Still new here, please move this to wherever is best. I'm hoping the wise and experienced here will help me out.

I'm ready to try an order a C8 Stingray. Contacted some local dealers and found a couple that say they do MSRP and no other dealer add-ons. But one dealer told me to put $5k fully refundable deposit down and they will submit my order to GM. That this will put me in their line so that when they get an allocation it can be reviewed and started quickly. Yes, this means that they don't currently have an allocation but they are confident, based on their current rate of obtaining allocations, they will get more within the next several months. From my understanding (based on what I have read up on in the forums) this doesn't guarantee me of anything.

Also, regarding the deposit, the rep said that it was fully refundable, but the $5k is a "GM" requirement for the order. This I am really wary of, I have not heard of that. Is this something that some dealers don't tell the customer about because they just figure will not matter in the long run as they will sell what is currently an in demand car regardless?

To me these things sound a little sketchy. Like the 5k, if it was a dealer requirement I would believe that more. The dealer has ok reviews. Curious to hear what people think.

 

Be cautious. No order can be placed until they get an allocation, so no guarantee of anything yet. GM does not require any deposit. Some large dealers (like MacMulkin) charge $1K or $2K and it is refundable until the actual order is placed (paired with an allocation). Furthermore most small dealers (1 allocation in the next few months) will not sell a C8 for MSRP. Suggest you get all the terms in writing when (or before) you give them any money. If everything is on the up & up it would be a great deal but I am skeptical.

 

I'd recommend getting on either Criswell or MacMulkin's wait list. That way you know you will get a C8 at some point at MSRP (Criswell has a $500 fee) and if you opt out for whatever reason, you will get your deposit back. And you are insured of no shenanigans.
Dealing with a smaller and/or local dealer can be risky. If you decide to do so, get everything in writing and also get on MacMuliin's wait list as well as insurance. Good Luck.

 

Like the others have posted, GM does NOT require a deposit & the dealer cannot place an order until they have an allocation

 

You are not going to get a car as quick as you think and once the car is there, they can charge whatever they want and if you don't like it then you might get your 2k/5k back. I had my car at sticker but when it arrived, I was told I had to pay for 3k worth of crap like nitrogen in the tires, paint protection and finance at least half with their bank. I was told if you don't like it go somewhere else and buy your car. Smart move would be going with one of the big three and putting your deposit in and just wait the 8-12 months for your car and not get screwed.

 

GM does not require a deposit, that is a dealer requirement. GM also does not keep a list of who the dealer will give their next allocation to IF they ever get one!

Since other's have mentioned where to buy, I bought 3 from what is now Ciocca in Atlantic City. They have been the largest Corvette dealer for years for good reasons. Great folks, you'll get a signed contract. I had my last two, a 2017 Grand Sport and C8 delivered from Bowling Green plant to a small Chevy dealer 30 miles from my home. It's called Courtesy Delivery (CD.) Paid only $350 for that service to that dealer. Got my C8 week after it was built.

But many Chevy dealers will not do CD. They want to make the profit selling the car! Small dealers who have little or no allocations are more flexible as the service manager wants your after sales service. JUST DON'T ASK A DEALER SALESPERSON OR SALES MANAGER AS THEY GET PAID FOR SELLING CARS! TRY THE SERVICE MANAGER OR IF THEY HAVE FLEET SALES THAT MANAGER TO SEE IF THEY WILL DO IT AND WHO TO CONTACT.

Ciocca, like most dealer's will ask for a refundable deposit until it's your time for them to order your car. That will be many months from now. At that time the deposit becomes non refundable BUT you'll have your can soon after. THEY HAVE ALLOCATIONs. PROBABLY well over 1000!. Allocations are mostly based on prior years sales of Corvettes.

In fact prior to the C8 they typically had ~200 new Vettes in stock ready to deliver. For my 2017 Grand Sport, "built just for me in BG" I got their same discount offered for cars in stock and published on their website. It was winter when Vette sales are slow and they discounted ~15% from MSRP! As Spring got closer discounts reduced!

 

Others are correct this is a dealer policy. If I were you I’d go back to them and talk to the sales manager or their corvette person if they have one and clarify. If you were dealing with a salesperson, maybe inexperienced they could have made a simple mistake.

Ask how many cars they have sold, how deep is the list, do the math.

Like all things in life the deposit is negotiable. I’d offer $500 if you feel they can get the car in your time frame.

The big boys are great but they have a list too. Do some homework, spend a few hours making calls, go to your local corvette club ask around. There are 1000s of Chevy dealers who sell corvettes, just need to do sone research.

Note there are recent posts where folks have scored a car finding it in stock off eBay.

The market is cooling times are changing.

 

Run away from this dealer as fast as you can and don’t look back.

 

Actually,, a preliminary order can be placed and you will receive an order number before the dealer ever receives an allocation for for your build.

 

^^^
That order event 1100 that any dealer can place, even those with few allocations means little! It reads Order Placed at Dealership. Looks impressive, good sales tool for dealer. Makes some folks think they have an order waiting. NOT!!!

In 2020 many dealers issued many of those, way beyond their allocations. Can't blame them as some folks were placing 3 or more orders with different dealers and when the 1st was able to place an actual order to build a C8 just asked the others for their refundable deposit back!

I did not have that problem as Ciocca, (well the prior name) did not take excess hold-a-spot orders.

BE CAREFUL that nice looking piece of paper means little to GM. It may help (IF DEALER WILLING) fix a price BUT if pushed to next MY NOT.

 

Thanks for all the input everyone.
I like the idea of trying for a lower deposit.
This person I was talking to is a commercial and fleet manger.

I've gotten him in emails that state they only will charge msrp and the dealer will only charge for what is built. I presume to that he will put the order in and get it at 1100. But yes, as we all know, that doesn't mean really anything.
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I'm on the West coast so I was trying to avoid courtesy delivery if possible. I wanted to try to go with a more local dealer. The wait time is along time regardless.

I think I'd rather pick it up from the Museum and drive back if I had to do that.

 

I called MacMulkin last week and they required a $3k refundable deposit up front. Once the order/build is submitted it becomes non-refundable.

 

Have no idea what the MacMulkin wait is but if you want a car anyway just get on the list and keep searching for another local dealer. Yes, there are dealers everywhere playing games but there are also dealers that just do business as it should be done. I went on a small dealer list last May and my car came in on 11/4. MSRP, No BS add-ons or fees and the really big one - NO Deposit required of any kind. When the allocation came up in August I configured my car and they placed the order. They provided me with the Sold Order Documentation along with a Sales Order sheet detailing ALL of the costs and what my final payment would be at delivery.

Well, when I arrived for delivery the purchase agreement matched EXACTLY to what they provided me back in August. No BS, No excuses, No truecoat or nitrogen in the tires. They delivered exactly what they said they were delivering. Best of all I did not have to arrange for delivery at a local dealer or drive for days in bad weather to pickup the car. It was 20 minutes back to the garage and the car is amazing. We knew there was a possibility of bad weather and this dealer was also willing to deliver my car the 20 miles at no charge had the roads been really bad. They also asked me every question they could have between the time the car was dropped and I picked it up as to what my preferences were. Even including something as as small as having someone from the dealership follow me to the gas station and pay for the first tank of gas since they wanted me to be the first one to take the car out for a drive.

Apologize for the long story but great dealers are out there and one of them might be in your backyard, or at least within driving distance of it, and you do not even know it. You might even get a car without having to wait a year or more. Only posting this because all you seem to hear reported on forums like this are the total nightmares. The dealer stating the $5K is a "GM thing" is full of BS. Keep searching until you find one that is honest and upfront with you.

In the meantime you will be on a list with a dealer that will sell the car for what they say they will. Win-win.

 

Yeah, I think think that is what upsets me most. He should have just said it was a dealer thing. And while he brought up waiting for the allocation, he didn't really mention that they are not guaranteed and that he is estimating.

I actually think that I have found a good dealer locally, their wait is a little longer, they estimate about 1yr, 4 months, they have a longer line than this dealer in question. But they don't require any deposits to be in line and also promised nothing added. Said that they would only charge a deposit if the build was risky.

The dealer in question has a very short list, less than 10, and expects to order late summer, deliver in about 10 months based on their current allocation rate. Hence my consideration, but yeah, if it sounds too good.

 

Like others said, GM does not require a deposit it's up to the dealer. I put my name on the list and was not ask for a deposit until an allocation was available and the order was accepted by GM. I paid $1500 under MSRP because I applied GM Credit Card points. Also, no dealer option added B.S.

 

There is no risk with MacMulkin as I think others have gotten their deposits back prior to ordering it's just the hassle factor with delivery and it might be over a year anyway. Sounds like you have found a local dealer that is being upfront with you. I was lucky getting a car fast locally but when I got the call in August I had moved up the list because others dropped off when called. It is possible with the way the economy is going the same thing could happen with the local dealer you have found that is saying the wait will be longer.

You can hedge your bet by going on both lists and just see when your turn for an allocation comes up. After getting mine I can say whatever the the wait it is worth it. It is a fantastic car.

 

I would certainly put your name in at one of the big 3 as well as a local dealer. Unfortunately it's true that many, NOT all, dealerships will try to pull a fast one last minute. The good news if you're on the list with one of the big 3 you're covered and can go with them if they pull somethingladt minute. More than likely one of the big 3 will come in before your local shop and just go with them. You won't have any shinagins with them. I went with MacMulkin and couldn't be happier. Put my deposit in March 3rd and it's scheduled to be built Nov 30th.. Also they make it so you can keep track of your place in line. No having to guess how many peeps are in front or behind you.

 

This. And to be "fair" to the salesman that was telling you the deposit is GM required, he probably has no idea. He's just telling you what his GM (general manager) requires, and possibly invented the reason himself. Plenty of salesmen know little to nothing about these cars, they just take the order.