Dealer dropped my C5 off lift -- need advice

[theblackvette]

I want to thank member XXXXXX (who wishes not to be identified) for taking the time to contact General Motors. This person does not feel comfortable disclosing who they are in CAC and e-mailed me this trusting me with this information and requested it to be posted. Thank you for contacting me and giving me this most important information and trusting me.

I have no problem reporting this information here to you in CAC. This person sent two e-mails to General Motors customer service and they are interested in finding out more information about this matter.

Barnetdh-You now have a open channel to GM. You will find in both of these e-mails the names and telephone numbers of two customer service managers requesting additional information. It may be wise to contact them whether or not you are satisfied with the progress to merely inform them of the situation. Both responses are similar, however two different managers are requesting information. I have highlighted the names and phone numbers of the managers.

Again, I want to thank all of you and also give a special thanks to XXXXXX for taking the time to contact GM. Here are the e-mails with the associated names and phone numbers:

E-Mail #1

Dear Sir or Madam,

Thank you for contacting the Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center. I
appreciate you taking the time to write us in regards to taking a look
at a thread on this message board to assist a Chevrolet Corvette owner
who is being treated this way by a GM dealership.

Thank for bringing this to our attention. I apologize for the
inconvenience but I would need additional information from you to assist this customer and to start a request to document this information. Please
provide me with the following information:

Vehicle Owner's Full Name
Address
City, State, ZIP Code
Telephone number
Vehicle Identification Number
Current Mileage
Current Dealer with which you are working
Purchased new or used (if used, mileage at purchase)
Other Information

If you should need to contact us in the future, simply reply to this
message or call our Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center at
1-800-222-1020. Customer Relationship Managers are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Eastern Time.

Again, thank you for contacting Chevrolet.

Sincerely,

Kathy Sawyer
Customer Relationship Manager
Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center

For more information regarding the maintenance and care of your
vehicle, please visit www.chevrolet.com/owners. This free online service
offers vehicle and ownership-related information and tools tailored to your
specific Chevrolet.

E-mail #2

Dear Sir or Madam,

Thank you for contacting the Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center. We
appreciate you taking the time to write us in regards to your concerns
with treatment a Chevrolet dealership is providing its customers.

We are unable to research your request due to the fact that more
information is needed to provide an accurate response. Please write us back and include the following information.

Vehicle Owner's Full Name
Address
City, State Zip Code
Telephone number
Vehicle Identification Number
Current Mileage
Current Dealer with which you are working
Purchased new or used
Mileage at purchase

This information will enable us to document your comments and do the
research needed so that we may extend to you the assistance you seek.

If you should need to contact us in the future, please e-mail us again
or call our Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-222-1020.
Customer Relationship Managers are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Eastern Time.

Thank you for making Chevrolet your vehicle of choice!

Sincerely,

Courtney Bumbarger
Customer Relationship Manager
Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center

[Z_OH_6]

Edmond -

The thing that has me worried about their doing right is that the loaner they offered was a 2002 Chevy Malibu. They said it was only car they had available at the time (late Friday before the 3-day weekend). I drove it home, and realized that there was no way I could drive this car for 3 weeks, while my C5 was getting fixed. I went back the next morning, and told them the Malibu
was a piece of s____, and I wanted a decent ride. They also said they did't have any other cars, and their insurance wouldn't let them loan me one of the C5s off the lot.I pointed out that when I was buying a Corvette from them, they said I could take one home for the weekend -- so what was the difference? The assistant manager said he would check with the general manager, and get back to me later that day. In the meantime, he got a Buick Regal for me -- at least I can sit in it without puking, even though it's not a C5. The general manager never did call me back, but had the assistant manager call Sunday night and say they had no cars to loan me. Right then, I knew that these guys would not go out of their way to make this right.

Dave,
Don't sign anything and don't let them fix your car. If they do you will be pressured to accept it. The car may never be right again. If they have no other C5 of equal or greater value than your car, then wait until they do. They simply need to replace your car. If they don't agree to that, file suit to include the actual cash value of your C5, aproximate cost of attorneys fees and out of pocket expenses for a rental car of your choosing. I'm so sorry you have to go through this but don't settle for anything less than you rightly deserve!

[KC-21]

I'm so sorry to hear about your Vette! I looked at the pics and it looks to me that they didn't have the lift pads positioned properly and tried to lift it by the fiberglass and not the frame. (just my opinion) Anyway, here is a copy of the email I sent to the service manager.... I personally can't see how this car can ever be made "right" again! GOOD LUCK!

Keith



I understand from the Corvette Action Center web site that a Corvette fell from your lift and that the owner of the car is receiving less than fair treatment. Like giving him a 2002 Malibu to use. Hmmmm. I hope you realize by now that thousands of Corvette owners nationwide know of this incident by now and that your dealership's reputation is going down hill. I hope this incident is resolved in short order and that our friend leaves there smiling!

[TheBlueVette]

Count me in!

I used the "Contact Us" instant e-mail screen to the service dept. We'll see if anyone "replies" (not holding my breath).

Good luck barnetdh.

Hey, everyone! I REALLLLLLY appreciate this. I'll let you know what happens.

[reefdiver]

Mr. Blackvette.........I'm curious about something.Since you are a recent refugee arrival here at the CAC......and with all the help and support barnetdh is receiving from the members here..............my question to you is.......would the members from "that other forum" have been as supportive and helpful as everyone here has? Just curious I guess.

[TheBlueVette]

[QUOTE=KC-21]I'm so sorry to hear about your Vette! I looked at the pics and it looks to me that they didn't have the lift pads positioned properly and tried to lift it by the fiberglass and not the frame. (just my opinion) Anyway, here is a copy of the email I sent to the service manager.... I personally can't see how this car can ever be made "right" again! GOOD LUCK
Keith [\QUOTE]

Thanks, Keith. I stopped by the body shop this morning to get the rest of my things out of my car, and swung by the dealer. I asked one of the Service Manages to show me the lift, and explain what happened. The lift was an electric hoist, like a twenty-foot upside down "U". They had taken it out of service. The shop guy showed me the gears that lock the extender arms, and pointed out that the gears were all worn down on both sides of the hoist. He also said that one of the extender arms was bowed from use, and the combination of that and the worn gears caused the accident. I don't think that sounds like a defect with the lift -- it sounds more like a lack of maintenance.

I think the extender collapsed, and the car slid backwards, and the front extenders caught under the front panels as the car tilted sideways.

I felt really bad for the mechanic. On one side of the lift was a tool cage, and front of the car was a concrete wall. There's not much room between the lifts, and when my C5 started to fall, the guy got as far back in the corner as he could get, and had no where to go.The service manager said the mechanic was all pale. I don't blame him -- he was trapped between a falling car and a concrete wall, and is lucky to have gotten out alive. Actually, I hope he has a good attorney.

[theblackvette]

Glad to hear your update!

Not sure if you have made any progress though!

But I highly recommend you contact the two individuals via phone and discuss the situation. Perhaps THEY at GM can arrange for a C5 loaner for you!!!!!!!

I would be picking up the phone first thing in the morning if I had two names and two phone numbers at the GM headquarters!

Good luck!

Hey, everyone! I REALLLLLLY appreciate this. I'll let you know what happens.

[theblackvette]

Let me give you a brief answer to this:

You would have a few words of support from members. Probably not as far as getting barnetdh two names of customer service managers at GM.

Then you would have the anger crowd telling him to take take matters in his own hand and suggest something stupid and irrational.

And then you would have the cowards that would develop a poll in order to post negative comments without being identified in order to make fun of barnetdh.

He probably wouldn't get as much help I don't think. I just went over there and saw the going ons over there. I see that I am still mentioned over there, even in todays posts!

Whatever. I am here now! This place is my home!

Mr. Blackvette.........I'm curious about something.Since you are a recent refugee arrival here at the CAC......and with all the help and support barnetdh is receiving from the members here..............my question to you is.......would the members from "that other forum" have been as supportive and helpful as everyone here has? Just curious I guess.

[TheBlueVette]

Hey, I just thought of this.
This will ensure that we have been heard!

Barnetdh-let them know about this website. Right down the web address and hand it to them. Let them know that SEVERAL vette owners are behind you all the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We WILL help you out!!!!!!!!!

Yours truly,

Your pals at CAC!

Thanks, bv and all my friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[theblackvette]

You are very welcome!!!!

More importantly, get on the phone and call up those two GM service managers tomorrow and provide them the information they requested!!!!!!!!

Thanks, bv and all my friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JohnGrawcock]

I suspect what happened is that the lift arms were to far forward and car slid forward, jamming the arms up through the fender wells and the front half of the car smacked the ground or the oil drum he mentioned. I'd really like to see the underside of the car. I'd be after a complete total. Good luck. Jeff

I agree. The car was probably not on the lift correctly. Either that or they ran another vehicle into it bumping it off.
The visible front fender damage shown in the pics is not as scary as the clues to suspension and structure damage. It was also stated that the hood and windshield were cracked even though they did not receive a direct impact. He also said that the rear wheels are not strait. Sounds like the whole car got tweaked.

With the oil drain under the front to break the fall and God knows what else (isn't the floor fiberglass) the rear might have actually hit harder.

[Rain]

Whew! Just got here for the half time show. Sorry to hear about the frustration and all over Memorial Day weekend.

One item no one has mentioned is the added expense of a newer vette.
Increased car tag, insurance, etc.
Don't let those costs sneak up while you are smiling at a new(er) replacement Corvette.

I do agree that you should have unlimited use of a suitable loaner until you have had plenty of time to pick out the right car.

More than likely there will not be a model on his lot to your liking.

Personally, I would go with a cash settlement for the vehicle loss, your time, pain and suffering, lawyer fees, and such as others have suggested. Shop for a wonderful clean vette in your decided price range and carry on (away from that dealership).

Thanks for keeping us posted
Rain and Susan

[Vettefan87]

I would have to agree with taking the cash settlement with all of your expenses in it. That way you can shop around and find a Corvette that you want, not something you might be forced into. Best of luck.

Justin

[rulds2]

I've worked in GM dealerships, its not so much the Service Manager that decides what to do at this point, its the owner. My message was sent to sales, since so many others went out to service...negative publicity will hurt sales, and hit the owner where he feels the most pain.

I currently own a repair facility and a body shop, and informed him that I will be passing this story on to those I assiciate with, as well as those in auto clubs that I am a part of. I stated that I was disappointed that they were not willing to stand up and own their mistake, that their attempt to shuffle it under the rug would only have long reaching effects of costing far more in negative publicity than giving this guy a new C6. I also stated my open disappointment for not offering a comparible "loaner", it showed that they were not willing to work with their own customer to make this right.

Who knows, enough publicity in only one business day, or two, may get them thinking.

[hAZcAT]

I would get a lawyer a few phone calls and a couple letters it might cost you a little but the results will be better.