I would hope that GM would try a bit harder to advertise their Diesel lineup this time. A lot of people don't even know they had a diesel option in the gen 1 Cruze. It's not looking good if the dealers don't even know about it yet.
This is a bad sign - Dealership Ignorance on the Gen 2 Diesel
I stopped by a local GM dealership yesterday and asked the salesman if they had a new Cruze diesel on the lot yet. (I later found out he was new, but read on...) He looked a bit confused at that question, so I explained to him that they are starting to hit dealership lots and I wondered if they had one yet. He went to the management office and asked, and then came back to me and said "They only made those for 2 years. It's been a long time since we had one." I rolled my eyes. I repeated that they are making them and that some dealerships already have them and I wondered if they had one on the lot or incoming. He again went back to management and then came back, this time telling me "They just started manufacturing them in the Pacific Northwest and they won't be out for who knows how long"
Seriously???
The guy was new, so I really can't blame him as much, but the entire management team is feeding him this misinformation? This is actually one of the larger dealerships in the area too. If this is how GM is communicating information about the new Cruze diesel to the dealers, it's destined to be a slow seller like the last one was. GM never let anybody, including dealers, know that the car existed.
(Or this - the dealership where I get my car serviced had a big window decal advertising the new diesel back in June/July of 2013 but they never actually got one of the cars until over a year later)
Anyway, it was pretty funny and sad to me how management of this dealership not only knew nothing about the car, but they made stuff up, just to have something to say to me.
Seriously???
The guy was new, so I really can't blame him as much, but the entire management team is feeding him this misinformation? This is actually one of the larger dealerships in the area too. If this is how GM is communicating information about the new Cruze diesel to the dealers, it's destined to be a slow seller like the last one was. GM never let anybody, including dealers, know that the car existed.
(Or this - the dealership where I get my car serviced had a big window decal advertising the new diesel back in June/July of 2013 but they never actually got one of the cars until over a year later)
Anyway, it was pretty funny and sad to me how management of this dealership not only knew nothing about the car, but they made stuff up, just to have something to say to me.
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I've never had a dealer ..car or motorcycle.... know more about the model I was buying than I did. The sales people just don't put in the effort and read up on anything they are selling...I'm sure there are some who do make the effort to know about what they are selling but honestly I've never met a sales person who has.
I texted my local dealer new car manager. He was unaware he could order a Cruze diesel yet. They do 500 cars a month and long history locally, they have been in transportation business for 170 years for six generations. They just sold to some huge dealer. One of their owners here has stage 4 lung cancer. ?
Anyway, I think it is obvious GM hasn't rolled this out very well and communication to the dealers I would say is quite poor. My local dealer shared he would order some and get back to me.
How will GM market to VW owners if they don't get them on the lots?
Anyway, I think it is obvious GM hasn't rolled this out very well and communication to the dealers I would say is quite poor. My local dealer shared he would order some and get back to me.
How will GM market to VW owners if they don't get them on the lots?
I haven't had a dealer know more than me either, some sales people sit at their desks and don't know their product, very frustrating. When a sales person does know they are top sellers. On east coast VW had a saleman of Chris and he spealized in VW and sold diesels and gassers to folks all over the country, I spoke to him a couple times, he was incredible, pick you up at airport, flawless delivery, and had a huge reputation of being a outstanding man and rep. He died a couple years ago. His prices were always competitive but it was knowing the product and know how to get what you wanted.I've never had a dealer ..car or motorcycle.... know more about the model I was buying than I did. The sales people just don't put in the effort and read up on anything they are selling...I'm sure there are some who do make the effort to know about what they are selling but honestly I've never met a sales person who has.
Just want to point out they are independently owned and operated. Their ignorance is of their own. Lol I would like a diesel hatchback.
I'd like to point out that I also work for a dealership, and I believe you've picked up some info from me. 
And if people have questions, you or anyone, my number is in my signature for a reason.
That has been the case for every vehicle that I have purchased since the mid 80s. They don't know anything about the economical vehicle that I came to see but they are willing to make a deal on the overloaded behemoth that is already on the lot. The exception was my VW salesman who got on the computer and found my 6M JSW 340 miles away and had it driven down over night. Of course he made an effort to get me to add panoramic roof etc. but he was the old guy of the sales force. He knew a smaller commission now beat losing the sail due to me driving 50 miles further.
Yes. You are definitely in the minority. You've been a great contributor here and I, for one, appreciate it. it would be fantastic if salespeople even made 1/2 the effort that you do.I'd like to point out that I also work for a dealership, and I believe you've picked up some info from me.
Unfortunately, I know the salespeople you are referring to. Complete idiots. :/Yes. You are definitely in the minority. You've been a great contributor here and I, for one, appreciate it. it would be fantastic if salespeople even made 1/2 the effort that you do.
But to be fair, there are hundreds of combinations of cars and packages; when you go to the dealer, you've memorized 2 or 3 that you want to consider.
IMO, we are just seeing another example of the general work ethic/mentality that seems to have become rule, rather than the exception.
Staying on topic, the automobile biz, few people get involved with the sales aspect approaching it as a potential career. It is just another product to sell.
The mentality seems to have become 'Sell what you see (in this case, on the lot)' as opposed to 'See what you can sell'.
Since auto salespeople are generally paid on a 'unit rolled' basis, it becomes imperative to sell what you see if you picked up a bad habit like paying bills, eating, living somewhere, etcetera.
As a result, there isn't a lot of motivation to learn about the product and an ordered car does not represent income to the house for six to eight weeks.
As a result, it is on the consumers back to get as much information on a particular car as possible before getting near a dealer.
Try to keep in mind that automotive enthusiests (if you are reading this, you are) are the exception when car buying is the question. As a result, dealers generally don't have the combination of color/options/version that you have visualized.
The dealership orders combinations the 'masses' are willing to accept. Family went to buy a certain color combination for example on a LT Cruze.
On the lot, the dealer has several LT's with either the right color/wrong interior or right interior/wrong color. Sometimes, right color/right interior, wrong model.
If the customer wants a new car in their driveway, tonight, a concession must be made by the buyer and generally, to scratch the 'new car' itch, a concession will be made.
The majority of salespeople will maximize this mindset as opposed to locating or ordering for the above reasons.
So, there really is no reason to learn the product since the percentage of buyers (enthusiests) is likely less than 5% and those folks have already studied the product enough to know what they want. Most often, these are the buyers that will require a combination be ordered.....no immediate joy for the salesperson, so, little motivation.
Rob
Staying on topic, the automobile biz, few people get involved with the sales aspect approaching it as a potential career. It is just another product to sell.
The mentality seems to have become 'Sell what you see (in this case, on the lot)' as opposed to 'See what you can sell'.
Since auto salespeople are generally paid on a 'unit rolled' basis, it becomes imperative to sell what you see if you picked up a bad habit like paying bills, eating, living somewhere, etcetera.
As a result, there isn't a lot of motivation to learn about the product and an ordered car does not represent income to the house for six to eight weeks.
As a result, it is on the consumers back to get as much information on a particular car as possible before getting near a dealer.
Try to keep in mind that automotive enthusiests (if you are reading this, you are) are the exception when car buying is the question. As a result, dealers generally don't have the combination of color/options/version that you have visualized.
The dealership orders combinations the 'masses' are willing to accept. Family went to buy a certain color combination for example on a LT Cruze.
On the lot, the dealer has several LT's with either the right color/wrong interior or right interior/wrong color. Sometimes, right color/right interior, wrong model.
If the customer wants a new car in their driveway, tonight, a concession must be made by the buyer and generally, to scratch the 'new car' itch, a concession will be made.
The majority of salespeople will maximize this mindset as opposed to locating or ordering for the above reasons.
So, there really is no reason to learn the product since the percentage of buyers (enthusiests) is likely less than 5% and those folks have already studied the product enough to know what they want. Most often, these are the buyers that will require a combination be ordered.....no immediate joy for the salesperson, so, little motivation.
Rob
10/10.IMO, we are just seeing another example of the general work ethic/mentality that seems to have become rule, rather than the exception.
Staying on topic, the automobile biz, few people get involved with the sales aspect approaching it as a potential career. It is just another product to sell.
The mentality seems to have become 'Sell what you see (in this case, on the lot)' as opposed to 'See what you can sell'.
Since auto salespeople are generally paid on a 'unit rolled' basis, it becomes imperative to sell what you see if you picked up a bad habit like paying bills, eating, living somewhere, etcetera.
As a result, there isn't a lot of motivation to learn about the product and an ordered car does not represent income to the house for six to eight weeks.
As a result, it is on the consumers back to get as much information on a particular car as possible before getting near a dealer.
Try to keep in mind that automotive enthusiests (if you are reading this, you are) are the exception when car buying is the question. As a result, dealers generally don't have the combination of color/options/version that you have visualized.
The dealership orders combinations the 'masses' are willing to accept. Family went to buy a certain color combination for example on a LT Cruze.
On the lot, the dealer has several LT's with either the right color/wrong interior or right interior/wrong color. Sometimes, right color/right interior, wrong model.
If the customer wants a new car in their driveway, tonight, a concession must be made by the buyer and generally, to scratch the 'new car' itch, a concession will be made.
The majority of salespeople will maximize this mindset as opposed to locating or ordering for the above reasons.
So, there really is no reason to learn the product since the percentage of buyers (enthusiests) is likely less than 5% and those folks have already studied the product enough to know what they want. Most often, these are the buyers that will require a combination be ordered.....no immediate joy for the salesperson, so, little motivation.
Rob
Which is interesting actually. I was going to order a manual Cruze hatch in January to get in march, but my truck died and I had to ship one in from a ways away to get one in a manual.
I've only dealt with a one or two dealerships over the years where they would look for the car you wanted if it wasn't on their lot. When the CTD came out GM ran a series of commercials in the Denver area about it, but GM's advertising agency has never had the sheer creative talent of VWs.
Dealers here dealer trade for what you want on a frequent basis. The issue here is GM has gone to putting extra incentives on a few cars on the lot, called bonus tags recently. Well if they are gonna put an extra 1000 or 1500 or whatever it is I want that, why pay more. Before they just put larger incentives on all Cruzes by zipcode, not it seems more complicated. Probably smart for manufacturers but sort of a nightmare for dealers.
We get to choose what we tag.Dealers here dealer trade for what you want on a frequent basis. The issue here is GM has gone to putting extra incentives on a few cars on the lot, called bonus tags recently. Well if they are gonna put an extra 1000 or 1500 or whatever it is I want that, why pay more. Before they just put larger incentives on all Cruzes by zipcode, not it seems more complicated. Probably smart for manufacturers but sort of a nightmare for dealers.
We get a certain number of tags and we have a limited amount of time to put them on whatever we want.
I understand how it works, have a good friend as a new car manager at my local dealer. As a consumer not a big fan of the program.We get to choose what we tag.
We get a certain number of tags and we have a limited amount of time to put them on whatever we want.
I'll wager that you can walk into nearly any auto dealership off the street and you will get a twit wanting to sell you a car. I always cultivate a relationship with the most senior salesman in the building. It's usually the person sitting next to the Sales Manager's office. Back in '92, we went car shopping and stopped at a Toyota lot looking for a Celica GT. Found a salesman who was the nephew of a sales manager where I worked (big computer company with the stripped logo). Complete north end of a south bound horse and knew less. Totally honked off SWMBO, who is not a car person. We walked over to the Saturn dealership and talked to the senior salesman and the GM. The GM let us take her SC home for the night to see if we liked it. Yes, we did.
I'm not a huge fan either. haha.I understand how it works, have a good friend as a new car manager at my local dealer. As a consumer not a big fan of the program.
I bought a 4Runner back in August. The salesman that helped was a surprise, he knew that thing inside and out. That being said, he had the usual amount of salesman BS. He toned it down when he figured out I was a car guy.
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