Avalanche Accesories

[Gerry Laughlin]

Probably only the Chevrolet Dealers have experienced this, but in the long run it may affect us all. GM is shipping the running boards and luggage racks that are ordered on an Avalanche seperately from the vehicles, instead of with the vehicle. They can arrive up to two weeks ahead of the vehicle. Up until today I have been able to stay away from this fiasco and keep it under New Car's control. We were sent a set of running boards instead of a luggage rack. The DBC is wanting me to get involved in contacting the WPC as far as return of the wrong parts and contacting SPAC to see if another set is on the way. I have always operated under the belief that we all have to work together so I don't mind helping out in a bad situation. But I also have been in this business long enough to realize that if GM is allowed to get away with something once they will expand the program to screw the dealer on a larger scale. I guess what I am getting at is imagine the logistics nightmare if GM were to expand this program to include all accesories that have been traditionally shipped with the vehicles, not just Avalanches. You and I both know keeping this stuff stored and straight will most likely fall on the parts department, since we are the ones that signed for them. Isn't that what I have always gotten paid to do? It seems to me as though selling accesories to the New Car department has always contributed to putting food in my kids mouths, now it appears as GM plans to take that away. Any thoughts on this?

Thanks
Gerry Laughlin

[Richard]

I agree 101%! for years GM has tried every way possible to force their overpriced accessories down our throats...currently I have 6 or 7 roof racks sitting in parts and the New car department is asking me to give them credit for them if the customer doesn't want it installed!..Not going to happen....not on my watch!!!

[Hawk]

Let's not get excited about this one. There are plenty of other things to get upset at the factory about. My guess is that there is no way to ship these long pieces inside the vehicle without the midgate open to the elements. It certainly costs them more to ship these accessories in this manner. They wouldn't do it unless they had to, in my opinion.

Tom Hawkins

[Gerry Laughlin]

Hawk,
We have received 3 admin messages regarding these shipments, not one has explained the rationale behind this program and given reassurances that this is not the start of something new. I will agree that fitting these parts inside the vehicle doesn't appear very feasible, but the camping kit (Northface or whatever they call it) comes the same way, and that will fit on a seat. As far as the cost of shipping it the current way, I am somewhat skeptical. It has to cost them a fair amount to get inventory shipped to the assembly plant, inventory the part at the assembly plant, along with the cost of getting them into the vehicle. In my mind it may be cheaper to get the supplier to ship the part directly to the dealership. Maybe I am just getting more cynical the longer I am in this business, but when it comes to GMSPO and their accessories, somehow I figure I am going to come out the loser.

Thanks,
Gerry Laughlin

PS:
Hawk, I also handle our website here, so I usually scope out everybody else's website that posts here. Your dealership has probably the best dealership website I have seen.
Gerry

[Gerry Laughlin]

Update:
In the course of trying to resolve my current situation regarding the running boards shipped in error, I spoke with a person at GMSPO accessories, who stated that the Avalanche program is "just the tip of the iceberg" and that we will start seeing more and more of this. These are that persons words, not mine.
Thank You,
Gerry Laughlin

[Parts007]

As Parts Managers, we are forced to accept these accessories for the Avalanche into our department. We find a place to put them and keep them secure until sales gets around to having someone install them. We must sort them by VIN and police them to make sure they are installed on the correct vehicle. All this while keeping them out of our inventory, and not making a dime on them when we finally hand them out.

Tony

[greg01]

I am not a GM dealer, so I am not speaking on the current situation, BUT, I WOULD NEVER, EVER, put myself in the middle like that. What if a set is lost, or what if it is damaged during shipment and not noticed? What if there is missing hardware? All that and not making a dime on it to boot? As soon as they came in, I would be asking the NCD Manager where he wanted the stuff stored, prep, or his office.

A few years back a Lotus dealer I worked for received a PALLET LOAD of "free" wheels for a recall, that I needed to store and keep secure until the customers came in for replacement. They were no to be billed out to the RO, nor was I to be paid for handling. I called the Lotus rep and told him either I was getting my warranty mark up off the cost price of those wheels, or he could make sure he had someone sitting out in my parking lot 24 hours a day securing HIS (I wasnt billed for them) wheels. He caved, and I got my markup.

These manufacturers will dump more and more on the dealers, who will in turn dump it on parts, IF we let them.

Greg

[Gerry Laughlin]

As an update to this thread, I have spoken with Glenn Heller who is spearheading this whole program. The program is planned for expansion, but they are currently working out a system to reimburse the parts department for handling. He had asked my opinion as to what was fair, to which I replied that he might be better off getting another Parts Managers opinion, since I am very prejudicial against GM accessories (which I feel are extremely overpriced). I did point out what my profit is on a regular stock item, and questioned why I should handle these for any less.

Gerry Laughlin