GM to Dealers: "No More Full Tank Freebies"

[Variance]

GM to Dealers: "No More Full Tank Freebies"

[T]he General's laying down the law on dealerships in the latest missive from the bean-counting bureaucrats at the RenCen...by making it clear they'll no longer reimburse dealers for a full of tank of gas upon delivery. Instead, the Detroit-based automaker will be handing the dealership $20 for cars and $30 for trucks -- which if we've calculated correctly, will mean the dealer will be able to pump just over six gallons into a car and ten gallons into a truck without dipping into their own pockets.

Editor's Note: You can also find the actual letter to dealers at the link.

Read "GM Says To Dealers: No Gas For You!" @ Jalopnik

[zete]

When I bought my first new car in 1984 I was amazed that the car came nearly empty. Every car I bought after that -- regardless of dealer -- it was full. This is just plain petty, and stupid. It's the little things that irk customers and this one would be up there. Just up the price of the stupid car by another $30 and cover your cost if you're going to be this anal about it.

Idiots.

[regfootball]

i got a full tank when i got my tek. i was surprised and thought it was a classy thing. to bad the beancounters oce again are $h!ting on customers.

[Northstar]

I always had to fill up the vehicles at the dealership with a full tank if they were sold. We would actually put about 5 gallons in cars and 7 in trucks/SUVs if they needed gas and were just sitting on the lot. I think GM only paid for half of the gas, though, so I'm not sure if this is really that much different except on vehicles that requrie many test drives to sell. I guess it's sort of an incentive to get the deal done without a lot of test drives so that the dealer doesn't have to pay for more gas.

[SableStyle]

HHR under trucks, Vibe under cars?

[AAS]

The dealership can still give you the car with a full tank... this just means that GM won't be reimbursing the entire tank's worth of fuel. It's the dealership's loss, unless they decide to pass the buck and charge the remainder of the tank to the customer.

[WCCPSGM]

Your seling a 30,000.00 vehicle, and you won't drop 1/1,000 of the purchase price for a tank of gas. That's just stupid. I'll bet Honda and Toyota fill the tanks up.

[siegen]

I would rather put my own gas in there, since depending on the dealer and location of the nearest gas station, they may be filling it up with something like Arco.

Or they could just stop paying their executives so much.

[76ChevyTrucker]

I always saw the "first tank free" thing as a courtesy that the dealer did for the customer. Oh well, when I got my GA, the first tank was on them, and then after my GA was totalled, my Impala came with what was in the tank (hardly anything). I always guessed it was the perogitive (sp?) of to dealer to tank you up.

[Newbiewar]

all this means is...

GM vehicles will be sold at a slightly higher price...

and its another several million dollars GM will save per year...

its part of the total value promise...

at our dealership we give customers 2 free tanks of gas...

[Dragon]

HHR under trucks?

183105[/snapback]

+1

Car engine, car frame, truck class?

Oh well, that’s $10 more of free gas.

[CARBIZ]

There are no more free rides. GM does not pay for the gas up here. When the vehicles arrive on the lot they probably have about 1 1/2 gallons in the tank.

The car may have cost you $30,000, but that is not how much the dealer made. If the dealer makes $1,000, has to pay the clean up guy, PDI guy and the salesperson, plus keep the lights on and the taxman happy, how much money to you think there is left over for a full tank of gas?

(And in Canada, that can be $60 on a Malibu!)

I agree that the perception isn't great, but if the dealer swallowed $50 a car, that would be a lot of money over the course of the year.

[Cremazie]

We may actually see another service charge added on to the vehicle in order to pay for fuel. Maybe a dealer's fee.

[ShadowDog]

We're one step away from Hybrid vehicles coming with a disclaimer:

"Batteries not included"

[pow]

Let's hope dealers don't put regular gas in a C6 just to take the needle closer to "F".

[pow]

BTW, what about filling FlexFuel cars up with E85 from the factory? That could be a green PR point.

[Flybrian]

Let's hope dealers don't put regular gas in a C6 just to take the needle closer to "F".

183523[/snapback]

I had to stop the salesman from putting 5 gallons of 87 octane into my Aurora.

"You'll get more gas, though."

"What? Half a gallon? No, 93, please."

[knightfan26917]

So, when the cars arrive at the dealership from the factory, do they have a full tank ... or, do they just have enough gas to get 'em on and off the truck?

Cort, "Mr MC" / "Mr Road Trip", 32swm/pig valve/pacemaker

MC:family.IL.guide.future = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/

Models.HO = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/trainroom.html

"Surely this can be explained" ... Lonestar ... 'No News'

[daves87rs]

So, when the cars arrive at the dealership from the factory, do they have a full tank ... or, do they just have enough gas to get 'em on and off the truck?

Cort, "Mr MC" / "Mr Road Trip", 32swm/pig valve/pacemaker

MC:family.IL.guide.future = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/

Models.HO = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/trainroom.html

"Surely this can be explained" ... Lonestar ... 'No News'

183787[/snapback]

Nope-just enough....

And believe it or not, there are a lot of dealerships around here that don't give you a full tank..which include Honda, Kia, Ford and more..

[Newbiewar]

Nope-just enough....

And believe it or not, there are a lot of dealerships around here that don't give you a full tank..which include Honda, Kia, Ford and more..

183797[/snapback]

if i remember correctly i read somewhere it was by law... to fill it on a new vehicle...

for us as soon as it gets off the truck we give it 1/4 tank... and fill it all the way on at point of sale...

the used cars always get 1/4 tank...

[knightfan26917]

Nope-just enough....

*nods*

I figured that was the case ......

Cort, "Mr MC" / "Mr Road Trip", 32swm/pig valve/pacemaker

MC:family.IL.guide.future = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/

Models.HO = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/trainroom.html

"You really think you're in control?" ... Gnarls Barkley ... 'Crazy'

Edited August 24, 2006 by knightfan26917

[Guest buickman]

This decision is being rescinded. Full tanks for everyone!

Buickman

[Guest Josh]

This decision is being rescinded. Full tanks for everyone!

Buickman

184999[/snapback]

Lets hope I can't see how GM can make this a permanent fixture in their corporate structure.

[Flybrian]

I'd rather see ABS standard across the whole lineup like it almost was in the past rather than reimbursing dealers (not consumers) for gasoline.

[Guest buickman]

I'd rather see ABS standard across the whole lineup like it almost was in the past rather than reimbursing dealers (not consumers) for gasoline.

185083[/snapback]

Actually the ABS move has proven to be worthwhile. Many customers prefer to save the $600 and have less exposure to potential repair expense. The option is available for those who want the additional safety. The free gas on the other hand is something that everyone appreciates. I have it by credible source that the gasoline decision has been reversed.

Buickman

Edited August 26, 2006 by buickman

[Newbiewar]

Actually the ABS move has proven to be worthwhile. Many customers prefer to save the $600 and have less exposure to potential repair expense. The option is available for those who want the additional safety. The free gas on the other hand is something that everyone appreciates. I have it by credible source that the gasoline decision has been reversed.

Buickman

185151[/snapback]

ive had one or two customers that will not purchase a car if it has abs on it... for various reasons... but none the less would not...

[I hope GMRULES again]

Actually the ABS move has proven to be worthwhile. Many customers prefer to save the $600 and have less exposure to potential repair expense. The option is available for those who want the additional safety. The free gas on the other hand is something that everyone appreciates. I have it by credible source that the gasoline decision has been reversed.

Buickman

185151[/snapback]

I am one of those people who would prefer to pass on the ABS, I don't want no ABS light on the dash years down the road that costs a fortune to fix.

[Robert Hall]

I couldn't see a reason not to get the ABS...I think safety features like side airbags, etc should be standard an not an option..

[I hope GMRULES again]

When I bought my first new car in 1984 I was amazed that the car came nearly empty. Every car I bought after that -- regardless of dealer -- it was full. This is just plain petty, and stupid. It's the little things that irk customers and this one would be up there. Just up the price of the stupid car by another $30 and cover your cost if you're going to be this anal about it.

Idiots.

182990[/snapback]

My brother bought a new Pontiac in January 1984 and the temperature outside was about 20 below when he left the dealer with about a gallon of gas and didn't the car brake down on the way home. Had it towed back and they said the fuel line froze.

I have bought 4 new vehicles and all of them have been on empty when I picked them up. I traded in my S10 and it had 1/2 a tank so I asked the dealer to give me a gas coupon for 20 bucks to put in the Cavalier since it was on empty.

[Newbiewar]

I couldn't see a reason not to get the ABS...I think safety features like side airbags, etc should be standard an not an option..

185469[/snapback]

not when you beleive was a reason that almost killed you...

Many saftey devices are very dangerous...

example, seat belts... if you get into an accident sometimes it wont unlatch... (probably less occurances these days)

air bags... airbags can kill a person if they sit to close to the wheel, like i do... I'm almost 6 feet, but i almost always slide the seat as far forward as it will let me...

ABS... well if you know how to brake... do you really want the car to try control the situation if you can see a resolution... I had a customer that was considering the LS impala because it was one of the only to not have standard ABS in its class...

[Flybrian]

I think the point here is big deal. This isn't passing a damn thing along to the customers that the dealership management can't do themselves. How about spending a little bit less on stupid promotions?

[regfootball]

changed their minds