Tom Benson Nightmare (and a happy ending)

[mikenmar]

Originally Posted by Hylton

So based on your understanding of the UCC, do you think this is something GM can enforce with it's dealerships?

Not that I'm aware of. But I'm not that knowledgeable about that area of the law. I know a little bit about franchise contracts generally, but this goes way beyond that. The arrangements GM has with its dealerships are the subject of a complicated set of statutes that explicitly regulate auto franchises. I'm not an expert in them.

[towmoe]

That sucks.

[ShAgMaN]

Originally Posted by Rockies4

I would take a few minutes to calm down. Take a deep breath.

Now, take your paperwork and go down and personally speak to the owner and not some small fish in the pond.

Explain your situation in a calm manner.

Here's how I would start the conversation.

"Thank you. I appreciate you taking time to meet with."

"I believe there has been a disconnect from the previous salesperson and the one who called me on the phone."

Then I would show them your paperwork and explain your side in a calm manner.

Next, I would say, "Now, lets use empathy for a moment. What would you do in my situation?"

And I would look the person in the eye.

If they start to give you the same price, then say, "That is an unacceptable price after I've been told by your salesperson who was an agent of your dealership. She told me I would receive MSRP."

Wait for an answer. If no budge, then say...

"Is this a common practice at your dealership?" "You quote one price and when the car comes in you quote another price?"

pause.

"How can we come to a reasonable resolution to this manner?"

If no reply or no straight answer, then...

"I'll give you 24 hours to reconsider the situation. I'll come back tomorrow at X o'clock and we'll discuss the manner after you've had time to consider this situation and come up with a reasonable solution."

This will give the person some time to reconsider your position.

Then the minute you get home, let everyone on the site know how it went.

This would be my suggestion.

I hope everything works out for you. I wish you the best.

Best Regards,
Rockies4

I think I'm a pretty patient person, and in both phone calls to the dealer (one to the salesman, one to the sales manager) I never treated them disrespectfully (besides hanging up on the salesman in our first convo.). I simply said I would not pay the increased costs they are asking for, as that was not the agreement. No cussing at them or threats (besides saying I wont buy from GM again - which they prolly care less about). They know what they are doing, and its total BS. They haven’t even attempted to call me back today. No matter what, I will be talking to them soon. When I do, it will be professional and to the point.

Everything will work out, whether I buy from them or not. Thanks Rockies4

[ShAgMaN]

BTW I've already had some dealers PM me willing to place another order for me at MSRP with discounts if applicable. I know there are some good dealers out there, thanks.

[crulgrl]

Originally Posted by ShAgMaN

Ok, so after some rather harsh post attempts – all which were blocked – let me explain how I’m being screwed over by Tom Benson in San Antonio. Oh, and by the way, I sold my cherry 67 SS 350 Camaro to buy a 2010 1SS Camaro.

In December of 2008 I sold my beloved 67, and ordered a 2010 in January. I ordered my Camaro at MSRP and was assured it would remain at this price. This Monday I received a call that my Camaro would be delivered within the next ten days. Today I called my salesman and asked if I could get the VIN, which he said he would send on Monday but forgot. While talking, he mentioned the price of 35,700 and some change…………..huh?

I specifically ordered a Camaro that had an MSRP shy of 31K. It was a 1SS with the only option of the polished wheels. I’m so flipping pissed I cant think straight and don’t know what to do. I have worked my @ss off to get this car and now my dream is fading.

I’m now considering saving to buy a Challenger and selling my Tahoe to spite GM, which may be wrong, but I’m emotionally disturbed.

Help………………

I have a similar story only in Oklahoma and I think a little worse. I found a guy that thought that he could help me but I did not have the proper paperwork. If you have the right paperwork he would be happy to help you. Go to google and type in stickbogart or contact me back and I will send you his information.

[crulgrl]

Originally Posted by ShAgMaN

Let me explain......my trust is lost for the dealer, and it does fall back to GM (at least to a degree). GM has (or is spose to have) a close relationship with the dealer. They are to ensure ethical practices are upheld. After a nights sleep, I've decided to give GM a chance if the dealer doesn’t hold their word.

Ya, the Challengers sold for more........and? I would be fine with this if a dealer was upfront with the costs. If they lied, its another story isn’t it?

I'm wide awake, and I'm not gonna take this BS.

I have contacted GM four differnt times and they have just told me that there is nothing that they do. I ordered my car originaly in 2007 and then with the same sales person whom I have bought several other cars from and sent several refereals to. I have received paperwork along with the lithograph photo with my name, order # etc on it. I never got anything in writting as she has always been honest with me etc. She never got a deposit from me because the dealership that she works at was not requiring it. I got a fully loaded 2SS/RS with every option except navigation. She told me a price of aprox. $38,950.00 but it could vary by aprox. $1,000.00 depending on the destination charge etc. I have received calls with every step from her and the sales manager at the dealership. I was contacted about three weeks ago and told my car was headed this way on a train and I was provided with my vin#. I asked the price so that I could get financing in order because I wanted to pick it up as soon as it got to the dealership. She said that they had not received the invoice but would call me as soon as she did. I checked back with her for the next few days and still no price. She said that the sales manager would be the one to get it and she would have him call me. I waited and no call, I called him and when he returned my call he wanted to know why I was so worried about the price? I told him and he said not to worry at all "the car was mine, it was ordered for me, it had my name all over it from the factory and it was not going anywhere" He would call me as soon as he got the invoice. The he asked what she had quoted me? I told him and he said "did you know one sold like yours on ebay last week for over $60,000.00?" I told him no my interest was to not sale my car I ordered it because I wanted it. He then told me that things had changed since the time I placed my order? No one anticipated that these cars would have this much hype? He again assured me this was my car. I had a gut feeling so I started looking into the situation. I contacted GM and they said that they sale the car to the dealership and not the consumer and they like their dealers to use the MSRP but they have no control over that. The dealer owns the car so they can sale it for what they want. However, if there are alot of reports on these issues it could make the dealer loose their allocation for the cars? I kept my fingers crossed and received a call last Thursday that my car was in Oklahoma City about an hour from where I live and that it should be at the dealership Fri or Sat. but still no price? After not hearing from them over the weekend I called on Monday and was told that they were expecting it that day and still no invoice? I was looking on this page as well as sites that have info on Camaro's for sale in my area and actualy found my car with my vin# for sale on their web site! It had an MSRP of the $38 that was discussed but a purchase price of $41k? I was mad about the car being on there but extremly mad that they had a price on there. There was a link to look at the window sticker and when I clicked it , it did not pull up anything and indicated the car might be sold? However, next to that is a link that will allow me to put down a credit card deposit on my car? I then contacted my sales person and she said that my car was not on there? I told her it was and she saw it and said that she would check on it and call me back? After not hearing from her I went home after work and got my husband and we went to the dealership. I was told by the sales manager the reason it was on there was that it automaticly goes on there when the car is shipped? He then pulled up my order to show me the status of my car, I saw on the screen where it said "invoiced" on May 26th, he said that it did not say that? When I showed him it did he then said that it must be in the back? He then again started telling us how things had changed since we made our order? I asked him what the price was and he said that he could not tell me that? I told him I wanted to talk to someone that could give me answers? He said that was him? He said if you think you are going to get that car from less then $10,000.00 over the sticker price you are nuts! I was then done with the conversation. He said he wanted to do what was moraly right and he would try but he was there to run a business. He would talk to the owner and call me the next morning? The following morning I again contacted GM and got a nice guy that was blown away about the situation. He put me on hold and said that he was going to call the dealership. He did and spoke to the sales manager and assured me that he thought that they would do the right thing and sale the vehicle to me for $41,005.00. I told him I am fine with that since it was only $1,065.00 over what I was told. They were to call me back by 3:00 that day with the answer. He called me back allright, and told me that he had bad news. The lowest he would sale the car to me for would be $45,005.00? The numbers I received were not acceptable because they were no in a managers writting they were in a sales persons writting and he had no idea where she got those numbers? He also added that he knew my credit union would not finance the amount over the MSRP but he could? My sales person over heard him saying that when the car got here he would call me and let me know and allow me 24 hours to come and get it? Now I am out of a finace company and on a strict deadline? I went ahead and asked the sales person to start looking for financing in hopes that I could get the price back down. SInce then things have just escalated and I have been in contact with GM several times with no answers. Then she called me today and said that he had just put a contract on my car to sale it. Keep in mind my car still has not arrived and I still have not turned down the price that he faxed to me. He told her that he has the right to sale the car since I have not responed to his offer even though he told me he would call me when the car got the to not worry? I asked her about the financing still in hopes that I was going to find someone to help me and she said that she has not worked on that because he will stop the financing from going through? When GM called him today about it he told them that my order was a test order just to see what a loaded SS would cost that is why I had received the stuff from GM not because I ordered the car. He was not aware of my order, even though he had contacted me several times on changes updates etc. I am now going in the morning to talk to the owner why he is not there? I am in hopes that the owner is not aware of the truth of what he is doing? We need to hound the crap out of GM till they get these issues fixed? Let me know if you find any solutions?

[NightmareSS]

Originally Posted by ShAgMaN

Alright, thanks for your help Legend, I'm going to wait a see what happens tomorrow.

Moderators, if one of you can suspend this thread it might help, as it appears the dealership wants me to avoid posting until this is matter is resolved. They said to avoid this forum (Camaro5 must be huge), and until I get an official word on this, I'm going to stop posting. Thanks everyone.

FEAR THE (5)!!!

[Vash]

I cleaned it up for you if you don't mind? Makes it easier for folks to read.

I have been angry before and just done nice vents like that. It's good to get it out.

Originally Posted by crulgrl

I have contacted GM four differnt times and they have just told me that there is nothing that they do. I ordered my car originaly in 2007 and then with the same sales person whom I have bought several other cars from and sent several refereals to. I have received paperwork along with the lithograph photo with my name, order # etc on it.

I never got anything in writting as she has always been honest with me etc. She never got a deposit from me because the dealership that she works at was not requiring it.

I got a fully loaded 2SS/RS with every option except navigation. She told me a price of aprox. $38,950.00 but it could vary by aprox. $1,000.00 depending on the destination charge etc. I have received calls with every step from her and the sales manager at the dealership.

I was contacted about three weeks ago and told my car was headed this way on a train and I was provided with my vin#. I asked the price so that I could get financing in order because I wanted to pick it up as soon as it got to the dealership. She said that they had not received the invoice but would call me as soon as she did. I checked back with her for the next few days and still no price.

She said that the sales manager would be the one to get it and she would have him call me. I waited and no call, I called him and when he returned my call he wanted to know why I was so worried about the price? I told him and he said not to worry at all "the car was mine, it was ordered for me, it had my name all over it from the factory and it was not going anywhere" He would call me as soon as he got the invoice.

The he asked what she had quoted me? I told him and he said "did you know one sold like yours on ebay last week for over $60,000.00?" I told him no my interest was to not sale my car I ordered it because I wanted it. He then told me that things had changed since the time I placed my order?

No one anticipated that these cars would have this much hype? He again assured me this was my car. I had a gut feeling so I started looking into the situation. I contacted GM and they said that they sale the car to the dealership and not the consumer and they like their dealers to use the MSRP but they have no control over that. The dealer owns the car so they can sale it for what they want.

However, if there are alot of reports on these issues it could make the dealer loose their allocation for the cars? I kept my fingers crossed and received a call last Thursday that my car was in Oklahoma City about an hour from where I live and that it should be at the dealership Fri or Sat. but still no price?

After not hearing from them over the weekend I called on Monday and was told that they were expecting it that day and still no invoice? I was looking on this page as well as sites that have info on Camaro's for sale in my area and actualy found my car with my vin# for sale on their web site! It had an MSRP of the $38 that was discussed but a purchase price of $41k? I was mad about the car being on there but extremly mad that they had a price on there.

There was a link to look at the window sticker and when I clicked it , it did not pull up anything and indicated the car might be sold? However, next to that is a link that will allow me to put down a credit card deposit on my car? I then contacted my sales person and she said that my car was not on there? I told her it was and she saw it and said that she would check on it and call me back?

After not hearing from her I went home after work and got my husband and we went to the dealership. I was told by the sales manager the reason it was on there was that it automaticly goes on there when the car is shipped? He then pulled up my order to show me the status of my car, I saw on the screen where it said "invoiced" on May 26th, he said that it did not say that? When I showed him it did he then said that it must be in the back? He then again started telling us how things had changed since we made our order?

I asked him what the price was and he said that he could not tell me that? I told him I wanted to talk to someone that could give me answers? He said that was him? He said if you think you are going to get that car from less then $10,000.00 over the sticker price you are nuts! I was then done with the conversation. He said he wanted to do what was moraly right and he would try but he was there to run a business.

He would talk to the owner and call me the next morning? The following morning I again contacted GM and got a nice guy that was blown away about the situation. He put me on hold and said that he was going to call the dealership. He did and spoke to the sales manager and assured me that he thought that they would do the right thing and sale the vehicle to me for $41,005.00.

I told him I am fine with that since it was only $1,065.00 over what I was told. They were to call me back by 3:00 that day with the answer. He called me back allright, and told me that he had bad news. The lowest he would sale the car to me for would be $45,005.00? The numbers I received were not acceptable because they were no in a managers writting they were in a sales persons writting and he had no idea where she got those numbers?

He also added that he knew my credit union would not finance the amount over the MSRP but he could? My sales person over heard him saying that when the car got here he would call me and let me know and allow me 24 hours to come and get it?

Now I am out of a finace company and on a strict deadline? I went ahead and asked the sales person to start looking for financing in hopes that I could get the price back down. SInce then things have just escalated and I have been in contact with GM several times with no answers. Then she called me today and said that he had just put a contract on my car to sale it.

Keep in mind my car still has not arrived and I still have not turned down the price that he faxed to me. He told her that he has the right to sale the car since I have not responed to his offer even though he told me he would call me when the car got the to not worry?

I asked her about the financing still in hopes that I was going to find someone to help me and she said that she has not worked on that because he will stop the financing from going through? When GM called him today about it he told them that my order was a test order just to see what a loaded SS would cost that is why I had received the stuff from GM not because I ordered the car.

He was not aware of my order, even though he had contacted me several times on changes updates etc. I am now going in the morning to talk to the owner why he is not there? I am in hopes that the owner is not aware of the truth of what he is doing? We need to hound the crap out of GM till they get these issues fixed? Let me know if you find any solutions?

[ShAgMaN]

Guys and Gals, there’s hope! I talked to the sales manager an hour ago and he said its likely we'll do the deal. I cant believe it! I was totally expecting a I'm sorry but blah blah blah.

I really think you guys have helped out here. I know a few of you have called and emailed them. So for everyone here that has helped - THANK YOU!

However, I'm crossing my fingers now because after he said that, I told him I wanted to be upfront and let him know I have a college grad. discount I was planning on using ..............pause................"We'll as long as it qualifies, we will look at and.........."

So I guess I'll find out soon what happens. This has been like a serious rollercoaster on my mental stability. I started looking a Challengers, and felt guility. I want my Camaro!!! Again, thanks Camaro5 brohams.

[Hylton]

Glad things are looking up!

[GTAHVIT]

Originally Posted by ShAgMaN

Guys and Gals, there’s hope! I talked to the sales manager an hour ago and he said its likely we'll do the deal. I cant believe it! I was totally expecting a I'm sorry but blah blah blah.

I really think you guys have helped out here. I know a few of you have called and emailed them. So for everyone here that has helped - THANK YOU!

However, I'm crossing my fingers now because after he said that, I told him I wanted to be upfront and let him know I have a college grad. discount I was planning on using ..............pause................"We'll as long as it qualifies, we will look at and.........."

So I guess I'll find out soon what happens. This has been like a serious rollercoaster on my mental stability. I started looking a Challengers, and felt guility. I want my Camaro!!! Again, thanks Camaro5 brohams.

Please keep us posted.

[ShAgMaN]

OH btw my order # is NGMBPS
VIN# - 2G1FS1EW6A9111546

Can you guys tell me where its at?

Isnt woot like the master tracker?

[Jeffro19]

Sounds like you got it worked out. I hope to see mine in Aug. We will see I guess.

[UCF w00t]

Originally Posted by ShAgMaN

Guys and Gals, there’s hope! I talked to the sales manager an hour ago and he said its likely we'll do the deal. I cant believe it! I was totally expecting a I'm sorry but blah blah blah.

I really think you guys have helped out here. I know a few of you have called and emailed them. So for everyone here that has helped - THANK YOU!

However, I'm crossing my fingers now because after he said that, I told him I wanted to be upfront and let him know I have a college grad. discount I was planning on using ..............pause................"We'll as long as it qualifies, we will look at and.........."

So I guess I'll find out soon what happens. This has been like a serious rollercoaster on my mental stability. I started looking a Challengers, and felt guility. I want my Camaro!!! Again, thanks Camaro5 brohams.

Keep in mind that they will take a hit if they accept your college grad discount. Although it might be nice to get, I would not count on it or push it too hard. Many (most?) dealers are not accepting any discounts on Camaros.

Originally Posted by ShAgMaN

OH btw my order # is NGMBPS
VIN# - 2G1FS1EW6A9111546

Can you guys tell me where its at?

Isnt woot like the master tracker?

I have no ability to see where it is. I just have a tool that automatically scans and downloads the information from the window sticker pages which just shows the window sticker info, not the location or status of the cars.