Autoblog

More car dealers capping finance and insurance products amidst ethics concerns

Zach Bowman — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 11:01:00 EST

Automotive News reports a larger number of dealers are scaling back the markup on their finance and insurance products as well as aftermarket service plans in an effort to avoid the ire of regulators. There are no industry numbers on how many dealers use self-imposed caps on how much they can charge their customers for these services, but Automotive News polled dealers in an independent survey. Of those who responded, around two-thirds say they use caps, with two-thirds of those who do attributing the restrictions to ethical concerns. Gouging a customer invariably has a negative impact on store reputation, and dealers aren't keen to encourage an increase in government oversight.

Some dealers can mark up financing and insurance products by 100 percent, but most prefer to use sales volume to boost their bottom line. Doing so builds consistency and credibility among new buyers by eschewing large discounts or markups. Even so, several of the respondents in the AN survey reported record finance and insurance revenue through the third quarter of 2012, with dealers seeing over $1,200 per vehicle.

More car dealers capping finance and insurance products amidst ethics concerns originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Dec 2012 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shanghai GMC dealer offering five tons of free gas with truck purchase

Autoblog Staff — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:32:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Truck, China, GMC

Big trucks just aren't appealing enough on their own, at least in some places. For proof, look to a Shanghai GMC dealer who is offering about three years worth of free gas to anyone who buys a new Sierra Denali. Too bad it'll take about 20 years to pay off the big truck.

The dealer is giving away five tons - about 2,000 gallons, worth around $8,000 in China - of petrol to new Sierra Denali buyers in China's largest city, according to The Detroit Bureau. The offer appears to be a nod to rising China gas prices, which are climbing towards levels similar to those in the U.S. now that the Chinese government is doing less to artificially keep gas prices down. Full-size trucks have been sold in China for about three years and are known to be status symbols in China, says The Detroit Bureau.

There is, of course, a catch. The Denali, unlike most General Motors vehicles sold in China, is built in the U.S., so the price tag is about $134,000, or almost three times what the model sells for in the States. Here's hoping a few free car washes come with those full tanks.

Shanghai GMC dealer offering five tons of free gas with truck purchase originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 21 May 2012 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Judge says Chrysler doesn't have to reinstate closed dealers

Chris Shunk — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Chrysler

Chrysler made the difficult (and controversial) decision in 2009 to close 789 dealerships leading up to the automaker's abbreviated bankruptcy. The move helped Chrysler eliminate some redundancies and limit in-brand competition, but many of the dealers who lost their franchises weren't at all pleased with the move.

It didn't take long for many of those dealers to sue Chrysler for the right to stay in business, and the court cases are still being settled in 2012. The Detroit News is reporting that a federal judge has ruled that Chrysler doesn't have to immediately reinstate eight dealers suing for the right to reopen their doors.

The eight dealers are among 82 that received arbitration after the forced closings. Fifty of those dealers were offered arbitration by Chrysler and another 32 retail outlets won arbitration in court. The arbitration didn't give those dealers the rights to re-open immediately, but it does set up boundaries to discuss agreeable terms for reopening.

While Chrysler can probably count this decision as a victory of sorts, the automaker still has 11 more lawsuits from U.S. dealers. So far, only 43 of the 789 dealers have been fully reinstated, and another 14 are still negotiating.

Judge says Chrysler doesn't have to reinstate closed dealers originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NADA: Dealers most happy with Hyundai, Subaru and Lexus

Jeff Sabatini — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:03:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Hyundai, Kia, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Subaru

Car dealers have a strange and oftentimes contentious relationship with the carmakers. Stories of automakers shoveling unsaleable models down the pipeline with unreasonable expectations are legion in the car sales world. With the number of family-owned, single-brand dealerships dwindling, dealers often field competing franchises. The concept of loyalty is as quaint as a Lincoln Town Car. So it's worth noting the automotive brands that are actually liked by the guys selling them.

The National Automobile Dealers Association conducts its Dealer Attitude Survey twice each year, and results from the summer survey are in. Hyundai stayed on top for the third time in a row, followed by Subaru, Lexus, Kia, and Mercedes-Benz. The survey measures three factors: "franchise value, automaker policy decisions that affect the dealership and the automaker's field staff who visit dealerships."

Sixth place went to Toyota, while Volkswagen, Porsche, and Audi followed. Cadillac and Honda tied for tenth. NADA received responses from over 14,700 dealerships, representing almost 54 percent of all dealers nationwide.

Click past the jump to read the full press release.

Continue reading NADA: Dealers most happy with Hyundai, Subaru and Lexus

NADA: Dealers most happy with Hyundai, Subaru and Lexus originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TrueCar polishing edges off business model to comply with state regulations

Jeff Sabatini — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:21:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Government/Legal, Marketing/Advertising

TrueCar has attracted much unwanted attention recently, drawing the ire of Honda and torquing off regulators in several states. In response, the company has announced a series of changes to its business model, designed to address the legality of its service, according to a report in Automotive News.

The biggest change is that dealers in some states will now have to subscribe to the lead service rather than paying a per-vehicle fee for sales closed from a TrueCar referral. Consumers will now have to sign up with TrueCar, providing contact information in the process. Additionally, TrueCar will drop the term "invoice" when describing the deals it offers.

While these changes are expected to mitigate TrueCar's biggest problems, the company also says it will be making its service more dealer-friendly, according to AN. One of the contentious aspects of the TrueCar business model for some dealers has been the requirement that TrueCar have access to the dealer's computers, such that the company can mine sales data. TrueCar says it will be limiting this in the future, along with establishing a national dealer council to procure feedback from its partners.

TrueCar polishing edges off business model to comply with state regulations originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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State regulators turn up the heat on TrueCar

Jeff Sabatini — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Government/Legal

What exactly is TrueCar? That's the question behind recent conflicts between the company and a growing list of foes, which include dealership organizations, automakers and regulators in at least three states.

According to a report by Automotive News, TrueCar's business model is under fire by this old guard, backed by long-standing legislation to protect their franchise interests. AN says government officials in Colorado, Wisconsin and Virginia have all raised issue with TrueCar, and that the company may face legal problems in other states, including California. TrueCar has responded by promising to make "meaningful changes" to its service by the end of the year, according to the report.

Nominally, TrueCar is an "Internet marketing company" that profits from the fees that dealers pay when they sell a car that was listed on TrueCar. But that practice may not be legal, especially in states that have consumer protection laws against brokering and what is known as "bird-dogging," or paying third parties for leads. There are also issues with TrueCar's marketing, which could be in violation of some state's rules prohibiting the mention of invoice price. Dealers who do business with TrueCar may risk steep fines or loss of license in some jurisdictions, but from what the report says, most regulators are putting businesses on notice first.

TrueCar has also raised the ire of at least one carmaker, with Honda recently reminding its dealers that if they want to get money through its dealer marketing program, they'd better not be advertising cars for below-invoice price on TrueCar.

State regulators turn up the heat on TrueCar originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maserati orders up special batch of Alfa Giuliettas for dealer loaner vehicles

Noah Joseph — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 08:31:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Hatchback, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Luxury

There's strength in numbers, particularly for a producer of high-end exotic automobiles. For a brand like Maserati, being linked to the Fiat Group not only means that it can offset its carbon emissions across a broader range of cars - something like the two-cylinder Fiat 500 TwinAir balancing out the GranTurismo MC Stradale - but also gives the company's dealer network a ready fleet of more affordable loaner cars at their disposal.

A couple years ago, Alfa Romeo and Maserati - which had just recently been realigned under common leadership - announced a special edition MiTo that had been made specially for Maserati dealers in Europe. Now they've followed up with the slightly larger and more powerful Giulietta.

The Maserati edition Giulietta starts out with the 235-horsepower turbo four from the top-of-the-line Quadrifoglio Verde (green cloverleaf) model, and further distinguishes itself with the same brown leather you'd expect to find in a Maserati, plus special 18-inch wheels, red brake calipers and special badges inside and out.

In other words, a suitable loaner to receive upon dropping off your Quattroporte for its regular servicing. And if the Ferrari edition Fiat 500 was anything to go by, Alfa dealers could be find themselves fielding referrals from their Maserati counterparts with eager customers waiting to place orders of their own.

Continue reading Maserati orders up special batch of Alfa Giuliettas for dealer loaner vehicles

Maserati orders up special batch of Alfa Giuliettas for dealer loaner vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda fighting below-invoice online pricing deals

Jeff Sabatini — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:59:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Honda

Let's face it, nobody pays MSRP anymore. In fact, the most savvy car buyers among us don't even pay invoice price. Thanks to Internet pricing sites like TrueCar.com, it doesn't take negotiating skills or friends in the business to get dealers to sell you cars at deep discount. And that fact has Honda ticked off.

According to Automotive News, Honda has issued an ultimatum to its dealers: Stop selling cars below invoice price through these websites, or lose the per-car marketing spiffs that the factory gives dealers. Since Honda corporate turned the screws on its dealers in October, TrueCar says Honda sales through its service are down.

While many dealers do opt to play ball with TrueCar, offering guaranteed discounted prices up front and hoping to make more money on other aspects of their business, some are not thrilled with TrueCar. AutoNation CEO Mike Jackson has called TrueCar's pricing transparency a "death spiral" for dealers, according to AN.

Honda fighting below-invoice online pricing deals originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CA dealers must affix new warning sticker to salvaged vehicles

Chris Shunk — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Government/Legal, Safety

California has passed new a new law that further regulates the car-buying process, and the changes appear to be mostly positive. Automotive News reports that, beginning next July, dealers will need to slap a red warning sticker on any vehicle with a salvage title. That means any vehicle that has been legally deemed flood-damaged, junked or salvaged will receive the ominous label.

The new law will also mandate the use of electronic vehicle registration for new and used vehicle sales. This system will reportedly result in faster registrations, and a license plate will arrive in six weeks, which sounds good compared to the six months under the current system.

The dealers of California will need to pony up as a result of the new law, but in the end, the customer always foots the bill. The new legislation allows dealers to up documentation charges from $45 for leases and $55 for sales to $80 for both. That sounds like a lot, but AN points out that California car buyers will still pay less for documentation than all but one other state in the Union.

CA dealers must affix new warning sticker to salvaged vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Illinois town builds own track for consumer test drives

Zach Bowman — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc.

If you're shopping for a vehicle near Naperville, Illinois, you may have a chance to put your possible purchases through the gauntlet on at a new facility. The town has joined forces with local dealers to create a driving course that would reduce the number of test drives on public streets and give buyers a better sense of the type of vehicle they were purchasing before they signed on the dotted line. The course features a variety of pavement types, a small parking area and even a sprinkler system to allow for foul-weather evaluations.

While the entire facility is housed in an area roughly the size of a mall parking lot, Cars.com reports that the course gives buyers a safe way to more or less fully evaluate a vehicle. Given that most dealers simply offer up pre-planned routes that give only the faintest impression of what a vehicle will be like to live with, we wish more dealers and buyers had access to similar test track. Head over to Cars.com to check it out in greater detail.

Illinois town builds own track for consumer test drives originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Number of U.S. car dealer rises for first time in a decade

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying

For the first time in a decade, the number of new car dealerships in the United States has risen. Mind you, it wasn't a large increase, but the 66 additional dealerships represent a 0.4 percent increase that brings the U.S. total to 17,725. That's an encouraging economic sign considering we haven't seen any growth in ten years.

According to Detroit-based retail consulting firm Urban Science, that growth is occurring in and around metropolitan areas, which an 0.7 percent increase in the number of new car dealerships. Conversely, however, rural areas fell by 0.5 percent. Still, the overall picture is healthier for U.S. dealerships, with automakers reporting their dealers averaging more sales per lot compared to the year prior, and an increase in overall dealer profitability.

This growth, however minor it may appear, is a strong indicator that the industry is stabilizing after taking a beating the last few years. In 2008, the U.S. had 20,000 dealers, which may sound like a lot, but it's a far cry from the 47,000 dealers in the country at the end of World War II. We probably don't need to return to 47,000 and we probably don't even need to climb back to 20,000, but it's good to see growth in an industry that's faced a few years in decline.

Number of U.S. car dealer rises for first time in a decade originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Aug 2011 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Are Chevy dealers gaming the system to keep Volt's $7,500 consumer rebate?

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 31 May 2011 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Hybrid, Sedan, Chevrolet, GM

2011 Chevrolet Volt - Click above for high-res image gallery

Getting beyond the drama of the Chevrolet Volt and its high-profile development process was supposed to mean that General Motors could focusing on enjoying the car's green halo. But that has not exactly been the case. On the other side of numerous awards and glowing reviews there have been the sales numbers and stories of dealer gouging. Speaking of dealers, a new story by Mark Modica on the National Legal and Policy Center site suggests that Chevy dealers are selling Volts to one another and claiming the car's $7,500 federal tax rebate for themselves, then selling the cars to private buyers as used sans rebate.

According to Modica, a Chicago dealer selling a Volt with 10 miles on the odometer flat-out admitted that it would be seeking the credit for itself: "When I asked if I was eligible for the $7,500 tax credit, I was told that I probably wasn't, since the dealership was applying for the subsidy." Even stranger, a Kia dealer in California was selling a Volt that had just 30 miles on it, and Modica was told that "the Volts offered at that dealership were rental cars with higher mileage on them."

We'd love to get some other research into this, because if this is true, it could help explain a lot of things - including the model's depressed sales.

Are Chevy dealers gaming the system to keep Volt's $7,500 consumer rebate? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 May 2011 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Forget kicking tires, VW dealer shows off GTI durability with enthusiasm

Zach Bowman — Tue, 24 May 2011 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Videos, Hatchback, Volkswagen, Humor

Larry Roesch Volkswagen puts a GTI through its paces - Click above to watch video after the jump

Buying a used vehicle can be a scary experience. You just never know what kind of abuse the car has been subjected to by the hands of a previous owner, which is why plenty of people knowingly take the depreciation hit and buy new. After all, what kind of harm can a vehicle endure from the time it leaves the production facility until you sign on the dotted line? Quite a bit, according to the video after the jump. One very overzealous Volkswagen dealer set about taking to the YouTubes to demonstrate the sturdiness of his wares.

An innocent GTI was subjected to a few full-force door slams. That's cringe-worthy enough in our book, but the wayward salesman wasn't quite done. He then proceeded to use the full force of his body weight to jump up and down on the open driver's door. While we appreciate a dealer's desire to prove how well the vehicles he sells are built, we wouldn't want that done to our own cars... and we'd hate to see what these guys do to the vehicles when the camera isn't rolling.

Hit the jump to see the mayhem for yourself. Thanks for the tip, Mateusz!

Continue reading Forget kicking tires, VW dealer shows off GTI durability with enthusiasm

Forget kicking tires, VW dealer shows off GTI durability with enthusiasm originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 May 2011 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Study: How car dealers treat customers is more important than price

Zach Bowman — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 09:59:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc.

Today's piece of blatantly obvious news comes courtesy of J.D. Power and Associates. According to a new study, a whopping 52 percent of new car buyers said the main reason behind picking one car dealer over another was how they were treated on the lot. In fact, of those surveyed, only 38 percent pointed toward the vehicle's purchase price as the main reason for laying down their hard-earned cash in one place over another. That means that for all the incentives and bargain specials, it really is customer satisfaction that moves vehicles off the lot.

The J.D. Power study also found that the ease or difficulty of price negotiation had the largest impact on just how satisfied customers were with their purchase at the end of the day. That's likely because agreeing on a price takes the largest amount of time during the car buying process aside from actually choosing a model. J.D. Power says that on average, negotiation takes around 53 minutes.

With all of the options available to car buyers these days, dealers would do well to heed the information in this particular study. Head over to the J.D. Power site for a closer look.

[Source: J.D. Power | Image: Getty]

Study: How car dealers treat customers is more important than price originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Nov 2010 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Ford still hoping to cut 10% of its dealer network

Zach Bowman — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 18:32:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Ford, Lincoln, Mercury

Ford may have come through the automotive implosion relatively unscathed, but that doesn't mean the company isn't still trying to trim its costs. According to Automotive News, Ford wants to consolidate its dealer network by closing the doors on some 300 lots. The reason? While the automotive market is slowly improving, no one expects to see the kind of buying levels enjoyed before 2009 anytime soon. As a result, Ford wants to boost the profitability of its dealer network by reducing the number of outlets available to consumers.

While you'd expect dealers to be up in arms over such an announcement, Ford says that, by and large, its showrooms are behind the move. The company's relationship with its dealer network recently hit an all-time high, putting Ford in a good position to push the consolidation effort.

The move to trim outlets is also bolstered by the fact that there are 261 Lincoln-Mercury dealerships out there, and with Mercury on its way to the back lot in the sky, those dealers will likely be exploring other options. And with Ford currently operates a total of 3,338 dealerships in the States, a sacrifice of 10% seems more than reasonable.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req. | Image: Bill Pugliano/Getty]

Report: Ford still hoping to cut 10% of its dealer network originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyundai CEO reveals reason for Equus, explains why it's no VW Phaeton

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 14:57:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Hyundai, Luxury

2011 Hyundai Equus - Click above for high-res image gallery

Hyundai America CEO John Krafcik is rarely one to hold back his opinions, and today's topic of discussion is marque's upcoming Equus luxury flagship. Hyundai has moved up in the automotive ranks so quickly over the past 15 years that many people have wondered if the brand is overreaching with the Equus.

Krafcik addresses the obvious comparison to the U.S. market failure of the Volkswagen Phaeton. The way Krafcik sees it, VW skipped a few pricing steps going straight from the Passat to its ill-fated Phaeton range-topper, noting that there was a much larger gap between the Passat and the Phaeton than there will be with Hyundai because they've taken the trouble of bringing the Genesis sedan and coupe to market - the former of which verified that consumers are willing to pay $40,000+ for a Hyundai.

Of course, that's no guarantee that consumers will pay $55,000-60,000 for an Equus but it seems more plausible than $80,000+ for a Phaeton. Krafcik also addresses the fact that each Equus buyer will get an Apple iPad with the owner's manual. As he explains it, the tablet PC is meant to provide a more useful resource for people to figure out how to use all the technology in this flagship, hopefully avoiding the pitfalls of some other luxury machines.

The iPad will also have an application that allows owners to schedule service appointments. When the appointed time arrives, Hyundai will send a driver to the Equus owner's home or office with a loaner, and then return the Equus when the work is done. As Krafcik sees it, other luxury automakers have spent millions of dollars to gussy up their dealerships - building things like coffee bars, fancy seating areas and water features. Problem is, nobody really wants to visit their dealer even with those added niceties, so Hyundai plans to remove it from the equation with its pick-up and delivery service. In other words, the ultimate luxury is never having to take your car to the dealer at all. Fair enough.

The Equus goes on sale this Fall.

Gallery: 2011 Hyundai Equus

[Source: Inside Line]

Continue reading Hyundai CEO reveals reason for Equus, explains why it's no VW Phaeton

Hyundai CEO reveals reason for Equus, explains why it's no VW Phaeton originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Jun 2010 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple iPad to be used as sales tool by Mercedes-Benz dealers

Chris Shunk — Sat, 29 May 2010 17:32:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Technology, Mercedes-Benz

The resounding successes of the iPhone and iPad have Apple shareholders dancing in the streets, but one area in which Apple hasn't been as successful, however, has been business applications. In fact, until recently, Apple retail stores used Windows-based devices to ring up orders. Now, Mercedes-Benz aims to be among the first companies to change that paradigm by bringing the popular iPad tablet into its showrooms.

The program, called Mercedes-Benz Advantage, puts the iPad into the hands of the automaker's sales force. With the iPad and Mercedes' new sales tool app, associates will have lightning-fast access to the latest deals, while also providing a quicker turnaround time for customer credit application processes. Benz also says the iPad will help speed up the time it takes to turn-in a leased vehicle. Andreas Hinrichs, Vice President of Marketing for Mercedes-Benz Financial, contends the Apple tablet will "provide a competitive advantage to our dealers by increasing their service levels through a more flexible financing process."

We dig that Mercedes is thinking outside the box to deliver an expedited shopping experience, but even better, we love the fact that the Apple iPad might help customers avoid the dreaded trip to dealership's finance room. Hit the jump to read over the press release.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Continue reading Apple iPad to be used as sales tool by Mercedes-Benz dealers

Apple iPad to be used as sales tool by Mercedes-Benz dealers originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 29 May 2010 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Istanbul's gigantic Autopia Europia to have track on the roof [w/video]

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 25 May 2010 12:28:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Europe, Videos, Middle East

Turkey's Autopia Europa - Click above for high-res image gallery

Istanbul, Turkey will reportedly be home to the world's largest auto dealership, called Autopia Europia. The space is so big it's probably more convenient to think of it as an industrial complex, rather than an auto dealer: more than two million square feet, each of the five floors almost 20 feet high, 200 auto sales outlets hawking new and used metal, shot through with 56 eateries, 48 repair shops, 24 banks and 42 insurance companies. And that's just a taste of the options.

Perhaps the most unusual feature of Autopia Europia is the test-drive track on the roof of the building. The building's developers expect six million visitors per year, and we can only imagine they're including a lot of foot traffic in that estimate. With a 900-car parking garage, even with three people in every car, it would take nearly seven years to accommodate that many guests. Construction has just begun so they've probably got a couple of years to crunch those numbers again.

You can have a look at it in the gallery of high-res renderings below, or in the video after the jump. Hat tip to Brian!

Gallery: Autopia Europia auto mall

[Source: GAD Architecture via dvice]

Continue reading Istanbul's gigantic Autopia Europia to have track on the roof [w/video]

Istanbul's gigantic Autopia Europia to have track on the roof [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 May 2010 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wow: Dodge Dealer honors disputed eBay Challenger auction and then some

Jonny Lieberman — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 14:27:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Auctions

Well, score one for the little guy. Or, as the case may be, the guy that won an eBay auction, getting himself one helluva mondo deal on a 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8. To refresh your memory, a Southern California dealer called Glenn E Thomas Dodge Chrysler Jeep had the Challenger in question on eBay. The Buy It Now price was $43,425 and the reserve (according to Glenn E Thomas) was $42,995. Then the dealer lowered the Buy It Now price to $43,425 and suddenly, somehow the reserve disappeared.

That's when Alex (aka Hitman from Challengertalk.com) pounced and won himself a 250-mile SRT8 for the crazy price of $29,100. Only thing is, of course, Glenn E Thomas didn't feel like taking a $14,000 bath and refused to honor the auction. Their argument was that they didn't intend to remove the reserve and, in fact, they may not have removed it. They contend that there may have been a glitch in eBay's software. Glenn Dodge did offer to meet Alex halfway, promising him a great deal on the Challenger of his choice, but Alex hung tough, demanding the car he won. It seemed as if the two sides had reached the kind of impasse that can only be settled by those of the lawyerly persuasion. But that was last week.

Yesterday, Alex updated his original post at Challengertalk.com with a picture of the keys to his new car and the following message:

First of all, "Thank You" to everyone for cheering me on and helping me move forward in a positive way. A lot of message boards picked up this thread and have to thank everyone for passing the word around too. There you have it. Visual of the keys in my possession of the SRT8 deal that Glenn E. Thomas Dodge honored for $29.1K plus tax and license fees of course.

Both parties had plenty to talk about that day but in the end of it all, things worked out for everyone. So there is praise to be made to both sides, especially the dealer who did honor the auction. Would encourage everyone to send them praise and not attack anyone in that establishment as this was not the point of this thread. I'm sure there will be questions on how things went down.

While swallowing a nearly $14,000 loss must be a bitter pill to choke down, we can all agree that in the end Glenn E Thomas did the right thing. Actually, they did better than the right thing, selling Alex a 2010 Challenger SRT8 rather than the 250-mile car he won in the auction. Put another way, in terms of positive publicity, this will turn out to be the best $14,000 they ever spent.

[Source: Challengertalk.com]

Wow: Dodge Dealer honors disputed eBay Challenger auction and then some originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 22 Mar 2010 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Main rejected-dealer advocates fail to get GM reinstatement call. Coincidence?

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:55:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Government/Legal, GM

We have no proof that General Motors is getting payback on the three dealers who founded the Committee to Restore Dealer Rights (CRDR), Tammy Darvish, Jack Fitzgerald and Alan Spitzer. But we do know that retribution is a game often played by all sides, and that Darvish, Fitzgerald and Spitzer definitely believe GM has taken the first shot.

When GM announced nearly 2,000 dealer closures last year, the CRDR was created to lobby Congress to to invalidate the move. When that didn't work, the CRDR was able to get an arbitration law passed that gave dealers an opening to reinstatement. Of the 1,350 dealers marked for death, 1,160 took the opportunity for arbitration. Of that 1,160, there were 661 retroactively reinstated. However, of that 661, none include seven of the ten dealerships owned by Darvish, Fitzgerald and Spitzer that were slated to close.

GM has left the door ajar yet, saying that the remaining 499 dealers can contact the automaker for reinstatement or compensation and "GM would consider it." It is surely the path that the three leaders of the CRDR will take, but from this vantage point it looks like there might not be a pot of gold at the end of it.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd. | Image: Mark Ralston/Getty]

Report: Main rejected-dealer advocates fail to get GM reinstatement call. Coincidence? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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