GM employees

[Gerry Laughlin]

Hello All,
Hopefully someone out there might be able to enlighten us concerning a stiuation regarding GM employees. We used to give away four free oil changes to ALL of our New Car customers, including GM employees. Our GM rep came in and told us that we could not give away anything to GM employees with a total value of more than $59.00, and that we had to stop with the four changes, and drop to two so that it had a lesser value. One of the other local dealers has recently started advertising free tires for life on any New Car purchase, and specifically states in his ads that this includes GM employees. I had always believed that you could offer anything as long as you offered it to everybody, and was told I was wrong. Does anybody have any insight into this whole situation.

Thanks,
Gerry

[sallen1]

We don't do many GM employee deals but we offer a free maintenance package to all customers. No one has told us that GM employees cannot receive the maintenance package either and California law states that everyone gets the offer.

However, a while back I discovered that the GM employee deals are different than those for retail customers. For example, they cannot sue under the state's lemon law and must use mandatory arbitration. So there is a possibility that the contract between the dealer and the GM employee may lawfully exempt things like free maintenance, tires, etc.

I'd get the GM policy in writing from someone of higher authority and also get a read from your lawyer just to be sure!

[This message has been edited by sallen1 (edited 01-17-2003).]

[Ben Plymale]

To: Mr. Gerry Laughlin
From: Ben Plymale -


Mr. Laughlin,

Replying to your concern regarding restrictions on offers to GM Employee Purchases. I am a retired GM Employee (retired from General Motors 9/1/95, last 12 years with GM a Factroy / Dealership Auditor regarding Sales Incentive and Service Warranty claims). I am unaware of the restriction the GN Rep. told you about, I would suggest you have the GM Rep. show you 'in black and white' that guide line as published by GM. This may exist, but I'm not aware of it.

[This message has been edited by mbowers (edited 01-22-2003).]

[scotstrong]

Just a reminder that these forums are not to be used to attempt to sell products or services.

[Drdo]

Winning With Integrity
These guidelines for employee conduct demonstrate GM's commitment to integrity, and cover the subjects of personal integrity, integrity in the workplace, integrity in the marketplace, and integrity in society and its communities.The booklets are available for GM employees in the following languages:

Gifts, Entertainment & Gratuities
Employees are guided through the rules for receiving gifts, entertainment or other gratuity from suppliers and others.

Directly pasted from gm.com FYI.

[Matt Parsons]

XXX

[This message has been edited by Matt Parsons (edited 01-21-2003).]

[Matt Parsons]

Being that my company was once owned by GM and we are their largest IT supplier, we are very aware of issues relating to gifts, etc. It is my understanding that GM employees can accept no gifts from vendors, business partners, perspective partners, etc. This rule is very stringent. An example, each year EDS hosts a brunch at NADA for our clients, partners, prospects, etc. When GM people participate, we provide them with an 'invoice' for the meal so they can pay it, and expense it to the company. GM'ers are very cautious around this ruling as I believe it is grounds for termination. The question at hand is if you offer it to every customer, can they partake. You will need a ruling directly from GM on that one. I will ask our GM counterparts for their input.

[ssoper]

I worked for CMD/GM for 17 years in the field before going retail in 1996.
I will tell you that every December, all field people sign a letter stating they will not accept nor have anything (use to be $25. aparently has moved to $60) with a value over $25. Even those items below the $$$ amount were supposed to be "consumable" within 24 hours........ IE bottle of booze/wine etc.......
The concern is "conflict of interest" and the possiblity of a reps judgement being clouded....... They don't even allow reps to let a dealer buy his lunch........

[sheri01]

GREAT ISN'T IT? EVEN WITH REPS OVER THE YEARS THAT I HAVE LIKED. THE COFFEE CUP WE KEPT ON SPECIFICALLY FOR THE REP WHEN HE CAME TO VISIT HAD TO STAY AT THE DEALERSHIP. ALSO, HAVE BEEN TOLD IN THE PAST BY CHRYSLER REP THAT THEY ARE NOT EVEN SUPPOSED TO PARTAKE OF GOODIES(COOKIES,ETC.) ON HAND AT THE TIME OF THEIR VISIT, UNLESS DEALER EMPLOYEES PARTAKE AT THE SAME TIME. WHILE I UNDERSTAND THE CONFLICT ISSUE, IT HAS BEEN REDUCED TO THE RIDICULOUS. WITH GM EMPLOYEE PURCHASE TABOOS(FREE LOF'S, ETC), THE REAL QUESTION BECOMES WHETHER THIS IS A SALES PROGRAM, OR A SERVICE ONE. IF IT IS A SALES OFFER, CONTIGENT UPON PURCHASE OF VEHICLE, IT IS FORBIDDEN. HOWEVER, IF IT IS A SERVICE SPECIAL, CONTINGENT UPON WHERE VEHICLE IS SERVICED, IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT MATTER. ANY THOUGHTS? AT LEAST THAT IS THE RATIONALE A STORE IN OUR AREA IS USING TO JUSTIFY THE FREE TIRES 4 EVER.