The configurator
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 16,376
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From: Should this thoughtful, valuable contribution meet with no acknowledgement or 'thanks' this post----
You would think that one of the largest car companies, if not the largest, in the world would have the best " build your own" site around. But, no, they have been wrought with errors galore and total disregard for their customers. This is not rocket science, just building a web site with known prices, options and colors. You get a two picture cabin shot, no motion. Can't get a picture of your car color, or wheel package. This from a company that is building G.M."s halo car.
This is very poor marketing. Certainly not up to the age group they are targeting, I think that Chevy needs to do some research in this department, maybe check out some other mfg. "build your own" sites.
My car is way cheaper on the site than the dealer quoted me, but I guess I won't hold my breath for the better of the two prices.
I guess what I am saying is if you build a world class car, then why have a Yugo website!
This is very poor marketing. Certainly not up to the age group they are targeting, I think that Chevy needs to do some research in this department, maybe check out some other mfg. "build your own" sites.
My car is way cheaper on the site than the dealer quoted me, but I guess I won't hold my breath for the better of the two prices.
I guess what I am saying is if you build a world class car, then why have a Yugo website!
100%...but you have to realize this is GM...the perfect model of corporate bureaucratic quagmire. Someone got the assignment to create a new configurator. He or she is fresh out of college and has no automotive experience at all; never changed their own oil or spark plugs, couldn't change a flat if they had to, and could never figure out how to raise a hood. However, this person can work a computer. So, they look at other car companies and previous GM models to see how a configurator works....a good start. However, due to slow cumbersome approval processes throughout the corporation it is next to impossible to acquire the actual data the public would need to make a purchasing decision. Even within his/her own department there is management indecision/resistance when appropriate data is presented at the weekly staff meeting. Yet the approval process moves vertically through upper management, however, no one ever decides to directly support the underling requests for information from other departments for fear of annoying another manager, thereby potentially negatively affecting his next raise or performance review. Yet finally, after extreme pressure from the public and the media an outside source will be assigned to fix the mess long after the original players (with no blemishes on their careers) have moved on to newer positions. In the end GM knows you will find out what you want to know through other means as time goes by....quite lame for the consumer.
Last edited by $$$frumnuttin'; Sep 2, 2013 at 08:24 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 1
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14, '16
I am neither a GM/Chevy basher nor apologist. I do have a 2014 Stingray sitting out in their back lot, awaiting shipment. All I can say about the online "Build Your Own" configurator is thank goodness I have been following posts on these boards for over a year. Otherwise I would have no clue what the options mean, what things look like, or how they affect appearance, performance, comfort, or entertainment value.
I have used at least 15 online configurators over the past two years as I researched potential alternatives to the Stingray as well as cheaper economy cars for my girlfriend. The Stingray configurator is objectively the worst one I have come across. No ability to see your choices placed on the car. No explanations for what confusing terminology means. Redundant listings and incorrect or incomplete pricing for options. It's a hot mess and an embarrassment.
Build Your Own configurators are a commonplace now. There are examples from every manufacturer of how they should work. I am simply astonished at the lack of quality and helpfulness in Chevy's version. They need to hire a new project team for this utility.
I have used at least 15 online configurators over the past two years as I researched potential alternatives to the Stingray as well as cheaper economy cars for my girlfriend. The Stingray configurator is objectively the worst one I have come across. No ability to see your choices placed on the car. No explanations for what confusing terminology means. Redundant listings and incorrect or incomplete pricing for options. It's a hot mess and an embarrassment.
Build Your Own configurators are a commonplace now. There are examples from every manufacturer of how they should work. I am simply astonished at the lack of quality and helpfulness in Chevy's version. They need to hire a new project team for this utility.
