Helped the General

unkillsam · 07-03-2008, 02:40 PM

Well as some of you may know I was considering purchasing a leftover HHR with 0% financing to replace my Cobalt SS/SC that I purchased two years ago.

I pulled the trigger, but the dealership experience made me sick.

I have always bought either certified Chevrolets or new Chevrolets. New Chevrolets always from the same hometown dealer and certified Chevrolets from whatever dealer has the best internet pricing.

For the first time ever, I went to a dealership I was unfamiliar with because they had the almost exact kind of HHR I was looking for. Stupid me actually believed GM would pull back the incentives after Monday. And I did not make up my mind to buy untill Monday. So, it seemed to me a dealer trade with my local dealer was cutting it close and went to the new dealer.

Let's just say, after lowballing my trade by $2,000 over every other dealers offer (I got them to match the other dealers) and by tacking on a hidden $400 dollar etching fee without full disclosure, I am not too happy with them.

I discovered the fee just by doing math in my head. I guess the finance manager doesn't remember that it is so easy to calculate a monthly payment in your head when you are not paying interest.

Anyway's, I figure that this dealer group (my girlfriend recieved the same crappy treatment from their Nissan dealership) has to be costing GM a lot of sales in the Philly metro area and I strongly advise people to stay away.

It is the Chapman Auto Group and they replaced the Meissner Chevy-Olds Megacenter (out of business) on dealer row in South Philly with Chapman Chevrolet.

If you can help it, go to the suburbs. All the dealers out there are 100% better I promise.

osv_alero · 07-03-2008, 02:51 PM

Congrats on the new car. Sorry to hear about the experience. Just remember to blast them when the survey comes. You can only hope that if enough people blast them, GM will eventually pull their franchise.

FenwickHockey65 · 07-03-2008, 02:55 PM

Agreed. My Pontiac-Buick-GMC dealer and my Pontiac-Buick-Chevrolet dealer are both out in the middle of nowhere. Awesome service from both.

Congrats on the new car!

Old Dood · 07-07-2008, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unkillsam

Let's just say, after lowballing my trade by $2,000 over every other dealers offer (I got them to match the other dealers) and by tacking on a hidden $400 dollar etching fee without full disclosure, I am not too happy with them.

What is a etching fee anyways?
Kudos to you for 'figuring it out' on the spot.

I tip my hat to you.

eurohazard · 07-07-2008, 07:37 AM

Congrats on the car! I totally hear you about a poor dealership experience. When I bought my Armada, I caught the dealership also trying to add a hidden charge.....and although I don't remember for sure......I want to say it was window etching too. You should have seen me and my wife both yelling at the finance manager (the day after).....the real manager had to intervene. He made things right by way of ~$900 of free accessories, and 3 tankfuls of gas.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Dood

What is a etching fee anyways?

They etch the VIN on the window glass. You can buy $15 etching kits on Ebay.....and those asshats charge $400. Grrr. lol

Old Dood · 07-07-2008, 07:43 AM

Ahhh...thanks. I was wondering if it was something like that but was not sure...

johnnyl321 · 07-07-2008, 10:10 AM

[quote=eurohazard;1447583]Congrats on the car! I totally hear you about a poor dealership experience. When I bought my Armada, I caught the dealership also trying to add a hidden charge.....and although I don't remember for sure......I want to say it was window etching too. You should have seen me and my wife both yelling at the finance manager (the day after).....the real manager had to intervene. He made things right by way of ~$900 of free accessories, and 3 tankfuls of gas.

So for a $15 window etching or whatever it was, they wound up having to give away about $1100. Boy wasn't that smart of them? I'll never figure out why some dealers think it's still the 70s when it comes to dealing with customers. Don't they realize that people are smarter in terms of money and price shopping. Now, the next dealer isn't 20 miles away.....he's a mouse click away.

likearock00 · 07-07-2008, 10:16 AM

Congrats on the new purchase even though you had the misfortunate experience. I bet you won't be having service done there, huh?

Why didn't you just go to your normal delaer and have them get it from that store? If you have a good experience at a dealership and find a decent salesperson- stick with them!! Repeat customers are a jem in that business and most will do anything to keep them happy.

61BelAir · 07-07-2008, 10:40 AM

I too have only bought GM cars and trucks and my experience at the dealerships have not been enjoyable. This past year when I bought my Colorado I already had my own financing set up. I went to Rotolo Chevrolet in Fontana, a place that claims to serve its community, blah, blah, blah.. I had their advertisement in my hand for the truck that I wanted and I was ready to buy it. Well, they didn't want to use my financing even though the bank I went to is one that they already deal with and they were on the list of Stealerships that is approved for their financing. Anyways, they wouldn't sell me the truck and I ended up going somewhere else that day to buy a truck. Needless to say I will never go back to that dealership again to buy a car or truck.

CobaltSScrazy · 07-07-2008, 11:00 AM

why trade in the SS?

CobaltSS

congrats.

Old Dood · 07-07-2008, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 61BelAir

I too have only bought GM cars and trucks and my experience at the dealerships have not been enjoyable. This past year when I bought my Colorado I already had my own financing set up. I went to Rotolo Chevrolet in Fontana, a place that claims to serve its community, blah, blah, blah.. I had their advertisement in my hand for the truck that I wanted and I was ready to buy it. Well, they didn't want to use my financing even though the bank I went to is one that they already deal with and they were on the list of Stealerships that is approved for their financing. Anyways, they wouldn't sell me the truck and I ended up going somewhere else that day to buy a truck. Needless to say I will never go back to that dealership again to buy a car or truck.

What was their 'reason/excuse' for not wanting to sell to you?
Of course they wanted the 'points' for using their system with the same bank.
But, what did they 'tell you' the reason for it?

That is just plain silly for a dealer to pull that piece of dung.

61BelAir · 07-07-2008, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Dood

What was their 'reason/excuse' for not wanting to sell to you?
Of course they wanted the 'points' for using their system with the same bank.
But, what did they 'tell you' the reason for it?

That is just plain silly for a dealer to pull that piece of dung.

They said that because the vehicle was from the advertisement (very low price) that they wouldn't make much money on the sale so they needed to use their financing or no deal. They said I could buy any other vehicle on the lot with my financing, but not the one in the advertisement. Their loss though, as I am a loyal GM driver and only buy GM vehicles, and I will never buy a vehicle from them.

Old Dood · 07-07-2008, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 61BelAir

They said that because the vehicle was from the advertisement (very low price) that they wouldn't make much money on the sale so they needed to use their financing or no deal. They said I could buy any other vehicle on the lot with my financing, but not the one in the advertisement. Their loss though, as I am a loyal GM driver and only buy GM vehicles, and I will never buy a vehicle from them.

Hmm...that is probably NOT a 'Bait & Switch' but it sure seems damn close.
Was that in the fine print in the advertisement? I doubt it...

Screw them....I would NEVER purchase a vehicle from them ever if I were you.

61BelAir · 07-07-2008, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Dood

Hmm...that is probably NOT a 'Bait & Switch' but it sure seems damn close.
Was that in the fine print in the advertisement? I doubt it...

Screw them....I would NEVER purchase a vehicle from them ever if I were you.

Nothing in the fine print but from what I understand there is nothing illegal about what they did. Regardless they will never get my business after that experience.

throwback · 07-07-2008, 12:31 PM

I also took advantage of zero percent and bought a HHR SS from a surburban south Jersey dealership. They had an additional sticker on the car I wanted with approximately $1,500 in sealant and pinstriping. I noticed the car was not striped and asked if it had been sealed. The sales guy was honest and said no, so I said I will take the car without the extras. Because he was honest with me he got a sale and my sister in-law is buying from him also. By the way the only reason I bought now was because of zero percent, thanks GM. How you guys stay in business giving away deals like this is beyond me.

07-03-2008, 02:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
unkillsam 4.4 Liter Supercharged Northstar Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Philadelphia, PA Drives: 2008 Victory Red HHR LT Posts: 2,441	Helped the General Well as some of you may know I was considering purchasing a leftover HHR with 0% financing to replace my Cobalt SS/SC that I purchased two years ago. I pulled the trigger, but the dealership experience made me sick. I have always bought either certified Chevrolets or new Chevrolets. New Chevrolets always from the same hometown dealer and certified Chevrolets from whatever dealer has the best internet pricing. For the first time ever, I went to a dealership I was unfamiliar with because they had the almost exact kind of HHR I was looking for. Stupid me actually believed GM would pull back the incentives after Monday. And I did not make up my mind to buy untill Monday. So, it seemed to me a dealer trade with my local dealer was cutting it close and went to the new dealer. Let's just say, after lowballing my trade by $2,000 over every other dealers offer (I got them to match the other dealers) and by tacking on a hidden $400 dollar etching fee without full disclosure, I am not too happy with them. I discovered the fee just by doing math in my head. I guess the finance manager doesn't remember that it is so easy to calculate a monthly payment in your head when you are not paying interest. Anyway's, I figure that this dealer group (my girlfriend recieved the same crappy treatment from their Nissan dealership) has to be costing GM a lot of sales in the Philly metro area and I strongly advise people to stay away. It is the Chapman Auto Group and they replaced the Meissner Chevy-Olds Megacenter (out of business) on dealer row in South Philly with Chapman Chevrolet. If you can help it, go to the suburbs. All the dealers out there are 100% better I promise.

07-03-2008, 02:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
osv_alero 3.9 Liter V6 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Dundee, Oregon Drives: 2006 HHR 2LT Posts: 829	Re: Helped the General Congrats on the new car. Sorry to hear about the experience. Just remember to blast them when the survey comes. You can only hope that if enough people blast them, GM will eventually pull their franchise. __________________ The U.S. trade deficit with China increases by $1 billion a day The U.S. trade deficit for automobiles alone is $11 billion per month http://americaneconomicalert.org/ For every one transplant job added in the US, nearly five jobs are eliminated

07-03-2008, 02:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
FenwickHockey65 6.0 Liter LS2 V8 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: West Chester, OH Drives: Chevrolet Malibu LS, GMC Envoy SLE, GMC Sonoma SLS Posts: 4,905	Re: Helped the General Agreed. My Pontiac-Buick-GMC dealer and my Pontiac-Buick-Chevrolet dealer are both out in the middle of nowhere. Awesome service from both. Congrats on the new car! __________________ Proud to drive American. Proud to drive GM. Current Cars: 2007 Chevrolet Malibu LS: 2.2L ECOTEC I-4 2003 GMC Envoy SLE: 4.2L Vortec 4200 I-6 1998 GMC Sonoma SLS Ext. Cab: 4.3L Vortec 4300 V6 Former Cars: 1993 Saturn SW2 (1993-2006, 243,000 miles) 1989 GMC Safari SLT (1989-2003, 293,000 miles) Future Car: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro LT RS: 3.6L DI VVT V6

07-07-2008, 07:43 AM	#6 (permalink)
Old Dood 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Lansing Drives: 2000 Park Avenue 2007 Camry XLE Posts: 7,463	Re: Helped the General Ahhh...thanks. I was wondering if it was something like that but was not sure... __________________ 2000 Park Avenue 2007 Camry XLE "We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it." ~William Faulkner http://www.afterlife101.com/research2.html By the Way: There IS a Cabal

07-07-2008, 10:10 AM	#7 (permalink)
johnnyl321 2.4 Liter ECOTEC Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 96	Re: Helped the General [quote=eurohazard;1447583]Congrats on the car! I totally hear you about a poor dealership experience. When I bought my Armada, I caught the dealership also trying to add a hidden charge.....and although I don't remember for sure......I want to say it was window etching too. You should have seen me and my wife both yelling at the finance manager (the day after).....the real manager had to intervene. He made things right by way of ~$900 of free accessories, and 3 tankfuls of gas. So for a $15 window etching or whatever it was, they wound up having to give away about $1100. Boy wasn't that smart of them? I'll never figure out why some dealers think it's still the 70s when it comes to dealing with customers. Don't they realize that people are smarter in terms of money and price shopping. Now, the next dealer isn't 20 miles away.....he's a mouse click away.

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07-07-2008, 10:16 AM	#8 (permalink)
likearock00 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NC Drives: 2006 Chevy Silverado Crew Cab Z-71 Posts: 7,532	Re: Helped the General Congrats on the new purchase even though you had the misfortunate experience. I bet you won't be having service done there, huh? Why didn't you just go to your normal delaer and have them get it from that store? If you have a good experience at a dealership and find a decent salesperson- stick with them!! Repeat customers are a jem in that business and most will do anything to keep them happy. __________________ "Moral courage is the most valuable and usually the most absent characteristic in men." -Patton

07-07-2008, 10:40 AM	#9 (permalink)
61BelAir 3.6 Liter V6 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Drives: 07 Colorado and 61 BelAir Posts: 1,036	Re: Helped the General I too have only bought GM cars and trucks and my experience at the dealerships have not been enjoyable. This past year when I bought my Colorado I already had my own financing set up. I went to Rotolo Chevrolet in Fontana, a place that claims to serve its community, blah, blah, blah.. I had their advertisement in my hand for the truck that I wanted and I was ready to buy it. Well, they didn't want to use my financing even though the bank I went to is one that they already deal with and they were on the list of Stealerships that is approved for their financing. Anyways, they wouldn't sell me the truck and I ended up going somewhere else that day to buy a truck. Needless to say I will never go back to that dealership again to buy a car or truck.

07-07-2008, 11:00 AM	#10 (permalink)
CobaltSScrazy 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Oct 2005 Drives: 2005 Cobalt SS Posts: 5,917	Re: Helped the General why trade in the SS? CobaltSS congrats. __________________ 2005 Cobalt SS I'm done with GMI, some posters type inexcusable and unacceptable replys that are not moderated with enough intensity.

07-07-2008, 12:31 PM	#15 (permalink)
throwback 3.9 Liter V6 Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 935	Re: Helped the General I also took advantage of zero percent and bought a HHR SS from a surburban south Jersey dealership. They had an additional sticker on the car I wanted with approximately $1,500 in sealant and pinstriping. I noticed the car was not striped and asked if it had been sealed. The sales guy was honest and said no, so I said I will take the car without the extras. Because he was honest with me he got a sale and my sister in-law is buying from him also. By the way the only reason I bought now was because of zero percent, thanks GM. How you guys stay in business giving away deals like this is beyond me.

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