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Petition to Dodge

13782 Views 141 Replies 32 Participants Last post by  jim schmittinger, 
Texas Joe
Dear Dodge,

If you are listening and are viewing these boards, I have a lot of questions that I would like to have answered by someone in the know. As I have stated many times before, I understand that a car of this caliber is not going to come out as quick as we would all like, however, a little clarity in this process would be appreciated by me and I know many other Hellcat brothers and sisters alike. Here we go:

These are simple questions meant with the best intention for all....

1. This dealer allocation process is as clear as mud and here is why I say that. A local dealer here in Dallas has had MANY allocations as they are a large dealer. I don't understand how they have had several 'Cats come in UNSOLD, let me repeat, UNSOLD with a $10,000.00 mark up with no budging. Why is it that I placed a deposit on 8/9/14, ordered on the first day, 9/9/14 and I am still waiting for and "allocation" and a VIN. This is a SOLD... I repeat, SOLD ORDER to a customer yet I feel as if I am off in purgatory simply because I'm subject to this dealer allocation process. I'm sure you are aware of how all buyers feel about dealers and the car business in general. This does not help their cause nor does it do any favors to Dodge.

2. Why not abandon this allocation process and the the orders as they came in? Certainly this would or could avoid dealer gaming and keep they buyer more informed by possibly allowing us to know our place in line.

3. Buyers of vehicles like this are your brands greatest advocates. As you know, this car will allow many of us to play with the big boys which from what I understand was one of the biggest points of this car. I've been in this forum for a little while now and have read many frustrating stories from people you have guaranteed sales from. Why not make the customer your advocate rather than the dealers? I could easily drum up business for any Chrylser product and refer them to the dealer I use, and I'm no salesman.

4. I am not made of money and sitting and waiting for someone to say to my order "so let it be written, so let it be done" has made me put a lot of other financial decisions on hold. I make sound financial decisions and this is what is allowing me to buy this car. Whether I finance or pay cash, you have a SOLD CAR. Please, can you be more transparent with this process? The Hellcat team are bright individuals, I'm sure they anticipated a flood of orders... Just like what happened. Help us out!

If anyone else has any more questions to add, please do. If anyone out there has a line to someone at Dodge that will listen, please pass this on or let me know how I can get these questions and concerns answered. If anyone from Dodge reads this, I would love to hear from you.
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61 - 80 of 142 Posts
Texas Joe
Thanks Dances... May have to take a trip down to Houston to visit John Hennessey
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Beelzebub
Pics of the ZL1 or it didn't happen
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F6F
I will not buy another car, I want a Hellcat.
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Dances With Empties
Texas Joe said:
Thanks Dances... May have to take a trip down to Houston to visit John Hennessey
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Got family around Keller & need an excuse to get down there and visit next summer. I would love to try that Texas Mile I've heard about...;) Stick around regardless & make fun of the rest of us still waiting...:D
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Texas Joe
I didn't want another car either. I wanted and would still like a Hellcat. I am just at a point where I refuse to be treated like a jerk, have people take my hard earned money just because they can gouge me. This whole process is/was insulting and when things calm down I just may change to the Hellcat. I love the car. I am the buyer. I don't expect to be handed anything and would have paid a reasonable premium. But I refuse to pay a dealer $7,500.00 just so I can buy a car. It's a form of a shakedown or extortion. It's an easy sale. I'm not going to line some fat cats pockets. No one lines mine but me from the work that I do. This is not how this process was supposed to work. I had no problem waiting on MY car. But that's the point. I don't have a car, there's no communication as to when to possibly expect one and the most information I have received about anything regarding the Cat is from you fine folks.

I have bigger things to worry about and to put energy into than dicking around with dealers and/or dodge.
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FreightTrain
Texas Joe said:
I didn't want another car either. I wanted and would still like a Hellcat. I am just at a point where I refuse to be treated like a jerk, have people take my hard earned money just because they can gouge me. This whole process is/was insulting and when things calm down I just may change to the Hellcat. I love the car. I am the buyer. I don't expect to be handed anything and would have paid a reasonable premium. But I refuse to pay a dealer $7,500.00 just so I can buy a car. It's a form of a shakedown or extortion. It's an easy sale. I'm not going to line some fat cats pockets. No one lines mine but me from the work that I do. This is not how this process was supposed to work. I had no problem waiting on MY car. But that's the point. I don't have a car, there's no communication as to when to possibly expect one and the most information I have received about anything regarding the Cat is from you fine folks.

I have bigger things to worry about and to put energy into than dicking around with dealers and/or dodge.
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i feel the same way.
What was or is the point of going to an "SRT dealer", pre ordering with large deposit in my case, ten grand... then sitting with no VIN or no word from Dodge for 16 weeks now since my order was accepted opening day... ?? I now sit and watch as people walk into dealers and buy cars "*sitting behind ropes" while my order goes untouched for 4 months.. 5months if you count pre order and deposit and all i have is a VON? give me a break... im about ready to snap.

added: if Dodge has a desire to punish small local dealers fine, but leave me out of it.. dont punish someone wanting to buy your top of the line product!!
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F6F
I understand, but the Hellcat is the car that I want. It is like buying Mega Blocks because Lego is not available at Toys R us. I am extremely disappointed at Chrysler but hey, it is a Hellcat, it is worth the wait. Plus I do not need it, I want it.
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Texas Joe
I know how you feel and I feel the same way about THE CAR... The process is sickening
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Dances With Empties
For what it's worth, I suspect this game that Chrysler/Dodge is playing is going to bite them in the azz. Their betting that pandering to their dealers for sales is going to out weigh the damage they do with loyal customers. Hell of a bet in the long run!...
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Kevin M
Texas Joe said:
Well dodge, another dealer pissed me off today, got me in the dealership under the guise that he had an available allotment with $7,500 deposit. Fine... Until I made sure the $7,500 went towards the price of the car. NOPE!!! Mark up bait and switch so a big F U! I now proudly own a 2015 ZL1. Not a hellcat but I have no regrets. Car is loaded and was less than what my hellcat invoice was for. Maybe I will reconsider in the future but you've lost a customer and I WILL spread the word
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Congrat's Joe! You should send your email to Dodge! Definitely do it... They need to know first hand that they are losing customers!
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bfusion
What amazes me is that when I first(quote unquote) ordered in the beginning of August my dealer took my money and said Chrysler wanted to make sure these were legit people/orders. They didn't want large collectors or dealers buying them and selling them with a large mark up to the normal customer. Ha! imagine if they only produced 1300 like the original number, none of the everyday customers would have them right now. We are not worthy oh great Penstar!
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Texas Joe
Less than 24 hours have passed sinced buying the ZL1, and im already reaching out to Hennesey for ideas lol...
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1BADKAT
R am another upset loyal customer with 3 vipers, 2 challengers, 2 300's and a whole slew of other Mopar"s in the same situation. It makes no sense to allocate these cars the way it has been done. The person coming up with this plan needs to be demoted or fired. It would.be one thing if they were not already sold orders, but watching cars go to dealers unsold, and me still waiting for a vin since 9-9 is frustrating to put it lightly. Not only is this upsetting to us, but it's just as unfair and upsetting to the dealers. How does dodge think the small dealers with sold orders feels with no allocations to sell what they are entitled to sell. This has to be the stupidest plan of all time. There is not 1 good reason behind this, and its leaving a bitter taste in everyone's mouth. I have been waiting to order a 2015 viper that they just opened ordering for last week, but I told my dealer i wasn't ordering one and going through this process again. The dealer's owner is a good customer of mine and friend , but he understands my frustration too, as i do his for being an srt dealer with no allocations. I could see this system being OK for unsold vehicles, so they wouldn't be sitting on dealer lots that don't have a market for them, but sold units are PRIORITY! One more thing, i believe the past loyal enthusiasts who have purchased Vipers and other SRT's should have had 1st opportunity to purchase these cars, then open the rest up to everyone.
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F6F
8
I completely agree with you. Yesterday I sent a message to SRT via Facebook:





Dealers with huge mark ups on Hellcats, no punishment from Chrysler?


Troxler Otto
Like · .
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    Write a comment...

  • SRT - driveSRT    Hi Otto, as you know we set the MSRP, and dealers — as independent businesses — set their own selling prices. We encourage buyers to check with as many dealerships as necessary to find the one they feel comfortable dealing with.
    Like · Reply · December 26 at 6:48pm

    • Troxler Otto      That is what Chrysler has been telling us, but my dealer sold one at MSRP and did not get an allocation for December. This process is not clear at all. Can you advise if Chrysler will disclose the allocation information as far as where and who is getting the cars?
      Like · December 26 at 7:39pm

    • SRT - driveSRT      Selling price does not impact allocations, Otto. The allocation process is a business function based in large part on recent dealership sales and as such we don't have information to share on which dealerships will receive future allocations. As always, feel free to send us a private message (SRT - driveSRT) with any other questions.
      Like · 14 hrs

    • Troxler Otto      I am not talking about the price. If a dealership has a Hellcat on the lot and is not selling it, we were told that they are not going to get any more Hellcats. So the question still remains, why is my dealership not getting an allocation? Also you are saying that the allocation is based on recent sales, do you have that information or it cannot be disclosed to the general public? thank you
      Like · 12 hrs

    • SRT - driveSRT      We can't share that information, Otto.
      Like · 10 hrs

    • Troxler Otto      That's what I thought, thank you.
      Like · 9 hrs
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F6F
What i understand from their messages is:

Hey moron, you are stuck with our little allocation bs system, deal with it.

I firmly believe that the doctors that were paid 80 million bucks to teach how to torture terrorists, also designed the Hellcat allocation system, any doubts?
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bfusion
F6F said:
What i understand from their messages is:

Hey moron, you are stuck with our little allocation bs system, deal with it.

I firmly believe that the doctors that were paid 80 million bucks to teach how to torture terrorists, also designed the Hellcat allocation system, any doubts?
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I sent these ja#* offs a letter via the SRT contact us page yesterday, I doubt I will get anything but an automated reply. What theyare saying is our dealers may be greedy and unscrupuolus bastsrds but you still have to pick from one of them and we don't care because we are making our money. It is absolutely maddening and we should have let Chrysler go belly up. Even if I were to get a Hellcat tomorrow, It would not change how I feel about there customer service. I wanted this car because it was a good fit for me, but not at all costs. I have a strong feeling none of this bs will change, no matter what. I guess some of us are jut screwed.
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FreightTrain
im sick of it all at this point.. i was really holding onto hope of getting picked up by years end.. now, to read stories.. and maybe thats all they are.... of people now walking in and buying off of showroom floors or making deals while car is en route, while my order with deposit goes untouched pisses me off to no end..

what is the point of pre ordering with large deposit again? my order hasnt been touched in 4 months when it was accepted.

It doesnt matter if its the Chrysler or the Dealer flying the Chrysler flag.. to me "the customer" they are one... i can only purchase thru one.
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bfusion
Abe FreightTrain Quinby said:
im sick of it all at this point.. i was really holding onto hope of getting picked up by years end.. now, to read stories.. and maybe thats all they are.... of people now walking in and buying off of showroom floors or making deals while car is en route, while my order with deposit goes untouched pisses me off to no end..

what is the point of pre ordering with large deposit again? my order hasnt been touched in 4 months when it was accepted.

It doesnt matter if its the Chrysler or the Dealer flying the Chrysler flag.. to me "the customer" they are one... i can only purchase thru one.
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I agree, as there is no other representation or contact with Chrysler the dealer IS Chrysler. No defense or excuses!!
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bfusion
Makes me kind of worried as to how they would handle a big warranty issue. Would they turn their back on that too?
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FreightTrain
bfusion said:
Makes me kind of worried as to how they would handle a big warranty issue. Would they turn their back on that too?
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thats a good point.. hell, any issue for that matter... if this buying experience is any indication LOL

on another forum a guy complained about the paint on his green cat... Chrysler told him he had to take posession before they would talk to him about it... soon as he did they told him it was his problem... At least thats what he claimed.. he wasnt able to provide detailed photos of damaged paint tho
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