Will Pontiac Dealers screw up the G8's success pontential?

 

I dread going to Pontiac dealers. If I had to guess, I would say that years of being starved of good products has also reamed away the quality Pontiac dealers - at least the one's I've been to. Whenver they get their hands on a decent model, they'll want to make all they can on it.

 

We're talking about a collective group of dealers who had no qualms about shooting themselves in the head by all but turning eager buyers away from the GTO.

 

I am positive they will hinder its launch with markups. History has a way of repeating itself. GTO? Check! Solstice? Check! G8? ??!?!?

I wish GM would be a better advocate to its customers, and end the whole markup BS.

 

Undoubtedly. We all know the way the way the manufacturer-dealer relationship works. Despite GM's best efforts, even Saturn dealers were gouging on the Sky.

The only possible thing saving the G8 is that it will be higher volume than GTO/Solstice/Sky, and hopefully won't have production ramp-up issues since it's effectively already in production. So there should be more supply available to offset the appearance of a shortage.

 

A better question is what can GM do to keep the dealers in line?

 

It is likely they will hurt this launch. Many are so used to bending over backward just to sell cars at a huge discount, they will not be able to restrain themselves from a hefty mark up when people actually come in and simply say "I want one".

From personal experience, I think many (not all) of the good salesman have left "domestic" dealers. If you were a salesman, would you want to have to scrounge and beg for most people to buy a Pontiac or Lincoln/Mercury? Or go work for a BMW, Toyota, Honda, etc dealer where people will willingly pay for a reasonable asking price? Good salesman understand that making a long term positive relationship with customers (ask for MSRP, not MSRP + huge mark up, on a hot car) is worth far more than the small profit made by sitting and waiting for that desparate person who will finally cave and pay a ridiculous mark up.

 

I fully expect to have a huge exhausting battle with my local Buick-Pontiac-GMC dealer (aka the quietest place in town) to buy this car.

 

I voted that they'll screw it up, but one thing that might save the G8 from being totally botched is that it's a 4 door sedan, and not a 2 door sports car.

I know 4-doors dont have a stigma anymore, but it may make a difference.

But I still voted that they'll screw it up.

 

I think volume will be high enough that they don't screw it up like with past low volume niche cars.

 

GM should give a standard amount of cars to the dealers, and then send in observers to see what the cars are priced at. If the price is jacked up, then that dealer is punished by either fining them for the amount of the mark-up (thereby erasing the extra profit), or not giving them any more G8's to sell. I think the fining idea is probably a better bet, since at it still allows cars to be sold.

 

Well, if they mark up the G8, at least they still have some cheap GTOs on the back of the lot.

Actually, I think this could be a lot worse than the GTO and the Solstice, because I could easily see a sustained demand for this car being greater than 30K units/year or whatever GM plans to send over.

Might be lousy for enthusiasts, but having a hot car is a problem that GM would like to have.

 

Oh yes, they'll screw it up...in grand fashion no less...

As for quality salespeople not wanting to stick around with domestics anymore, while that may make sense on the surface, I tend to disagree. Loyalties sometimes die hard...and I know a great number of DECENT salespeople who sell domestics. For me personally, its a matter of principle...I simply will not work for a foreign franchise. Ever. As much as I love my job, I already told the owner of the dealership that if she was selling Hondas, I wouldn't be sitting there now. Its bad enough DCX is foreign-controlled...I won't go further than that. I obviously wish I was selling GM, but we don't have a GM franchise...

However, if dealers were getting $1,000 over MSRP on CALIBERS at launch??? Yeah, they'll try it with the G8, too...

 

I voted "no". Pick any brand or carmaker... you can find lousy dealers without trying too hard. I just do a little research before I choose a dealer. Some (for example, my dealer, Sellers in Farmington MI) are MUCH better than others.

And clue me in please - when did it become illegal or somehow wrong, to charge more than the SUGGESTED retail price for a car which is in high demand? Dealers are independent, and are allowed to charge the real market price for a car people really want. I see no reason, for a car like the G8 (which I believe will be a big success for Pontiac, BTW), that a dealer shouldn't be allowed to charge more if warranted by marketplace demand. Whiners... should take a hike

 

That's all very true....... however, it angers and alienates a great many potential buyers in the process.

Is it worth it in the long run? Most people think no.