C8 Dealership Sales Requirements

[John]

Thanks to “Corvette Ed” for sharing today on the other forum the following GM requirements for a dealership to qualify for selling C8’s.

Bottom line is that GM has established two qualifying options to sell C8’s (each quoted below). They are very similar to those GM established in 2013 prior to a dealership being allowed to sell a C7.

Note that there is one addition component this time for the C8, and that is to assist dealerships in acquiring the expertise to sell C8’s, GM would send a “C8 Tour Truck” with a C8 Ordering Specialist to the dealership for a price (as detailed below).

Might ordering a C8 be more complex than a C7? Or, might GM have become more focused in helping its dealers help their customers?

[Quote=CorvetteEd]

2020 Corvette Dealer Program Today during the monthly GM podcast halfway through it dealers were told if they want to sell the C8 they have until June 7th to enroll in one of two programs to sell the C8 Corvette. Program One Corvette Dealer Send one sales specialist to Spring Mountain at a cost of $3,500 Complete all required sales and service training Purchase Next Gen Corvette specific service tools at an approximate cost of $1,500 for existing Corvette Dealers Program Two Signature Corvette Dealer; Comply with the Corvette Participation Agreement Send one Service Manager/Service Advisor to Spring Mountain Showcased on Chevy.com as a Signature Corvette Dealer and will be able to merchandise on their dealer website Additional opportunites Send additional dealership personnel to Spring Mountain Potential access to C8 Corvette Mobile Tour The C8 Mobile Tour will have a C8 Mid-Engine Corvette, and a Corvette expert to answer any questions to assist customers on ordering their own C8 The tour will be at dealers before the C8 goes into production for retail built C8 cars. The dealership that I work for signed up to be a Signature Corvette Dealer and we also signed up for the C8 Mid-Engine Tour Truck.

We have also learned having a C8 tour truck come to their dealership would result in a Chevy C8 Specialist coming to their dealership to help that dealership assist its customers in C8 detailed ordering knowledge thanks to Ken Fichtner.

We are in. Participated in the Spring Mountain Training last time. I as the dealer and my wife, Kathy as the Specialist. Planning on the same again this time. Truck cost - $16,000 one day, $25,000 for two.

[capevettes]

It will be interesting to see if a list of dealers that have stepped up and satisfied the requirements is made available to us. It certainly requires that the dealers interested in selling the C8 need to make an investment both monetarily and with their time.

[Bikerjulio]

I'd be interested to find out more details of a service technicians training specific to the C8. $1,500 for special tools is peanuts, and a good indication of serviceability IMO.

[Heidi]

Absolutely; It is MORE important to have trained C8 vette techs than sales persons.
Heidi
save the Wave

[Richrat]

Thanks for posting this John! GREAT news, I agree $1,500.00 is nothing for specialty tools.

Hungry for more details...

[noxqq]

I find the "Send one sales specialist to Spring Mountain at a cost of $3,500" and "Send one Service Manager/Service Advisor to Spring Mountain" qualifications quite interesting. All of the other requirements seem geared (rightfully) toward insuring that dealership personnel in sales and service are familiar with the C8 model and qualified to help potential customers with knowledge about that car. How does sending a person to Spring Mountain to be "hands on" with a C7 help in that regard? Unless, of course, that it means "to commit to send...." at some point in the future after C8 classes are available.

[Plasboy]

I find the "Send one sales specialist to Spring Mountain at a cost of $3,500" and "Send one Service Manager/Service Advisor to Spring Mountain" qualifications quite interesting. All of the other requirements seem geared (rightfully) toward insuring that dealership personnel in sales and service are familiar with the C8 model and qualified to help potential customers with knowledge about that car. How does sending a person to Spring Mountain to be "hands on" with a C7 help in that regard? Unless, of course, that it means "to commit to send...." at some point in the future after C8 classes are available.

I agree unless it is centered less on driving and more on use of features. Also maybe to learn how to drive a ME so they can tell customers and hopefully keep them out of trouble.

[John]

I went to the C7’s reveal. Immediately afterwards, I made about ten gratis presentations to within 200 mile Corvette clubs to share the C7 experiences, specs, etc. Out of every one I went to, the only person who knew anything about the car other than the one person who also went to 1.13.13 with me, was the Internet Sales Manager for our state’s biggest dealership (and nicely a vendor here, e.g., Suburban Chev who is the largest Corvette dealer in our state).

I loved talking with him about his Spring Mountain experience, for at that time he was the only person I knew who had actually driven a C7.

More dealership personal experience at Sporing Mountain equals, in my mind, better dealerships to buy from.

[meyerweb]

I find it telling that for a Program 1 level the dealer only needs to send a SALES person to Spring Mountain, not a service manager. GM is focused more on selling than servicing, it would seem.

[John]

I'd be interested to find out more details of a service technicians training specific to the C8. $1,500 for special tools is peanuts, and a good indication of serviceability IMO.

That is a critically important assessment BikerJulio. You are so right that $1,500 for special tools for a new gen Corvette is peanuts. As you also noted, also a good indication of serviceability.

[I am just repeating your post because it was/is so important.}

[brad66]

The salesman at my local dealer that I bought my C7 from had been to Spring Mountain. I don't think anyone else at the dealership attended.

Unfortunately that salesman was let go after the dealership changed hands which is a shame.

I will likely buy my next new Corvette from Mike Furman and I know he's been to Spring Mountain.

[Frenzy36]

I find it telling that for a Program 1 level the dealer only needs to send a SALES person to Spring Mountain, not a service manager. GM is focused more on selling than servicing, it would seem.

It did also say they had to - Complete all required sales and service training. I highly doubt that a salesperson would be involved with any service training That would mean either a top tier technician or service manager would have to be involved.

[Plasboy]

I find it telling that for a Program 1 level the dealer only needs to send a SALES person to Spring Mountain, not a service manager. GM is focused more on selling than servicing, it would seem.

Unless they have a different program for dealer personnel why would it do a service manager a lot of good. Surely other training for them.

[meyerweb]

Unless they have a different program for dealer personnel why would it do a service manager a lot of good. Surely other training for them.

The "signature" level requires a service manager / service adviser to go to Spring Mountain, so obviously GM sees value there. If I take my ME in for service, I would like to think the service writer is familiar with the car, and knows what differentiates it from a Cobalt.

[John]

Good point meyerweb. Service Managers typically do not go to periodic Tech update training at regional GM training centers — though of course the Corvette Techs are required to do so.