frustrated at the order/build/assembly process

[BrentW]

This is probably just me venting, but I'm extremely disappointed and frustrated at the lack of info, and bad info which has been presented to me throughout my order by the dealership, and the VA's

1st, let me go back to the beginning so you can get a clear picture. I put down a deposit at a metro Detroit dealership back in August, and I was 7-8 on the waiting list. At the time, I was told I should have a car in the march/April 2011 time frame.

In Jan 2011, The dealership told me that I wouldn't see a car till fall of 2011, and they wouldn't get a demo / test drive Volt until Jan of 2012. At this point I was concerned the dealer didn't have correct info, and just made things up, as many here have reported., mainly because I saw a press release from Chevy that demo Volts would be out in a few months., not a year later, as the dealer told me

So Via Facebook, I was connected to a VA, who took a few weeks and did some research, and basically came back with no more info then what the dealer told me.

So in March, I started calling around other dealerships to try and see if I could find a Volt sooner. Not at any time did the VA offer this as a service she could perform, which based on what I have seen here, they clearly do.

My original dealer called me on April 4th, and told me some people on the waiting list dropped off, and I'm up, so I go in, and we get the order placed, and I'm happy as can be. A few weeks later my VA calls me with a TPW of 5/16. Near the end of April my dealer calls me to inform me they now have a demo volt, and I go in and take it for a test drive, they also inform me my TPW is 5/9. I call my VA to verify the TPW, and told it was updated to 5/9.

So I'm very happy, and I attend the open house last week, hoping one of the silver Volts I see on the line, may be mine.

I wait for a VIN #, and I wait, and I wait. As of today, I don't see anything new @ chevroletconnects.com I have been at 3400 since 4/20

I call up the general VA # this morning to try and get some info, and she speaks to a different department, and comes back and tells me the TPW is just an estimate, and it can take up to 2 weeks after the TPW for a car to be built.

Now as someone who owns a few businesses, I understand estimates, and have no issue with that. However When I see others post here who have moved to 3400 after me, and already have a car built, and shipped, that concerns me.

So in short. I'm disappointed that it would appear other cars/orders have been put in front of mine, while I spend 500 hundred+ of dollars in gas a month to foreign oil companies, and would much rather be giving that to GM, a Local company.

[N Riley]

I hope you get your Volt soon. I can feel the frustration in your post. I am sorry you are having this difficulty. Hopefully you will be given some positive news very soon.

[therfman]

I'm sure that the options that are selected have some impact on build time. I think I read here that delays are anticipated for Cyber Grey because of difficulties sourcing the paint (from Japan I think). Perhaps other colours are causing delays also but haven't been announced.

I've just selected my colour and options for my 2012 Volt (in Canada). I've think the Black with Jet Black/Cut Grass (green) accent interior is not a common combination, and I wouldn't be surprised if there are extra delays as they wait to get a few in queue before producing them. The only other option I chose was the Bose stereo, but that should be common enough to not be much of a delay.

[DonC]

While I understand you're frustrated, to put this in perspective, compared to the Nissan process for the Leafs you are enjoying the most transparent of orders. If you want to see truly horrible and frustrating experiences, go over to mynissanleaf. There you'll see people who ordered in January and February getting cars before the people who ordered in September and October -- and that may cause those folks to lose $5000.

I also think that your dealer has more or less under promised and over delivered. With respect to the Volt Advisors, not all are created equal, and if you didn't ask them to locate an allocation from another dealer they're probably not going to whack off your dealer by suggesting this to you. They walk a fine line between being an advocate for you but having to protect their relationship with the dealers.

The good news is that your Volt will be built and you will love it. Don't get too fussed up by a week's delay. Personally I've never heard of a TPW slipping but it is of course possible. As suggested, it might be a paint color or some other option that is holding your car up. Also, it's possible that there will be more bumps in the road. Some have had their cars at QC for weeks after they were produced. It happens.

FWIW I think you made a great decision to get a MY 2011. This model year is going to be iconic in a similar way to a 1953 Corvette. Good call.

[BrentW]

Some have had their cars at QC for weeks after they were produced. It happens.

I understand, which is a whole other issue we will see what happens. However that just brought up another question. We know the Line is shutting down in early June for a month and a half or so, to re-tool, and shift to the 2012 model. During this shut down, QA is still being performed on the remaining 2011 models, right. In other words, the last batch of 2011's aren't going to just sit idle til Mid July during the line shut down, correct?

[DonC]

During this shut down, QA is still being performed on the remaining 2011 models, right. In other words, the last batch of 2011's aren't going to just sit idle til Mid July during the line shut down, correct?

I've never worked in a plant, but GM can't invoice the dealer until the car clears QC, so I can't imagine them just sitting on all that inventory. I'm sure they have a way of shipping it out ASAP.

[jeffhre]

This is probably just me venting... I don't see anything new @ chevroletconnects.com I have been at 3400 since 4/20

I call up the general VA # this morning to try and get some info, and she speaks to a different department, and comes back and tells me the TPW is just an estimate, and it can take up to 2 weeks after the TPW for a car to be built.

Now as someone who owns a few businesses, I understand estimates, and have no issue with that. However When I see others post here who have moved to 3400 after me, and already have a car built, and shipped, that concerns me.

So in short. I'm disappointed that it would appear other cars/orders have been put in front of mine, while I spend 500 hundred+ of dollars in gas a month to foreign oil companies, and would much rather be giving that to GM, a Local company.

It's very frustrating to see every slip in time from the order process to the build and delivery. That is part of the extraordinary transparency that GM has created for this car. Right now, there is no inventory, most of the cars are akin to a custom build, from a huge corporation no less.

Although I've never ordered a Bentley, or even a Lexus, but aside from the dealer experience, I'd find it hard to imagine that I would get more help than a personal VA provides and more complete information than is offered on chevyconnects.

[Chevrolet Customer Svc]

@ BrentW

I am very sorry to hear about what you are going through, I do apologize, I completely understand your frustration. We will look into this further and try to find what is causing the delay. I have been monitoring the order number which you have provided to me via Facebook daily. As soon as I see a change in production code or when we discover the reason behind the delay, I will definitely notify you.

Volt Advisor Trevor
Chevrolet Volt Advisor Team

[BrentW]

Thanks Trevor,

I can fully understand delays due to part shortages, or other things, it is just frustrating when I see a few other orders move faster, ahead of their TPW, and mine is a week or so behind, with no more detailed info. (Is it an issue with the paint color, or some other option?)

Also, Trevor, can you comment on my above question about the QA process once the line is shut down?

Thanks!

Brent

[Chevrolet Customer Svc]

Sure thing Brent. I will check into it, but I am sure that they will clear the plant out first so they can retool it for the 2012 MY. Like I said, I will look into that further. In the meantime I will check your order status on a daily basis and let you know of any changes. I will stay in contact with you until we get this resolved.

Volt Advisor Trevor
Chevrolet Volt Advisor Team