Went to go order a 2SS (Price gouging)

[quickdraw]

Originally Posted by dstairs

I respect that people want the best deal, and the huge super dealerships and a few others might actually sell you a Camaro for under MSRP or even at supplier or employee price (I work here and even I have to wait until next year if I want a discounted price), however smaller ones like us that are getting less than 10 cars allotted to them TOTAL, need to look at the big picture. I am gladly telling folks looking for a deal, to jump onto camaro5.com and search out a great deal for themselves. If they are not one of our loyal customers chances are they will pay window sticker for their car or greater at our dealership. It is a free market world out there and if a better deal is advertized and found, I am happy for the customer, at the same time I am at a dealership, that has refused to lay off anyone since the down turn in business began, when we had Hurricane Ike breeze through and we all lost almost 2 weeks of work and pay, the Martins paid us out of their pockets, so yes it is a shame that we are all not like Walmart, and slashing prices to the bare bone so everyone gets the best deals, but you need a balance. You either lay off employees, (most have at least 10 year here) or you find ways to pay your staff and keep food on their tables. If we sell only to local loyal customers, then we generate sales for parts and service and also repeat sales for autos. "MSRP", means Manufactorer's Suggested Retail Price, and we will do that if you live here, but with 4.5 million folks within one hour(Houston) of our town of 20,000 people, the demand is high for our little inventory of Camaros. Would I hesitate to sell if offered considerably over sticker? You bet.

In an earlier post someone asked why would someone buy your house for over market value? It happens everyday. Perhaps the view, or the neighborhood, or you have this unique car, errrr I mean house that is very beautiful and takes the breath away just from looking at it, yes I am not really talking about my home but rather a car. LOL

I certainly don't have a problem with a dealer taking care of their long term, loyal customers....I am one. I also don't have a problem with a dealer/independant businessman deciding what is the best business strategy for them in these difficult times. They also accept the consequences for these decisions. My problem lies with the dealer that takes a deposit and promises to order a car in an honest and straight foreward process and then start playing the order changing, transferring their allocation to another related dealer to make a premium and then stonewalls and doesn't know what happened to your order or why GM pulled the orders that way game. If I ran my business that way I wouldn't expect my customers to be loyal or ever trust me again. These are just bad business decisions in any kind of business. This car is generating the cream of the customer crop to come forward and spend money when most people are sticking their money in their mattresses. When this greed lust settles many dealerships will have a damaged reputation for years to come and in business your reputation is everything. I know that my dealer that I have been buying from for the past 33 years has lost his crediblity with me along with any future sales. Seeeee..YA.

[SummoneR]

Originally Posted by themossman

Something about the heat and the kitchen comes to mind. This crowd tends to be extremely reasonable...and I'm sure in his mind he's justifying his departure saying that we just like to bash dealers. However, certain dealers are obviously THRIVING on the forums...I wonder what the difference is?

***cough****honesty*****cough*****

I actually find that this forum is pretty tough on all dealers except one... Even dealers who are trying to be honest and share... who am I kidding, some people in here are just down right nasty to some people regardless of who or what they do. Oh well such is life, we're all different and sometimes conflict happens... and you get over it. or you delete all your post...

[THE EVIL TW1N]

Originally Posted by quickdraw

I certainly don't have a problem with a dealer taking care of their long term, loyal customers....I am one. I also don't have a problem with a dealer/independant businessman deciding what is the best business strategy for them in these difficult times. They also accept the consequences for these decisions. My problem lies with the dealer that takes a deposit and promises to order a car in an honest and straight foreward process and then start playing the order changing, transferring their allocation to another related dealer to make a premium and then stonewalls and doesn't know what happened to your order or why GM pulled the orders that way game. If I ran my business that way I wouldn't expect my customers to be loyal or ever trust me again. These are just bad business decisions in any kind of business. This car is generating the cream of the customer crop to come forward and spend money when most people are sticking their money in their mattresses. When this greed lust settles many dealerships will have a damaged reputation for years to come and in business your reputation is everything. I know that my dealer that I have been buying from for the past 33 years has lost his crediblity with me along with any future sales. Seeeee..YA.

now THAT is CRAP. I knew it would happen to some people, it just sucks when your that person that becomes that statistic.

[dstairs]

I agree that once an agreement is made it should be honored. And if a dealer does this they need to reported to GM and perhaps have their dealership turned over to someone that can honor GM and its good name. If the Martins ever behaved that way, they would not have to worry about loyal long term customers, there would not be any! I tell my customers that some dealers (I won't mention Bill Heard, because it would be impolite) that use to be in the huge market to the north of us, have 4.5 million vehicles churning by their driveways on the freeways and if they make one angry or rip them off, then 10 more drive in to take their place, customers are treated like Michael Vicks dogs. We mistreat ONE person and before that person arrives home the owners already know about it and are looking for heads to roll! I was told the day I started working here that the Dealership is named after their father, so... when someone says Leo Martin did this......... to them it is very personal as that is their daddy's name not just the name of the dealership. Anyway, selling at a premium price is going to happen, as long as when you go into the deal you are aware of it and agree to the terms, I think that is okay. Once again I tell anyone looking for a Camaro at "triple net"( minus advertizng, Holdback and markup) because GM is about to go belly up, that they need to keep looking for that great deal, it will not happen here. Someone offered to do me a favor and take a Corvette off our hands for $40,000 before window sticker, I thanked him politely for thinking of us in such dire times and for wanting to help us out, but respectfully turned down the offer.

[SummoneR]

My local Dodge dealership has changed owners 4 times in about a year and a half due to shady salesmen and owners/ general managers... I was told Chrysler themselves shut them down... I wonder how that is so... if the Manuf. have no say in there business...

[slholle]

I would go find a better dealer there has to be one that won't jack you around!!!!!!

[Nova65]

The reason you can't get a fair price is because that dealer is selling them on ebay!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevr...1%7C240%3A1309

[MontyCarlo]

Originally Posted by SummoneR

My local Dodge dealership has changed owners 4 times in about a year and a half due to shady salesmen and owners/ general managers... I was told Chrysler themselves shut them down... I wonder how that is so... if the Manuf. have no say in there business...

I think the manufacturer has the right to stop sending cars to a dealership they don't like, don't they?

[Douge]

Originally Posted by MontyCarlo

I think the manufacturer has the right to stop sending cars to a dealership they don't like, don't they?

No

I can tell you there are only three people bidding on it and I am sure Dan at Salisbury would be the first one to admit that selling cars on ebay and actually closing on the deal are two different things.

[DeathChill]

So did he put the car(s) back up after the auction ended?

[THE EVIL TW1N]

Originally Posted by Nova65

The reason you can't get a fair price is because that dealer is selling them on ebay!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevr...1%7C240%3A1309

how is ebay unfair? I always bid on different items and the winner gets the item. What is unfair about that?

[dstairs]

If the dealers decides to put them on Ebay to sell to the highest bidder, it is a winning situation for him in a lot of ways, first if the car reaches the Reserved Price he makes money., If it doesn't make it to Reserve, then he has lot of "watchers" that know he still has a car for sale and he got some great advertising. The dealership bought the car from GM, if he wants to sell it for a loss, then so be it, it is his car and no one in here would not jump at a chance to buy one below sticker or invoice I bet. Now if he sells it and makes a profit whether by EBAY or face to face, I have no problem as long as the customer goes into the deal with eyes open and an IQ bigger than their shoe size.

Not every customer has a Chevy Dealership available in their area, although I do not think there are that many, there are a few that love the opportunity to buy a Camaro on EBAY, people will pay what they can afford, and God Bless them if they want a car bad enough to outbid someone else. True Market Value is not a scientific process, it is based ob the emotions and logics of a customer, If you want one of the first Camaros, you obviously feel that they have more value than waiting 8 months, right? So I agree with Evil Tw1n, and ask what is wrong with placing cars on EBAY and trying to make a profit?

[dstairs]

By the way did anyone read the feedbacks from this Ebay seller? His customers loved him in every way. He sounds like an upright citizen, being described with such language not usually reserved for car salespersons LOL

The dealership is 56 years old and he has not received even one neutral or negative feedback.

I think some need to realize we have a free market system still very active in this Country, thank goodness, or we would all end up driving dreary gray propane powered boxes made in the factories by our marxist brothers and sisters and having the payments deducted from our government payroll check, which everyone would get on the first of each month along with our foodstamps and monthly ration of toilet paper and soap.

[Master Chief]

Well, that guy sent me a bunch of private messages saying he knew who I was and that I was a coward and threatened me that "what goes around comes around". He came back and taunted me a while later saying "You get your camaro yet? No? Ha ha." like he had something to do with the delay in my production. What a jerk.

He was right about one thing! What goes around DOES come around:

http://www.dailygazette.com/news/200...516_gmdealers/

ROTFL!