Most dealers are MORONS!

Webfather,

I am not a dealer, but I do work for one.

I am not accusing you of slander, I find the treatment you have report unconscionable. If a customer was treated that way by an employee of our dealership, the door would be shown to them. I am not trying to trash you personally.

I do agree with you that the most powerful vote is delivered with a checkbook. I do not dispute that there are dealers who are less desirable to work with. However, there are dealers who recognize their customer as the reason for their existence, and who do work hard to maintain lifetime relationships. Those are the dealers who have customers bringing their friends and family to "their" dealer to make sure they get the same attention. As you have previously stated in several posts, you prefer to business over the internet or telephone. My reference to another member of this board is due to recommendations from his customers on this and other boards, as well as from industry contacts the customer would not have. No offense intended.

As to the pricing issue, many Cadillac dealers do not like the over msrp either. Cadillac does not like it, customers do not like it, but with the laws the way they are, they cannot legally prevent it.

You are entitled to you opinion about any and all dealers. I was merely making a point that there are professional dealers out there and that one who is an active member of this board is recognized as the sort you seek not only by his customer, but other dealers also. Not all dealers seek to trash each other.

We are seeing the same situation with the V-series CTS. We do not like it either, and that is why we are selling as many out of state as we are in. While this car is not in the price point of the XLR, it is as low volume, with comparable unmet demand, with dealers doing the same markup. I would like to see the allocation of the XLR go the way this one has, so that dealers who sit on the car to sell to the highest bidder, the allocation goes to dealers selling them. I believe this would stop a great deal of what you rightly object to on the price issue.

Thanks for the welcome!

Regarding Webfather's posts, he has a right to express his thoughts just as we all do. Sadly, he is not the only person to have that sort of experience. My point of view is that there are stores and sales consultants who are of the quality he desires. I wish there were more of them.

My point, and I believe he would not disagree, that in the selection and purchase of a vehicle, seeking references is a good beginning point. Great dealers and sales consultants will be as highly recommended as great lawyers, doctors, financial advisors, etc. I think this is especially true in the high-end and specialty brands. The customer has the right to expect courteous and professional treatment from the businesses he or she patronizes, whatever they may be. I like Jeff Gitomer's take( Customer satisfaction is worthless, Customer loyalty is priceless). While I would argue the satisfaction being worthless, he makes some very good points.

Customers are not alone in the frustration over the MSRP plus tactics. This situation makes it difficult for dealers who refuse to play the game because these cars are sitting unsold, when there are so many customers on dealer waitlists who would be driving this fantastic car if the dealers who are selling them could get the cars that they need to meet their customer demand.

Regarding my comments about Alan, the store I work for is not in the same state, but word does get around, and the words that get around regarding him and his store are good. This from the customer standpoint, as well as from industry sources.

If nothing else, the internet forums add another block to the neighborhood. From what I have seen on this and other boards, there are as many positive recommendations as there are buyer beware warnings. Very powerful, I think.

Just a final thought, since I am wandering mentally:

You would never breed a thoroughbred without carefully researching the stud's pedigree, you look for good bloodlines, stamina, confirmation, heart, and the desire to run. Maybe some of these traits(translated to accomodate the difference in species) should be more highly prized in the industry. No broken down nag has ever won the Triple Crown.

I do not follow on the dealer telling customer to ask for a private offer they know they cannot have. What are you referring to?

I realize that each dealer has the opportunity to run their store as they see fit. There are limits placed on them by the sales and service agreement with the manufacturer, but there are also many state dealer protection laws also.

I just think it would be interesting and possibly helpful for the dealers to see what the "real" world thinks. A happy customer will tell a few people, an unhappy customer will tell everyone. You have to admit that this forum is a far-reaching "everyone".

GM has sent letters and messages regarding the pricing over MSRP complaints to dealers, but the state dealer protection laws in many states protect a dealers right to charge what he pleases. How important this is will vary by dealer. My suggestion was for those who were not happy to "hold up a mirror" to the store they were dissatisfied with.

Regarding the dealer ethics and losing franchises, again, the state laws make it difficult for the manufacturer to do. In this regard the customer has the greater ability to do this. In the car business, the customer is the jury and they vote with their checkbook. A store that is not selling cars will have a difficult time staying in business.