Breaking News: car salesmen are liars!

My August 11 post said I had ordered a 2023 Bolt EV 2LT.

At that time I had gone to Burien Chevrolet and spoke with salesman SAHIL KHANAL. He was pleasant, and helped me order the EV I wanted on the GM website. He assured me the dealer markup over MSRP was $989 and it was the lowest in the area, and the same for everyone.
"Great!" I said, "Here's my deposit!", to which he said: "The shipment doesn't arrive until late October. I'll call you when it's here, then we can do a test drive, and you pay the deposit then."
I insisted on putting a deposit down, but he wouldn't take it.
Fast forward to October 27th. I phoned his cell number (twice). No answer, so, I called the dealership directly.
"SAHIL KHANAL doesn't work here anymore." they told me. (His photo is still on their website as a top salesman, and his photo is still on their wall).
"He was supposed to call me when the shipment arrived!" I say.
"It came! We sold them all!"
"INCLUDING MINE?! You sold my car to SOMEONE ELSE???"
"Did you put down a deposit, sir?"
"SAHIL KHANAL refused to take it! When does the next shipment arrive?"
"November. Oh, and the dealer markup is now $2,000 over MSRP." this guy says. (note the phrase "IS NOW").
"SAHIL told me it's $989."
"Dealer markup has never been that. Do you have any paperwork?" (No. Only on my account on the GM website when I ordered it. When I check this later, my account is still there and active, but the car I ordered has disappeared).
I call GM customer support back east and complain. iN MINUTES the salesman calls me back and complains about my complaint, telling me "You have no paperwork! We still have the lowest markup in the area!"
I call Bill Pierre Chevrolet, Lee Johnson Chevrolet, Jet Chevrolet, Bellevue Chevrolet, and Chuck Olson Chevrolet. All quote me markups of between $2,500 to $5,500. Good Chevrolet of Renton doesn't sell EVs.
I'm 66 years old on a fixed pension, and have been waiting YEARS for EVs to become affordable. I had my financing worked out to the penny thru my credit union. I CAN'T AFFORD THIS NOW. CHEVROLET JUST LOST A SALE.

 

Thanks for this info, atomic80. I had originally only phoned Lee Johnson, not actually visited them. I'll visit them in person this time and report back how it goes.

 

OK, here's the story: I called Lee Johnson Chevrolet yesterday and spoke with a salesman. He wouldn't tell me what the MSRP is but said it's "in the neighborhood of 26 and a half, depending on options", and the delivery charge is "included in MSRP" and the markup is $2,000. They do not have any 2023 models on the lot.
I asked if I go to the GM website, order the car online, and tell them what dealership to deliver it to (as I did before with Burien Chevrolet last August). He said, "No, every 2 weeks GM **tells us** how many cars we're getting, usually two or three, and we have a list, and the next people on the list get the cars. The wait time to get your car is 6 to 8 months out. Supply chain issues you know."
It looks as if I can have a Bolt for "in the neighborhood of" $28,500 by November 2023, if I order now. Sheesh. What a way to run a business. Guess I'll just have to bite the bullet and do it their way. I'm 67 and remember how buying a car used to be.

 

Just got home from Lee Johnson Chevrolet. Talked to salesman "Thomas", a very pleasant experience. Things went well. He tells me the car might arrive in maybe two months.
Works out like this:
Vehicle = $26,500
L2 Charge Cord = $295
Destination Charge = $995 (they told me at the beginning this was ***included*** in the MSRP. I didn't notice this until just now)
Dealer Markup = $2,000 (They called this a "Market Adjustment" not a "dealer markup". Whatever.)
Total = $29,790
I signed some papers. Credit Application, etc. They ran a credit check (OK). Told them when the car arrives I'll need the VIN for the loan from my Credit Union. (OK). Paid the deposit, got a receipt.
Now a different man shows up, This is general manager Marcus Andrews. Tells me that $29,790 might go up maybe $500 or $1,000.
I tell him "No, we have a contract."
"No, it's not a 'contract', it's an 'agreement'" he says, "GM might up the MSRP and you have to pay it. Onstar's price might change."
"Onstar is an option I don't want."
"It's part of the package."
"Yes, you have it listed here as STANDARD. I won't pay a penny above $29,790. If you bump MSRP up, I'll walk and you can sell it to someone else," I say.
"What if the MSRP drops?" he asks.
"So much the better, eh?" I say.
"So we take the risk, and you don't the other way around?"
"When the car arrives, I'm paying $29,790 and not a penny more."
"Yes, I'd rather end this right here, if that's your attitude," he says. (I only glare at him.) "Fine, then we'll refund your $2,500."
"Yes, all of it."
I go to the Finance guy and put a deposit down of $2,500 on a base model Bolt 1LT EV. It clears immediately. I don't realize until I arrive home that ***I*** signed a bunch of paper, but I don't have a signature ***from them*** other than the receipt. I'm serious about not paying a penny more.