Complaint Review: Power Chevrolet - Irvine - Irvine, California

Power Chevrolet Involved in State Fraud Investigation, refering customers to company with horrible business record View the Report and Photos that involves the Scum at Power Chevrolet at the Link below: http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/ripoff112163.htm There IS NO ESCAPE FROM RIPOFF REPORT LOSERS

has any of you heard of supply and demand. If the demand is higher than the supply the price goes up. With the z06 vette the demand well execdes the supply.

Utter a*****e? Why? Because I work in retail and know how to make money...WTF do you do in life that makes you so high and mighty? You abrasive New York d****e BAG! Everyone on this thread refrained from insulting people...Then you put your arrogance in! I am OPEN about our mark up...I don't hide it...It right on the freaking widow! So how in the hell does that make me a crook? Oh Yeah...I did call Connell...All the people that are on this magic list will get the same call you got my loser friend...It's an old Chevy trick...An easy way to be sure you get the number of cars you need to sell for above MSRP! Kind of like kinking the factory! It's a win-win for them...Either you buy it for above window...Or someone else pony's up for the mark up. I have sold 7 Mustangs for above window from people who can afford it...They don't cry like babies like some of you...They are people who value customer service...Something tight wads never understand. You get what you pay for! Oh and I have sold a few for under sticker...Want to know why...because it is ALL in your approach...Ask for something in a respectful manner and I will bend over backwards for you...Come in like a abrasive a-hole you will get the horns! I'm an Honest Car Guy...I never hide or fail to disclose anything...I work in an open disclosure store...Everything is on the window and on the contract in black and white! Remember this about me...You want me on your side...All my clients will agree on this description of me: No Better Friend...No Worse Enemy! I'll beat up my managers for youWant more for your trade I'll ride my used car manager...Hell I'll go to bat with my GM for you if you got a raw deal...But lie or screw me in any way and I will return the favor in spades! I am no a crook...I have NEVER lid to a client...I have the very best interest of my clients in mind...Because if I screw you I will get ZERO referrals from you...My clients are my living...Without them I have nothing. A good salesman knows this.

In late Dec 04', I contacted many local Chevy Dealers to get on a preorder list to purchase a 2006 Corvette Z06 at MSRP. I was assured by Fleet Mgr., Patrick Hadley, that I would be number 5 on his list, and there would be NO Additional Dealer Markup! I stopped in to meet Patrick in mid-January 05', and saw that I was actually #6 on his list. He stated that a couple of the names ahead of me had decided to get C6's and a couple had changed their minds, so I was actually going to be #2 on the list! Needless to say, I was very excited about that! I received a call from Patrick on April 14, 2005 - he said that he had "bad news" - the "owner" had decided to add a $10,000 "premium" [ie.pack] to the list price - was I still interested? WTF!??? (Btw, The Power Automotive Group is ACTUALLY owned by AutoNation.) I was furious! I called the General Manager, Larry Smith. He was not available, so I left a message. I received a return call from Jay Schmidtke, who identified himself as a G.M. I explained the situation, he put me on hold, (I later found out that he had called Patrick to verify and Patrick lied to him) then he came back and told me that "they" had decided 6 months ago to add $10,000 to the price and that if I wanted one, it would cost $10,000 OVER MSRP!!! We got into a heated discussion, and Jay FLAT OUT HUNG UP ON ME! I then called Patrick, and all he could say was, "I can't believe you went over my head on this and got me in trouble. I just do what they tell me! What are you going to do, sue me? Hey, it's my word against yours!" ________________________ Also, for our H.B. Salesman that doesn't believe any other local Dealers are selling at MSRP. Call Connell Chevrolet on Harbor Blvd.- that will verify it for you! (the problem is they now have 30 names on their list and will probably only be able to get 2 cars a month allocated [per Sale Mgr]) So, now do you see why I'm so PISSED OFF!

It's not like me to call anyone names, but I must respond to this. The same person made these statements in the same post !! "I sell Ford's and we are ALL getting 3 to 5K over MSRP on the New Mustang GT Converts!!!" "This is a website to catch crooked car dealers that give HONEST GUYS LIKE ME a bad name!!!" What an utter a*****e! Just member of the "w***e corp" getting every penny he can - and not even for a true sports car no less. Oh well, it's their money I suppose.

It's not like me to call anyone names, but I must respond to this. The same person made these statements in the same post !! "I sell Ford's and we are ALL getting 3 to 5K over MSRP on the New Mustang GT Converts!!!" "This is a website to catch crooked car dealers that give HONEST GUYS LIKE ME a bad name!!!" What an utter a*****e! Just member of the "w***e corp" getting every penny he can - and not even for a true sports car no less. Oh well, it's their money I suppose.

Spoken like a true car guy. Typical car dealer.

What all the hot heads around here are failing to notice is this guy wanted to pay MSRP for a 2006 Z06...Are you all smoking crack!!!! I sell Ford's and we are ALL getting 3 to 5K over MSRP on the New Mustang GT Converts!!! I imagine that the new Vette is worse!!! Dont blame Power for the stupidity of this clown...If you can find ANYONE who will sell you a Z06 for MSRP...Bring me the contract and I will cut you a check for $1000!!! Let keep our eyes on the ball gents!!! This is a website to catch crooked car dealers that give honest guys like me a bad name!!! The Market will determine the selling price...Just look at Plasma TV's a year ago and now...All the losers who paid thousands of dollars over fair market price are not bitching like all the dolts are here!!! Oh YEAH another thing...ALWAYS get it in writing...Not a verbal agreement...You have no one to blame but yourself you mouch...MSRP for a Z06...Wow GM must really be doing bad if that day comes!!!

You made some valid points, however it appears that you didn't read my post very carefully by some of the things you said, so let me clarify: 1)"This consumer had his time wasted by a sales person who dropped the ball." No, it was the "Fleet Manager", as stated in the FIRST SENTENCE! 2)"I can't believe he actually thought he had ordered a car based on someones verbal agreement." No, I didn't! I said I was on a PRE-order waiting list. 3)"Generally the auto manufacturer will release an order form to dealers when they release a new model..." CORRECT! However, the PRICING and ORDER FORMS have NOT even been released YET! ...not until late May 05'. Then, the Dealers will get their "allotment" allocation - which, based upon the number of Vettes they sold last year, determines how many Z06's they may ORDER - some Dealers will get ZERO, some may only get 1 or maybe 2, if they are lucky! 4) "Were I the consumer, I'd attempt to get the General Manager of this store on the phone and explain the situation" Once again, did you even READ what I wrote?! (SEE SECOND PARAGRAPH) - He HUNG UP ON ME! Thet have a LONG HISTORY of COMPLAINTS regarding DECEPTIVE SALES PRACTICES and PRICE PACKING!

You made some valid points, however it appears that you didn't read my post very carefully by some of the things you said, so let me clarify: 1)"This consumer had his time wasted by a sales person who dropped the ball." No, it was the "Fleet Manager", as stated in the FIRST SENTENCE! 2)"I can't believe he actually thought he had ordered a car based on someones verbal agreement." No, I didn't! I said I was on a PRE-order waiting list. 3)"Generally the auto manufacturer will release an order form to dealers when they release a new model..." CORRECT! However, the PRICING and ORDER FORMS have NOT even been released YET! ...not until late May 05'. Then, the Dealers will get their "allotment" allocation - which, based upon the number of Vettes they sold last year, determines how many Z06's they may ORDER - some Dealers will get ZERO, some may only get 1 or maybe 2, if they are lucky! 4) "Were I the consumer, I'd attempt to get the General Manager of this store on the phone and explain the situation" Once again, did you even READ what I wrote?! (SEE SECOND PARAGRAPH) - He HUNG UP ON ME! Thet have a LONG HISTORY of COMPLAINTS regarding DECEPTIVE SALES PRACTICES and PRICE PACKING!

I don't understand what your rant has to do with this situation, Stick. This consumer had his time wasted by a sales person who dropped the ball. If indeed he was interested in ordering a car from this dealership, he should have gotten a purchase order signed and left a deposit. I don't know who he spoke with at this store, but I can't believe he actually thought he had ordered a car based on someones verbal agreement. Generally the auto manufacturer will release an order form to dealers when they release a new model which garners the sort of attention the 2006 Corvette will see. The form will allow the customer to check off their specifications, color, options, etc and leave a deposit for that particular car. The form is then faxed in to the manufacturer and the car is built. The dealer and the customer are generally kept apprised of the status of the order (ie. Car is in production, car is built, car is in transit, car is in port, car is at Dealer) by phone or email. It's been a few years since I worked for a GM dealer, but I believe this is all done through GM's dealer website now. The customer and the salesperson/manager would sit at a computer and input the vehicle info, the customer's info and email, and the dealer's info. The customer and the salesperson/manager would receive emails letting them know what was going on with the car. The days of 'Yeah, that's the car I want, call me when it's here' are long since over, particularly for 'hot items' like the Vette in question here. Stick if you're going to rant about something, at least have it be germain to the situation. The dealership should agree to order this person's car for him at a reduced price for the headache they've created for him by not handling this properly. Were I the consumer, I'd attempt to get the General Manager of this store on the phone and explain the situation, more than likely they'll attempt to do something to resolve this, rather than have any kind of bad press over something as easy to resolve as this.

Hey Ron, Cory and Patrick I have been a car buyers consumer Advocate on this site for some time now. Try this if you ever want to poke a hole in a car dealer's pocket. We all know that car dealers know that Newspapers,TV news stations and Radio stations will never expose the dirty Rip Offs in the auto industry. That would lead you to believe they are in bed together. Let's face it,if you get ripped OFF they both gain from it. I mean let's face it, most of your media gets most of their income from car dealers. So they are not going to bite the big fat dirty hands that feed them. If not for advertising money most if not all of your "Media Mutts" would not have a job! I am willing to bet that the AZ Republic gets about $1,400,000 Million a month just from car dealers. Do you think they would ever do a insider story on car dealer's scams? FAT CHANCE my Brotha! I tryed to get 3TV here in Phoenix to air a hot insider story about a scam that many new car dealers are doing and PUFFER Scott said "its not news they can use" Maybe One day I will post some recordings so you can hear what 3TV did not want the public to hear. The recordings will inform you all in a big way. 3TV's motto should be "The place that hides more Stuff" If a car buyer that got Ripped Off by a car dealer wants to get even with a car dealer here is the way to do it. How does most car buyers hear about car dealers? Advertisements! So if a radio station led a car buyer to a car dealer that bent the car buyer OVER, Why not expose the Radio station that takes money from car dealers that Rip Off car buyers. If a TV station, radio station or newspaper that likes BIG $$$$$ from car dealers starts getting mentioned in the Rip Off Reports maybe they will think twice about taking money from car dealers that have so many Rip Off reports. Then maybe your favorite station would have more time to play the tunes you want to hear instead of all of the misleading car dealer CRAP! In short, EXPOSE all involved, The form of media that lead you to the dealer and expose the dealer that BENT YOU OVER. The Media helps car dealers take your money. Most consumers don't look at it this way. The Rip Off starts long before you get to the dealer. Maybe car dealer advertising money will not look so good to the media if they get mentioned in the Rip Off Reports just like the car dealers. I mean it's not hard to file a Rip Off Report on a Radio station, nor is it hard to file a Rip Off Report on a newspaper or a TV station. Maybe their sales department will think twice about car dealer advertising money after they get mentioned in the Rip Off Reports. If you are a car buyer that got bent over ask yourself one question. How did you hear about the car dealer that Ripped you OFF? Was it your favorite radio station or was it your favorite TV station, or maybe it was your favoite bird cage liner. Don't you think they need to be mentioned in your Rip Off Report? I mean they brought you to the "SCENE of the SLIME"! If it was not for the advertisements you might have picked a different car dealer. Think about this for a second. You drive to work on a Friday and you have your favorite radio station on. You hear this real fast "Jibber Jabber" about some car dealer having some one time special Sale. Let's break down the word sale! One and all should know that the word SALE means nothing in todays business world. It's only a tool used to get your attention and to get your pants down, I mean Guard down! S Suckers A are L loose & E easy You know you want to believe what you heard because you love your favorite radio station. You get to talk to your favorte DJ when he or she will pick up the GD PHONE so you can make a request. You want to feel and believe "It's all GOOD" At the end of the commercial some SPEED READER reads off the disclaimer and the radio station dumps a bunch of jive music on top of it so you can't understand a DAMM word. They then say see dealer for details. You go to the dealer and WHAMM! you get bent over. WHO brought you to the dealer BABY? The Radio station! We as consumers need to be willing to EXPOSE all that are involved in the Rip Off. Never forget that all car dealer Rip Offs start long before the car buyer gets to the car dealer. Just listen to your next car dealer advertisment on your favorite radio station! Now who loves YA BABY. Your favorite radio station or ripoffreport.com? LOL :)

"Power" has just acquired about 10 dealerships here in the Phoenix area. I have read quite a lot of the horror stories about all these AutoNation companies. I will be sure to avoid them like the plague. It was bad enough trying to find an honest dealer in town. Now, with these big companies like AutoNation and Bill Heard buying up all the individual dealerships, the problems are only getting worse. It's d**n hard to find a family-owned dealership anymore.

Thanks Cory, Actually, I offered to give them a $500 deposit, but he told me that there was no need to as General Motors has not even released the price yet. I wanted to secure my #2 position, and show them that I was a serious buyer. I have since found out that this "Stealer" has an "F" rating with the BB! I also found an article about an NBC4 undercover hidden camera investigation with the Power Chevrolet in El Monte a few years ago, which resulted in 6 managers being jailed for payment "packing". It seems that they are still up to their dishonest ways! There is another thread that I read about the Tustin Ford Dealer...again, part of The Power Auto Group, which is owned by AutoNation - it seems like a consistant theme. STAY AWAY FROM ANY "POWER GROUP" DEALER!!! They are DISHONEST LIARS!

Typical car dealer behavior. You know what they say about oral contracts. Guy I know put down $5000 deposit on a Lexus 430, I think it was. There was a long waiting list. A couple of months later, the local dealer calls him and asks if he won't take delivery, he'll give him $9000 back. The local dodge dealer was adding $5000 to MSRP of that SRT-10 truck, $51,000. You could pick them up in Dallas for $2000 under MSRP, $44,000. Should have put a cash deposit down on it. Some dealers won't take one, just so they can pricejack you. Get on the internet and start contacting dealer.