sonofagun
11-24-2003, 12:04
Modirators may move this, didn't know exactly where to post it.
A recent post on "diesel not worth it" http://forum.thedieselpage.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=007051
drifted off into the topic of stealer or not. There were a few stongly worded statements against dealers and their employees in general. A few of our members who are or work for dealers responded. It got me to thinking that we often lump everyone into the same pot. My response is noted below:
GMC Dealer, Bartman and TXDMAX are the kind of guys I deal with on every GMC truck I have ever bought (6). I deal with the fleet manager and always have. He still makes a profit for the dealer and himself but I get a good deal (generally $200 - $300 over.)
I met the service manager when I bought my first truck. He is still there and we are good friends. He always greets me when he sees me, first name basis. I do little service work at the dealer as I do most of it myself. I ask the service manager who his best service writer is and work with him for appointments. If it's a big issue I copy the tsb or other stuff from this page and give it to the service manager to give to the tech who does the work I also leave one on the console. I do not trust the service writer to get the message to the tech. They come and go too often for me to get to know them.
I negotiate a parts price discount when I buy my trucks. It isn't as good as gmpartsdirect and others but when you add in the shipping it gets close. I fussed about the lack of body side moldings on my new '04 3500 (got a door ding first week) and got them from my dealer for $10 less the GMpartsdirect.
I recently got a GM extended warranty from TXDMAX. My dealer was not willing to meet his price (I didn't actually ask them -- because Blake had posted his offer on this page -- but a friend of mine did). I consider myself a relatively savvy buyer but I deal with honest folks. They deserve to make a living and I don't mind helping them do it. They also deserve to be credited for the good work they do. I have never felt poorly served by these guys. I have met a few folks at dealerships that I wouln't work with because they didn't measure up. I have even met a few general managers at dealerships I didn't like. Same with doctors and dentists.
I don't buy aftermarket parts for my truck from my dealer because they are overpriced as stated here. Those that chose to pay for them are too uninformed to know better (that's unfortunate) or too lazy to do the shopping required to find the best deals.
I have dealer traded a few cars but not for years. I take good care of my rigs and generally get the same price the dealer would get in a resale or a bit better. It takes time and effort. The Autotrader.com does wonders.
I can't help but feel that those who get gored are usually the ones who sound off the loudest. I don't mean to offend anyone here but my dealer would never fit the definition of "stealer". It seems obvious to me that those I mentioned above don't either. Spend some time setting up your support system, it works better.
We often tend to lump everything together and I see that as a flaw that we should work to correct. Each of us does something for a living that someone else can find fault with. That doesn't mean we are all to be counted among the bad guys.
My 2c,
Bob
A recent post on "diesel not worth it" http://forum.thedieselpage.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=007051
drifted off into the topic of stealer or not. There were a few stongly worded statements against dealers and their employees in general. A few of our members who are or work for dealers responded. It got me to thinking that we often lump everyone into the same pot. My response is noted below:
GMC Dealer, Bartman and TXDMAX are the kind of guys I deal with on every GMC truck I have ever bought (6). I deal with the fleet manager and always have. He still makes a profit for the dealer and himself but I get a good deal (generally $200 - $300 over.)
I met the service manager when I bought my first truck. He is still there and we are good friends. He always greets me when he sees me, first name basis. I do little service work at the dealer as I do most of it myself. I ask the service manager who his best service writer is and work with him for appointments. If it's a big issue I copy the tsb or other stuff from this page and give it to the service manager to give to the tech who does the work I also leave one on the console. I do not trust the service writer to get the message to the tech. They come and go too often for me to get to know them.
I negotiate a parts price discount when I buy my trucks. It isn't as good as gmpartsdirect and others but when you add in the shipping it gets close. I fussed about the lack of body side moldings on my new '04 3500 (got a door ding first week) and got them from my dealer for $10 less the GMpartsdirect.
I recently got a GM extended warranty from TXDMAX. My dealer was not willing to meet his price (I didn't actually ask them -- because Blake had posted his offer on this page -- but a friend of mine did). I consider myself a relatively savvy buyer but I deal with honest folks. They deserve to make a living and I don't mind helping them do it. They also deserve to be credited for the good work they do. I have never felt poorly served by these guys. I have met a few folks at dealerships that I wouln't work with because they didn't measure up. I have even met a few general managers at dealerships I didn't like. Same with doctors and dentists.
I don't buy aftermarket parts for my truck from my dealer because they are overpriced as stated here. Those that chose to pay for them are too uninformed to know better (that's unfortunate) or too lazy to do the shopping required to find the best deals.
I have dealer traded a few cars but not for years. I take good care of my rigs and generally get the same price the dealer would get in a resale or a bit better. It takes time and effort. The Autotrader.com does wonders.
I can't help but feel that those who get gored are usually the ones who sound off the loudest. I don't mean to offend anyone here but my dealer would never fit the definition of "stealer". It seems obvious to me that those I mentioned above don't either. Spend some time setting up your support system, it works better.
We often tend to lump everything together and I see that as a flaw that we should work to correct. Each of us does something for a living that someone else can find fault with. That doesn't mean we are all to be counted among the bad guys.
My 2c,
Bob