not model or make specific, just a general test gauging your knowledge about cars. What's the difference between AWD and 4WD? What is traction control and how does it work? What is the difference between OHC, DOHC, and OHV?.....
These are issues I continue to see salesmen today have absolutely no clue about and it drives me up a wall. You sell cars - get to know a little about them!!!
If potential hires do not pass this test, they aren't eligable to sell cars yet. Perhaps you could make them a receptionist or lackey untill they learn.
When they do, they should be required to keep up to date on ALL the latest info about every car they represent. Once a month training including driving the cars and having an engineer go through everything with them technically. Cars like the Camaro should have one and ONE person only who is eligable to sell them - they know as much about the car as Scott Settlemeyer or more and understand the passion of a Camaro enthusiast. They are older, probably owned a couple Camaros in their lifetime, and know about carburators. I've laughed so hard at a few salesmen when I asked them about Camaros I almost had to change my underwear.
All of these processes would be defined in an employee handbook binder titled "Standard Operating Procedure", which is defined, processed, and enforced by General Motors from the top in Detroit, all the way down to every GM store in America. In the SOP binder would be guidlines for employee performance evaluations and actions plans for employees who need guidance. All the stores would operate, process, and employ the exact same way. Whether it's in Cleveland, Ohio or San Diego, California, or New York City. In fact, it would be almost efortless for any employee from one to transfer to another without having to learn a single new thing on the job.
A store manager would have absolutely no say in what a car can sell for. Their main responsabilities would be to make sure all of the specialists are properly trained on product, presenting the products accurately and positively, and most importantly providing exceptional customer service. Did I mention all the prices are set by GM and thus have only the profit required by GM built in to them and no margin for dealers (since they're extinct anyway)??
The bottom line is, anyone who sells a GM vehicle would work for GM, not Dan The Man's Auto Emporium.
Hmmmm, I know I'll think of other things to add to this, but that's about it for now.