Delivery Damage?
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 8,729
Likes: 1,508
From: Redmond WA
I can't say I would have caught this at inspection either, but I think the reality is that as a result of doing a courtesy delivery and then signing off on the inspection, you now own it. Maybe the selling or delivering dealer can help you, but I have my doubts.
I think the most productive thing you can do is to get it fixed and move on. It'll be a cheap fix, where you cannot see it anyway, and would be covered I bet by a side skirt if you installed one.
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 34,943
Likes: 12,358
From: NE South Carolina
The Service Manager from the dealer 30 miles away that accepted Courtesy Delivery, (that I found in a small town some 30 miles away) could not have been nicer. Introduced me to the C7 Tech who is the only one that touches a Vette! In fact the managers wife has a 2016 Vette!
I knew they got reimbursed by GM for the PDI. I asked about the install of my side skirts and splitter as I watched as the tech drill 13 holes per side and riveted them on. He said GM had recently reimbursed them for that as well.
I found rather than talk to a salesman or sales manager who get commission on sales, I only talked with the finance manager! He was happy and had a fixed price of $250. For that the service department also got money from GM and there was no paperwork for them to do!
Last edited by JerryU; Mar 25, 2018 at 01:17 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,873
Likes: 2,505
I think that GM should seriously consider incentivizing the use of a Courtesy deliveries to all their dealers. The world is changing. Business practices should change also. Who would have thought of purchasing an auto over the Internet 20 years ago? The old model of one dealership providing all your needs and serving as an intermediary between you and the manufacturer is outmoded. If you have a problem with your vehicle you have to go through a dealership and GM has limited control over them. Look at Tesla. They are involved in every aspect of the car from manufacturing to even owning their dealerships and performing service. It’s in their best interest and the customer ultimately benefits from this. Better service with better trained maintenance staff, more responsive to customer needs. Customers shouldn’t get caught up in these adversarial situations like this where the burden of proof is on the customer to prove damage was a result of the delivery and not while the vehicle was in the owner’s possession. The receiving dealer should have caught this damage. A thorough PDI would have caught this. If you incentivized Courtesy deliveries then the receiving dealer is not going to treat you like a toad. They will benefit and so will the customer.
All they need to do is spend somewhere between 5 million and 10 million building a facility. Then they get to spend a million plus on furniture, tools, and fixtures. After that they buy a few million dollars worth of inventory to pay interest on, buy a half million plus worth of parts inventory, and hire fifty or sixty people they are obligated to pay weekly. All in, 200,000-300,000 monthly overhead.
Why the fools don't understand how important your $250 for the courtesy delivery and maybe $300 for the PDI is, one cannot understand. After all, that money is net because of course all that work is done by remote control over the internet. If they were to happen to sell a car in the time between courtesy deliveries, that would be a bonus, wouldn't it. Any dealer who thinks they make a profit doing a courtesy delivery for $250 is an idiot!
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 8,729
Likes: 1,508
From: Redmond WA
I don't see why GM doesn't compensate courtesy delivery dealers directly based on the feedback. Get a 10/10? That's $500. Get a fail? That's a zero. Something like that.
It would, of course, lead to the dealers shamelessly telling you that you have to give them a good rating.. exactly as happens now anyway!
It would, of course, lead to the dealers shamelessly telling you that you have to give them a good rating.. exactly as happens now anyway!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,873
Likes: 2,505
I don't see why GM doesn't compensate courtesy delivery dealers directly based on the feedback. Get a 10/10? That's $500. Get a fail? That's a zero. Something like that.
It would, of course, lead to the dealers shamelessly telling you that you have to give them a good rating.. exactly as happens now anyway!
It would, of course, lead to the dealers shamelessly telling you that you have to give them a good rating.. exactly as happens now anyway!
CF Community Team
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 14,110
Likes: 7,404
From: Pittsburgh
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You are so right and I really don't understand why these incredibly backward dealers don't see it your way. It is so obvious! Dealers should be totally interested in you being able to possibly save a couple of hundred or even thousands so they could get an additional $250 for making you happy!
All they need to do is spend somewhere between 5 million and 10 million building a facility. Then they get to spend a million plus on furniture, tools, and fixtures. After that they buy a few million dollars worth of inventory to pay interest on, buy a half million plus worth of parts inventory, and hire fifty or sixty people they are obligated to pay weekly. All in, 200,000-300,000 monthly overhead.
Why the fools don't understand how important your $250 for the courtesy delivery and maybe $300 for the PDI is, one cannot understand. After all, that money is net because of course all that work is done by remote control over the internet. If they were to happen to sell a car in the time between courtesy deliveries, that would be a bonus, wouldn't it. Any dealer who thinks they make a profit doing a courtesy delivery for $250 is an idiot!
All they need to do is spend somewhere between 5 million and 10 million building a facility. Then they get to spend a million plus on furniture, tools, and fixtures. After that they buy a few million dollars worth of inventory to pay interest on, buy a half million plus worth of parts inventory, and hire fifty or sixty people they are obligated to pay weekly. All in, 200,000-300,000 monthly overhead.
Why the fools don't understand how important your $250 for the courtesy delivery and maybe $300 for the PDI is, one cannot understand. After all, that money is net because of course all that work is done by remote control over the internet. If they were to happen to sell a car in the time between courtesy deliveries, that would be a bonus, wouldn't it. Any dealer who thinks they make a profit doing a courtesy delivery for $250 is an idiot!
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 244
Likes: 217
From: San Francisco CA
Courtesy Delivery Fee was $550. Did not have a full tank of gas as promised and the tire pressure was high. I logged into my OnStar the previous night and asked that they set it to factory specs. When I showed up, they were still high. I asked if they could lower them to the factory specs.
For $550, I expected a little more. 18 hours ago I sent a text message to the courtesy dealer. 15 hours ago I sent an email to the selling dealer.
I am am still waiting a response or call back. I assume they are not working on the weekend.
For $550, I expected a little more. 18 hours ago I sent a text message to the courtesy dealer. 15 hours ago I sent an email to the selling dealer.
I am am still waiting a response or call back. I assume they are not working on the weekend.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,982
Likes: 1,074
From: Lansing MI
You are so right and I really don't understand why these incredibly backward dealers don't see it your way. It is so obvious! Dealers should be totally interested in you being able to possibly save a couple of hundred or even thousands so they could get an additional $250 for making you happy!
All they need to do is spend somewhere between 5 million and 10 million building a facility. Then they get to spend a million plus on furniture, tools, and fixtures. After that they buy a few million dollars worth of inventory to pay interest on, buy a half million plus worth of parts inventory, and hire fifty or sixty people they are obligated to pay weekly. All in, 200,000-300,000 monthly overhead.
Why the fools don't understand how important your $250 for the courtesy delivery and maybe $300 for the PDI is, one cannot understand. After all, that money is net because of course all that work is done by remote control over the internet. If they were to happen to sell a car in the time between courtesy deliveries, that would be a bonus, wouldn't it. Any dealer who thinks they make a profit doing a courtesy delivery for $250 is an idiot!
All they need to do is spend somewhere between 5 million and 10 million building a facility. Then they get to spend a million plus on furniture, tools, and fixtures. After that they buy a few million dollars worth of inventory to pay interest on, buy a half million plus worth of parts inventory, and hire fifty or sixty people they are obligated to pay weekly. All in, 200,000-300,000 monthly overhead.
Why the fools don't understand how important your $250 for the courtesy delivery and maybe $300 for the PDI is, one cannot understand. After all, that money is net because of course all that work is done by remote control over the internet. If they were to happen to sell a car in the time between courtesy deliveries, that would be a bonus, wouldn't it. Any dealer who thinks they make a profit doing a courtesy delivery for $250 is an idiot!
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 4,754
Likes: 1,650
You are so right and I really don't understand why these incredibly backward dealers don't see it your way. It is so obvious! Dealers should be totally interested in you being able to possibly save a couple of hundred or even thousands so they could get an additional $250 for making you happy!
All they need to do is spend somewhere between 5 million and 10 million building a facility. Then they get to spend a million plus on furniture, tools, and fixtures. After that they buy a few million dollars worth of inventory to pay interest on, buy a half million plus worth of parts inventory, and hire fifty or sixty people they are obligated to pay weekly. All in, 200,000-300,000 monthly overhead.
Why the fools don't understand how important your $250 for the courtesy delivery and maybe $300 for the PDI is, one cannot understand. After all, that money is net because of course all that work is done by remote control over the internet. If they were to happen to sell a car in the time between courtesy deliveries, that would be a bonus, wouldn't it. Any dealer who thinks they make a profit doing a courtesy delivery for $250 is an idiot!
All they need to do is spend somewhere between 5 million and 10 million building a facility. Then they get to spend a million plus on furniture, tools, and fixtures. After that they buy a few million dollars worth of inventory to pay interest on, buy a half million plus worth of parts inventory, and hire fifty or sixty people they are obligated to pay weekly. All in, 200,000-300,000 monthly overhead.
Why the fools don't understand how important your $250 for the courtesy delivery and maybe $300 for the PDI is, one cannot understand. After all, that money is net because of course all that work is done by remote control over the internet. If they were to happen to sell a car in the time between courtesy deliveries, that would be a bonus, wouldn't it. Any dealer who thinks they make a profit doing a courtesy delivery for $250 is an idiot!
Last edited by MMD; Mar 25, 2018 at 03:05 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 244
Likes: 217
From: San Francisco CA
The courtesy dealer just responded to me. They said:
“Thanks Carlos - I did not see that and no one in service brought anything to my attention- let me check with my service manager tomorrow and I will get back to you.”
“Thanks Carlos - I did not see that and no one in service brought anything to my attention- let me check with my service manager tomorrow and I will get back to you.”
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,873
Likes: 2,505
Your rant is nonsense. You won’t get any sympathy from me. Do you want me to tell you about all my bills, my mortgage, my health insurance premiums, my utilities,etc... I have to pay every month??? What do you feel is a fair price to perform a standard, comprehensive PDI similar to what the selling dealer would have performed instead of screw over your customers? You are an ambassador for the GM brand you know. One of your responsibilities is to represent good customer relations between you-the dealer, the customer, and GM. This is exactly why so many folks including CF members here are always slamming GM dealerships. It’s called customer service (or lack thereof). We are not getting what we deserve. Get the picture bud? Don’t gripe about your bills bud. Gripe about ways your dealership is going to improve service to your customers...not how can you find new ways to screw this guy over. Only then will you get the respect you might be looking for. It is people like you that give the auto business a bad name. Jeez... Oh BTW, your rant is exactly why your business model is out-moded and is eventually headed for the scrape heap if you don’t change your ways.Technology is going to change the world and the way dealerships conduct their business. If you’re not going to listen you will be left behind.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 32,042
Likes: 4,610
I spent 40 years in the business with some of it as a Service Director. I never was able to perfect the ability to look at a car I had never seen before and be able to absolutely tell how, when, and where damage took place. Obviously there is an entire group of people on this forum that can make that determination just by looking at a picture.
Factually, I know the car is inspected many times between the factory and delivery to the dealer. Factually I know most every dealer has a designated employee to inspect new vehicles at delivery. Factually I know the factory pays the dealer to inspect the new vehicle during PDI, part of which means putting it on a lift, and to detail the car prior to delivery. All of which would require the dealer to look at the car.
Factually we know the OP states he inspected the car at the dealership and found no damage before delivery. He evidently drove the car home and decided to also detail the car the next day. He does not state how many miles he drove it, where, or under what conditions.
Can someone please tell me why the dealer, who got $250 for a courtesy delivery, should be responsible for the damage and how you know they did it? The damage looks pretty obvious to me and I would have a hard time walking around my new purchase without seeing it. This is another good reason not to buy from a dealer thousand of miles away unless you are ready to deal with these kinds of problems and potentially be willing to pay for the cure.
Factually, I know the car is inspected many times between the factory and delivery to the dealer. Factually I know most every dealer has a designated employee to inspect new vehicles at delivery. Factually I know the factory pays the dealer to inspect the new vehicle during PDI, part of which means putting it on a lift, and to detail the car prior to delivery. All of which would require the dealer to look at the car.
Factually we know the OP states he inspected the car at the dealership and found no damage before delivery. He evidently drove the car home and decided to also detail the car the next day. He does not state how many miles he drove it, where, or under what conditions.
Can someone please tell me why the dealer, who got $250 for a courtesy delivery, should be responsible for the damage and how you know they did it? The damage looks pretty obvious to me and I would have a hard time walking around my new purchase without seeing it. This is another good reason not to buy from a dealer thousand of miles away unless you are ready to deal with these kinds of problems and potentially be willing to pay for the cure.
Before I wrote a check for almost $70,000.00 for my new 2017 Corvette, I went around the car top to bottom and underneath, foot by foot and didn't see any sign of damage or anything else amiss. Obviously, most buyers aren't doing as I did. Some of them should rethink how much of a personal PDI they're doing.
It's fascinating how some courtesy delivery buyers with difficulties decide to lawyer up when asked about their selling dealer and salesman. Perhaps they are now ashamed or embarrassed about the deal. Why not do everything possible to get the issues resolved. Doesn't make sense.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,982
Likes: 1,074
From: Lansing MI
It's fascinating how some courtesy delivery buyers with difficulties decide to lawyer up when asked about their selling dealer and salesman. Perhaps they are now ashamed or embarrassed about the deal. Why not do everything possible to get the issues resolved. Doesn't make sense.
In fact I don't think he even cares what happened or whos at fault. I think he just wants to get it fixed.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 4,754
Likes: 1,650
Huh, noticed you’re not a forum dealer here are you. You wouldn’t last a week here compared with the dealers we have here supporting this forum. I haven’t heard a peep from Mike Furman, or Tommy Thompson, or any other forum dealers come on here and whine about their bills or gripe about their customers support expectations for service. No, it’s clear to me “bud”, you are the one who doesn’t have a clue. The world is passing you by.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 6,391
Likes: 1,453
From: South Dakota
The question you ask has an obvious answer. Based on your post, you observed the damage one day after taking delivery. Document the damage and it take back to the delivering dealer to repair it.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 32,042
Likes: 4,610
Thusly:
Carlos stated that he would not disclose the selling dealer or salesman.
EDIT: I stand corrected. However, I will be very interested in how the selling dealer will be involved in fixing Carlos' car......
Last edited by Skid Row Joe; Mar 25, 2018 at 05:34 PM. Reason: redacted
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,035
Likes: 281
From: OH
To quote Carlos: "Thank you you for your insights. I will update everyone when I hear back. With regards to the selling and courtesy delivery dealer names, I would rather not share it on the forum until I hear back from them."
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,982
Likes: 1,074
From: Lansing MI
I did read that, and since the dealer has not had a legit chance to address the issue, it is only fair they remain nameless.