Work Bench/ Auto book...I'm so confused!!!! - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

65Elco · 04-07-2009, 05:24 PM

I called a small dealer today about ordering my Camaro. Everything sounded great at first. They will be selling at the MSRP at the time my Camaro is Built. They said they would accept any discount GM is offering for the Camaro (military).
The sales lady said I would have to put $100 that is refundable just to have my name put on the waiting list to have the car built. She said I would be #9 on the waiting list with 0 Camaros being built yet for their dealership.

BUT THEN: I asked about what priority I would be in Workbench. She told me that they are not allocated Camaros threw WorkBench and that GM calls them and tells them how many Camaros and at what trim they will be allowed to order. I told her that dealerships normally receive their allocation at the first thursday of every month. She said Yes for normal cars, but not for the camaro. She also said it could be any where from a 6 months to a year and a half for my car to be picked up and built. She knew I am in the Military and she sad that they would build me the car in Autobook in case I get shipped off to Iraq so they would know exactly what I want when there is an allocation for my car.

What is Autobook, is it the same as workbench?
I don't know if she is BSing me or how the whole ordering deal works? 9th in line isn't too bad, but I don't want to waiting a year and half for my car. What do you guys think?

UCF w00t · 04-07-2009, 05:27 PM

It's not how the ordering deal works. It's the same for Camaro as every other car (just most other cars are free flowing whereas camaro is limited right now). Autobook is a more consumer friendly build system that lets them put together the car with all the options you want. It's not an actual order for the car. Workbench is the actual order system.

65Elco · 04-07-2009, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UCF w00t

It's not how the ordering deal works. It's the same for Camaro as every other car (just most other cars are free flowing whereas camaro is limited right now). Autobook is a more consumer friendly build system that lets them put together the car with all the options you want. It's not an actual order for the car. Workbench is the actual order system.

I'm still confused. I thought it worked like this. I go into the dealer and tell them I want a 2SS/RS CGM and they input it into Workbench. Then they give me a print out of WorkBench showing I am priority 9 out of 9. Then every month if they get an allocation it comes threw workbench and my number gets lower on the first pass list as those cars are accepted to be built.
I know this has been discussed in other threads and I thought this is how it worked? Is my dealer an idiot or are they trying to BS me?

trm0002 · 04-07-2009, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 65Elco

I'm still confused. I thought it worked like this. I go into the dealer and tell them I want a 2SS/RS CGM and they input it into Workbench. Then they give me a print out of WorkBench showing I am priority 9 out of 9. Then every month if they get an allocation it comes threw workbench and my number gets lower on the first pass list as those cars are accepted to be built.
I know this has been discussed in other threads and I thought this is how it worked? Is my dealer an idiot or are they trying to BS me?

Your dealer is BSing you. Dealers know how this works. They obviously know their PGN is 9 from what you wrote. They know 'x' amount of cars are in front of you; apparently 8. They can put your order in OrderWORKBENCH right now and give you your 6-digit confirmation code. There is NOTHING stopping them; hell they could do it if you were #27 of 9.

UCF w00t · 04-07-2009, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 65Elco

I'm still confused. I thought it worked like this. I go into the dealer and tell them I want a 2SS/RS CGM and they input it into Workbench. Then they give me a print out of WorkBench showing I am priority 9 out of 9. Then every month if they get an allocation it comes threw workbench and my number gets lower on the first pass list as those cars are accepted to be built.
I know this has been discussed in other threads and I thought this is how it worked? Is my dealer an idiot or are they trying to BS me?

More like this...
They put order into workbench and give you printout. They specify your priority (could be 1, could be 9, or 98). Each week they may/may not get allocation. Once they recieve allocation, they push their first order through that is not affected by constraints. All of the orders stay at the same priority level unless they go in and change it. It's just there's noone else at #1 anymore. #2 would then have the highest priority. I convinced my dealer to show me (and even print off!) the "preliminary orders" tab from workbench which shows me all the cars they've got orders for, their priority level, and what options.

65Elco · 04-07-2009, 06:12 PM

What I need to do then is tell them yes they can put it in workbench and then demand that I get a printout of the "preliminary orders" tab from workbench to confirm my priority. I don't understand why they would tell me they are not receiving allocations threw workbench? TRM what is PGM?

mdky2kss · 04-07-2009, 07:21 PM

Autobook is an older program that we use to use for ordering cars and is still pretty helpful to quickly spec out a car plus it has more option descriptions. Order workbench is what we use today. Your dealer should have been notified last fall how many preorders they were going to get. They should be ordering it through workbench. GM doesn't call them. They get a list in dealerworld that ever Thursday that lets them know if there is any constraints and not only what they can order. It doesn't sound like they know exactly what they are talking about.

65Elco · 04-07-2009, 07:30 PM

These guys are the only dealership with in a 100 miles of me that are selling at MSRP. I called a couple of other dealers and some said that they don't know how many cars they are getting and one even tried telling me everytime they try to submit an order for the camaro threw workbench it doesn't allow him to and kicks it back out. I'm getting pissed with all the lack of information on part of the dealers!

birdy233 · 04-07-2009, 07:52 PM

I ordered my car last week, they only gave me a print out of a "Window Sticker" no six digit code or anything, should I be asking for one?

CamaroScotty · 04-07-2009, 08:12 PM

And autobook builds can be PULLED INTO workbench....Many dealers still use it - like us!

65Elco · 04-07-2009, 09:39 PM

I'm still trying to figure out what the motive behind telling people they cant put the order in threw workbench. The whole thing just doesn't make sense to me.

*mlee* · 04-07-2009, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamaroScotty

And autobook builds can be PULLED INTO workbench....Many dealers still use it - like us!

Question is, does Workbench back fill Autobook with Event Code info etc. Anytime I ask for workbench numbers my salesman always wants to give me an autobook printout since that's the only system he has access to.

He doesn't want to ask the inventory manager for a Workbench printout. I too don't want to bug him too much but I'm going to ask again this Thrusday.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
2006 TRAVERSE CITY AUTO CONFERENCE	KILLER74Z28	Off-topic Discussions	2	09-18-2010 10:45 AM
Production Camaro at which autoshow	dcamaro	5th Gen Camaro SS LS LT General Discussions	31	02-02-2008 12:38 PM
Anyone Work In The Auto Industry?	AirGoya	Off-topic Discussions	1	07-31-2007 07:36 PM
Iacocca rips auto industry, warns: Don't sell Chrysler	KILLER74Z28	General Automotive + Other Cars Discussion	6	04-14-2007 12:38 AM

04-07-2009, 05:24 PM	#1
65Elco Drives: 65 Elcamino Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 76	Work Bench/ Auto book...I'm so confused!!!! I called a small dealer today about ordering my Camaro. Everything sounded great at first. They will be selling at the MSRP at the time my Camaro is Built. They said they would accept any discount GM is offering for the Camaro (military). The sales lady said I would have to put $100 that is refundable just to have my name put on the waiting list to have the car built. She said I would be #9 on the waiting list with 0 Camaros being built yet for their dealership. BUT THEN: I asked about what priority I would be in Workbench. She told me that they are not allocated Camaros threw WorkBench and that GM calls them and tells them how many Camaros and at what trim they will be allowed to order. I told her that dealerships normally receive their allocation at the first thursday of every month. She said Yes for normal cars, but not for the camaro. She also said it could be any where from a 6 months to a year and a half for my car to be picked up and built. She knew I am in the Military and she sad that they would build me the car in Autobook in case I get shipped off to Iraq so they would know exactly what I want when there is an allocation for my car. What is Autobook, is it the same as workbench? I don't know if she is BSing me or how the whole ordering deal works? 9th in line isn't too bad, but I don't want to waiting a year and half for my car. What do you guys think?

04-07-2009, 05:27 PM	#2
UCF w00t Geek Drives: IOM 2010 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Orlando Posts: 4,451	It's not how the ordering deal works. It's the same for Camaro as every other car (just most other cars are free flowing whereas camaro is limited right now). Autobook is a more consumer friendly build system that lets them put together the car with all the options you want. It's not an actual order for the car. Workbench is the actual order system.

04-07-2009, 06:12 PM	#6
65Elco Drives: 65 Elcamino Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 76	What I need to do then is tell them yes they can put it in workbench and then demand that I get a printout of the "preliminary orders" tab from workbench to confirm my priority. I don't understand why they would tell me they are not receiving allocations threw workbench? TRM what is PGM?

04-07-2009, 07:21 PM	#7
mdky2kss Drives: 1978 Z28,1986 Iroc,2000 SS, 13 ZL1 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Midland, MI Posts: 188	Autobook is an older program that we use to use for ordering cars and is still pretty helpful to quickly spec out a car plus it has more option descriptions. Order workbench is what we use today. Your dealer should have been notified last fall how many preorders they were going to get. They should be ordering it through workbench. GM doesn't call them. They get a list in dealerworld that ever Thursday that lets them know if there is any constraints and not only what they can order. It doesn't sound like they know exactly what they are talking about.

04-07-2009, 07:30 PM	#8
65Elco Drives: 65 Elcamino Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 76	These guys are the only dealership with in a 100 miles of me that are selling at MSRP. I called a couple of other dealers and some said that they don't know how many cars they are getting and one even tried telling me everytime they try to submit an order for the camaro threw workbench it doesn't allow him to and kicks it back out. I'm getting pissed with all the lack of information on part of the dealers!

04-07-2009, 07:52 PM	#9
birdy233 Drives: Mini Cooper S Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 29	I ordered my car last week, they only gave me a print out of a "Window Sticker" no six digit code or anything, should I be asking for one?

04-07-2009, 08:12 PM	#10
CamaroScotty Account Suspended Drives: Your new SLP Camaro! Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Cedarburg, WI Posts: 6,790	And autobook builds can be PULLED INTO workbench....Many dealers still use it - like us!

04-07-2009, 09:39 PM	#11
65Elco Drives: 65 Elcamino Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 76	I'm still trying to figure out what the motive behind telling people they cant put the order in threw workbench. The whole thing just doesn't make sense to me.