Well, you either bit the bullet and pay for the gas out of pocket, or you piss off customers. I say being in the red (temporarily) is better than losing business.

 

Many dealers (a non GM dealer around here) already make up this cost or makes money off of it when you buy the car with other various "dealer charges" which states a tank of gas.

So to recap it shouldn't hurt them too bad if they add it in as many do already, but it stinks to have to.

 

Well, you either bit the bullet and pay for the gas out of pocket, or you piss off customers. I say being in the red (temporarily) is better than losing business.

I agree. The dealers still need to be able to give a full tank of gas, they just can't piss people off like that. Maybe they will make shorter test drives too, but the test drives at most dealers here couldn't be much shorter.

If my dealer doesn't want to fill up my tank, then screw them, we are arguing until we are going to get our gas. =D

 

In Canada I don't know if all dealers provide a full tank on delivery. We always have.

I purchased a 99 Cavalier in Halifax 7 years ago. They would only put $20 in the tank. I got a great deal but it did tick me off a little that they didn't top her up for me.

 

Damn, see now it's expected. Just like rebates are expected and low interest rates are expected. Come to think about it cleaning up the car is also expected before delivery. You could go on and on.

I don't think too many good dealers will stop filling up the tank. I also bet they will find a way to recoup that cost.

 

Most dealers I have been to have no problem making up the cost. A full tank is considered part of delivery, except of course on the used cars. The dealers I worked at would make sure there was a half tank in the used cars, but that was it.
When I saw the update on the fuel reimbursement policy I expected that dealers wouldn't like it.

 

I've bought about 8 new vehicles in the past 25 years, they all got full tanks. I'd bet a good salesperson would make up the difference if it meant keeping the deal, but they shouldn't have to. The dealer has many ways to pad profit for the unsuspecting (financing, warranty, alarms, paint protector etc) they will make it up elsewhere. Any word on the other "big" automakers policies on this?

 

I know this may sound like a small deal, but to both the dealers and the buyers I would consider this pretty major. When I go and buy a truck for 31,000 dollars, I expect the pig to be filled up. IMO, it is the least they can do. As for the dealer, it is pretty pathetic that the product you are selling just made you less money and there is nothing you can do about it. I think this is crappy any way you look at it. Is GM really this beat up??

 

Reminds me. A couple years back the John Deere dealer delivered us a brand new 4300 compact utility, which was running on empty. Our salesman, who also delivered it, said their insurance company won't let them keep large amounts of diesel fuel at the dealer anymore

Dropping off a $20K+ tractor on almost empty

 

Why doesnt GM just mark the vehicle up $60 bucks?

 

Hmmm...

Just out of curiosity, when the cars ARRIVE at the dealerships from GM, do they have a full tank of gas ... or just enough to get the cars on and off the truck?



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There is very little gas when GM delivers the car to the dealer. When some models only have a gross profit (not net) of $300 dollars how much should the dealer pay to fill the tank? If your selling 15 GMC trucks in nowhere USA, do you think the Dealer should handle 80 bucks to fill the tank or charge a Doc Fee. This is not an argumentative question just food for thought.

 

Why doesnt GM just mark the vehicle up $60 bucks?

The base price of most GM cars are to the penny as it is. Last year, GM kept their promise on the Solstice at $19,995.

 

When I bought my car, the dealership put $20 gas in, but they charged a gas tax....of $20....
Didn't piss me off or anything though, I don't care about $20 when I'm paying that much for a whole car.

 

I know this may sound like a small deal, but to both the dealers and the buyers I would consider this pretty major. When I go and buy a truck for 31,000 dollars, I expect the pig to be filled up. IMO, it is the least they can do. As for the dealer, it is pretty pathetic that the product you are selling just made you less money and there is nothing you can do about it. I think this is crappy any way you look at it. Is GM really this beat up??

I agree, no one should leave the lot in a new vehicle without a full tank of gas. We fill every vehicle to the sop, install mudflaps and provide the first oil change free of charge on every vehicle.

All trucks get bed liners as well.

 

Every Toyota comes with a full tank. It says it right on the Window Sticker.
When I worked at the Chevy store, we charged a "gas fee" of $30, and that's what we'd put in.
When I bought my last new Chevy (in y2k), they filled it full for me, but I had to do it (he followed me to the gas station to pay).

 

When I worked at a large Honda dealership in Texas...we never delivered cars with anything more than 1/3 of a tank. EVER.

 

I just asked my General Sales mgr what we were going to do and he said we are only going to put in $30 on trucks and $20 on cars................................ we'll see.

 

i guess in tough times you have to scrimp all you can, just think of how many dollars it will take off gm's bottom line. it is just like alot of options and little extras some of the vehicle don't have, underhood lights,etc

 

$30 won't even make mine burp.... it's got a 34 gal tank

 

If Webster's is looking for something to put under the definition of Penny Wise and Pound Foolish, this works just fine. :doh:
Talk about a great way to P-off untold thousands of customers on a 20-40 grand purchase for what amounts to a $50 bill +/-...:fall:
The rocket scientist who signed off on this needs his walking papers. Actually, this is probably one of their Toyota moles.

 

Reminds me. A couple years back the John Deere dealer delivered us a brand new 4300 compact utility, which was running on empty. Our salesman, who also delivered it, said their insurance company won't let them keep large amounts of diesel fuel at the dealer anymore

Dropping off a $20K+ tractor on almost empty

IMO this blame-the-insurance-company riff goes in The Dog Ate My Homework department. File under B for BS.

 

It will be $80.00 or so less profit. So it would cost a salesman $20.00 to $30.00 per deal if it is not a mini deal already.

 

This is just freaking cheesy! A person buys a $50,000 Yukon Denali XL and they need to stop at the gas station on the way home from the dealer on the first day?

GM is pretty much saying "We know our big-tank gas hogs cost too much to fill up - so now we can't afford to pay our dealerships to fill them up on delivery"

At least that's what the enviro-weenies are going to say once they get a hold of this news...and use it against GM for all it's worth.

Stupid, stupid move GM.

 

So GM once again makes the customer feel special. Who will take the heat on this one? The dealer of course. So I spend $30k to $50k for a new GM car and then have to head on and fill the tank up myself. I guess when I make my offer I will have to offer the sales guy my gas card to fill my car up before I pick it up.