A Letter From Chevy

[Patrick]

In the mail today, I got this letter from Chevrolet:

Dear Patrick,
For nearly 10 decades, Chevrolet has strived to earn the honor of "America's Brand." Tens of millions of customers just like you have trusted use to serve their transportation needs...and we value that confidence. That is why I am writing to you today. As everyone knows, these are turbulent times. The daily surge of headlines about the automotive industry can get discouraging. But I wanted to be certain that you know one very important fact: Chevrolet is focused on being your car company...committed to fulfilling your transportation needs in sales and service...both now and in the future.

I've had the honor of leading this Chevrolet team for more than four years...and I can assure you that our people and our dealers are committed to your complete satisfaction with your ownership experience.

We cherish our proud 98-year history. But more important, we look forward to our exciting future. And we've already begun reinventing Chevrolet to serve your needs more effectively than ever. For example, no one offers more models with 30 MPG highway or better than Chevy(1). And right now, we are reengineerinig our showroom- with cars like our award-winning Malibu...with America's Best Truck, Silverado...with the newest star in family vehicles, the 8-passenger Traverse...and with the 21st century sports car, Camaro(2).

Our 2010 Equinox will head to your local Chevy dealer this summer. And two more exciting products are scheduled to begin production next year- first is the awsome new Cruze, our new entry in the Compact Car segment, providing suprising cargo capacity and comfortable seating for five. Then, we begin production of the Chevy Volt, the world's first Extended-Range Electric Vehicle. Volt is tomorrow's hope for an energy-challenged world...and the embodiment of the new Chevrolet. And all these new products are just the beginning!

As a valued member of the Chevy family, I hope you can see that you're a part of a rich history and an exciting future. And we deeply appreciate your business. I'll stay in touch on all the happenings at Chevrolet. In the meantime, if you have questions, please don't hesitate to contact Chevy Customer Service at cac @ chevrolet.com.

Above all- thanks for letting us be such an important part of your life. And we look forward to celebrating our centennial with you in 2011.

Sincerely.
/s/
Ed Peper,
North American Vice President, Chevrolet

(1) Based on EPA Estimates. Models include Aveo, Aveo5, Cobalt, Cobalt XFE, HHR, HHR Panel, Malibu (1LT, 2LT, LTZ), Malibu Hybrid (very limited availability) and 2010 Equinox (available summer 2009)
(2) Avalable to order.
Chevy, the Chevrolet Logo, and the slogans, emblems, vehicle model names, vehicle body designs and other marks appearing in this document are the trademarks and/or service marks of General Motors Corporation, its subsidiaries, affiliates or licensors. ©2009 GM Corp. Buckle Up, America!

Nice letter, but it's basically a marketing effort intended to stem the anticipated flow of customers away from GM when the coming bankruptcy scares people away from buying from GM anymore. I imagine recent purchasers of other GM makes have received similar letters (although I'd like to read what Pontiac and Saturn customers got in their letter.) And I should add that all the legalese at the bottom of the letter somewhat waters down the sincerity, but I understand- lawyers are everywhere.

In my case, I'm so sure the effort is going to yeild them dividends. I've been giving this some thought, and my tentative response, which I shall refine and send off to that customer service email, probably tomorrow, will read something along these lines:

Mr. Ed Peper, North American Vice President
Chevrolet

Dear Mr. Peper,
This email responds to your recent letter. I'd like to thank you for informing me of the virtues of the various products in the Chevrolet line. I'm a Corvette owner, and I was rather disappointed to see it didn't get a mention, and has apparently lost its "sports car for the 21st century" status to the Camaro.

In your letter, you make the following statement:

"As a valued member of the Chevy family, I hope you can see that you're a part of a rich history and an exciting future. And we deeply appreciate your business. I'll stay in touch on all the happenings at Chevrolet."

I appreciate these sentiments, and I thank you for taking the time to communicate with recent purchasers of Chevrolet vehicles. But I don't believe it will be necessary for you to continue to keep in contact with me. As I understand GM's current situation, a Chapter 11 Reorganization bankruptcy filing is likely to occur next week- this is something I believe GM should have done in December, without taking any Federal TARP funds. If that had occurred, my feelings on the matter would be far more sympathetic towards GM.

As GM did take TARP funds, more than once, in fact, it is now beholden to the Federal Government and it's automobile "task force." The most recent report I've heard is that while in Chapter 11, GM will be 70% owned by the United States and Canadian governments. Further, the UAW will own approximately 17% of the company. I find this significantly more than troubling, particularly given that the current United States government is as wealth redistributive and anti-business as it is. The 'clean energy economy' they are promoting is, I believe, likely to manifest itself in your industry as vehicles no one is going to want to own because there is no market for them.

What you must understand about my standpoint is that even though I have always been a fan of General Motors, and the Corvette in particular, and even though every vehicle I have ever owned in my life has been a GM product, the thought of doing business with a company owned nearly 90% by a combination of government and union is simply a non-starter for me. I refuse to support that, and I believe ultimately, it will be an unsustainable business model.

This is why, for the very first time in my life, I am considering purchasing a foreign make. I believe my next vehicle purchase will likely be a Lexus or BMW product. This is why I don't believe you will need to keep me updated on the future of Chevrolet. I am not as optimistic about its future as you are, and as a Corvette enthusiast, that realization breaks my heart.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Regards,
Patrick

 

[njlouc]

Patrick.... You wrote an excellent response albeit a sad one.
Note that Ed Peper's letter was full of typos and mis-spellings. I guess he was too teary eyed to proof it or so reduced in staff that he has no secretary.
It seems that the world is on its head. It will take many years to resolve all the issues and even then life will be SO different from what we knew.
Also I dont think the foreign car companies will have it all that easy. They will have to meet CAFE and typically they either paid someone off or paid (pass-on) the fine.
One thing that has always amazed me was that BMW is built like a watch in a lab. The workers are spotless and so is the factory. They take great pains to consider every detail ---- yet after 40,000miles (and often before) they have just as much or more trouble as the others .. go figure.

 

[Patrick]

Note that Ed Peper's letter was full of typos and mis-spellings. I guess he was too teary eyed to proof it or so reduced in staff that he has no secretary.

Actually, I had to type it into the post, so the typos are probably mine.

 

[Patrick]

Update: my email to Mr. Peper (at least that's who I addressed it to. No telling who at that email address will actually get it.) has been sent. If I get a reply, I'll post it.

 

[jrose7004]

I'll bet you won't get a response.

 

[Patrick]

I'll bet you won't get a response.

Even if I don't, writing that email and sending it was still worth it for me. I'm their customer, and I want them to know how disillusioned with GM's poor management decisions and the UAW's intransigence I've become.

 

[JimVette]

Yesterday I sent a similiar e-mail to Chevrolet showing my displeasure with GM and their possible decision of bedding down with chinese auto makers. this was their response;

Service Request: 71-728452496
Customer Relationship Specialist: Jerry Robinson
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o> </o>
<o> </o>
Dear Mr. Nolan,
<o> </o>
<o> </o>
Thank you for contacting the General Motors Customer Assistance Center. We appreciate your comments regarding General Motors corporate affairs.
<o> </o>
<o> </o>
General Motors philosophy has always been to build where we sell, and we continue to believe that is the best strategy for long term success, both from a product development and business planning standpoint.
<o> </o>
<o> </o>
General Motors viability plan anticipates that about 65 percent of vehicles sold in the U.S. will continue to be built in the U.S. Further, we expect more than 90 percent of GM vehicles sold in the U.S. to continue to be built in North America.
<o> </o>
<o> </o>
General Motors will continue to use imports from outside of North America to capitalize on market opportunities. Current products from outside the region include the subcompact Chevrolet Aveo and Pontiac G3 (Korea), Saturn Astra (Belgium) and Pontiac G8 (Australia).
<o> </o>
<o> </o>
We acknowledge and appreciate your continued loyalty to General Motors and we have documented your concerns. Your thoughts and opinions are very important to us. Thank you again for taking the time to let us know how you feel.
<o> </o>
<o> </o>
If you should need to contact us in the future, simply reply to this message or call our General Motors Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-222-1020. Customer Relationship Specialists are available Mondays through Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
<o> </o>
<o> </o>
For more information regarding the maintenance and care of your vehicle, please visit www.gmownercenter.com. This free online service offers vehicle and ownership-related information and tools tailored to your specific Chevrolet vehicle.
<o> </o>
<o> </o>
Again, thank you for contacting General Motors.
<o> </o>
<o> </o>
Sincerely,
<o> </o>
<o> </o>
The General Motors Consumer Support Team
<o> </o>
<o> </o>
Did you notice they never mentioned china.

 

[Chrisr]

Patrick, excellent response letter, my friend. You put into words on paper what has been floating around in my head for a few months. Also I echo your sentiments about buying another GM product. I'm due for a new truck next year. I hate to say it, but Ford is looking pretty good right now.

 

[killain]

Patrick, excellent response letter, my friend. You put into words on paper what has been floating around in my head for a few months. Also I echo your sentiments about buying another GM product. I'm due for a new truck next year. I hate to say it, but Ford is looking pretty good right now.

Damn Patrick, you wrote just what I and all of the above posts display both mentally and financially. I too considered the fact that GM had to declear bankruptcy back in November 20th, when Mr. Gettelfinger said the UAW wasn't going to accept the bailout plan put forth by U.S. Sentor Corker. And as of that moment I told my brother in law, that was the Internal Implosion of General Motors and that nothing was going to revive this dead company. Now $20 billion of public money later, we are no closer to a rebuilt GM than we were in Novenber 2008. and if that isn't enough, we going to pour another $30 billion into the black hole that is General Motors today.

I even bought a poster of the 2009 Corvette ZR-1. My wife asked me why I bought the poster and framed and have it hanging on my offfice wall. I said to my wonderful wife, " Joanne, that picture is the high water mark of this company and that from this point forth, it is all downhill ! "

I too am so disillusioned in this company, that I'm hoping that I can maintain my 2003 Corvette till I can find a replacement, which at this point is looking like 2010 Hyundia Genesis Coupe. And It's sad, really sad that once more, an Amercian company, a company that is 100 years old is dead broke. And has been blundered by the thieves who for the last twenty years, passed themselves off as Management, but of course nothing would have been as distructive as this without the wondeful corrosive ideology of the UAW. I really hope they all can go home and rationalize their bahavior throughout this incredible corporate implosion. But I can inform them, they have seen the end of my purchases for the last 30 years.

As far as I'm concerned today, I've had it. For me as of next Monday, My divorce with the Chevy Corvette is final. And I'm feeling quite conflicted in so much as I have had five Corvettes starting with a 1959 with which I was baptized into auto restoration arena. For me today, There is no General Motors !ad

 

[U.P. John]

Good post, but it goes for all of corporate America who sold us all out for "profits". Hope you don't mind my editing.

May the truth win out...

And It's sad, really sad that once more, an American company, a company that is 100 years old, is dead broke. And has been plundered by the thieves, who for the last twenty years, passed themselves off as Management, but, of course, nothing would have been as destructive as this without the wonderful corrosive ideology of the corporate god. I really hope they all can go home and rationalize their bahavior throughout this incredible corporate implosion.

 

[Patrick]

Good post, but it goes for all of corporate America who sold us all out for "profits". Hope you don't mind my editing.

May the truth win out...

And It's sad, really sad that once more, an Amercian company, a company that is 100 years old is dead broke. And has been blundered by the thieves who for the last twenty years, passed themselves off as Management, but of course nothing would have been as distructive as this without the wondeful corrosive ideology of the corporate god. I really hope they all can go home and rationalize their bahavior throughout this incredible corporate implosion.

I find it odd, John, that in your condemnation of corporate greed, you left out completely any involvement of unions in this situation. Have you noticed that of the industries closest to the brink of bankruptcy (Airlines, Newspapers, Automobile Manufacturers), all of them have unions they have contend with?

Sorry, but on a pure cause-and-effect analysis, I find unions to be more of a problem than a solution. Whatever management woes exist at GM, they are dwarfed by the overwhelming "me first" attitude of the UAW on the subject of entitlements.

I stand by what I said back last fall: had GM gone into a Chapter 11 Reorganization, the unions would have been in far less of a position to dictate demands over pension and health care benefits than are under Obama. The business model his "task force" is forcing upon GM and Chrysler is unworkable and unsustainable.

And it's the reason I'm currently exploring trading my C6 for a BMW 7-series. I won't be a customer to a company owned by a conglomeration of government and union interests. Simple as that.

 

[U.P. John]

I didn't leave the unions out, I merely expanded on his blame. But go ahead and enjoy your BMW...

I'm not giving up on my country yet.

Oh, regarding unions, how about your fave NHL team, whose players are ALL union members. Pretty funny, a bunch of millonaires needing a union...

 

[KANE]

What you must understand about my standpoint is that even though I have always been a fan of General Motors, and the Corvette in particular, and even though every vehicle I have ever owned in my life has been a GM product, the thought of doing business with a company owned nearly 90% by a combination of government and union is simply a non-starter for me. I refuse to support that, and I believe ultimately, it will be an unsustainable business model.

This is why, for the very first time in my life, I am considering purchasing a foreign make. I believe my next vehicle purchase will likely be a Lexus or BMW product. This is why I don't believe you will need to keep me updated on the future of Chevrolet. I am not as optimistic about its future as you are, and as a Corvette enthusiast, that realization breaks my heart.

Great response.

I'm partial to Ford now myself. Correct me if I'm wrong- but they haven't taken any TARP funds, have they? If they did I missed it.

I'm fed up too with bail-out mania. I hope more states pass 10th amendment laws and force Washington back on its heals. When Washington gets its VAT tax to pay for all of its wish list programs- I hope the states push back with the argument that government is regulating intrastate trade. I also want a "made in Montana" AR-15 just out of spite.

I say buy used. Much like buying a used CD where the artist does not get paid for the royalty, buying a used car does not put money back into GM or Chrysler. Don't buy "genuine parts" either. Support the aftermarket.

Moreover than anything, I want the lawyers at GM to be smarter than the "Auto Task Force" buffoons and to figure a way around letting the government make every product decision.

 

[njlouc]

We Are All Mad !

I think that at this point we were all betrayed by everyone involved. The corrupt unions, the even more corrupt "management",and the totally corrupt government. I see/sense a lot of rage.:bash
You are correct that Ford didnt take tarp $$. They are now free to build the cars that people want.
Their management headed by Bill Ford did a bold and gutsy move a couple of years ago. Ford felt that the job was over his head and he stepped down. You never see a top exec think of the compny at his own expense. Kudos for Bill!! Then they got mega financing when financing was good and developed a great product line. All this while GM was waiting for Santa Claus and the Easter bunny. they hoped that gas would go to zero so they could sell more SUV's. Look at the Camaro. it took years to get a Holden and put a new body on it . Some of you guys could have done better and faster in your garage!! NOW here is a new question. Why doesnt the industry - particularly Ford advertise more. I very rarely see ads for cars and when I do they are for foreign makes... Go figure.
Well ... either way this is the perfect time for the now government (liberal/environmental) owned GM to experiment with the perfect product line of mini cars and electrics and so many "environmentally friendly" cars. how wonderful will that be? Just think of how many polar bears will thank you. Oh BTW the Vette will be toast. Do you think that Obama Motors will permit such opulence? ;help

 

[killain]

Sitting through the collapse !

I find it odd, John, that in your condemnation of corporate greed, you left out completely any involvement of unions in this situation. Have you noticed that of the industries closest to the brink of bankruptcy (Airlines, Newspapers, Automobile Manufacturers), all of them have unions they have contend with?

Sorry, but on a pure cause-and-effect analysis, I find unions to be more of a problem than a solution. Whatever management woes exist at GM, they are dwarfed by the overwhelming "me first" attitude of the UAW on the subject of entitlements.

I stand by what I said back last fall: had GM gone into a Chapter 11 Reorganization, the unions would have been in far less of a position to dictate demands over pension and health care benefits than are under Obama. The business model his "task force" is forcing upon GM and Chrysler is unworkable and unsustainable.

And it's the reason I'm currently exploring trading my C6 for a BMW 7-series. I won't be a customer to a company owned by a conglomeration of government and union interests. Simple as that.

Being retired and sick, I was able to sit and watch last November on CNN the Congressional hearings where the Big 3 CEO's sat down before Congress, and I was absolutely shocked when on the third , and last day. And after much ruffling of Government feathers, and verbal attacks back and forth, That on the very last day, Senator Corker had PERSUADED his angry fellow Senators into one last attempt to find a answer to the financial woes of GM and Chrysler. He put forth a plan where the Big 3 automaker CEO's would work for $1.00 a year and in exchange, the house would lend 25 billion of the 35 billion the the car exec's has asked for. Everyone agreed and it looked like a done deal. But at at the last moment, around 3pm, Mr. Gettelfinger the head of the UAW said no dice, he wanted more wage guarantees !

Well this was the highlight of the financial "perfect storm" and with his denial of the proposed agreement, Congress did what anyone would do. They said to hell with it ! They didn't want to lend out anymore of the TARP funds anyway and with Gettelfingers 'No Vote' All of the Congressmen packed their bags and bolted for the doors.

I was shocked as I watch this formal session, I could not believe he'd do this. Ray Charles could of seen the idiocy of this union vote. The very next day , GM shut down almost all of it's plants and sent everyone home. And only after another month of doom and gloom, and all of the looming death's final end, did President Bush step forward and he said on national TV that he personally didn't like what he was about to do, and he then made 17.5 of the last of the first half of the TARP funds. And to this day I'm still shocked, what the hell did Gettelfinger think, that this was a game? well GM and Chrysler took the money and now the government has stepped into this horror show which is now going to make each one of us 'Owners' of a losing automobile company. And of course, Mr. Gettelfinger is a Co-owner. This is like having some of your worst neighbors sitting in your living room and they are making it clear they here for good. Now the Union has positioned themselves as a pivotal partner in this nightmare. Do any of these people realize we're spending money we don't have? God help us all ! But for me, I have made my last domestic automobile purchase ! ;help

 

[Baldilocks]

I feel that Unions have SOME blame in this, but certainly they aren't to blame for the rising cost of health care, insurance, etc.

(I guess as a Union man myself, I really understand where they are coming from.) Remember, if it weren't for the union movement, some of the common things working people enjoy today would have never existed. The 40 hour work week for one.

 

[U.P. John]

Where did all the geniuses making decisions in "our best interests" (aka-the corporate whoremongers AND the Congress/Senate (Dems AND Republicans) think that this "global economy" was going to take us, anyway? Since we had the largest and best paid manufacturing base in the WORLD, what did they think this was going to do to help the U.S.?

Jobs, factories, millions of workers - all that's left here are the now millions of unemployed.

And so much for that...

Imagine a country where everyone should, somehow, get a college degree so that they can get a job in customer service, but only if you speak more than one language, english not required.

I feel sorry for my kids. At least the four that are in college are smart enough to go for degrees in varying levels of the medical field, because we're all going to need health care.
But what about engineers, architects, people in the arts...Better learn to speak Cantonese QUICK, and send those resumes to Dubai!

 

[Patrick]

My email got a response. I'm underwhelmed by it's content.

Service Request: 71-729454063
Customer Relationship Specialist: Jane West

Dear Mr. Hammel,

Thanks for your email. While we're disappointed to hear that you feel this way, we understand and ask that you give us some time, and take another look at GM and our products in the future.

We are confident that we will emerge a leaner, stronger company, offering desirable, high-quality vehicles from the Chevy, Cadillac, Buick and GMC brands. The resulting General Motors will be more efficient. Smarter. Faster. More competitive. With a renewed commitment to cutting-edge automotive technologies, including improved fuel efficiency, quality and design.

I invite you to stay up-to-date on our promising new future by visiting GMreinvention.com.

Again, thank you for contacting Chevrolet.

Sincerely,
The Chevrolet Consumer Support Team

Point 1, my last name is not Hammel. I have no idea where they got that from. Had Ms. West been paying attention, my full name (including surname) was easily found at the conclusion of my response. Is copy and paste so hard a function for a GM employee to have mastered?

Point 2, "we will emerge a leaner, stronger company... The resulting General Motors will be more efficient. Smarter. Faster. More competitive." In a nutshell, this exemplifies my irritation and unending criticism of GM. They look to the horizon wearing rose-colored glasses, and speak of their future as though it were filled with sugar-plum faeries dancing visions of light and hope. (well, they've taken money from Obama, they have to say these things.) But they completely miss the details of the here and now right in front of them. Not once did Ms. West mention my criticism that a GM owned 70-some percent by the Canadian and American governments, and 17% by a union intransigent over solidifying health-care and pension benefits in concrete to a degree than anyone I work with, deal with, or know could ever hope to get from their employer, is an unworkable and unsustainable business business model. It's doomed to failure. So focused on the marketing spin is Ms. West, that she can't even be bothered to call her email correspondent by his correct last name.

Sorry, I'm done with GM. Never again. Never, ever again, will I ever buy a new GM product. This confirms it: they don't care. Customers are less important than mollifying the "auto task force" Obama has set up, and the customer is less important than an out of control union with a self-satisfied sense of entitlement.

Never again. Bye, GM. Requiescat in Pace. You're done, and it's merely a matter of time now.

On the plus side, that means my pre-Obama Corvette will soon become a collectors item, an ode to an era when free-market economic forces still shaped what arrived in showrooms. I may be able to capitolize on that, but don't tell Obama. He really frowns on anyone who makes a profit.

-Patrick

 

[LittleRedFlatBack]

Customer Relationship Specialist: Jane West

Dear Mr. Hammel,

-Patrick

Makes you wonder if Ms. West is a Customer Relationship Specialist employed by Obama Motors, but working out of Mumbai!hnoes

 

[Kid_Again]

Talk about perspective, I view the new ZR-1 (ZR1?) the LOW point of Government Motors.

Sure, I love the Vette but think about the genesis of this car. It was a personal toy of an incompetent CEO (remember the "Blue Devil" label early-on?). The car itself is an anachronism in a power race that doesn't exist. Yes, I know that C6's get good gas mileage in stock trim, that's not the point.

The point is that the fading picture of GM is Rick Wagoner developing the ZR-1 and flying the Corporate jet to DC to beg for money.

If Rickie would have put a hybrid Corvette together that has the performance characteristics of Lexus' best, that little bumpkin' might still be in charge of a non-nationalized GM.

Hell, EVEN I can put a blower on a Corvette (and I did, with my '65).


GM 再见!!!

(Goodbye GM in Mandarin)