Customer's Zl1 Crashed by Dealer and Refuses to Pay

[black heartbeat]

Absolutely amazing. The whole thing is rather new but it seems pretty valid, crazy to think this could happen.
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=333504

[ZFreie]

Lol, people baffle me, I wanna know how the guy who took the car justified that one in his head....

[Grovlet]

Camaro5 - Dealer Crashed ZL1 - Post #59 (http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=333504&page=3)

He claims to be John Hooper - the writer of a few 1st Gen related books!

Now this one is a bit odd:
#1 - Claims Dealer crashed his car and dealer now is claiming ZERO Fault - After an unauthorized Test Drive on an off day? Any real dealer would be totally stupid to take that stand!
#2 - He's asking what to do? Really? You just had a dealer total your car and tell you to pound sand? - I think you can figure this out without a first posting to ask the question?
#3 - Now claim's to have 1st Gen Camaro book ties? I would think you know some folks who can help with the issue vs. just posting randomly to Camaro Forum you are not part of until now?

Now it's not that I don't think it could be true - just falls on the side of hoax to me right now - to many oddities..... Although if it is true I hope he gets a brand new ZL1 & takes ownership of the dealership (or at least puts them out of business!!!)

[LSX-Nation]

I agree, doesnt really add up.

[LSX-Nation]

That guy only has 9 post there too, id believe it more if it was someone who was well known on Camaro 5 but I think its fake...early April fool's, fool

[Formula413]

I think it's legit, someone even posted the FB page of the guy that crashed the car. It's a weird story for sure though. If everything is true it's amazing that the dealership would be stupid enough to try to fight the guy, like there was any way they wouldn't be held responsible. All they did was buy themselves a mountain of bad press.

[frankzlt1]

just watched the news feed on line and its a bad deal, looks like the dealer might do the right thing for Mr Hooper.

[Grovlet]

Unfortunately it has turned out to be Legit :mad:- and the dealer is playing hard ball - So the owner is on to a lawsuit:
Update - Post #529 (http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=333504&page=22)

In the long run the owner will win out and this dealer will be screwed - I remember a BMW Dealer and a similar issue where the lawsuit provided a new upgraded car plus 2/3X damages - although it took 2+ years to get resolved....:ahhhhhhh:

[DavidS]

The dealer, 1st State Chevrolet has this on the front page of their website:

http://www.firststatechevy.com/


Recently 1st State Chevrolet had an employee enter the dealership on Sunday December 15th and take a customer’s Camaro without authorization and subsequently totaled the customer’s car in an accident. Our business is closed on Sundays and was locked as is usual procedure. The employee acted on his own in this unfortunate event. This is an awful situation for both the customer and the dealership to deal with. We have been in contact with the customer and apologized for this situation at length. Both parties’ insurance companies are working to handle this claim in a satisfactory manner. Hopefully this situation will be settled in the very near future.
-Robert L. Hansen
President 1st State Chevrolet


You would think they would do the right thing and make their customer happy especially with all the bad press they're getting.

News article...."In for a paint job, out a total wreck":

http://capegazette.villagesoup.com/p/in-for-a-paint-job-out-a-total-wreck/1093942 (http://capegazette.villagesoup.com/p/in-for-a-paint-job-out-a-total-wreck/1093942)

[Formula413]

Boy, they could have saved themselves a lot of legal fees and bad press by just owning up to it right off the bat.

[LSX-Nation]

Wow that really sucks. Should get a bunch of people to email them saying replace the man's car.

[Grovlet]

Yeah they are already seeing the impact - but obviously don't quite understand the wrong methods they are using....

I get the let's be sure of our legal obligation here - but I also get the feeling it's a small town, and they are thinking it's the typical small town politics - and boy oh boy are they going to be surprised on how wrong they are.....

[Formula413]

They made the front page of Yahoo. They sure are getting some publicity out of this. :haha:

http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/chevy-camaro-zl1-owner-fights-dealership-totaled-car-170136602.html

[DavidS]

They made the front page of Yahoo. They sure are getting some publicity out of this. :haha:

http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/chevy-camaro-zl1-owner-fights-dealership-totaled-car-170136602.html

Nice! Their former employee caused the problem. The dealer should work with the customer to make it right.

[black heartbeat]

They shouldn't need to work with him, they should just be kissing his ass

[84ta406]

I agree the dealership should be doing the right thing but also I can see it from their side. Why pay for a car that was essentially stolen? The employee is the one at fault more than the dealer. Ive heard of similar events happening on more than one occasion and it sucks for anyone involved

[DavidS]

I agree the dealership should be doing the right thing but also I can see it from their side. Why pay for a car that was essentially stolen? The employee is the one at fault more than the dealer. Ive heard of similar events happening on more than one occasion and it sucks for anyone involved

From what the owner posted, it looks like the dealer did not want to provide their insurance information. It looks like they are doing that now, so it will probably get straightened out but not very quickly.

edit:

From the Original Poster on page 37: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=333504&page=37

At any rate, a retired GM exec called me today to let me know that GM IS involved now. It is our understanding that the matter will be resolved to our satisfaction next week. And GM will make sure that we are treated fairly and equitably.

[My84Z]

Bottom line is they should take the insurance money tramsfer his loan amd give him a brand new zl1 same options and say sorry. Customer has a brand new car amd everyone breaks even.

[DavidS]

There is a fake dealership facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/Wewreckedazl1

Free insurance claim with any warranty work!

[Formula413]

Ahhhhhahahahaha that page is great!!!

[DavidS]

It looks like it's all worked out.

From the OP:
GM and Berger Chevrolet (Grand Rapids, Michigan) have stepped in and are paving [not paying] the way for a new 2013 ZL1 to be sent to First State Chevrolet for me to purchase.

link: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=333504&page=53

[black heartbeat]

A few companies sent him some free stuff too, CAI, sway bars, and LED lighting. Pretty cool
http://www.pfadtracing.com/blog/owners-of-wrecked-zl1-come-to-a-resolution/

[ZFreie]

A few companies sent him some free stuff too, CAI, sway bars, and LED lighting. Pretty cool
http://www.pfadtracing.com/blog/owners-of-wrecked-zl1-come-to-a-resolution/You can't buy that kind of advertising