Originally Posted by direct007

I think it's the dark side of being an internet personality in the Corvette World. With the unprecedented demand, and a relatively limited supply of cars combined with a nice guy that has diarrhea of the mouth, it creates the perfect storm. In the big picture, Coughlin Corvette although #9 in the list of top selling Corvette Dealers only sold 170 Corvettes in 2020, that's less than 1/5 of what Kerbeck sold the same year and it's most likely less than half of their expected allocation.

170 Corvettes is less than 4 vettes a week sold. Not a huge volume for any one salesperson or dealership by any measurement, but putting yourself on YouTube with 30,000 plus subscribers and probably thousands more that see your video, you are apt to have many many times the volume of phone calls and emails from tire kickers all over the USA and this only happens during the rollout of a new generation when demand is high and supplies are limited.

It's impossible for one person to handle this kind of volume by themselves and because the demand is usually only this huge for a year or so, it's not cost effective to hire a staff of assistants to deal with volume of inquiries that couldn't possibly come even close to being satisfied due to their limited allocation.

Based on statements made by Rick on his videos, he comes across as a sincere person but not of the mindset prepared to handle anything close to this type of volume, so he is prioritizing to handle previous customers and locals first.

He could probably set up an autoresponder email explaining the situation and address it in his YouTube videos rather than hurting people's feeling by not responding to them but I'm not sure there is a good way to just say....Look, I only have 170 cars to sell and can't reply back to 30,000 people to tell them that I would love to speak with each one of you individually for an hour but there just isn't enough time in a day to do so, so that's the reason I can't return your call or email.

The power of the internet can be a double edged sword. It can open up your customer base to thousand if not millions of potential customers and for just that reason, if you aren't prepared to handle that type of volume or have the product to fulfill that demand, it can work against you.

Originally Posted by thill444

He should pay some high school or college kid minimum wage to at least return emails and phone calls.

Originally Posted by feeder82

Been on the forum for a few years, and one thing keeps recurring. Impatient people driving people out of business expecting immediate response to their stupid questions. One that stands out was a forum vendor that sold electronic devices. He would spend hours on the phone explaining how to plug a adapter he sold for $18 dollars. People started bad mouthing him. He doesnt return my calls, emails etc.... Small business ruined every day because of rants on the internet from impatient self important pain in the asses

Originally Posted by JMills

https://www.corvetteblogger.com/2021...alers-of-2020/


Rick is number seventh in the country!

Originally Posted by VetteHeaven

I'm glad this topic came up. I was planning on going thru Rick for my C8 as I enjoy his YouTube videos. That said, I have zero patience for poor service and communications. I think he must be more concerned with his YouTube channel than truly selling cars. I will order with one of the big dealers that is responsive.

Originally Posted by MagicGlass

I have called over there and left numerous phone messages about a 2022 order and I get no reply.

Originally Posted by Corvette ED

I am the Corvette Specialist at a Chevrolet dealership and can tell you I hear horror stories all the time about customers who want to buy a C8 and dealers will not call them back. Here are just one of many stories. I am also the used car manager at the dealership on Thursdays I go to auction to sell the trade-in cars that we don't keep. Our sales staff and phone receptionist know if a customer is inquiring about a Corvette they have to go through me or the owner of the dealership.

I returned from the auction and there was a note on my desk to call Marc about a 2021 Corvette. I called Marc and introduced myself and asked what can I do for you? First off he couldn't believe I called him back so quickly. He said I am interested in ordering a C8 and have some questions? What are you selling at? I told him MSRP He said ok How many people on your list ahead of me? I think at the time there were 20ish I told him if you get on my list I can get you a car for July. He then told me how he went to 4 different dealers in the Allentown Pa area and what he experienced. The first dealer told him he was sold out for 2021. The second dealer told him we sell at $20k over MSRP. The third dealer couldn't answer him how many cars they got for 2020 or how many for 2021? The fourth dealer took a deposit and just added him to a list?

I asked him what led him to our dealership? He said I read on Corvette Forum you were in the top 100 dealers for 2019 and since your only about an hour away I would call you. I told Marc if he wanted to order a car I could do so right now over the phone or you could come to the dealership. He said I have my build in front of me. I said ok let me go into the workbench and I will read off the options and just say yes or no. We got the car built to his specs I told him I will mail you the copy of the order it will have the GM order number, his name address, and phone number, I will highlight all of the options and information. I told him we can change anything you want up until I get your allocation. When I get your allocation we will go back over your order make the final changes and at that time I need a deposit and your good to go.

Marc couldn't believe how easy the process was and how much time I spent with him answering his questions. Since that day Marc has called me a few times asking questions about things he read on the internet. I called Marc and told him I got an Elkhart Lake Blue sold order car in if he would like to come and see the color since that's what he ordered. He drove up to see it and asked more questions. Also at this time I showed him my customer order list when I added him, I showed him how far he moved up as people ahead of him got their cars and I show him in GM Global Connect how many allocations I got for quarter two. I called him again to come and see a Coupe I got in and he brought his trade a 2006 Corvette which I gave him a great price on. Just think if I didn't take the time to return Marc's call I would have lost a sale and a new customer.

The bottom line is there is no excuse for not answering a customer's email or returning phone calls. I can tell when the price increase took place and the 2021 order cut off my phone & emails blew up with customer questions while I don't have as many customers as the big guys I made dam sure to answer everyone within 24 hours!!!

Originally Posted by Tonycan

Sales people who do not return calls are asking for trouble, maybe not in good times, but when bad times come the phone will definitely stop ringing. I personally have a rule about that: If my call to any person I’m trying to give business doesn’t return it within 24 hours, I’m on to the next person.