tdrake2020

I tried working with a local dealer to get a 2021 C8 order in. The dealer refused to give me a written sales contract which would have been subject to manufacturer price changes. The dealer simply wanted my $500 non-refundable deposit w/o anything in writing. The reason I suspect this dealer didn't want to give me the "Out the Door" price written contract was because he's been known to slap on a large premium at the time of delivery. After several requests for the sales contract I sent him an email and asked him why no contract and asked him what planet was he living on? A few minutes after I hit send my phone rang and the dealer inventory manager started yelling at me about the "planet" question. I told him where to go and hung up. A few minutes later I received this email from him:


From: Jody Lewellen [mailto:[email]jody.lewellen@lynnlayton.com]
Sent: Friday, July 31, 2020 10:49 AM
To: XXXXXXXXXXX
Subject: Re: 2021 C8 2LT Convertible Order?

Wow, that’s original!

Classless and chicken ****. Hang up on somebody. Come to the dealership and tell me that face to face.

Don’t need your luck, been doing this 25 years and have done quite well. Still doing quite well. You’ve had ample opportunity

to order a car but all you’ve done is TALK about it. You want to talk to me more about what planet I’m from and how inept I am

about selling a car and say screw all of us. Then please come to the dealership and talk face to face with me. Now you have a nice day.

Jody Lewellen
Inventory Manager
Lynn Layton Chevrolet
Decatur AL
BAC 112654


I replied back to Jody by saying I would pass on the meeting behind the school and gave him my GM complaint case number and assured him that he and his dealership would receive the publicity that they deserved.

Cenzoooo

I dealt with that kind of garbage when unordered my 2010 Camaro. **** that *******.
Nothing in writing, empty promise with no proof of allocation, a d they even tried to not sell me the car in day of delivery.
GM won't offer you any REAL help. Order from a big 3 dealerships and don't look back. I pick up my car at Kerbeck on Wednesday.

DrivesWithTwoFeet

GM doesn't sell the cars the dealership does. That being said you need to go to another dealership. Good luck with the order.

C8broughtmeback

Hard to believe...yet not hard to believe if this dealer is known to tack on charges, why even bother with them. No matter where you live in the lower 48, there is no good reason not to use one of the larger and reputable dealers....unless you absolutely know trust a dealer locally

ta70raiii

Phil1098

Not sure why any of it started. If you knew before you initiated the contact that they weren't reputable and were known for adding a big fee at time of delivery, the question is why do business with them at all or even attempt to? I placed my deposit over the phone, never had a contract or a piece of paper, and everything went perfect. I also have known the dealer owner for 30 years and his reputation is beyond reproach. You should only do business with a business you trust.

Zymurgy

There's always at least two sides to every story. We're only getting one side of the story.

tdrake2020

I already know that GM doesn't give a rat's *** the way their franchisees behave or do business. GM could change that given that they own the franchise and can control the terms of the franchise contract. But instead of going to a Carmax no haggle way of doing business they just continue to sing the same tune over and over. Point is that there shouldn't be a reason to order from one of the big 3 dealerships if GM had their franchisees under control. It is what it is and I don't expect GM to change anytime soon.

PS: I've got a written out the door contract for a 2021 HTC now from another local. I'm going to chill until it shows up. Haven't owned a Corvette for 6 years now and I'm pretty sure I can live w/o a Corvette for another 6 years.

C8J

In my the rest of the story I explained how I did everything on a handshake. No fees.... but Covid changed that. I think dealerships are hurting from lower sales volumes and maintenance. Possibly I should possibly have had a signed contract, but my salesman was above board on the entire Evolution.

It was The sales manager who added in the dealer fee and a couple of other fees for apx $1,000 over MSRP. I could have walked and everything would have been ok, but then the question was is it a big enough deal to pay the extra $1K and get my C8 or walk. I just consider it like some that paid the $5K to get a fast pass and I have my C8 NOW while some are still waiting and no real reason to complain, but they'll reduce my next car (not C8) an additional $1K.

You just need to know who you are dealing with and are they reliable. If not, don't look in the rear camera.

tdrake2020

That's correct. You have my side of the story along with the dealers written reply to my side of the story. Take it for what it's worth.

punky

Exactly, and in this case I would bet good money that there is a an entirely different slant on this.

GTUnit

I didn't really get anything official in writing from MacMulkin. They replied to my email asking if the cars will be sold at MSRP. I got an email back acknowledging receipt of my $2000 deposit. Nothing official.
I also picked a dealer that was 2000 miles away and cost me an extra $800 because they were already vetted for honorable business practices by hundreds of people before me. Crowd source vetting.
This way I knew I could trust them with my $2000 and the promise that I had a guaranteed allocation.
I knew the smaller dealers would be a sh*t show so I saved myself all this BS and there is a new car downstairs.

tdrake2020

I'm glad you're happy with your deal. I on the other hand won't pay a dime over the agreed price, unless there is a change in GM's price. Blaming it on the sales manager instead of the salesman is moot. They are one and the same. The old good cop, bad cop game. "I'm going in and wrestle the manager to the ground to get you the best price I possibly can!" Covid has nothing to do with slimy dealerships. They've always been around and will most likely always be around.

WalterSobchak

The Cullman liquidators of cars.... Come Git urself a car... Or don't... I don't care

tdrake2020

No way in hell I'm going to wire anybody $2000 w/o a written contract in hand. Doing a contract assures both parties what to expect at the time of delivery and makes life a lot easier in the long run.

flange

Dealers don't know how many cars they are getting yet, or when. Without actual allocations, the reputable dealers are taking deposits and putting people in line, assuming they will get allocations. Most of the reputable bunch isn't writing sales contracts on vehicles they aren't sure they are getting.

449er

So, Did you go to the dealership & talk with him in person as he requested? Maybe you could have gotten your differences worked out

SD1

Let me get this straight, you want to TELL the dealer how to do business as if they have to follow your directives and personal whims?

Sounds like the dealer has plenty of interest and probably not enough allocation to cover it, yet here you are, in complete defiance of market conditions demanding that you be treated differently then everyone else and then flying into hysteria because the corner Chevy store wont bow to your threats.

Sound about right....... lol

Zymurgy

They tried that. Saturn was fixed price no haggle. It didn't work out very well.

I'm glad you're an expert on what GM can unilaterally do with their franchise contract. I've never seen one and I'm betting you haven't either.

Sin City

I don't think its unreasonable to ask for a contract for what you're putting a deposit on. And it seems crazy that you would put a deposit down and then the dealer could just price it anyway they want. If you walk they keep your $500 and have probably 10 buyers already lined up to take it.

The solution to your problem: Mike Furman.