CONFIRMED IN CANADA - Buy a G.M., Like It, or Get Your Money Back

[alanbrenton]

http://www.financialpost.com/story.html?id=1984235

[Tennoh]

GM Canada hardly ever has the same promotions as GM USA. Chances are good this doesn't apply to Canada.

[Kayne]

My first thoughts on this are that its a very bad move for them to be offering this. I think most people will get the car, trash it and then the market will be flooded with low mileage used G.M.'s.

On a different note it may be a good idea as it will definately get there product out there in the public eye.

I think my first three months will be a ZR1 then maybe a CTSV and then on to the Camaro. I think by that time I will be ready for a Escalade lol.

[ES_Revenge]

Wasn't Saturn (in the US at least) always like this anyway? I don't think it's that easy to abuse the "return policy" either. An interesting idea but yeah I doubt it will come to Canada either. With a lot of today's GM interiors though I don't know how this would work out well for them, lol.

[alanbrenton]

I just read on today's The National Post that for financing (not leasing), this 60-day trial will be offered beginning Monday.

http://www.financialpost.com/story.html?id=1984235

Woohoo! I hope people don't abuse this generosity. Be careful though, a $200 damage will render the return policy unenforceable by the purchaser.

[ES_Revenge]

Woohoo! I hope people don't abuse this generosity. Be careful though, a $200 damage will render the return policy unenforceable by the purchaser.

And a $200 damage may come down to the smallest thing. Even a small scratch while loading something into the trunk or a door ding in the parking lot will definitely cost over $200 on most of today's cars. So, be careful indeed. Plus keep in mind there is no way to make this into a "free rental" service as you do get charged for the kms you drive the car for. Still actually cheaper than a rental but it's a bit more involved to start financing a car than to walk in and rent one (not to mention having to pay insurance as well). Also there is a 4000km cap, anymore than that and no return permitted.

Still I think they should have waited until cars like the Cobalt, G6, et. al (all the cars with craptastic interiors) were replaced before implementing this program. I mean even the CTS is annoying with that damn cheap looking plasti-chrome interior trim I dunno what is with their obsession with that stuff the last few years

[CaptSmethwick]

And a $200 damage may come down to the smallest thing. Even a small scratch while loading something into the trunk or a door ding in the parking lot will definitely cost over $200 on most of today's cars. So, be careful indeed. Plus keep in mind there is no way to make this into a "free rental" service as you do get charged for the kms you drive the car for. Still actually cheaper than a rental but it's a bit more involved to start financing a car than to walk in and rent one (not to mention having to pay insurance as well). Also there is a 4000km cap, anymore than that and no return permitted.

Still I think they should have waited until cars like the Cobalt, G6, et. al (all the cars with craptastic interiors) were replaced before implementing this program. I mean even the CTS is annoying with that damn cheap looking plasti-chrome interior trim I dunno what is with their obsession with that stuff the last few years

Yeah, the plast-aluminum bothered me at first but, frankly, the laminate they use is more durable (scratch resistant) than real brushed aluminum. It doesn't bother me so much any more.

To each their own...

[Kellster]

Do you also get the sales tax back? This would be in the thousands of dollars.

[aquariaguy]

Now GM will find where you live and key your car Brilliant.

[CCCPres]

Do you also get the sales tax back? This would be in the thousands of dollars.

You should. Its just like returning something to Walmart, you'll get the taxes as well.

BTW- This applies to any car purchase. If they take it back, you'll also get the taxes. As long as it is deemed to be a 'return of mechadise' and not a sale. So the dealer is not buying it back, he's allowing you to return it for a refund.
In the eyes of the tax dept there's a huge difference.

Later,
CCCPres

[nornet]

PLEASE read the article.

"GM will charge a usage fee based on the number of kilometres driven and the purchase price of the vehicle."

You must turn the car back in pristine condition otherwise you are responsible for bringing it back to showroom condition.

[mr_raider]

I'm gonna buy me an Escalade before I go partying next week end. I'll look gangsta Then I return it on Monday.

[CaptSmethwick]

While this seems like a desperate move on GM's part, it would be handy if all car manufacturers offered this - would certainly address the post-purchase cognitive dissonance. That being said, if GM doesn't implement a procedure for dealerships - along with training of its staff, I can see the potential for some conflict with customers and/or bad blood. This would be somewhat alleviated if the "refund" were a credit for another GM vehicle - but that would also limit the value of the program.

It's not an unimportant detail that "fees charged during the process" are not refunded. I presume that this means PDI or any admin charge that you do not negotiate out of the original purchase. I do not know what this means for gas guzzler, tire, and a/c taxes - given that the car must subsequently be sold as "used" and these taxes are paid by the original buyer, the out-of-pocket costs, it's a question mark. I suppose all will be cleared up when the program starts tomorrow.

I'm gonna buy me an Escalade before I go partying next week end. I'll look gangsta Then I return it on Monday.

No can do. The deal is you can return the car between 31 and 60 days after purchase. IOW, using this as a weekend rental isn't an option. I note also that the program excludes "medium duty trucks" - although I expect this covers Sierra and Silverado, rather than the Escalade.

[Engi-Nir]

With any incentive there is almost always small print. And there's plenty of that with GM's 60-Day Satisfaction Guarantee "May The Best Car Win" promotion.

Although similar, the program in Canada is not identical to the program in the United States.

Let's start with the usage fee.

Say you take home a well-equipped Chevrolet Silverado with an MSRP of $42,395. Should you decide to return it within 60 days with only 2,500km on it then you will be docked a usage fee of $833. GM Canada is quick to point out that $833 is significantly less than renting a vehicle for the same period. True enough, but it's still a fee.

In addition, American customers can put a maximum of 4,000 miles on a vehicle, equivalent to 6,400km, while Canadians can only put 4,000km, equivalent to 2,485 miles. So while Canadians may get the car for the same amount of time we can only drive it 60% as far.

So there you have it. The same but different.

[CaptSmethwick]

With any incentive there is almost always small print. And there's plenty of that with GM's 60-Day Satisfaction Guarantee "May The Best Car Win" promotion.

Although similar, the program in Canada is not identical to the program in the United States.

Let's start with the usage fee.

Say you take home a well-equipped Chevrolet Silverado with an MSRP of $42,395. Should you decide to return it within 60 days with only 2,500km on it then you will be docked a usage fee of $833. GM Canada is quick to point out that $833 is significantly less than renting a vehicle for the same period. True enough, but it's still a fee.

In addition, American customers can put a maximum of 4,000 miles on a vehicle, equivalent to 6,400km, while Canadians can only put 4,000km, equivalent to 2,485 miles. So while Canadians may get the car for the same amount of time we can only drive it 60% as far.

So there you have it. The same but different.

Yeah but cars cost more in Canada, so you'll get more back!