Dealership Knowledge vs. Forum

[The_Blur]

Your dealer is an idiot. Scientists think that something genetic or biological has something to do with it. No one is really sure, though, why your dealer is an idiot. What is sure is that you need to find another one. If you like, I can point you in the right direction in my area, or you can see some of Camaro5's popular sponsor-dealers. Everyone else is an idiot.

[blackjackcamaro]

What's really funny is when the master auto technician tells you they scan camaro5 for installation ideas/instructions

[10forty2]

Originally Posted by HDRDTD

In all fairness, there are a LOT of different models of vehicles any one salesman is expected to sell.

Maybe they just don't expect the average buyer to be that knowledgeable?

In all fairness, as a customer getting ready to spend $30K-$40K, I SHOULD and DO expect my salesperson to know EVERYTHING about the product they are selling. If they don't, then I'm not buying from them.

And at no point in the process, should a salesperson think that their customer is an idiot....which by the way, a majority of salespeople come across as thinking. This applies to any product being sold!

If they'd stop trying to screw somebody over for a profit, they might actually get respect enough to get a second sale from the same person and get a reputation like Becky Doyle that participates in this forum. I haven't purchased anything from her, but when I decide to pull the trigger, I will give her first shot at it because of the reputation she has in treating customers right!

Moral of the story??? When you are the customer spending your hard-earned money, you deserve the best and to not be treated with disrespect!! (But don't forget as the customer, we also owe respect to a competent salesperson too!!)

[MAGfuz]

Apparently the service guys at my dealership think ALL Camaros REQUIRE synthetic oil. It was a free oil change so I said yes, lol. If I don't get another coupon for free oil change, Royal Purple here I come!

[MiracleAces]

Being a sales manager at a Chevy dealership I can own up to not knowing everything. Of course I have to know every trim level of every car as well as the options and pricing and gas mileage, etc... not just the Camaros. That being said I learn something new all the time and thoroughly enjoy when customers teach me something new (mostly sports cars and truck guys). I'll readily tell them they most likely know more than me. If I dont know the answer I will not lie about it. That being said - yes, many car sales people will pretend to have knowledge rather than admit they dont know.

Concerning your situation, it sounds like the dealership used up the current allocation for the 2012 Camaros and have to wait for there next allotment to place your order. So they are most likely being shady there. To give you an idea. We had 12 2012 Camaros alloted to us for the first order. We only ordered 9 so that we would have three left over for special orders. Dealerships receive their allotments each month. If that dealership doesnt sell one of those Camaros - they wont receive more in the next month's allocation. So they may not have an order number to give you. I'm sorry if this is the case.

Vehicles, even special orders do sit for up to two or three weeks once out of production sometimes. The trucks that bring them want a a full load these days so they dont waste precious time and gas delivering partial loads to a particular territory.

[NewCamaroRider]

Originally Posted by seminolejon

Funny you mention this. I happened to be at the dealership for my free tank of gas a couple of weeks ago and I asked my salesman about Sport mode. He hadn't heard of such a thing. He told me you HAVE to use the paddle shifters if in M. He found it hard to believe you could just drive the car around in M6.

Also, I asked what he thought of the 2012s coming out soon, particularly the new steering wheel. He had no clue what I was talking about.

Things that make you go hmmmm.

did you say FREE tank of gas? how? why? educate me! lolz

[BackinBlackSS/RS]

Originally Posted by MiracleAces

Being a sales manager at a Chevy dealership I can own up to not knowing everything. Of course I have to know every trim level of every car as well as the options and pricing and gas mileage, etc... not just the Camaros. .

That's true, but you will not get the kind of knowledge interest from a customer who is buying say a Aveo, as you would a Camaro or Corvette. These buyers are going to be informed for the most part and so if I were a salesman, I would make sure I knew each inside and out.

[Angrybird 12]

Know all you can about a car before going to the dealer.. then don't listen to anything the saleperson says unless it is written down and signed, UNLESS that salesperson shows that they are up on most vital parts of that car's features.

Even on here we have many Non Sales persons that profess to know everything about the Camaro, but still get some facts wrong. Production changes in mid year can throw some for a loop especially when they may have some pre change cars on the lot. So give them a break and concentrate on the deal, not how much they know about the car.

That being said, they should always be up front with you on their allocations and how long before the car is actually ordered. you can insist on that up front, and if they will not give you that information, time to look elsewhere.

[exflirt]

Originally Posted by GrandPrixGXP

I don't really expect all car sales people to know every move of every model and model year they sell, but I find it interesting that I know so much more about what's going on with the Camaro than my dealer, thanks to this forum.

My dealer told me they would keep me up to date on every step in the process of ordering and receiving a 2012. I hadn't talked with them since ordering 5 weeks ago. I figured why bother until production starts?

But yesterday I stopped by to see when mine would be made. The guy said well that depends on whenever they start production on the 2012s. I informed him that that happened 3 days ago.

Oh, also, for some reason, they won't give me my order number. I explained to them that I could update myself online if I had that, and I told them about Becky's helpfulness. Wonder why they're guarding that number?

He finds out it will be the 1st week of August. Then he says it may sit wherever it's made for a week or two until G.M. has other cars to send my direction..due to gas prices. GRR!! Anyway, I informed him that it was being made in Oshawa, Canada.

He said they may get it out quickly since it's special order, and not just going to the dealer, but again, it could sit there for a week or two.

Also, they don't seem to want to give me my order number. I explained to them that I could check online what's going on, and I told them about Becky's helpfulness. Wonder why they're guarding this info?

Refusing to give you your order number?!?! Put a stop to that bull$hit. That's a way for them to keep you in the dark and be in control, which they should have absolutely no need to do if they're honest, reliable, and want to provide good customer service and keep their customers.

Besides, they're robbing you of one of the most enjoyable (and to be truthful, exasperating!) aspects of ordering a car. Tracking it online, getting your VIN hours after it's been posted, following your car by rail as it makes its way to your house - these are all experiences I would NEVER give up and actually helped me "bond" with my car before I ever saw it. It's like expectant parents as they attend doctor's appointments, get an ultrasound, and listen to the baby's heartbeat before it's ever even born ... By the time that baby arrives, they feel bonded already and as if they already know each other.

Being able to track your car makes the experience so much more enjoyable and totally ups the "anticipation" factor! Your dealer is robbing you of this experience, and it should be your decision whether or not you want to participate in the birth of your car – not theirs.

Go git 'em!

[Miraclewhip]

Originally Posted by SYO237

It is very rare to find a car salesman who is a car enthusiast. A large majority of salesman are there solely for the purpose of moving cars and making their commission not because they like the world of cars. They are limited to the information they are given by either video or paperwork for them to get updated on new models and get cars sold. I cant recall a time where I have ever walked into a dealer and the salesman schooled me on anything.

This might offend, but most real car enthusiasts realize that being a car salesman is a scumbag job due to the lies and manipulation involved in the process of car buying and wouldnt dare take that kind of job.

Truth hurts, and if you are a salesman that doesnt fit in this category, sorry....but you can thank the rest of the morons out there for stereotype and I wish there were more of you out there. I know there are individuals from dealers who come on here and post and support the forum by answering questions and giving information....THANK YOU to those of you who do, youre a rare breed.

While it is a rare breed of salesperson who can even compete with a car enthusiast, stereotyping the entire group is just as ignorant as bothering to do business with one you don't like or who didn't earn your business. While I was selling I remained GM Training certified on EVERY product chevrolet carries. To be honest, I feel like you are either spewing hate with the above comments, or attesting to your own ignorance because not only are you judging an entire group based on the stereotypes of some...but you are also doing it in a place where tons of sales people, managers, and Chevy employees are lurking, and looking to be helpful.

Also, during the 7 years I was a salesperson, and during the 3 years I have been a sales manager I have NEVER, EVER lied to a customer to earn their business. I also don't allow it from the sales people I am responsible for managing. With that said, do you HONESTLY think anyone today decided to tackle being a car salesman knowing the stigman associated with it, or just got in the business to "move product, and earn commission"

I think working 5, or in some cases 6 days a week, and trying best to handle people who come in to your dealership feeling like you do...is unfair, and outdated. Customers are given surveys post sale, Dealerships are awarded more money, more product, help in their service department with "questionable" or "just out of warranty, warranty items" by remaining top honors with customers, and staying certified with GM. SO while you troll forums, spewing hate I respect your enthusiasm concerning Camaros, but don't take a dealer experience you had, out on the rest of us.


*EDIT* Apparently Both Chevy dealership sales managers in this post have the Miracle in their name, I find that hilarious

[daytripper]

Hi skyman,
You seem to have knowledge of dealer b/s and alocations. I ordered a 2012 1SS 5-27 . I have tried repeatidly to get some idea when I will get my car . It is still at 1100. I can not get a straight answer, just: "you will get the 1st one we get" . This is starting to take any joy out of the purchase of this car . I dont need this thing, just an additional toy.
Any ideas ?
JIM

[Synner]

My experience was 50/50 with the camaro but with all the cars I've bought most talk numbers more than cars.

The first salesman was very honest in his intent to screw me over and didn't know much about the car. The second dealership had a dude who was probably in his late 60's and wanted to show me how to operate all the "gizmos" in the car. Never had a salesman with that kind of knowledge about a car before.

Car dealers are like car drivers. For some its a job and a means of getting from A to B. For others its a passion.

[shadow09]

Yeah dealers can be pretty dumb. I asked about pricing on a heritage grill just to see how much more expensive they would charge than sponsors on here.. The guys in parts department didn't even know what the heritage grill was I had to show them a picture for them to know what it was

[Sidd218]

...So is mine :(