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12-31-2012, 12:13 PM | #1 | |
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Some Chevy Dealers Stop Selling GM’s Hybrid Over New Tool Costs
Isn't this the cost of doing business??
Carscoop: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/12...lers-stop.html Quote:
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12-31-2012, 01:55 PM | #2 |
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Pays for tool, sells 5 cars and breaks even on tool, stops selling car.......
Makes perfect sense. That said, something like a "battery de-powering" tool should be something issued to a regional service rep, unless GM is expecting a lot of battery failures, or offered as a rental on an as needed basis. Like a lot of special tools, I can see this one sitting around collecting dust (much like SOA's "lead ass" for testing the passenger ODS) |
01-01-2013, 02:37 AM | #3 |
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I agree Hondaslayer. Many times specialized tools not being used mean there isn't enough proficiency in the service of that model. I'd want a mechanic working on my car that works on that model often to know his way around. I'm thinking dealerships should have a specialist tech available in the region for work that requires particular tools like this.
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01-01-2013, 01:51 PM | #4 | |
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Most often special tools (such as this battery changer) are not being used because the failure rate is so low that they are just "not needed" Why force the dealership to stock a tool (an expensive one in this case) for a part that has a low failure rate? Yes, I understand they are trying to avoid Lemon Law (time out for repair) and streamline processes, but adding an extra day or two (especially when explained why to the customer) is not going to change anything. Issuing the battery tool to district reps / stocking a few at regional offices / or having a "rental" program (tool gets sent overnight to the needed dealer) makes more sense than having a thousand or so made, charging dealers for them so they can sit and collect dust. The one thing the dealership I work at does well is keeping track of special tools. Every single tool has a bar code and is scanned in / out by parts when service needs it. Over 70% of the tools in my inventory have not been used in over 3 years. Of the 30% that are used only %10 are used on a regular (ie weekly) basis. The common tools are: Diag scanners, charging system testers, coolant testers and hybrid disconnect kit. |
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01-10-2013, 07:44 PM | #5 | |
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Or, just have one at a centralized dealer in a particular area. Share it in a partnership. Split the cost among those several dealers and when one particular dealer needs it, they can go get it. |
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01-03-2013, 01:49 AM | #6 | |
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NHTSA's Volt caught fire after sitting for a while, so they probably don't want damaged Volts sitting on dealer lots with live batteries while they're waiting for a tool to arrive. |
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01-10-2013, 03:12 PM | #7 |
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We all have to keep in mind that there are potentially unthinkable scenarios where a dealership may need this tool. As a franchised dealership every dealer should be prepared to tackle the "worst" case scenario. $5,100 is an opportunity cost that the dealership should invest in. Ultimately EV's are the future. Plus $5,100 is a whole lot better than $50,000.
Subaru made it mandatory to have a road-force wheel/tire balancer by 2013 for all their dealerships. They were extremely specific in saying that if you did not have one, they would send you one and credit the dealership. It's a cost of doing business. Reality is, if there was ever an issue and only 1 regional traveling mechanic, the negative publicity from people having to wait a ridiculous amount of time to get their car fixed would simply kill everyone's reputation. That's the automotive business for you. "Damned if you do, absolutely damned if you don't." |
01-01-2013, 02:36 PM | #8 |
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They are probably making this a mandatory purchase because the cars are starting to get older. A new volt would have little use for these things, but as they rack up miles and abuse, the time will come to start servicing them. And as lack luster as sales have been to this point, they do not need horror stories form dealer service to give them another mountain to climb.
It is a new technology and requires new tooling, technicians to handle it. That costs money. Not sure what the dealers are so surprised about. I bet they jumped at the chance to carry the volt thinking it was going to fly off the lots. But selling 5 in 2 years, is comical at best. The Volt makes sense to certain people in certain areas of the country. Perhaps this part of the country does not have the market to support the Volt. That happens. |
01-02-2013, 09:35 AM | #9 |
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A friend of mine owns a Dodge dealership. They used to have a few vipers in stock (5-star certified, all that jazz), but now they only have up to SRT (SRT-8 Challenger, etc.). They are eligable for the new Viper, but the cost of tools, training, etc. is 400K. All that to sell maybe one or two cars with very little pmargin for profit.
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01-02-2013, 07:11 PM | #10 |
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Ford is doing the same with the cmax. Smaller dealers cant afford the special tools to service the 2-5 they would sell. Atleast for the first year or so. I expect the gas prices to go way up to "help out" the big three's electric/hybrid effort.
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01-03-2013, 01:12 AM | #11 |
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It's almost like GM is saying "We had no ****ing idea what we were doing the entire time. Sorry, everybody. Sorry."
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01-10-2013, 03:39 PM | #12 |
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I think the issue is that there is not guarantee that this is the LAST 5100 dollar tool they will have to buy. It is more than likely that the EV technology will change from its current crappy design and this mandatory tool will be deemed useless.
If they offer a buy back program from the dealers it would not be so bad. |
01-12-2013, 12:57 PM | #13 |
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Cheap dealerships that don't care about their customers or want to get with the times (even if low volume). The tech's at those dealers probably aren't trained to work on the cars either.
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