Mike Furman saves my 1st Corvette Summer
05-26-2015, 11:06 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
Mike Furman saves my 1st Corvette Summer
Hi, Mike Furman definitely came through for me. I have been reading the C7 threads for many months. I have learned a lot from everyone's experience building, buying and owning the C7.
However, I didn't follow one piece of advice from the Forum; go to Mike to purchase your Stingray. Jan 9th this year I put a deposit down for my 2015 Stingray with Fitzgerald Chevrolet. A close, local dealer. Stuck at 1100 for months. Stop by the dealer on May 11th. Still at 1100 and by the way we will not be able to get you a 2015. The order was changed to a 2016. I asked why didn't you call me. No answer. I ask when will I take delivery and what about the price. Sales manager says "Don't know when you will take delivery or what you will pay for your Corvette".
I am American of Italian heritage and am now wishing I knew someone from Brooklyn. Next day go back to Fitzgerald and get my deposit. Sale manager says "We were honest with you". I said "Yes, but not completely. You never told me you don't sell many Corvettes and you don't get many allocations". He disagrees. I ask him how long has the new 2015 Corvette coupe on the showroom floor been for sale. Sale manager says 200 days. I tell him I will never do business with Fitzgerald Chevrolet or any of his other dealerships. As I am leaving with my deposit other sale managers makes a smart .ss comment "When the Corvette finally arrives we will just sell to someone else."
Two days later I see Mike and he walks through the process as we order my 2016. He sends me an e-mail with my order. Today I receive an e-mail from Mike with a TPW of 6/22/15!!!!!!!!!
Learn from my foolish mistake. If you want a Corvette see Mike Furman. By the way, I called GM Customer Support to file a complaint against Fitzgerald Chevrolet. Told them the story. They were very professional and listened. Today I received a call from a senior supervisor from GM Customer Support. He apologized numerous times and told me the District Manager would be briefed on my poor experience in dealing with Fitzgerald Chevrolet. I told him that if Fitzgerald Chevrolet had been up front with me on Jan 9th and said" We don't sell many Corvettes and we don't get many allocation. We recommend you go to a dealer who sells a lot of Corvettes" I would have contacted GM Customer Support and praised from high Fitzgerald Chevrolet for placing my interest ahead of a order /sale that was unlikely to happen.
However, I didn't follow one piece of advice from the Forum; go to Mike to purchase your Stingray. Jan 9th this year I put a deposit down for my 2015 Stingray with Fitzgerald Chevrolet. A close, local dealer. Stuck at 1100 for months. Stop by the dealer on May 11th. Still at 1100 and by the way we will not be able to get you a 2015. The order was changed to a 2016. I asked why didn't you call me. No answer. I ask when will I take delivery and what about the price. Sales manager says "Don't know when you will take delivery or what you will pay for your Corvette".
I am American of Italian heritage and am now wishing I knew someone from Brooklyn. Next day go back to Fitzgerald and get my deposit. Sale manager says "We were honest with you". I said "Yes, but not completely. You never told me you don't sell many Corvettes and you don't get many allocations". He disagrees. I ask him how long has the new 2015 Corvette coupe on the showroom floor been for sale. Sale manager says 200 days. I tell him I will never do business with Fitzgerald Chevrolet or any of his other dealerships. As I am leaving with my deposit other sale managers makes a smart .ss comment "When the Corvette finally arrives we will just sell to someone else."
Two days later I see Mike and he walks through the process as we order my 2016. He sends me an e-mail with my order. Today I receive an e-mail from Mike with a TPW of 6/22/15!!!!!!!!!
Learn from my foolish mistake. If you want a Corvette see Mike Furman. By the way, I called GM Customer Support to file a complaint against Fitzgerald Chevrolet. Told them the story. They were very professional and listened. Today I received a call from a senior supervisor from GM Customer Support. He apologized numerous times and told me the District Manager would be briefed on my poor experience in dealing with Fitzgerald Chevrolet. I told him that if Fitzgerald Chevrolet had been up front with me on Jan 9th and said" We don't sell many Corvettes and we don't get many allocation. We recommend you go to a dealer who sells a lot of Corvettes" I would have contacted GM Customer Support and praised from high Fitzgerald Chevrolet for placing my interest ahead of a order /sale that was unlikely to happen.
Last edited by Steve Garrett; 05-27-2015 at 09:25 AM. Reason: Added paragraphs for easier reading.
05-26-2015, 11:15 PM
#2
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Glad you were able to get things worked out so you'll have a Vette for the summer. Can't say I blame you for refusing to do any future business with your local dealer.
05-26-2015, 11:21 PM
#3
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St. Jude Donor '15-'16,'18
I almost made the same mistake with another dealer in the same area. Found out they only get 2 allocations per year. Wised up and left a deposit with Mike at Criswell. He has been totally upfront and like the OP, I also have a TPW of 6/22. Keeping my fingers crossed that I will take delivery in time to attend the IMSA race at VIR; Corvettes at Carlisle and Corvettes at Ocean City.
05-27-2015, 06:28 AM
#5
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St. Jude Donor '12, '15
www.corvettefurman.com 301 212 4420
Hi, Mike Furman definitely came through for me. I have been reading the C7 threads for many months. I have learned a lot from everyone's experience building, buying and owning the C7. However, I didn't follow one piece of advice from the Forum; go to Mike to purchase your Stingray. Jan 9th this year I put a deposit down for my 2015 Stingray with Fitzgerald Chevrolet. A close, local dealer. Stuck at 1100 for months. Stop by the dealer on May 11th. Still at 1100 and by the way we will not be able to get you a 2015. The order was changed to a 2016. I asked why didn't you call me. No answer. I ask when will I take delivery and what about the price. Sales manager says "Don't know when you will take delivery or what you will pay for your Corvette". I am American of Italian heritage and am now wishing I knew someone from Brooklyn. Next day go back to Fitzgerald and get my deposit. Sale manager says "We were honest with you". I said "Yes, but not completely. You never told me you don't sell many Corvettes and you don't get many allocations". He disagrees. I ask him how long has the new 2015 Corvette coupe on the showroom floor been for sale. Sale manager says 200 days. I tell him I will never do business with Fitzgerald Chevrolet or any of his other dealerships. As I am leaving with my deposit other sale managers makes a smart .ss comment "When the Corvette finally arrives we will just sell to someone else" Two days later I see Mike and he walks through the process as we order my 2016. He sends me an e-mail with my order. Today I receive an e-mail from Mike with a TPW of 6/22/15!!!!!!!!!
Learn from my foolish mistake. If you want a Corvette see Mike Furman. By the way, I called GM Customer Support to file a complaint against Fitzgerald Chevrolet. Told them the story. They were very professional and listened. Today I received a call from a senior supervisor from GM Customer Support. He apologized numerous times and told me the District Manager would be briefed on my poor experience in dealing with Fitzgerald Chevrolet. I told him that if Fitzgerald Chevrolet had been up front with me on Jan 9th and said" We don't sell many Corvettes and we don't get many allocation. We recommend you go to a dealer who sells a lot of Corvettes" I would have contacted GM Customer Support and praised from high Fitzgerald Chevrolet for placing my interest ahead of a order /sale that was unlikely to happen.
Learn from my foolish mistake. If you want a Corvette see Mike Furman. By the way, I called GM Customer Support to file a complaint against Fitzgerald Chevrolet. Told them the story. They were very professional and listened. Today I received a call from a senior supervisor from GM Customer Support. He apologized numerous times and told me the District Manager would be briefed on my poor experience in dealing with Fitzgerald Chevrolet. I told him that if Fitzgerald Chevrolet had been up front with me on Jan 9th and said" We don't sell many Corvettes and we don't get many allocation. We recommend you go to a dealer who sells a lot of Corvettes" I would have contacted GM Customer Support and praised from high Fitzgerald Chevrolet for placing my interest ahead of a order /sale that was unlikely to happen.
I almost made the same mistake with another dealer in the same area. Found out they only get 2 allocations per year. Wised up and left a deposit with Mike at Criswell. He has been totally upfront and like the OP, I also have a TPW of 6/22. Keeping my fingers crossed that I will take delivery in time to attend the IMSA race at VIR; Corvettes at Carlisle and Corvettes at Ocean City.Experience really does help. This is my 38th year selling Corvettes and I have a very large Stingray/Z06 allocation from Chevrolet.
Mike Furman
301-212-4420
Criswell Chevrolet
Gaithersburg, MD
www.corvettefurman.com
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robertbruce (02-15-2016)
05-27-2015, 10:32 AM
#7
A common thread is resonating here...... There are few Furman's in the world of business today. Thankfully those that are there for all of us make the process so much easier and enjoyable...... as it should be.
Mike's long standing contacts at G.M. and Bowling Green put the customer front and center on every order.
I see Mike's biggest asset and advantage over all other's is...... that he is a one man show...... no sub-set sales people, no Internet webmaster, and no Secretarial assistants. He follows the order from start to finish, which avoids the usual and customary back office confusion and misinformation disseminated by other dealerships and their employees.
Mike's long standing contacts at G.M. and Bowling Green put the customer front and center on every order.
I see Mike's biggest asset and advantage over all other's is...... that he is a one man show...... no sub-set sales people, no Internet webmaster, and no Secretarial assistants. He follows the order from start to finish, which avoids the usual and customary back office confusion and misinformation disseminated by other dealerships and their employees.
05-27-2015, 10:39 AM
#8
Safety Car
I was fortunate enough to learn about allocations and such before I decided to order, and went to Mike to start with. After reading about some of the waits other's have gone through, I'm glad I did. 8 weeks from order to driving the car home. Couldn't ask for much more.
05-27-2015, 10:41 AM
#9
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"I told him that if Fitzgerald Chevrolet had been up front with me on Jan 9th and said" We don't sell many Corvettes and we don't get many allocation. We recommend you go to a dealer who sells a lot of Corvettes" I would have contacted GM Customer Support and praised from high Fitzgerald Chevrolet for placing my interest ahead of a order /sale that was unlikely to happen. "
I love statements like this!!!! People only call customer service to complain they don't praise anyone especially a car dealer!!!!!!!!
OP if you live 25 miles from Mike Furman and certainly have seen his inventory and the candy store........... I got a bridge to sell to you!!!
I love statements like this!!!! People only call customer service to complain they don't praise anyone especially a car dealer!!!!!!!!
OP if you live 25 miles from Mike Furman and certainly have seen his inventory and the candy store........... I got a bridge to sell to you!!!
05-27-2015, 11:14 AM
#10
Le Mans Master
Mike Furman has been in the business for years. It is obvious he knows what he is doing and has many satisfied customers. He regards his customers as friends and you can see that by the way he interacts with them after the sale.
05-27-2015, 09:19 PM
#12
Melting Slicks
I was fortunate enough to learn about allocations and such before I decided to order, and went to Mike to start with. After reading about some of the waits other's have gone through, I'm glad I did. 8 weeks from order to driving the car home. Couldn't ask for much more.
Same here.
05-27-2015, 10:04 PM
#13
Burning Brakes
I almost made the same mistake with another dealer in the same area. Found out they only get 2 allocations per year. Wised up and left a deposit with Mike at Criswell. He has been totally upfront and like the OP, I also have a TPW of 6/22. Keeping my fingers crossed that I will take delivery in time to attend the IMSA race at VIR; Corvettes at Carlisle and Corvettes at Ocean City.
05-27-2015, 10:10 PM
#14
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St. Jude Donor '15-'16,'18
05-27-2015, 10:23 PM
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St. Jude Donor '12, '15
Mike Furman
06-19-2015, 03:10 PM
#16
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St. Jude Donor '15-'16,'18
06-19-2015, 03:37 PM
#18
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06-19-2015, 04:33 PM
#19
Race Director
My local dealer was up front. They had a small allocation but had no idea when they could get me a convertible. This was back in Feb/March of 2013. Placed a deposit with Mike and my vert was one of the first batch to come off the line. Congrats on your order, but now comes the real wait - because you KNOW is coming and when.
06-19-2015, 04:46 PM
#20
Burning Brakes
Glad you had a good experience.
The lesson learned was go to a large allocation dealer. Not necessarily just one dealer.
Do that and you'll get an allocation and a better price
The lesson learned was go to a large allocation dealer. Not necessarily just one dealer.
Do that and you'll get an allocation and a better price