Sorry to hear about your experience. I was 25 when I was looking for a Z. I think I had one salesperson not pay much attention to me. All the rest of them did treat me better. They always tried to inform me about the car, but I always raised their eyebrows when I showed them I knew the car better than they did.
*edit - forgot to mention that I went to six different dealerships - one bad salesperson.
Take the good, take the bad, you take 'em both and... sounds like a song...
Location: Iowa City, Iowa, Albuquerque, and Santa Fe NM
Posts: 178
I will add my opinion to the mix.
I purchased my new 04 Z06, from Rick Daniel at Les Stanford, he went beyond what I would have expected. I sent him several goodies, which he had his mech's install, he then test drove the vehicle and insured all was working properly.
He also offered me the best deal I was able to find. We flew in, were met at the airport and driven to the dealership. I handed Rick a check for the full amount, and we were on our way in less than an hour.
I would definitely go back.
Terry
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Flew helicopter gunships in Vietnam, B model guns 65-66, Cobras 68 69 70:
E-7, CW-3, direct commission Vietnam, retired as a Captain.
being 23 at the time and actually walking in the showroom dressed from working in my garage (was picking up some misc parts for my tahoe at the time which was scattered in pieces) and going in the showroom when the parts dept. was on lunch break, noon on a thursday. Best price they came up with was 500 under sticker including a 1000 rebate on a black/black 03 in march of 03. Took 100 bucks for credit checks etc. even though I told them I'm probably paying cash. Made a few phone calls that afternoon, one to a dealer out of state and said to him I'm not looking to play games here I want one price and then we'll deal. His response was fair enough, how serious are you on buying. I said well I'm waiting on the insurance rate to see how bad they want to hit me, if that comes back reasonable I'll be there on saturday. Turns out the rate came back very, very good. So I called back on friday saying I had an insurance card, and that I'd be there on saturday. few days roll by, and I go back to the first local dealer. Looking for my deposit they say well even though you gave us cash on the deposit we're going to have to draw you a check. (oh joy) then the sales manager asked so the vette isn't for you (pretty much meaning oh you can't afford it, insurance etc.) I said nope you're price was just ridiculous, I got one for 47 and change. She said you couldn't have. replied with, actually with taxes tags etc. it was still less than your price. She still didnt' believe me. I told her lets go take a walk.....(left the invoice in the glove comp on purpose) walked over to the car showed her the invoice and said I try to keep business here in the neighborhood with local businesses (they were giving me some crap like that the first time I went in) but lets get real you weren't doing me any favors at all, so I had no desire to do any for you.
Then again this same dealer neglected to tell me about a 3000 incentive on my tahoe when it was new, so they really weren't high on my list to start but I still gave them a chance.
carsalesmen are people too, its an annoying game to play negotiating on price, but its a necessary evil. Your best help in these situations is research and shopping around. Glad you did yours, and even happier there's a Z in your driveway.
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STS twins.....chicks have 553/489 reasons ta dig em
okay well that was the first stage, at least the one I'll talk about..
Its not a Z06 story but also bad. My brother in law works for Ford and a couple months ago I was looking for a new fully loaded Expedition. I went in there alone kinda grundgy looking, my wife didnt feel like going inside cause she hates dealers so I left her in my Lexus parked a little off cause I wanted to see how they would treat me not knowing anything about me or seeing what else I drive.
They seemed a little busy but one of the salesmen approached me and asked if I needed help, I told him I want to buy a new Expedition today. He goes to the main desk, talks to someone, comes back and tells me to go out in the back lot and see if I like any of them. I was like what? Nice service. I still went anyway, the lot was pretty big and I couldnt even find where they had them parked so I jumped back in my car and left. Came back with my brother in law, he's the service manager there, and watched the salesman jaw drop when he realized who I was related to, the guy kept kissing a$$ like you wouldnt believe throughtout the entire deal. Too funny.
The other funny thing was that this dealer has some Presidential Service Award that they've been receiving for the past couple years and the salesman was basically telling me what to write down when I get my survey in the mail, NOT. I gave them my piece of mind and told them the great service I received when I first got there lol.
Les Stanford - - I've purchased two vettes from Les Stanford since 1999...Always nice...ALWAYS PAID TOO MUCH!!! Even GM employees are screwed by Stanford with the pricing...No such thing as "true" GMS at Stanford. Next purchase will definitely be through Rinke.
Since we're all venting about our Z purchase, I guess I'll add my story...
I had a 03 CTS and the stories about the CTS-V got me thinking. When I looked at the numbers, I figured why not get the real thing... A Z06. So I went to the local Cadillac / Chevrolet dealer and went in to the show room and told them I wanted to trade the CTS in for a Z06. Well the salesman proceded to tell me that he wasn't able to sell me a Z06 (only the sales manager takes care of that kind of sale) but if I wanted a WRX STi, he could do that.
OOOHHHHHKKKKAAAAYYYY, thats not what I asked for so lets start over. How do I talk to the sales manager I ask. Well he's on vacation and will be back Monday, call him then and tell him what you want.
Monday came, I called and talked to him and never received a call back. I was telling someone at work about this and he picked up the phone and called his friend that owns a Chevy dealership and we talked.
End result was, this was a dealer more than 2 hours away. He searched for the Z in blue for me, I told him I wanted it, He had it flat bedded to his place, they did the pre delivery inspection, put it back on a flat bed and HE personally delivered it to me. We did the paper work, he took the CTS and that was that. Doesn't get much better than that.
The best part is I take it to the local dealership for service because they have a dedicated Corvette tech. When he asked me where I got it I told him the story and he just shook his head.
Les Stanford - - I've purchased two vettes from Les Stanford since 1999...Always nice...ALWAYS PAID TOO MUCH!!! Even GM employees are screwed by Stanford with the pricing...No such thing as "true" GMS at Stanford. Next purchase will definitely be through Rinke.
I wondered how many others they do that too?
They misquoted the GM employee price as well use their own lease company that made the payment $100s more than what is listed.
Go figure, must have been a bad day?
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03 Zo6, Black, Mod Red Interior
03 Ultra Classic Anniversary, Silver/Black
04 Escalade Black/Slate
I wouldn't blame the dealer,just the idiot sales person, I too got the cold shoulder from the same dealer I bought my 99 Roadster and when I bought the 2003 Z06 they wouldn't deal over the phone,kept telling me to come in and talk, Well to make the story short I made a few phone calls and found a dealer that was willing to deal over the phone, and if and when I order my next Corvette he will be getting my business.
A message to the dealership,never judge a person by age or anything else,and those who do should be selling KIA's
Hers's my story: I went to all the local dealers, spent hours with them. They wanted me to feel good that they discounted the price to near the MSRP (this was for a 2004 when they were already rebates). I called the Vetnet and had a pleasant phone conversation, went thousands below MSRP, and was able to factory order the exact Z06 I wanted. Before I signed, I went to the local dealer again to see if he would match the price. The salesman said he did not believe the price I said I was getting, but called the sales manager to talk me out of saving thousands. The sales manger listened to most of my story, then just walked away laughing. He had no tact or courtsey. I signed with Ken that day and had my new Z06 drop shipped to a nearby dealer. WHen I came to pick it up, the salesman that I had been speaking with for several months came out to greet me and asked if I was ready to buy yet. I told him that I had already bought a Z06 and I was there to pick it up. He pointed to my new Z06 and said "oh, so your are the one! How come you did not buy with us?" I just showed him the invoice and he mumbled a little in dissapointment.
Long story short: local dealers gave me no respect or breaks. Ken at the Vettenet gave me both. I am going back there for my next Z06 (which may be a long time before I can afford another one).
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lol.
I too got the cold shoulder from the same dealer I bought my 99 Roadster and when I bought the 2003 Z06 they wouldn't deal over the phone,kept telling me to come in and talk, 
Well to make the story short I made a few phone calls and found a dealer that was willing to deal over the phone, and if and when I order my next Corvette he will be getting my business. 
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