GM shopping gains 30% in first weeks of discounts

Analog

Lifer
Jan 7, 2002
12,755
3
0
The General Motors Corp. promotion offering employee discounts to everyone has boosted the number of shoppers in showrooms across the country by nearly 30% over May, and increased sales, too, an automotive research firm on Wednesday reported.

Art Spinella, president of CNW Marketing Research in Bandon, Ore., said closing ratios for the first half of June, when the program started, are up about 22% compared to May for the struggling Detroit-based GM. A closing ratio is the number of sales that are finalized as a percentage of showroom floor traffic.

The mid-month findings suggest GM could post higher sales in June, Spinella said, noting that sales could taper off or even pick up by the end of the month. The amount buyers save varies from model to model; in some cases they can save several thousand dollars.

GM made the program available from June 1 through July 5 after U.S. sales fell 12.6% in May compared to the same month a year ago. For the first five months of the year, sales are down 6.7%.

Floor traffic was especially strong in some critical markets where GM needs to boost its sales, such as Los Angeles and Miami, said Spinella, whose company gathers data at 450 dealerships in 27 markets.http://www.freep.com/money/autonews/gmprogram16e_20050616.htm
 

moshquerade

No Lifer
Nov 1, 2001
61,504
12
56
well good, they had to do something, and they still need to do a lot more to help pay for their employees/retirees outrageous health/pension plans
 

LeonarD26

Senior member
Feb 12, 2004
826
1
71
Has anyone taken advantage of these discounts? I'm curious what prices people are getting???
 

NFS4

No Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
72,636
47
91
All the discounts in the world STILL wouldn't make me want to buy a GM car or truck (with maybe a few exceptions). There are just SO many better options out there both foreign and domestic.

It's not so much that the cars/trucks they make are bad, it's just that they are "average" at best in the automotive sector where everyone is striving to be the best.
 

NFS4

No Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
72,636
47
91
Originally posted by: Mermaidman
I wouldn't be considering the Malibu Maxx if not for the employee discount.

I'm still pissed they killed Olds (I drive an Olds).

Olds had the cleanest, best looking designs of all the GM cars. Can't believe they killed it.
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,397
8,564
126
Originally posted by: Gobadgrs
they may have more traffic but theyre making almost no money on the deal

i think they're hoping that their long term reliability has improved to the point that people might be repeat buyers the next time around, and might tell their friends about how their gm vehicle has been good. what is the point of improving your quality if no one knows it?

and i bet their finance arm is doing just fine. can you get 0% on this? it's a shell game, like dell sales.
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,397
8,564
126
Originally posted by: NFS4
It's not so much that the cars/trucks they make are bad, it's just that they are "average" at best in the automotive sector where everyone is striving to be the best.

cts-v
 

vix9

Junior Member
Apr 28, 2005
22
0
0
To give an idea of the deep discounts, you can get a Saab 9-2x Aero (Basically, the WRX Wagon) for about $19,500. That's cheaper than you can buy it from Subaru. The sticker is somewhere around $28,000 for the Saab.
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,567
969
126
Originally posted by: NFS4
Originally posted by: Mermaidman
I wouldn't be considering the Malibu Maxx if not for the employee discount.

I'm still pissed they killed Olds (I drive an Olds).

Olds had the cleanest, best looking designs of all the GM cars. Can't believe they killed it.

That's not saying much.
 

PlatinumGold

Lifer
Aug 11, 2000
23,168
0
71
Originally posted by: NFS4
Originally posted by: Mermaidman
I wouldn't be considering the Malibu Maxx if not for the employee discount.

I'm still pissed they killed Olds (I drive an Olds).

Olds had the cleanest, best looking designs of all the GM cars. Can't believe they killed it.

i drive an olds also. they should have kept olds and killed buick
 

SLU MD

Senior member
Aug 14, 2003
471
0
0
they can try, but this isnt gonna dig them outta the hole. they are SCREWED. anyone that understands finance and accounting can see that.

 

StageLeft

No Lifer
Sep 29, 2000
70,150
5
0
Yaye for them. Their cars weren't selling so they slashed money, now making very little money on each car, and jacked up sales. Whoopdey doo! Ferrari would increase sales too if they started selling $200k cars at $30k.
 
Aug 16, 2001
22,505
4
81
Originally posted by: NFS4
Originally posted by: Mermaidman
I wouldn't be considering the Malibu Maxx if not for the employee discount.

I'm still pissed they killed Olds (I drive an Olds).

Olds had the cleanest, best looking designs of all the GM cars. Can't believe they killed it.

I agree. The Aurora with NorthStar was real nice. The Intrigue was nice. Alero I can live without (POS).
 
Aug 16, 2001
22,505
4
81
Originally posted by: ElFenix
Originally posted by: NFS4
It's not so much that the cars/trucks they make are bad, it's just that they are "average" at best in the automotive sector where everyone is striving to be the best.

cts-v

That is like OMG a whole different caterory of car dude. When I speak of GM I take out Cadillac since they are way above the rest in the 'family'.
 

psteng19

Diamond Member
Dec 9, 2000
5,953
0
0
Originally posted by: ElFenix
Originally posted by: NFS4
It's not so much that the cars/trucks they make are bad, it's just that they are "average" at best in the automotive sector where everyone is striving to be the best.

cts-v

GTO
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,397
8,564
126
Originally posted by: psteng19
Originally posted by: ElFenix
Originally posted by: NFS4
It's not so much that the cars/trucks they make are bad, it's just that they are "average" at best in the automotive sector where everyone is striving to be the best.

cts-v

GTO

if only it weren't already a 7 year old car. or if only it was named anything other than gto.
 

Tea Bag

Golden Member
Sep 11, 2004
1,575
3
0
I don't know - I was debating about the "Saabaru" 9-2x. If I could get a decent deal with that Employee Discount + rebate, I was thinking about a test-drive.
 

MikeMike

Lifer
Feb 6, 2000
45,885
66
91
you guys think they are hardly making any money per car? i can bet they are making more money than you think they are. especially if they are selling SUV's.

 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
Originally posted by: nourdmrolNMT1
you guys think they are hardly making any money per car? i can bet they are making more money than you think they are. especially if they are selling SUV's.
Domestic automakers don't really seem to make a whole lot per car, all said and done....
 

DAGTA

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
8,172
1
0
It is making a big difference in price. I was walking around a few dealerships in the past week (I bought a used car last Thursday). I saw Pontiacs that were MSRP of 26,000 showing 23,000 on the sticker. I forget what it was, but a truck/suv at 56,000 was marked 48,000.

I still paid less for my 'used' (1250 miles) car than any discount and deals could touch of dealers I talked to. :)
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,397
8,564
126
Originally posted by: Tea Bag
I don't know - I was debating about the "Saabaru" 9-2x. If I could get a decent deal with that Employee Discount + rebate, I was thinking about a test-drive.

you have seen the thread here and at fw, right? i don't really understand how the deal could get any better