Talking about new trucks a lot - so ....

[monkey44]

Was / am considering a new truck - love this old GMC buddy I got now, but 211,000 miles is a lot.

So, went on USAA (Military eligible), where it said fill out the info form, and you get the USAA discount and a price. So, took about ten minutes and got on the GMC site and stayed on the USAA site, and filled in truck, options, etc.

Did I get a price? NOPE - got every dealer within fifty miles calling my cell and sending me emails - asking me to come in and 'talk' -- I could a done that without USAA, and spend a tank of gas doing it -- but NOT one single price ... When I did this, I expected to see a price for the vehicle I 'built" (with USAA discount like it said) and a place to get it (or order it). NOT happening -

What happens is your name goes out to all the local dealers and they try to get you in -- because, it voids the "do not call" rules. Not what I expected, not by a long shot. And the ones that called or email had NO idea what I want, either. So, if you do this - don't - just go to the dealer direct because filling out the forms will bombard you with dealers anyway, and they won't even know what you want.

NOT one would give me a price either - except quote MSRP ... but, come in and we'll make you "our best deal". THEN, they tell me if I go somewhere else and they give me lower, they'll match it. What does that tell us immediately??? It tells us we didn't actually get the best deal first time, did we?? And, then I ask myself, why would I go back and get the same deal - and from someone that apparently lied to me already ? Makes no sense to me ...

What's even funny, if it wasn't annoying to get all these calls - an insurance guy called and quoted 50% over my current agent. AND, I got one call from a Tire Seller, wanting to know if I needed new tires on the truck I was buying - a new truck, I assume, comes with new tires. SO, that one did make me laugh. But what I said to him only made him mad.

The $40k+ tho, will sit in my wallet and I'll dig some of it out and repair this Old Buddy instead, when it needs it, for a couple more years anyway. I paid $27,560 for this GMC in 2003, and the one equipped like it now is $46k and change. HA, got new tires tho'.

I know, you all will say "no dealer will give a price over the phone" - but USAA said IT would, that's why I spent the time and filled in the info - instead, it just sent out my contact info - matter of fact, the first call came in less than one minute after I hit the send button at USAA ... now THAT call did surprise me ... less than a minute - somebody sitting at the desk, waiting for the email ping.

New truck sure be nice tho ... 🙂 🙂

[Fordlover]

monkey44 wrote:



Why is it a sales mentality always thinks it can sell you something you don't want or need if it can JUST somehow get in contact with you?

Because it works on the dimmest Americans, and that group is growing by leaps and bounds.

[monkey44]

dodge guy wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
And people are wondering why GM isn't doing so good. It's appearant why, GM is playing games with potential customers and pushing them away!

I am Ram partial but they all do that.

right, but the signs are showing that it is hurting GM. Ford and Chrysler aren`t doing that bad!

All dealers play the price games, it's got nothing to do with quality or in-stock trucks. Truck dealers have been making up price stories for so long, a salesman acts like he's lying even if he ain't.

the problem I have each time we go through this hassle, and I'm sure most of you do it too - we can't believe the salesmen - and that's because I (and probably you all) have caught salesmen lying in the past, or at least bending the truth in a way that hides 'something' about the truck price ...

It's the history of auto buying -"get the best deal here", implying that all other dealers are lying to you. It's become a focus of the industry to make you believe ONLY the dealer you're talking to now is telling you the truth - and by implication again, that all other dealers are over-pricing and lying to you. It's like a "screw the competition" rhetoric, tell the buyer all other dealers are screwing him.

And, in addition, the dealers or membership groups (which are never any more bargain than one another (nor any better than "Joe Buyer" walking in and bargaining) ... and they have now found a way around the federal 'do not contact' rules. No matter what rules or guideline the public makes, the 'selling industry' will find a way around it.

Makes me laugh, if it wasn't so annoying, when a "sales call" comes in to someone that is on the "do-not-call" list - that person has already said he/she is NOT interested - how clear can that be.

But, political calls are exempt (HA, of course) and "if you have a business relationship already ... Which means "I already know where you are if I need you" -- so, why are you bothering me now, when I don't need you? The weirdness of the world ??

Why is it a sales mentality always thinks it can sell you something you don't want or need if it can JUST somehow get in contact with you?

[dodge_guy]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
And people are wondering why GM isn't doing so good. It's appearant why, GM is playing games with potential customers and pushing them away!

I am Ram partial but they all do that.

right, but the signs are showing that it is hurting GM. Ford and Chrysler aren`t doing that bad!

[Charlie_D_]

RAS43 wrote:

Charlie D. wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
And people are wondering why GM isn't doing so good. It's appearant why, GM is playing games with potential customers and pushing them away!

If you think GM is the only one playing games like that, guess again.

That is the point. If the OP had been looking for a Dodge or Ford he would have had the same experience. It is a USAA procedure.

Just got an email from the NRA. Same thing. Gives you the option to build your vehicle of any make and brand and the last page wants an email and contact phone number.

[Cummins12V98]

No matter where you live in this great Country give Dave Smith Motors in Kellog Idaho a call they sell GM and Chrysler products. Get a price from them and then see your local dealer. Then they will actually be serious about making you a great deal.

[Cummins12V98]

dodge guy wrote:
And people are wondering why GM isn't doing so good. It's appearant why, GM is playing games with potential customers and pushing them away!

I am Ram partial but they all do that.

[monkey44]

cdlaine wrote:
Bill,

Your experience is exactly the same as I had... exactly.
A waste of time... perhaps I misunderstood what they offering
(as one poster has indicated). In addition to the calls, I
also noticed that all the pop-up ads I started receiving were
Chevy/GMC etc. related ads. What I naively expected to receive
were price quotes based on the configuration I requested including
any "special offers" by GM, and, reflecting the stated USAA
discount. I received neither. Again, my error... I won't do
that again. I e-mailed my disappointment to USAA....crickets.

Charles

Right - what I expected according to the USAA website - I'd get a price and a discount for a truck as I configured it, and a location if one was around, or a price for one that could be ordered (Ordered from ANY dealer).

What I did not expect - a bunch of phone calls telling me to 'come in for a price, get a deal' I can do that anytime, and without USAA.

In addition: I began getting emails with 'best deal pricing' on 1500s (4x4) but one even a 1500 2x4 ... So, I get window stickers for 1500's ...

Well, of course, maybe I read USAA page wrong, about what it offered, but if I did, it's because they intended me to read it wrong.

In my mind, right now, it was a way to get my name to a bunch of dealers AND bypass the 'do-not-call' list - It did on NO way do what I expected - another new method for bypassing what a customer wants, and getting into a wallet.

I'm guessing one thing tho, that will eventually come out of all this internet selling -- the dealers will one day understand that they better start giving out real prices and real 'deals' on the web (and be prepared to standby it too) or they'll lose customers to dealers that do it.

In fact, two days later, I got ONE real truck, and ONE real price - on the email, just as I requested. And, although that truck (in stock) was not what I ordered, she said that was as close as she had in stock, and that she would offer the same discount in dollars on any truck she could find or she would order one - and give the same discount in dollars.

She is the ONLY dealer that did what I asked. So, guess who I'll call when/if I decide to buy one?

And, hopefully, that will be the wave of the future (True web pricing and discounts) - instead of us all traveling all over the place and sitting under the 'hot lights' at a sales table while we get interrogated about our financial position and squeezed out of every possible dollar ...

Truck buying should be fun - and make us smile - but most often, it does the opposite. We know all dealers will sell the same truck for the same cost - within a few bucks. So, why is it none of them will tell you the price until you've jumped through all kinds of hoops?

Well, because they KNOW all dealers will sell for the same price - and they don't want to be honest, nor do they want you to 'get away'.

IF I could believe for one second all dealers were telling the truth (HA, sound like a TV game show) the I'd simply go into the most local dealer and ask what amount I should write in my check. Instead, we get a huge run-around, that talks about EVERYTHING BUT the final price. How big a payment do you want, how much are you putting down, what color do you want - NONE of which has anything to do with price of the vehicle.

Funny think too - when I first 'built the truck' on the GMc site, it came up with a price (equipped exactly as I want) for a price (without discounts) that was over $2000 LESS than the same configuration on the USAA site, when it sent the certificate - exact same configuration -- $2000 LESS on the GMC build site - so, I'll say that again ...

Mostly, I shared this so you all would know - expect a huge number of calls if you sign up for any of these 'membership deals' -- it's not a deal, it's a release of your information ... SO, now, I'll remove my naive' hat and stick it in the laundry ...

The real giveaway for a truth? Here's our BEST price, but if another dealer gives you a lower price, we'll match it. Just exactly how contradictory is that statement?

[RAS43]

Charlie D. wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
And people are wondering why GM isn't doing so good. It's appearant why, GM is playing games with potential customers and pushing them away!

If you think GM is the only one playing games like that, guess again.

That is the point. If the OP had been looking for a Dodge or Ford he would have had the same experience. It is a USAA procedure.

[cdlaine]

Bill,

Your experience is exactly the same as I had... exactly.
A waste of time... perhaps I misunderstood what they offering
(as one poster has indicated). In addition to the calls, I
also noticed that all the pop-up ads I started receiving were
Chevy/GMC etc. related ads. What I naively expected to receive
were price quotes based on the configuration I requested including
any "special offers" by GM, and, reflecting the stated USAA
discount. I received neither. Again, my error... I won't do
that again. I e-mailed my disappointment to USAA....crickets.

Charles

[texasclarks]

Definitely give USAA a call as they are very concerned about customer service. And remember to give a good email address but NEVER your actually cell/home phone# 🙂

[Charlie_D_]

dodge guy wrote:
And people are wondering why GM isn't doing so good. It's appearant why, GM is playing games with potential customers and pushing them away!

If you think GM is the only one playing games like that, guess again.

[APT]

monkey44 wrote:

The $40k+ tho, will sit in my wallet and I'll dig some of it out and repair this Old Buddy instead, when it needs it, for a couple more years anyway. I paid $27,560 for this GMC in 2003, and the one equipped like it now is $46k and change. HA, got new tires tho'.

You can get $10k off MSRP on a new $46k MSRP truck. You probably got $8-10k off that 2003 too. The comparable new transaction cost is not as large as you think for something probably far safer and more capable.

Don't start looking at diesels or SUVs!

[ependydad]

Hondavalk wrote:

guidry wrote:
I had 3 dealers compete with each other's price via email then when I got the best, I called my local dealer and asked if they would match and throw in lifetime oil changes, they said yes. Best and easiest new truck buy I ever did.

X2 did the exact same thing although I didn't think about the oil changes. Did that twice and both times went local

X3 - also didn't think of the lifetime oil changes. I even actually suckered up and bought the extended service plan from my dealer. Oil changes are included for a bunch of years.

[BB_TX]

Check the newspaper ads and web sites for all local dealers to see what they are offering. When I bought my new 2012 truck August last year I checked each dealers offerings. Some offered up to $12,000 off sticker, but one offered $14,000 off sticker. (those included mfg rebates + dealer discounts and both were well under invoice) Those discounts were for any F250/350 diesel on the lot whether it was a basic truck with sticker of mid 40s or loaded for mid 60s. Just happened the one offering $16k off had the exact truck I wanted. It is sitting in my driveway now. Another dealer said he would match the $14k off but he did not have and could not get exactly what I wanted.

An additional note. The dealer web sites had a link where you could enter your truck info and get the supposed trade-in value for your old truck. I did and it came up with $22k for my old truck. But when we began to talk trade they only offered $16k. After I started for the door (twice) they ended up offering me $21k. Might have been able to hold out for the $22k but was ready to leave by that time. And $14k off plus $21k trade-in for $35k off the new truck made me happy enough with the deal. And since the trade in value comes off before sales tax is calculated it saved me another $1,300+.