Jim
Orlando,#2Consumer Suggestion
Sun, August 14, 2005
Want to have fun? Write a letter to GM alleging one of THEIR GM DEALERSHIPS has a policy of charging minorities a different price. See how the GM people come running. But the second you bring up DIRECT EVIDENCE of fraud/deception..."the dealership is an independent business etc, etc, etc..." The Bill Heard chain has been IN TROUBLE ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY. They proudly proclaim they are the #1 Chevrolet dealer. Guess what, sorry, loosing GM looks the other way when THEIR DEALERSHIP with THEIR GM LOGO on the door gets hauled into court AGAIN and AGAIN. GM is a loosing entity. They are loosing market share and loosing money hand over fist. To try to drum up business, what do they do...run some crappy "employee pricing" promotion. Hey GM, why not run a promotion which hasn't been done before? Why not have the DAMNED GUTS to step up to the plate and DO SOMETHING which will not only get positive media exposure, FOR FREE, and build customer interest? Hey GM, why not ENACT and ENFORCE a system of HONESTY and INTEGRITY for YOUR DEALERSHIPS? That's right GM, they are YOUR dealerships, THEY REPRESENT YOU. Your name is on the door. You set up the system, you pull the plug on the scum and slime balls REPRESENNTING YOU and you keep the media informed as to who and why your REPRESENTATIVE DEALERSHIPS got the ax. No, GM doesn't have the guts to do this. They will try to SLIME their way around this with lame excuses. Don't for one second believe they don't have control over their dealerships. If the dealership was selling drugs in the back room or using hookers to sell cars, the dealership would be yanked in a heartbeat! But here we have one of THEIR DEALERSHIP chains in trouble over and over and over and over and over again, and GM closes their eyes. GM, may the car buying public close their eyes on you thanks to your support of slime ball business practices in YOUR GM DEALERSHIPS!!!
Steve
Tucson,#3Consumer Suggestion
Thu, August 11, 2005
I can certainly agree with your anger. The tactic is called "bait and switch" and is not only reprehensible, it is illegal in some states. Not all dealers do it though. On two separate occasions I saw vehicles on the web advertised by Holme Tuttle Ford here in Tucson. On both occasions when I was at the dealership the cars were on the lot and fopr sale. One I purchased and on the other occasion I chose to purchase a different vehicle. Both times the choice was mine and mine alone. Any car dealer that tries this kind of technique with me will get to see my license plate as I leave (in Arizona we only have rear license plates). Dealers get away with this type of sales technique (bait and switch) because consumers keep falling for it. If the advertised car isn't on the lot, LEAVE. If the dealer tries to stop you, call the police. If the dealer tries to hold your car hostage, call the police. I am constantly amazed at the number of Ripoff Reports I read about people being held hostage, or their cars being held hostage, by car dealers. If they won't treat you with dignity and resxpect, LEAVE. If they won't let you leave for any reason, call the police. The greatest power the consumer has is to NOT PURCHASE.