OUT OF THE LOOP

[bluepart]

Now that we are so RIM compliant 99.6 and purchase loyalty 98.2, we hardly ever call outside for parts on GM vehicles. We do not work on that many Brand X vehicles. The people at the WD,s we never talk to anymore, the local NAPA Azone Oreally folks never get called very often. The personal relationships are fading fast. Those folks were also our customers. They now may consider other brands. There is no PR with GM ,just computers and someone that has no interest in us. Do any of you see any of this at your store? Been at this now for 39+ years all GM. Have never seen it like this.

[PartsPlant81]

The saddest part is GM doesn't care about you or the dealership that you work at. They only care about their bottom line and that has increased now that you are buying 98% of your parts from them...

[bentwrench54]

yes, i've noticed it. however, in my neck of the woods, it's hard to justify a $500 wheel bearing on a 10 year old vehicle when a $200 might just as easily get the job done. price is a big factor around here.

[camaroman]

I have to admit I play with retail prices so we can compete with the other guys. I also make sure the advisors are telling the customers about the Lifetime Parts Warranty on the part if applicable. We are located in a small town and the whole area around us consists of a majority of HUD housing and we do not have any industry at all. We are one of the biggest employers in our area. So it makes it hard to sell the hub bearing at $500.00, when the aftermarket is $200.00 but we do the best we can to keep the customer.

[bluepart]

Yeah we do the same here. Sales loyalty percentage caves after doing much of that. Last month was 79.99% due to a used engine put in a 92 Buick, and an Azone steering rack and p.s. pump in a 97 Regal. Neither case would I have wanted to pay GM prices if I owned those cars. 79.99% won't pay the Same Day Initiative Credit. Have to keep the other two qualifiers up though to keep from getting hit with surcharges on the parts ordered from GM.

[possum]

Yeah we do the same here. Sales loyalty percentage caves after doing much of that. Last month was 79.99% due to a used engine put in a 92 Buick, and an Azone steering rack and p.s. pump in a 97 Regal.

Was that engine even available from GM anymore? Remember you can get an exemption on high-dollar stuff like that if it's discontinued or on backorder from GM. We had to do that on a 6.0 for a k2500 when we couldn't get one from GM.

Document everything maybe a Partech case or SPAC case and write your DMA a letter. It worked for us!

[Richard]

Yeah we do the same here. Sales loyalty percentage caves after doing much of that. Last month was 79.99% due to a used engine put in a 92 Buick, and an Azone steering rack and p.s. pump in a 97 Regal. Neither case would I have wanted to pay GM prices if I owned those cars. 79.99% won't pay the Same Day Initiative Credit. Have to keep the other two qualifiers up though to keep from getting hit with surcharges on the parts ordered from GM.

Why would you not just sublet that junk?

[CTSVOWNER]

We had a customer with a older vehicle that needed a engine recently. We found a used one for him and sold it to him over the counter. He got a better price thru us that directly thru the salvage yard. Then he turns and asked if we could install it. How could we turn him down?

[JMShocker2010]

I would have done it in house too. screw GM

[camaroman]

The whole thing is to make our customers happy. It would be great if GM was the only game in town, but guess what there are tons of competitors out there. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do to make your customer happy. If only GM would consider us their customers things would be a lot differnet.