Some Sad Chevrolet Dealership Stories
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http://youtu.be/Nl9-FxKQPvQ
First of all, this isn’t unique to GM or the Chevy Spark EV or Volt at all — it happens with EV models from every major (non-Tesla) auto brand. It’s one huge reason — the huge reason — Tesla sells its vehicles the way it does.
Secondly, there are also some great dealerships and salespeople.
First, here’s the opener to a thread on the GM-Volt.com forum (minor edits):
Idiot dealers
I drove my Volt into our local Chevy dealership (Port Angeles WA) and asked If they had or were expecting to have a Spark E.V. on the lot I could drive. At first he acted excited about 400 plus foot pounds of torque. This was before he asked the manager when they might get a spark E.V. The manager replied (misinformed) that Oregon, California and a state on the East coast require auto manufactures to offer a pure E.V. in their states and this policy was going to kill the auto companies that comply. California requires auto manufacturers to meet a fleet average MPG that E.V.s allow them to achieve without increasing all other models dramatically, hence the compliance vehicles. We all get this. The dealer didn’t. At this point the manager (with a smart ass smirk) says, “why would you want an electric car?,” then, “BMW has 60000 new 3 series electric cars sitting on lots that no one will buy.” This was a complete fabrication as I could see it. I said, “are you talking about the I-3?” He responded, “its some sort of 3 series.” I did not even bother to argue. I just turned and walked for the door. The dealer followed me outside and proceeded to say “you know the batteries in electric cars are a complete ecological disaster!” At this point I snapped and replied, “I completely disagree with you spreading misinformation. Batteries are ecologically more damaging than mining, trucking, shipping, trucking, refining, trucking, then burning 500 plus gallons of gas that can never be reused again every year?” He was stunned, turned red and replied, “You know the Volt is an incredible driving experience. If you ever get the chance to drive one it is totally different than traditional cars.” I told him, “I know,” as he watched me walk over to mine and drive away.
My point is How does Chevy expect the Volt or the Spark E.V. to ever reach market saturation if the very dealers that sell them are content with disdain and misinformation? What a shame.
That’s just once case of countless, sadly.
Another forum member added a story of his own (minor edits incorporated):
It was hard to buy my 2nd volt when my lease expired on the 1st. One salesman at the dealer I got my first one from said Volts were a piece of crap. I explained to him it was the best car I ever had. I got mine finally from another dealer at about his quote.
And I liked this idea from another forum member:
A group should get together and go into that same dealer every day or two and ask for Spark EVs and listen to his ramblings and offer the same rebuttals and walk out enough to get the point [across].
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