Dealer dropped my C5 off lift -- need advice

[wishIhadavette]

thats cool

I can't recall who said it on here but that only emphazies the point that a salesman would tell you how great of a car it is, its emotional value and so on. but you get to the otherside of the dealership and the first attitude you get is "ohh its just a car". I wonder how that guy would would feel in your place. I would have to almost beat him down for a comment like that. anyway the thread I posted on thirdgen.org got locked as that site dosen't have a general discussion fourm (but people are still looking at it) but the one on 3rdgen.org is getting some responses as well as views. good luck and hopefully that dealer makes things right.

 

[TheBlueVette]

Dave –

I left town Thursday night thinking I’d come home today and read that Stewart had had an epiphany. If it’s any consolation, neither did I win the FL lottery this weekend! :cry - for me --- :cry :cry for you!

Seriously though, I am shocked that you’ve had no other contact with GM nor reported any action with local media or the consumer support groups you mentioned earlier in the post. I really believe this is a story that should be out – well beyond the internet. ...

Tom -- I've contacted the local news station, Kron 4 (http://www.kron.com/Global/story.asp?S=510709&nav=5D7l5H9s ) but I haven't received a response yet.
- Dave

- Dave

 

[TheBlueVette]

I can't recall who said it on here but that only emphazies the point that a salesman would tell you how great of a car it is, its emotional value and so on. but you get to the otherside of the dealership and the first attitude you get is "ohh its just a car". I wonder how that guy would would feel in your place. I would have to almost beat him down for a comment like that. anyway the thread I posted on thirdgen.org got locked as that site dosen't have a general discussion fourm (but people are still looking at it) but the one on 3rdgen.org is getting some responses as well as views. good luck and hopefully that dealer makes things right.

Thanks, wishIhadavette, for your assistance!
- Dave

 

[TheBlueVette]

Dear Dave,


Very sorry to hear of you predicament but please don’t give up on People Power and more importantly The Corvette Lovers People Power of the World. I believe that the majority of readers are all intently reading this post and wishing a positive outcome for you. Remember Dave People Power has pulled down walls and changed Governments so the repercussions of this decision will be felt worldwide.

Once again All the Best and a positive outcome.

SAVETTE Down under.

G'Day, SAVETTE. Keep sending that People Power out there! If I were in this by myself, I would have absolutely no chance what-so-ever of any type of decent settlement.

-Dave

 

[Piet]

All over the 2nd Gen Camaro forums as well....

 

[Rain]

http://forums.dealmac.com/read.html?f=1&i=1754649&t=1752449#reply_1754649

 

[wishIhadavette]

If this makes any kind of news I would truely appreciate knowing about it. I hope it does, if this thread (and all those who have seen it and helped spread the word) results in stewart making things right; this would be a great human intrest story. just my opinion.

 

[willgrow3]

Man I've been gone for ONE weekend and theres 6 more pages, thanks to Edmond for posting the link to this thread on the Toyota nations site. But I also wanted you guys to know that I posted a link (with pictures) on a Z car forum I frequent. I know they'll get involved any way they can, they know what it'd be like to lose a car of that calliber.

anyways just wanted you guys to know that I'm still with ya all the way.

best of luck,
-Bill Grow
whidbey island, WA

 

[langss]

First Off I am truly sorry for your loss.As a Die Hard fan Of the General and the current owner of 6 GM vehicles,no one should ever have to go through all you are having to deal with.However .... Bottom Line.... The fact is that the dealer has irreparably damaged your car.Yes they may be able to "Fix" it, but it should never be anything more than a "Parts Car" now. We All Know This.
You will never be happy and no matter what they do,You will never be done with this.Its always going to be something,and after a while when you take it back to have it fixed, it will sit for a few days and then they will call and say its ready to pick up and You will get tired of going through this.It matters not who does the work.
Your car is insured, let the insurance company handle it. Letting them know that you prefer to never see the car again is an option, but you must remember that again "bottom line" its all about the money. The Dealer could care less about bad "PR" and to them it is just a car.Its just how they make their living. As far as they are concerned they could be"Pork Bellies" its all the same to them. GM sells cars,thats it.You bought it....your problem.
If I were you, I would let the insurance company deal with it,and refuse to accept any settlement that to you is not right on the money. The Dealer may wake up and do the right thing,but I personally doubt. Going to Court is never a good thing unless you have the money to back you up.Everybody always gets paid but you even when you win. Just my .02 Again Sorry for your loss. Best Of Luck .... Lang.

 

[SyntaxFeline]

Stewart's offered (in writing) to purchase my C5 for $17,300 if I weren't satisfied with the repairs. I've authorized G & M to begin work, while I continue to check out options.

- Dave

Dave -

I'm new here (over from LS1.com), and read the entire thread (took most of 4 hours!)...

I have to tell you, you unfortunately have no options any longer. By authorizing the bodyshop to begin work, you have accepted the settlement offered by Stewart. You have agreed to these terms:

Have G&M bodyshop repair the car. There are no warranties here (unless they've offered one). Try to get in writing confirmation that they will cover problems caused by the accident that were not discovered or repaired in the first round. You can reasonably get that kind of coverage. They did promise "Good as new" and it is your responsibility to hold them to that.

Second: If you are dissatisfied with the repairs G&M makes to your vette, you have agreed to sell the car to Stewart for the $17,300 sum. Unfortunately, those are your options. You cannot renegotiate with Stewart, or their insurance company. By agreeing to let the bodyshop begin work on your car, you entered into a legal contract with Stewart, and the terms of that agreement cannot be changed unless Stewart agrees to it.

By the way, try KPIX. They run a segment called "5 On Your Side" every so often - showing people who've been screwed by somebody, and essentially publically going after the party who has wronged the individual in a very public format. Usually they quickly resolve issues after these segments air.

So, you have four options at this point:

1. Accept the car back after it has been repaired by G&M.
2. Sell the car to Stewart for $17,300 (and they will make a BIG profit on it)
3. Sell the car on Craigslist/Autotrader/Cars.com and do not disclose the history of it. This is the best option for you, financially speaking.
4. Sell the car and disclose the history of it... this is your least attractive option... because you would be lucky to get $10k for it in this event.

At any rate, I hope things work out for you...

 

[TheBlueVette]

Your car is insured, let the insurance company handle it. Letting them know that you prefer to never see the car again is an option, but you must remember that again "bottom line" its all about the money. The Dealer could care less about bad "PR" and to them it is just a car.Its just how they make their living. As far as they are concerned they could be"Pork Bellies" its all the same to them. GM sells cars,thats it.You bought it....your problem.
If I were you, I would let the insurance company deal with it,and refuse to accept any settlement that to you is not right on the money. The Dealer may wake up and do the right thing,but I personally doubt. Going to Court is never a good thing unless you have the money to back you up.Everybody always gets paid but you even when you win. Just my .02 Again Sorry for your loss. Best Of Luck .... Lang.

Thanks, Lang. You are right in that for everybody involved except for my wife and I, it's just a matter of money. Even to the insurance companies, both mine and Stewarts, it could be pork bellies for all they care.

It appears to me that neither Stewart's nor GM cares very much what the customer thinks after the car is sold. Knowing this doesn't help me very much, but it's good information to have when making a decision about where to shop. I really like the promotion that kopbet did.

Remember, Stewart Automotive Group, specialists in car dropping.

 

[TheBlueVette]

Dave,

Is there a possibility that Stewart could be lying to GM about the status and their resolution to this problem?

Frank Fragomeni, the manager at Stewart's told me that he was looking for a replacement, but he doubted that he could find another '97 with 40,000 miles. Several times I told him that it did not have to be a '97 with 40,000 miles. I would take an equivalent or better, but he kept saying it the same way. Stewart's seems to have imposed restraints on how they would "look" for a new car, in such a way that they would not be likely to find one. Frank even hedged his bets by telling me they had no way of knowing what I would be satisifed with.

So, do I think that Stewart's is just telling GM that they were looking for a car to make it appear as if they were doing something? Yes, I do.

On the day of the accident, Frank told me that the car couldn't have fallen more than four feet. Maybe they have really short mechanics at Stewarts, but whenever I've seen cars up on a lift to get the oil changed, it was usually higher than 4 feet.

Frank also told me that this was an accident resulting from a defective lift. When I asked one of the guys in the shop to explain how it happened, he showed me the lift and pointed out that the gears on the extender arms were all worn down, and that's they couldn't lock.

Roy Corsetti, the Service Director at Stewart's recommended that I not report this to my insurance, because it would raise my rates, and by not reporting it, there wouldn't be an accident associated with the car history.

I have formed an opinion about the integrity of Stewart Automotive.

- Dave

 

[TheBlueVette]

http://forums.dealmac.com/read.html?f=1&i=1754649&t=1752449#reply_1754649

Thanks for the cajun touch, Rain. Co fa, Stewarts?

 

[C4ME]

Dropping the car is easy, happened to a work mate. This dealer is trying to scamper into the shadows and that is not an option. Best free advice I have seen is to get into that dealer's General managers office and do not leave until there is a 97' that matches the description of the car you drove in. That means one that has NOT been dropped six feet (an attorney may help here). The dealer carries insurrance to...well insure against such things. There is no question that the frame was not designed to take forces from the geometry presented to the ground when it fell from the lift. Your car will never be like it was prior to the spill.

 

[Blade]

Sorry to be so late getting involved in this thread, thanks for the tip BlackVette. I'm setting aside several hours this afternoon to read the all the post and get up to speed.

 

[Rob]

Frank Fragomeni, the manager at Stewart's told me that he was looking for a replacement, but he doubted that he could find another '97 with 40,000 miles. Several times I told him that it did not have to be a '97 with 40,000 miles. I would take an equivalent or better, but he kept saying it the same way. Stewart's seems to have imposed restraints on how they would "look" for a new car, in such a way that they would not be likely to find one. Frank even hedged his bets by telling me they had no way of knowing what I would be satisifed with.

So, do I think that Stewart's is just telling GM that they were looking for a car to make it appear as if they were doing something? Yes, I do.

On the day of the accident, Frank told me that the car couldn't have fallen more than four feet. Maybe they have really short mechanics at Stewarts, but whenever I've seen cars up on a lift to get the oil changed, it was usually higher than 4 feet.

Frank also told me that this was an accident resulting from a defective lift. When I asked one of the guys in the shop to explain how it happened, he showed me the lift and pointed out that the gears on the extender arms were all worn down, and that's they couldn't lock.

Roy Corsetti, the Service Director at Stewart's recommended that I not report this to my insurance, because it would raise my rates, and by not reporting it, there wouldn't be an accident associated with the car history.

I have formed an opinion about the integrity of Stewart Automotive.

- Dave

:eyerole What the hell does the height of the lift have to do with anything? The fact of the matter is, the car fell off the lift. Regardless of whether or not it was technician error or equipment failure, THE CAR FELL OFF THE LIFT WHILE IT WAS UNDER THEIR CARE ON THEIR PROPERTY. As far as I'm concerned, if their equipment is/was showing major signs of wear, then it is/was their responsibility to regularly inspect, repair and/or replace their equipment before an incident like this occurred. However, that's obviously not the case here.

How Stewart Automotive handles their business and customers, is their business. Personally, if I owned a dealership, regardless of whether or not it was a Chevrolet dealership, a Ford dealership, or a Yugo dealership, if one of my customer's cars was in my shop being serviced and it fell off the lift, I would recognize the fact that this is a major accident and has great potential for casting a negative shadow on my dealership IF I do not correct the situation promptly and professionally.

I would do whatever I could to find a comparable replacement and if a comparable replacement could not be found within a reasonable period of time, then I would work with the customer in getting him/her the next best thing and swallow the costs.

I don't know....maybe I'm just some dumb automotive enthusiast who knows nothing about running a business and making my customers happy, but what needs to be done here, seems way too obvious to me.

It's unfortunate that some business owners will NEVER realize that "word of mouth" is a double-edged sword. It can be your greatest ally in making your business successful, and it can also become your greatest foe in sinking your business. It all depends upon how you, as a company and business owner, value your customers, and conduct your business transactions.

In summary, what I'm seeing here is a pile of bull****. What I'm not seeing here, are results.

 

[yellow_2002_germany]

Wow, Rob! Have a bad weekend? :L

However, I do know what you mean about the word-of-mouth and agree it appears the dealership does not know or does not care.

 

[Rob]

Wow, Rob! Have a bad weekend? :L

However, I do know what you mean about the word-of-mouth and agree it appears the dealership does not know or does not care.

Nope. Actually, I had an awesome weekend. Had the Vette out all day Saturday with the roof panel off enjoying the bright sun and 75 degree temps. It was awesome.

I just get annoyed when someone shirks their responsibility, the plain and simple facts of the matter get clouded by a pile of excuses, and the issue starts to turn into a play on words, incessant rhetoric and no results to be had. That's what I'm seeing here.

 

[ArkShark]

I just get annoyed when someone shirks their responsibility, the plain and simple facts of the matter get clouded by a pile of excuses, and the issue starts to turn into a play on words, incessant rhetoric and no results to be had. That's what I'm seeing here.

Well put, Rob.
I agree with you 100%.

This has been going on way too long now.
Dave, whatever happens, I hope you come out of this satisfied.

~Mike

 

[Tom Bryant]

Dave,
Been trying to keep up but maybe I missed something. Did you authorize repairs to begin?