CALLOUT TO GM CANADA

[2012ZL1]

This is a call out to GM Canada executives to please comment on the reason why Canadian ZL1 prospective purchasers have been left in the dark on ordering the ZL1.

Please do us at least the courtesy afforded our American cousins and provide us with dates specific to our ordering schedule.

On a second topic we Canadian consumers would also like some explanation on the disparity in pricing Between Canada and US Chevrolet vehicles.

I am proud to say Camaro is manufactured in Canada. I am less than impressed with GM Canada's performance in customer service and communication.

[Pappa Joe]

Ya ...what he said!

[GoldenBear]

Is it possible for Canadians to order a vehicle from a U.S. dealership and have the vehicle drop shipped from Oshawa directly to your local Canadian dealer, similar to the way "courtesy deliveries" are performed quite often within the U.S.?

[2012ZL1]

Unfortunately GM Canada has some interesting safeguards in place to curb this activity.
1. If you purchase a vehicle in the US they "dock" you 6 mos warranty coverage, so you have no initial warranty.
2. They have set up with GM and dealerships close to the border a system whereby the US dealer will refuse to sell you a vehicle.

Other than that we could purchase one new in the US and bring it across the border ourselves, but there is no courtesy system between Canadian and US dealers that I am aware of due to the fact GM Canada does everything in its power to stop Canadians from purchasing down south...

[Ajax Inferno]

I too would like an explanation for the lack of ordering information and allocation. Most dealers in Canada are not informed or up to date as they too have no direction from GM Canada. This car is made in Canada and its a shame we are shut out.

A news release from GM Canada would be greatly appreciated.

[cherniak]

Absolutely, this has been a point of frustration for many Canadian buyers. We as well as the Dealers are completely in the dark.

[snapp32e]

I'll put my name on this petition. Info please.

[LOWDOWN]

US dealers are only allowed to sell to US-licensed and/or addressed people. They are not allowed to sell for "export".

Canadian dealers, too, are not allowed to sell for "export"...to the US, or to Europe, where metric gauges are mandatory...only to Canadian-licensed and/or domiciled folks.

"Free Trade"...isn't...

Having said what I've said, there is NO limitation/restriction on how long an original owner must maintain ownership...

If you purchase a US dealer-originating new GM vehicle, GM-Canada precludes warrantee coverage in Canada for a Canadian-registered-but-US-purchased vehicle for the 1st 6 months/12,000 km (7,500 mi). If you have a problem during that period, only a US dealer can perform repairs under the original terms of the warrantee. Otherwise, you pay...

Regarding price: There was a time, mid-'80s, when the Canadian $ was stronger than US $, and the prices were nearly the same @ MSRP. If a non-Canadian resident purchased a vehicle in Canada, they were credited the then-9% Federal Sales Tax already built into the Canadian price of the vehicle (this predates GST) if they "exported" it within 30 days of purchase (this was then true of ALL commodities, not just vehicles).

The US dealers FREAKED! People by the busload were travelling FROM the US to Canada to buy all manner of vehicles. Manufacturers instituted, variously, all manner of "restrictions", eventually. GM-Canada threated to decrease you allocations by TWO for every ONE you sold that ended up stateside. The "export" process ended almost overnight...

In the mid-'90s or so, it was found that, with the weak Canadian $ (about $.67 US, before the invasion of Iraq...), US dealers/distributors of GM and AC Delco Parts could come to Canada and buy certain parts (in many instances) for considerably le$$ than they could buy them in the US through "normal channels". A Canadian dealer I'm familiar with sold roughly a MILLION $/MONTH to a distributor in the US...by the 48' trailer-load! Finally (?!) GM-Canada simply, and summarily, raised parts prices pretty much across the board, to "compensate", in the early 2000s...

Next time you wonder why a Heritage Grille costs so much more in Canada, remember this lil "tale"...

I'll go on record as saying that GM-Canada is, and has been historically, perhaps THE most profitable "division" of General Motors Corporation.

As to "allocations", I addressed that earlier, in the other thread...post 31...

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showth...=178948&page=2

[2012ZL1]

Good information but,
This doesn't explain why Canadian MSRP is higher than US MSRP on the same vehicle.

[2012ZL1]

poll added (not really a poll, more of a petition)

[LOWDOWN]

Originally Posted by 2012ZL1

Good information but,
This doesn't explain why Canadian MSRP is higher than US MSRP on the same vehicle.

Finally (?!) GM-Canada simply, and summarily, raised parts prices pretty much across the board, to "compensate", in the early 2000s...

Put another way..."because they can..."

I'll go on record as saying that GM-Canada is, and has been historically, perhaps THE most profitable "division" of General Motors Corporation.

There are all manner of "reasons" things are priced as they are. Bottom line, though, is you only have two choices: buy in Canada...or DON'T buy in Canada. Which then opens up "other options and/or alternatives"...

[2012ZL1]

Originally Posted by LOWDOWN

Finally (?!) GM-Canada simply, and summarily, raised parts prices pretty much across the board, to "compensate", in the early 2000s...

Put another way..."because they can..."

I'll go on record as saying that GM-Canada is, and has been historically, perhaps THE most profitable "division" of General Motors Corporation.

Oh, well we all know they are ripping us off. we can surmise that.

I am asking for a LEGITIMATE reason. If no one from GM can supply a LEGITIMATE reason then that gives me the answer that Canadian Consumers want to know, and that would be that we are being discriminated against by GM Canada.

If this is true I will do my best to advertize this fact to all Canadian consumers on a national level, so we can all buy Ford and Chrysler products instead.

[LOWDOWN]

Again...there are "reasons"...which one(s) did you "officially" expect to hear that would suitably justify their pricing practises/procedures? There's a litany of them...some extremely legitimate.

Spread the combined sales of California (roughly) over 3,851,809 sq. miles vs. California's 155,973 sq. miles. That's 20 TIMES. Consider the fact that Canada consumes roughly 7-8% of NAFTA production while contributing roughly 17%. That's TWICE as much. Staffing. Warrantee administration. Territory sizes = travel expen$e$. And on and on...

Here's a better question to ask the public at large: Why does a gallon of gas cost sooo much more in Canada, where it's found and pumped from, than it does in far-off places in the US?

You'll get a similar "list" of "reasons".

Bottom line...it just IS.

[2012ZL1]

Originally Posted by LOWDOWN

Again...there are "reasons"...which one(s) did you "officially" expect to hear that would suitably justify their pricing practises/procedures? There's a litany of them...some extremely legitimate.

Spread the combined sales of California (roughly) over 3,851,809 sq. miles vs. California's 155,973 sq. miles. That's 20 TIMES. Consider the fact that Canada consumes roughly 7-8% of NAFTA production while contributing roughly 17%. That's TWICE as much. Staffing. Warrantee administration. Territory sizes = travel expen$e$. And on and on...

Here's a better question to ask the public at large: Why does a gallon of gas cost sooo much more in Canada, where it's found and pumped from, than it does in far-off places in the US?

You'll get a similar "list" of "reasons".

Bottom line...it just IS.

NOT GOOD ENOUGH AND NOT A LEGITIMATE REASON.
California sells way more cars than idaho too, so should they have to wait longer for ordering info, and pay more for their cars?
That reasoning means nothing to anyone.
Canada sells more cars than montana so should they wait till after us?
The Camaro is built in Canada, so shipping, and logistics are no excuse.

So I see no legitimate reasons or response from GM, and must assume it is simply a rip off until I am given LEGITIMATE reasons.