[BlackGTP]

Part of the challenge is that this whole communication issue was never really a problem when orders were simply to put inventory on the lot. Rarely did customer order directly from the factory. Maybe a few of us on this blog did, but most don’t. So the system wasnt set up to communicate production progress directly to consumers. This is a new reality and with chip and other parts and labor shortages is a real difficult task to estimate delivery dates. Freight alone is a big unknown by itself.

Definitely is the new reality! My dad used to order from the factory - I have memories from my childhood/teens.

My guess is that for a lot of people a car purchase is the biggest or second biggest purchase of their life. I think it is very understandable that people get frustrated when they put their order in and then complete silence. I understand what is going on and I'd still be going nuts. I think the best approach (at least this would make me happy) is explaining to the customer and then weekly emails (automated) telling the customer that they still don't have a production time, but at least the customer knows their order hasn't been forgotten.

 

[BlackGTP]

I'm not sure what GM (as in the head company) has to do/can do differently.

The sales person at the dealership KNOWS all this, but they don't want to tell the customer because it's not an easy conversation to have. It's just way easier to lie about it and then blame GM that the trucks not here. And there's more than one customer who just can't understand why it's not like buy stuff from Amazon.

See my above comment.

Yeah - it is easier to lie and that approach is used a lot. Get's people off your back in the short term, but certainly builds "road rage" in people if that keeps happening week after week. I think a simple form letter, given to each person ordering a car, explaining the process coupled with a weekly automated email. That would probably be enough to keep me satisfied - I know I'd be getting wound up waiting for my new toy.

 

[ZZ71]

The dealers are independent business's and they run their business their way. I have ordered many GM vehicles over the last 40 yrs but I never ordered from the factory. They do not sell to customers, only to their dealers.

I seen this posted somewhere?
1100 and Dealer Allocation
This causes a lot of issues. When you place an order with a dealer, the status is 1100, PREIMINARY ORDER ACCEPTED. UNTIL GMAD ACCEPTS the order, it just sits there at 1100. You don't have an order with GM at this point. You only have a dealer requesting an allocation for a slot in the production schedule. Dealer Allocation is simple to understand - GM changed its model for producing vehicles a few years' back. Dealers are now awarded allocation based on past performance, as well as other factors. If you are sitting at 1100 you are not in line yet for production. Your dealer MUST get GM to accept the order. When GM accepts the order, all the parts are available and will be allocated to your car build.

The allocation number will tell all GM dealers exactly how many trucks/suvs GM will build for them over next few months. Unfortunately, this does not constrain the dealership from pre-selling more than the earned allocation, as GM does not manage this process in any way. In other words, a dealer (knowing they only have two Denali’s arriving within the next six months) can pre-sell 20 and simply tell the customer that the order has been put in. For the 18 customers who are at the bottom of the list, they are at the mercy of whatever story the dealer tells them regarding the production of the vehicle. Dealers are under no obligation to disclose how many of their earned allocations are spoken for when making pre-order sales. As such, many dealers don’t disclose this information to the customer because if they did, you would probably walk right out the door.

 

[MisterMe]

Definitely is the new reality! My dad used to order from the factory - I have memories from my childhood/teens.

My guess is that for a lot of people a car purchase is the biggest or second biggest purchase of their life. I think it is very understandable that people get frustrated when they put their order in and then complete silence. I understand what is going on and I'd still be going nuts. I think the best approach (at least this would make me happy) is explaining to the customer and then weekly emails (automated) telling the customer that they still don't have a production time, but at least the customer knows their order hasn't been forgotten.

As a rule of thumb, I usually avoid denying the lived experience of others. However, I don't deny my own lived experience, either. I have ordered cars from the factory, but that was decades ago. Each car that I have purchased this millennium has been delivered within a day or so. I have gone into the dealer fulling expecting to submit a factory order. However, my dealer gives me the impression that he would rather have his sexual organs removed than submit a factory order. If the car that I want is not on his lot--and none in this millennium have been on the lot--the dealer locates a car within a 150 mile radius that closely or exactly matches the car that I want. He sends someone to pickup the car from the dealership in the region that has it in stock.

I live in a college town in the highest per capita income county in my state. My dealer is used to serving customers who are used to getting what they want. Yet, factory order is not a thing that my dealership does willingly. It is a mystery why are the GMI members with unsatisfactory factory order experiences are so different from mine experience.

 

[BlackGTP]

As a rule of thumb, I usually avoid denying the lived experience of others. However, I don't deny my own lived experience, either. I have ordered cars from the factory, but that was decades ago. Each car that I have purchased this millennium has been delivered within a day or so. I have gone into the dealer fulling expecting to submit a factory order. However, my dealer gives me the impression that he would rather have his sexual organs removed than submit a factory order. If the car that I want is not on his lot--and none in this millennium have been on the lot--the dealer locates a car within a 150 mile radius that closely or exactly matches the car that I want. He sends someone to pickup the car from the dealership in the region that has it in stock.

I live in a college town in the highest per capita income county in my state. My dealer is used to serving customers who are used to getting what they want. Yet, factory order is not a thing that my dealership does willingly. It is a mystery why are the GMI members with unsatisfactory factory order experiences are so different from mine experience.

I think if we didn't have the chip shortage and related no dealership stock then we'd not have this issue. Have you ever waited 9 months for your vehicle with no clue if you'll get a call tomorrow or need to wait another 5 months?

 

[BlackGTP]

The dealers are independent business's and they run their business their way. I have ordered many GM vehicles over the last 40 yrs but I never ordered from the factory. They do not sell to customers, only to their dealers.

I seen this posted somewhere?
1100 and Dealer Allocation
This causes a lot of issues. When you place an order with a dealer, the status is 1100, PREIMINARY ORDER ACCEPTED. UNTIL GMAD ACCEPTS the order, it just sits there at 1100. You don't have an order with GM at this point. You only have a dealer requesting an allocation for a slot in the production schedule. Dealer Allocation is simple to understand - GM changed its model for producing vehicles a few years' back. Dealers are now awarded allocation based on past performance, as well as other factors. If you are sitting at 1100 you are not in line yet for production. Your dealer MUST get GM to accept the order. When GM accepts the order, all the parts are available and will be allocated to your car build.

The allocation number will tell all GM dealers exactly how many trucks/suvs GM will build for them over next few months. Unfortunately, this does not constrain the dealership from pre-selling more than the earned allocation, as GM does not manage this process in any way. In other words, a dealer (knowing they only have two Denali’s arriving within the next six months) can pre-sell 20 and simply tell the customer that the order has been put in. For the 18 customers who are at the bottom of the list, they are at the mercy of whatever story the dealer tells them regarding the production of the vehicle. Dealers are under no obligation to disclose how many of their earned allocations are spoken for when making pre-order sales. As such, many dealers don’t disclose this information to the customer because if they did, you would probably walk right out the door.

That's interesting. I can think of no other industry where the sales arm treats the customer in the way dealers do.

 

[MisterMe]

I think if we didn't have the chip shortage and related no dealership stock then we'd not have this issue. Have you ever waited 9 months for your vehicle with no clue if you'll get a call tomorrow or need to wait another 5 months?

A fair reading of my previous post makes it clear that the answer to your question is "No." However, your question has nudged me into thinking about this situation differently. From your comments, I infer that people are ordering cars from the factory because there are few if any on dealership lots.

 

[BlackGTP]

A fair reading of my previous post makes it clear that the answer to your question is "No." However, your question has nudged me into thinking about this situation differently. From your comments, I infer that people are ordering cars from the factory because there are few if any on dealership lots.

I can't tell you how happy I am that both my wife and I bought new cars before the chip shortage hit and hopefully all of these shortage issues will be sorted out by the time we want new cars again (at least 7 years).

 

[gm4life08]

So as someone who has two GM vehicles on order and has never factory ordered before it is a bit of a frustrating process. (I guess my current 2021 Canyon was an order in September of 2020 but it was for stock unit not a SRO with price protection. That truck arrived in 6 weeks! It was before the chip shortage got real bad. This was a larger dealer who had piles of allocation and is now charging over sticker which is why we will never be back.)

Fast forward to present day… My dealer up front said he had a couple Yukons ahead of our families unit. The problem was when he had allocation initially back in February SLTs were on constraint… However he waited a few weeks and we slid in minus the max trailer package which was not a requirement for us but a nice to have. I literally feel like I hit the lottery getting in… Same thing with the Sierra he had two orders for 2022 Limiteds that didn’t get made ahead of mine. The base MCM 4WD Denali I had on order didn’t have some constraints other Sierras did. My unit the week the brownstone interior (that I wanted) became available and that is when the other truck ahead of mine was still on constraint so mine slid in. Again the first week of the brownstone interior mine slid in. Before COVID an 8 week factory order was common. Now it is like 28 if you are lucky.

Getting an allocation shouldn’t feel like hitting the lottery or paying sticker but these days it feels like it. However my ridiculous high trades make if no worse than waiting for 20 percent rebates before. In fact this might be better in these two cases cause at sticker with trade numbers I have it is too sweet to pass up. Just stinks what you go through someday in like 2 years it will be back to 12 week special orders but that day ain’t happening for a long while.

 

[martracy5]

Ever order a $5 item from Amazon.com? You receive an order confirmation including a projected delivery date, an email when the item ships, and an email when the item is delivered (usually with a photo of the item’s delivery location at your shipping address)? Anyone wonder why a customer who orders a $50 - 80 thousand dollar vehicle from GM has no clue what is going on, when the vehicle will be built, when it will ship, and when it is projected to arrive at the dealer? Because - GM has no concern for its customers and takes them and their business for granted.

I agree. They have always been like that. They build what they want how they want and don’t build what the customer wants.

 

[matteson336]

See my above comment. Yeah - it is easier to lie and that approach is used a lot. Get's people off your back in the short term, but certainly builds "road rage" in people if that keeps happening week after week. I think a simple form letter, given to each person ordering a car, explaining the process coupled with a weekly automated email. That would probably be enough to keep me satisfied - I know I'd be getting wound up waiting for my new toy.

I agree. They have always been like that. They build what they want how they want and don’t build what the customer wants.

I put 2000$ down to order truck and 6 weeks later it still wasn’t order,I think the dealerships just earn money from interest

 

[09W]

^ Did they cash your check?
My dealer held my deposit check to nearly when the vehicle was delivered.

Orders are placed, and afterward orders are accepted @ GM; there's a difference.

 

[davester]

I put 2000$ down to order truck and 6 weeks later it still wasn’t order,I think the dealerships just earn money from interest

You need to ask the dealer where it is in the process. If they have submitted the order to gm, and then separate, if gm has accepted the order. It could be that your dealer just doesn't have allocation (or has some, but used them for other vehicles), so while they may submit the order, it can be some time before gm accepts it.

 

[ZZ71]

This is the inconvenient truth about vehicle orders. I was talking with an business associate who told me he has a new RAM truck on order and he's been waiting for 6 months and not a word. His salesman is his relative and he cannot find a darn thing about the vehicle. He's hoping too get it this year for tax write-off but time is running out. So its not just GM having issues with meeting demand.

The allocation number will tell all GM dealers exactly how many trucks/suvs GM will build for them over next few months. Unfortunately, this does not constrain the dealership from pre-selling more than the earned allocation, as GM does not manage this process in any way. In other words, a dealer (knowing they only have two Denali’s arriving within the next six months) can pre-sell 20 and simply tell the customer that the order has been put in. For the 18 customers who are at the bottom of the list, they are at the mercy of whatever story the dealer tells them regarding the production of the vehicle. Dealers are under no obligation to disclose how many of their earned allocations are spoken for when making pre-order sales. As such, many dealers don’t disclose this information to the customer because if they did, you would probably walk right out the door.

 

[barryGMC only]

I had my order placed on March 3rd 2022. I ordered a AT4 with 3.0 duramax. It’s been made for 2 months per my salesmen its. Just sitting in Indiana waiting for a train ride. Hopefully I will have it be Christmas! Glad I did not sell my truck yet. He told me its 3 weeks on the train to get to Idaho.

 

[aaronb4+]

Has anyone heard about how long it is currently taking once something rolls of the Fort Wayne production line to get on rail to the west coast? Seattle in particular. Thanks!

 

[aaronb4+]

I had my order placed on March 3rd 2022. I ordered a AT4 with 3.0 duramax. It’s been made for 2 months per my salesmen its. Just sitting in Indiana waiting for a train ride. Hopefully I will have it be Christmas! Glad I did not sell my truck yet. He told me its 3 weeks on the train to get to Idaho.

Did you get yours yet?

 

[themrkotter]

I know there is no good answer and it all depends on supplies. How long after your order has been accepted for production did you have to wait to see your vehicle at the dealership. I ordered an AT4X, order was accepted for production on April 12. Thanks

Been waiting since March 3rd for a regular cab work truck,ETA 12 10 2022,and to no one's surprise still waiting! Sad ,pathetic but true! It's hard to believe nobody has a clue of what's going on! I believe if your ordering a dozen or more vehicles for a business you'll get your vehicle's! But if your just an individual,well when they get to your order they get to your order and you'll just have to wait! Meanwhile prices and interest rates go up! Does GMC care, hell no! If you don't buy it someone else will buy it for more? Truly an embarrassment for such a huge company! Good luck to those who are waiting! I'm still waiting and it's been 9 months! Merry Christmas 🎄

 

[themrkotter]

It can take as little as one month to six. Accepted to production is event code 2000, however accepted to production if you ask GMC chat can mean 1100. (Which 1100 means nothing except your dealer has there hand up with an order) Do you have confirmation from your dealer you are at event code 2000? GM chat has improperly quoted this time and time again making something sound like 2000 vs 1100.

Typically takes another month or so to get to 3000 and then can take another month or more for a TPW. My Sierra Denali order got accepted back on March 17th. My TPW is at May 30th on my Sierra, and I ordered back on December 9th.

I've been waiting 9 months so far and have no confidence in anything GMC tells me!

 

[gm4life08]

I've been waiting 9 months so far and have no confidence in anything GMC tells me!

I would ask your dealer. The supply chain is still a mess.