Chevy Volt...It should have been called the Chevy Dolt

Once again, GM sold the government a bill of goods on the Chevrolet Volt, the wonder car that would soon be flooding America's streets with amazing fuel mileage and beating the crap out of the imports.

It didn't happen and it isn't going to happen. Reports released yesterday show the Volt will probably die from a terminal discharge sometime in the near future, unless GM can con the Obama administration to throw more  money at a sinking ship.

Here's the latest IBD Editorial:
August 7, 2013
Chevrolet's Electric Volt: Is Failure Within Its Range?

"Gone Green: Nearly a year ago General Motors was losing almost $50,000 for each Chevrolet Volt it built. Now GM's business model, driven by trendy environmentalism, calls for it to cut the price and lose even more money.

The green lobby wants more hybrids and plug-in electric cars on the roads. Therefore the president wants 1 million electrics humming around by 2015 — and the car makers have to ignore market reality under pressure to do what the environmentalist-political complex demands.

Even if it makes no sense.

In September of last year, we said "Obama's Government Motors needs to shut down the Volt line indefinitely" — not just for the month it planned to halt production — then restart the assembly lines only when it could make a profit on the car.

In May, we noted: "The market for electric cars is so weak that consumer costs are approaching almost nothing."

Here it is August, and the Volt, the car that USA Today calls the "supposed" star of General Motors' portfolio, is back in the news.

This time it's because the automaker is going to drop the price by $5,000. USA Today reports that with "a full $7,500 federal tax credit, the price is cut to $27,495," a figure that doesn't include some state tax credits.

Aside from those whose egos demand that they use their cars to scream out their moral superiority as environmentalists, and maybe a few enthusiasts who dabble in the technology, does anyone really want these electric cars? Their dismal sales numbers simply do not justify their existence.

Sales of the Volt, the most popular electric vehicle, were only a little more than half of the 45,000 that GM expected last year. Ford built 1,627 Focus Electrics in 2012 and sold only 685 of them.

Foreign makers fared no better. Mitsubishi could sell only 600 of its i-MiEVs while Nissan sold fewer than 800 of its Leafs last year. Sales in 2013 remained stagnant until Nissan cut the price by $6,400 early in the year.

Yes, Tesla seems to be doing well. But remember: It makes a luxury car that appeals to the wealthy who buy them as toys. It's an outlier.

Meanwhile, Chrysler has wisely decided to stay out of the EV market until "consumers are willing to step up and pay for the technology," Automotive News reported this week. That's the way it should be.

Government involvement invariably introduces inefficiency, improper incentives and, in the end, failure."

Well said. Government encouragement, money and lack of foresight and oversight equals squandered taxpayer dollars. All the while watching the economy go south as those sad cars plow the streets at way below the cost to make them, due to subsidies paid by the taxpayers.

Here's the story from The Blaze, dated yesterday, August 16, 2013:
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/08/16/whatever-happened-to-the-chevy-volt/

More detailed info on how, in 2012, the government spun the losing proposition in to great political press: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/seton-motley/2012/07/17/media-fail-chevy-volt-makes-gm-no-money-costs-taxpayers-hundreds-thous

How much money will the government throw at Green technology that fails? Just look at the record of the current administration and the back-room deals.

Cadillac GM Update

A quick update on the lack of customer service from GM. It no longer concerns me. I purchased a new BMW so I don't care what GM does from here on in, as long as we taxpayers don't have to bail them out again. Following their attitude, I'll never buy a GM product again. Sadly, I think GM stands for Get Mauled by their customer service.

I tried to come back and buy a top of the line American product, but my willingness to get kicked in the family jewels by uncaring peons sitting at a desk somewhere is beyond my comprehension and acceptance, especially since the vehicle I purchased probably paid someones salary for many months. How quickly they forget the customer when times seem to get better; how fast the car companies forget the hands that feed them, until they need a handout once again. Not unlike the teenager who refuses to help until they need money for a date, GM won't be satisfied until they need money to stay afloat. And, by then, America should hand them drills instead of plugs!

Sadly, I find out the Truth About Cadillac

I was high on Cadillac. I'll admit that. As high as anyone could be with a new car. Up there in the ionosphere somewhere, but then...then...came the big letdown. That GM doesn't give a rats' ass about the customer after you buy the car, and wishes you wouldn't bother them, and hopes to never hear from you again.

My vehicle came without a navigation booklet. The vehicle has an owners manual about an inch and a half thick, but little information on the entertainment or navigation system; I thought it was just really sparse in content on those subjects. I never knew it was a separate booklet as it's not referred to as such in the manual, but found it was difficult to determine all the nuances of the navigation system until I found a copy of it on the Internet. Many things I never knew about, and small wonder there were items I couldn't find or do. So, in order not to copy a huge document online, and try to store a sheaf of letter size paper in the car, I requested the missing booklet.

I spoke to a very nice woman at Cadillac Customer Service, who turned me over to someone else in customer service, who then informed me that for a paltry $24.95 she would send me the book. WTF? It was missing when I bought the car. That didn't matter, because they don't replace missing items, and since the dealer has done nothing to replace the booklet (I did request one from them with no help), they couldn't help without $24.95.

This is the second time I have requested assistance from Cadillac regarding issues with the navigation system, and the second time I have heard the same sad story. The first time it took about a week to finally get some action from a person at Cadillac who agreed that the navigation system was not properly updated and arranged for an update. That damned near took an act of Congress.

Having to fight for every little issue is beyond comprehension. We also bought a new BMW within 30 days of this Cadillac and the difference in service and attention to detail is amazing. Following the purchase of the Cadillac, we received several calls from the dealer and all they wanted to be sure of was that we were happy enough to give them high marks on the GM survey. Not a word since. With the BMW, we receive e-mails from their general manager, a letter from the sales person, and communication about once a week asking if there is anything they can do to assure our experience is everything we wish it to be. Plus info from BMW America to help with vehicle familiarization, etc.

Once again, good old GM "f**k you" customer service sends another customer who tried to come back to American Iron back to another foreign car. A $53,000 vehicle and they balk over a $24.95 booklet that they forgot? Fine. I've already been to the BMW dealer to seek a deal on a new car. Luckily, it's not the money, but the principle.

On a footnote, I never experienced this type of "screw you" service from Ford. Must be part of the arrogance from being bailed out with MY money, huh? We got your money and sold you a car so now screw yourself. Hmm..no, you got it all wrong, GM. Screw you, and in the future, there won't be any more bail outs for you, especially from me personally, because I won't be buying another one of your products ever again. So you better do well. Because. there's at least a half-dozen cars you won't be selling me in the future. Oh, yeah, and about at least that many you won't be selling my spouse either. Wait, did I mention the corporate business in the family? Hmm...check the right hand and notice which finger is saluting GM now!

Wanna Buy A Government Motors Car?

Good Grief, the government is in the car business! Obama stressed that they took 60% of GM simply to bail them out, but I find it difficult to believe the government will be able to keep their grubby paws out of the car makers business when and if they finally emerge from bankruptcy. Obama stated further the government would only be involved in the "most critical" decisions...which to many translated dictating what kind of cars they make to meet his greenhouse gas emissions mandates. Socialism and a bailout all rolled into one. Pretty neat package at the taxpayers expenses. Oh yeah, one more thing, Obama stated that the predictors were wrong in thinking the car business would "fall off the cliff" and Chrysler sold more cars in May than they did in April. DUH. Of course they did...they cut the prices by ten to fifteen thousand dollars on some models, and had to liquidate inventory by June 9 as dealerships were told they lost their dealership franchises with Chrysler. Plus, some dealers purchased vehicles from other dealers at below invoice prices to beef up inventory in markets where they were able to move vehicles. What the hell is this guy thinking? Does he think we're too stupid to see the spin?

For those who thought the Democrats were going to save America, you were sadly deluded. They will sink the country with their free spending, just as they have California. Yes, California has a Republican governor but he has been unable to bridle the run away spending of the Democrat controlled legislature and look at the mess we're in. A state that will again run out of money by July and that held up Tax refunds this year because there was no money to pay them. A state that throws billions at welfare and illegal immigration costs and cuts education and mental health benefits for the most needy.

And, the Democrats in Washington will do the same. Spend every penny they can print and watch while the country sinks so far into debt we'll never get out. Did anyone notice that the personal savings rate went up for the first time in 14 years? That's because people are scared of what's coming, and squirreling away cash as best they can to prepare for the future. When Washington talks about playing with Social Security and Medicare, and is silent on welfare, that speaks volumes about where the administration is coming from. People who earned the money and placed it into a trust with the government will likely get screwed, as those who put zip into anything continue to enjoy a free ride on the taxpayer and the backs of the retired.

What happened to Social Security? Why is it being drained so fast? The government neatly blames all those retiring due to the recession and not enough going into the plan. But what about all the borrowing from the plan that took place over the years? What about the movement of money from and to Social Security that wasn't repaid with adequate interest? Why didn't the government act to increase the Social Security tax gradually over the years to accommodate retirement potentials and only use the money for retirees?

What about the millions or tens of millions of Form 1011 charges for illegal aliens that are charged to Medicare annually to drain a separate portion of the fund? Why should the illegals get free care and then the Americans be told their Medicare is on the verge of collapse? Go to another country illegally and see how good your health care is. Wait, go to another country legally and see if you get free health care. Not only no, but hell, no! Looks like their politicians have more brains than ours do. We're not talking about emergency, absolutely needed care either. We're talking about every little damned thing that you can show up at the ER for. Just be illegal and you're home free. And the taxpayer is paying for it.

Sad

Poncho is Dead, thanks to General Motors

Many of us die-hard aficionados of Pontiac called the marque "Ponchos" as a shortened version of Pontiac. I have no idea when this started, but back in the 1950's when someone owned a "Poncho" you knew it was a Pontiac. No big long name, just a simple pseudonym for a great car. And, now Poncho is dead, thanks to the idiots at General Motors.

How could this happen? Let's take a short trip down memory land, to when the muscle car was king of the street. The American Muscle Car, that is. Yes, there was the 1950's Corvettes and the Chevy's and even the Fuel Injected 1967 Pontiac Bonneville and Chevrolet Bel Air, but the car that set the tone for all muscle cars to follow was the 1964 Pontiac GTO.

In the early 60's, most of the big engines were in big cars, such as the Ford Galaxy with a 427, a Chevy Impala or Biscayne with a 409 or later on a 427. Dodge and Plymouth as well as Chrysler offered big engines as well, including the 383 and 440 blocks as well as the 426 Hemi. But again, these were in big cars with lots of weight to pull.

So, along came the GTO, from the parts bin at Pontiac, built on the Tempest frame and body and infused with a 389 cubic inch engine and a 4 speed transmission, the "Little GTO" was just about King of the Street. Add three two barrel carburetors, or three deuces as it was known and called "Tri-Power" by Pontiac, and you had a potent street and drag machine that few cars could match. The Mustang came along later that year, but the smaller engined "Pony" car was no match for the "Goat" as the GTO was called by many. For years the GTO ruled the streets and was the cradle upon which the American Muscle Car industry was born, giving rise to the famed Olds 4-4-2, the Plymouth Road Runner and GTX, Dodge Super Bee, Shelby Mustang GT500KR, and even such unusual, yet amazing players, as American Motors with the AMX and Studebaker with the Supercharged Lark, and Studebaker-Packard with their Hawk series.

Camaro soon followed along with Firebird. The car that Grandpa drove, the Buick, gave birth to the Buick Grand National in later years, followed closely by the venerable GNX version that could whip just about anything on the drag strip with it's turbocharged V-6.

Then, for some strange reason, in the 90's GM decided that we didn't want what we wanted. That we wanted what GM would give us, and like it or not, if you wanted a GM product you had to settle. What? Settle? We were Americans and not used to settling for just any Iron. We wanted muscle and not rice burners and Japanese tuners. We wanted cubic inches and V-8's and thunderous exhausts. And GM and Chrysler let us down. Ford still produced the Mustang and thus, has survived the debacle pretty well, at least to this point.

GM dumped Oldsmobile. Remember the slogan they used during the waning years of that marque? "This isn't your father's Oldsmobile!" Hell no it wasn't. Dad's Olds had horsepower and could smoke most of the cars on the road or the track on Saturday nights. It had style. The new Oldsmobile was pathetic to say the least. No self respecting muscle car person would own one. Thank God it wasn't your father's Olds!

Buick was the consummate symbolism of a granny car. Driven by the aged and the perfect vehicle to clog the highways between the senior citizens home, and the all you can eat buffet in Senility City. Big and style less, they were avoided at all costs by the younger population. Then, someone got the idea to use the same body style as the Olds Cutlass during the early to mid 80's and create the Buick Regal. Then, why not turbocharge it. Then create the Buick Grand National. Now there was excitement on four wheels. Then, for the ultimate fun with a V-6, came the GNX, a Super Stock version of the Grand National. For once in a hot rodder's life, they actually could say YES to the jingle "Wouldn't you really rather own a Buick?"

Aah, but GM screwed this up too. Blame it on gas shortages or maybe brain shortages at GM, but the fast Buick's disappeared in favor of over sized behemoths that guzzled gas anyway, and were never going to sell to the kids and young adults who had money to spend. Buick regressed to the car driven by senior citizens and people who didn't yet have their AARP card just didn't want to see in their driveway

I am saddened to see Pontiac disappear, just as I have been by many of the names of our automobiles that once graced our streets. I have had three Pontiac's, a 1957 Bonneville, a 1966 GTO and a 2005 GTO. I bought that 2005 GTO thinking somehow it would hearken me back to the days when the GTO was king of the road. Maybe I thought, somehow, it would bring back 1964 and the excitement of the era when the GTO was the car to drive. Factually, it was faster, drove better, handled better on curves, and had a better fit and finish than my 66 Goat. But, it wasn't really a GTO at all, and it wasn't really even a Pontiac. It was a re-badged Holden Monaro, made in Australia and not in the USA. It was scary fast and fun, and had GTO emblems, but it still wasn't true American Iron like the old days. They only made the "new" GTO for three years, 2004, 2005 and 2006 and production ceased. There will never be another GTO made. Period.

Bad decisions on the part of the automakers, greed on the part of the unions and trying to force cars that we didn't want down our collective throats has brought us to the current state of affairs. Those of us who bought American for 50 years now turn to the imports for better value, better performance and mileage, and stability of the makers. It never had to come to this. But when companies forget that the consumer gets what they want, not what you want to give them, it all ends up the same.

Bottom line is that the tag line on Pontiac commercials "Pontiac...We build excitement!" has fallen on deaf ears, as it just hasn't been true. What Pontiac and GM has done is build apathy, and the motoring public has finally responded by saying we'll have someone else build something exciting for us, thank you. You had several generations to make the grade and failed, now it's someone elses' turn.

Is it ALL the UAW's Fault?

First up, Bush bailed out GM and Chrysler today, and that will keep the plants running for another four months or so. Secondly, the UAW is still unhappy because it requires them to makes some concessions. More whining from Gettelfinger as he says: "We will work with the Obama administration and the new Congress to ensure that these unfair conditions are removed," said Ron Gettelfinger, president of the UAW.

A reader stated it's not all the UAW's fault that the automakers are in the tank and I couldn't agree more. But I still charge that the arrogance of Ron Gettelfinger, the head of the union, in stating they will make no concessions when standing in the face of God, the government and the American public, was absolutely idiotic and showed the greed of the union.

Maybe the top brass do make millions. Maybe they should make ZERO until the companies make a profit. But, again, someone has to run the store and it doesn't appear from what I've personallly seen, that anyone out there on the shop floor is qualified to do so, if their build-out of the average American vehicle is any indication.

Americans loved their cars! We have had a love affair with American iron since before Henry Ford made the automobile affordable to the masses. Nobody, save a few who were possibly considered eccentrics in the 50's and 60's, wanted anything built anywhere other than in America. Oh sure, there was the ubiquitous VW beetle, but that was an icon that simply became associated with a generation, and sales of that vehicle along with the VW minibus never impacted Detroit or Dearborn a bit. Neither did the smattering of Saab's and Volvo's that found their way into the country, along with what was likely a handful of German cars. To see a foreign car was so much an oddity that everyone wondered what they were!

If the UAW built cars here in AMERICA that were built well, I don't think the public would have turned to foreign cars in the first place. The Japanese, Koreans, Germans and others would never have gotten the hold on the market that they have. But, the cars being built here were abyssmal. Simply put, foreigners built them better. Of about 30 full-size Fords, either Crown Victorias, Custom 500's or similar I've owned or driven, only 4 were made in the US, and those were pure junk, always in the shop. One spent more time in the shop than on the road and was finally traded in early. The others came from Canada and were great cars with virtually no problems. And, pardon me my Canadian friends, they were built by foreigners! Not US autoworkers! (Yes, I know the CAW has about the same costs and benefits as the UAW, but they must take pride in what they build!) The only decent GM car, out of the dozen or so I've owned, was made by foreigners in Australia, a 2005 GTO! The build, fit and finish on that GTO was stated to be the mark that all GM should be striving for. And it had to come from a foreign country. What a helluva shame.

Does anyone remember the expose' that 60 Minutes, or another investigative television program, did back in the 70's on the auto industry? They followed vehicles being made and interviewed autoworkers who complained that their jobs were demeaning, and even though their pay and benefits at that time was far above what an average American made, still produced cars that were problematic. Hidden cameras followed vehicles to the lots where they found transmission bolts missing and loose, installed by the same workers whom they interviewed earlier. Point being that nobody learned anything from back in the 70's, and management allowed labor to keep producing junk. And people kept buying junk until the light bulb went off. I guess it's funny, but the light bulb that Ford used as a "better idea" campaign, that went off in peoples' heads was the better idea to buy a foreign car that actually lasted a hundred or two hundred thousand miles.

I knew supervisors who worked at vehicle assembly plants who used to receive deep discounts on their new cars. Nothing wrong with that. But they would tell me they would tag their own cars, so the car would have to go back through the line at that time, so they knew it would be a good car. Those were supervisors, for God's sake; people who were supposed to assure EVERY car was good, yet they had to send their own car back through to assure it was okay? They KNEW the cars coming out were junk. The jokes about not buying cars made on Monday or after a holiday were more than jokes...for many it turned out to be nightmare.

So, try and tell me, who has owned more American cars than almost anyone I know, other than possibly a collector, why the autoworkers are not largely responsible for the demise of the American car industry. The only other way I can place all the blame on management is to say they are 100% at fault for not throwing the union the hell outta Dodge...and Chrysler, and Ford, and GM years ago. Years before it became the driving force that literally ran the companies.

Finally, when you talk about fairness in an industry, and the tail wagging the dog, why would an autoworker really care about being laid off with a deal like the "jobs bank" program? According to what the government has revealed, this program which was negotiated by the UAW and the automakers, allows laid-off workers to receive about 95 percent of their pay and benefits for years. And you wonder why American car pricing isn't competitive?

The dealers lots are full and nobody is buying. Interest rates are down, but when it's a choice between a roof over your head, food on the table or a car, the car loses. The love affair with American Iron appears to be over. I don't know whether the kids will ever have the same type love affair with the foreign cars, and I don't think a turn around is possible in the Big 3 in four months. Sadly, all I see in the future is a foreign car in the driveway, and that makes me very sad. It would make my father and grandfather sad too, but sometimes life and history just can't be changed.

The Arrogant, Greedy UAW Union Balks at Saving Themselves

I can't believe it! Or maybe I can believe it. Greed rears its ugly head and the face of greed is the United Auto Workers union, at the talks to salvage the future of the American auto industry.

The UAW brass refused to accede to wage and benefits cuts in 2009, and would only consider them in 2011 when their current contract runs out. In effect, they walked out of this meeting literally sealing the fate of hundreds of thousands of workers, who will be laid off permanently if the companies go bankrupt.

The buzz all across America is that the union is so arrogant and greedy that they would rather risk having the majority of their members lose their jobs permanently than agree to wage and benefit cuts. They think they're so powerful they can dictate to the government what the terms will be and it will be their terms or nothing. The Republicans walked out and I applaud them. Screw the union for their greed and arrogance!

Personally, I think the companies should go bankrupt if only for one reason...to be able to renegotiate their contracts between labor to a reasonable figure. The union has been the tail wagging the dog in the auto industry for far too long, and it's time somebody says "enough" and moved on. According to the Arizona Star "GM says its total hourly labor costs are now $69, including wages, pensions and health care for active workers, plus the pension and health care costs of more than 432,000 retirees and spouses. Toyota says its total costs are around $48." Is it any wonder the US automakers aren't competitive anymore?

Maybe it's not that we're not making attractive vehicles, but that the cost of putting them together, albeit shabbily in so many cases, has cost us the lead in the car business? While we were the envy of the car buying world in the 50's and 60's, now we're a laughing stock at best.

So, go ahead UAW. Fight for every last dime of that $29.78 the average automaker makes per hour, plus benefits such as healthcare, retirement, guaranteed layoff pay and everything else. And when all shuts down, and everyone is sitting jobless, as their homes foreclose, their new employee cost cars are repossessed, and they look for food at Detroit's soup kitchens, wondering how the hell this could happen to one of the biggest unions in the nation, just look at each other and your leadership and say..."we did it to ourselves...we arrogant, greedy bastards. We wanted everyone else to concede and give, but we wouldn't concede a dime. And now it's payback time and it's too late."

Of course, you won't think that way. It will all be someone elses fault. The car companies, the government, the taxpayers, the public for buying foreign cars, the oil companies, or anyone else but your leadership and you.

Enjoy the ride, for it's likely to be a short one. And build some decent cars as they might be the last ones you ever build with an American marque. I'm keeping my 2007 because I'm sure it will be a classic the way things are going now......

Update: From Friday's news conference by Ron Gettelfinger, Head of the UAW on the possibility of White House intervention into the current stall in negotiations: "I'm not even sure what this means, how much they're talking about, any terms or conditions that are associated with it," Gettelfinger said.

He said he doesn't think the union will be forced to negotiate wage cuts or other terms with the White House for the industry to get federal aid.

Once again, reinforcing the greed and arrogance. Standing on the corner with a tin cup, the begging man throws back the coins and only wants to hear the crisp dollars sliding into the goblet!

You Heard it Here...First!

Ever wonder why some companies tank? Why they slide head first into the toilet and then reach for the self-flush lever and pull it? Then close the lid on themselves, sealing their own fate?

Go back to my very first post, and it starts the litany of errors, or perhaps idiotic moves, that helped a giant like Washington Mutual run down the tube head-first. No, not the main reason perhaps, but just look at the number of companies who use offshore call centers and then look at those who tanked. Hmm...anyone else see a correlation here. AMERICA is starting to wake the hell up! We don't like dialing 1 for English, and we don't like talking to some freaking pidgin-english speaking asshole who can't help us one iota while our money, computer, appliance or whatever is a problem to us. U.S. Companies, are you listening? Get USA call centers before you end up with the same fate as those who have already fallen prey to the offshore lunacy. If I want to speak to Chandu or Rashid or anyone else who doesn't speak English, I'll do it on my terms and when I need to, not when I have an issue that requires technical assistance. And I'm not going to Press 1 to do it in some broken damned dialect either! If I find a need to speak a foreign tongue, I can go to a local ethnic restaurant or convenience store and have a nice conversation about the curry menu, or the merchandise, not about my bank account, thank you!

As for General Motors...as Carlos Mencia would say...Dee Dee Dee. Once again, if they only listened to the consumers, it would have been a smoother ride to profitability. But oh, no, like the rest, they decided to give the consumer what they wanted to give them, rather than what they really wanted. It's like giving a person one food one day, and then expecting him to eat the same thing every day of his life! It just doesn't happen. You can change the color, blend the shape and make it smell and look different, and raise the price, but it's the same old thing, and pretty soon it becomes unpalatable. Yet, when you can't feed it to the public any more, you just dress it up in a new manner, and continue to produce it and try and jam it down their throats. If you'll recall, it didn't work with broccoli and squash when you were a kid, and it didn't work for cars either.

GM screwed up when they decided that muscle cars like the real GTO and Olds 442 were out. They dumped the Camaro and the Firebird, and decided later on to revive the GTO with an Australian Holden type. Great car; I had a 2005. But it wasn't the original "Goat" and it wasn't really American iron anymore. They lost the kids and the muscle car addicts to the "Pony Car" people at Ford, who, incidentally, are also on their ass by trying to sell too many big cars and trucks and pay huge wages and benefits. Kids moved to the "Rice Burners or Rice Rockets" and all sort of tuner kits became available, that let tiny Hondas and Subarus run like the wind. They soon were punishing Mustangs on the street, and the tiny engines were good for 300+ horsepower and up. Yet the US car makers were still shoving the heavy bodied monsters on the market, with fewer and fewer buyers, all while paying the unions huge premium wages and benefits. (See another blog of mine on that!)

Pontiac will probably go the way of Oldsmobile. Sad? Yes, definitely. I've had Pontiacs and Oldsmobiles, all of which were muscle cars. But when GM decided that they knew better than the public what we wanted, I quit buying their cars. When their dealers couldn't fix a car properly and took 28 tries at repairing a convertible top, then couldn't repair the brakes on another brand new car after many repeated tries, I quit buying GM cars. The last was the 2005 GTO and I bought that solely because I knew then that Pontiac was in deep trouble, that the molds for that car were wearing out and there would be precious few built in the future. 2006 was the last year for the car and no more will ever be built. Strangely enough, the GTO built in Australia was built better and with closer tolerances than any GM made in America. The car magazines, and all reviews, set that car as the mark GM should be striving for in fit, finish and excellence in all its vehicles. Alas, that never happened. I guess the Aussies just take a lot more pride in their work or something, or maybe just care more about what they give the consumer, as they know they won't come back for more if they get a crappy product?

Time to wake up, American companies. The oil companies screwed us every chance they got and now that oil is less than half the price it was a few months back, we're still driving lots less. The airlines upped their fares, started charging for second bags and now that fuel is way down, even less than 18 months ago, those same airlines are still charging for the second bag. What goes?

Time for another blog on gouging!

Stand Up Companies..and those that Fall!

I got to thinking about companies and how the way they treat their customers, and how that might equate to how they'll survive the economic slowdown, or..damned recession we're in today. Will those companies who told me, and others to "get lost" or worse when we had a problem over the past years weather the storm, or sink like rocks. Just from my experience, I'd like to nominate some companies that I believe treat the consumer well and some that should have an albatross tied around the CEO's neck and weighed down with concrete for good measure.

The List of Stars:

1. First is Hewlett-Packard. An all-star company if I ever saw one. Took several repair tries but they then replaced a notebook computer with a better model, and added an extended warranty to boot. First class service all the way. I can't pile on enough accolades about the quality of services received from HP.


2. Duraflame Logs. Provided replacement coupons for some difficult to burn logs, and they even sent a label for UPS to pick up a case of unused product for lab testing, and let me know the results! Then sent more coupons thanking us for helping them make a better product when they found the outer wrapper was over waxed a bit. A five star company!


3. OPPO Digital, makers of up-converting DVD players. When I purchased one of their players and found I had no way to connect it to my DVI equipped HDTV, I called to purchase a HDMI to DVI cable. They don't sell them, but did send, at no cost, an adapter that does the same thing, so I could hook up and enjoy the player within a day! Great save, OPPO and great customer service, thank you!


4. Duracell, part of Proctor & Gamble, makes things right when you have a problem with their products. Once again, no hassle, no haggle, just doing what's right for the consumer.


5. SC Johnson, makers of Scrubbing Bubbles, Glade and many other household products. Have a problem and they'll take care of it post haste. Another quality operation you can count on with fine products that are 100% backed up.


6. Colgate-Palmolive and Speed Stick. Once again, a problem is no problem to them. Fast replacement of ant defective product and even additional coupons. Nice company to do business with.


7. Ken Grody Ford. This dealer has always stepped up to the plate on repairs and done so intelligently and honestly over many years. Whether it was police vehicles or personal SUV's, they have always been great, provided excellent service and have gone "above and beyone" in helping get vehicles back quickly and done right. Special kudos to Mike Stevenson, Service Advisor who helps keep this machine running so well.


8. Price-Pfister. The pfaucet with the pfunny name. Takes awhile and they do fumble the ball sometimes, but they do go the extra mile to get the parts out to you to correct problems with their products. Quality products and good customer service. A big thumbs up!


9. Logitech. Computer gurus who want to help but seem to have problems understanding their product line. However, all comes out fine in the end, although it takes awhile and tests your patience to get your parts delivered. All in all, a good company.

Hall of Shame:

1. Pontiac. Bought a new GTO and the dealer told me I was eligible for the $500 military bonus discount. I signed all the papers and when i went back to pick up the car the next day, he said he had to re-do all the papers because he was wrong and I wasn't eligible; active only. He lied to meet Ford's current bonus then reneged. Pontiac Motor Division VP offered me a free oil change. I'd have left the car but it was the last black on black available. They even scratched the car "detailing it " when I told them not to; it was still filthy when I picked it up, that's how good a job they did on the car. So, I guess this thumbs down goes to North County Pontiac-GMC and Pontiac Division of GMC. But I've never bought another GM product and now they're headed down the tubes. Thumbs down!
2. Applebee's Restaurants. Made a big splash about offering a free dinner to military and veterans on Veterans' Day and then you had to dig through "participating locations." Although there are many locations in the area, the only participating one in all of California was a couple of hundred miles away. Applebees reply to an e-mail was basically it was a test but thanks for eating here. No more will we eat there. It will be Chili's! Thumbs Down!
3. Albertson's Supermarkets. When a Marine just back from Iraq couldn't buy a 6 pack of beer to go with the food he bought to go home and make dinner because he didn't have a valid driver's license, they wouldn't sell it to him. He had a license that expired while he was in Iraq (most vets have that happen and all states make the license valid as long as you're in active service without renewal and are in another state) and a current Military ID as well...but no, no beer. They wouldn't allow my spouse to purchase the beer for him either. Manager was no help at all. We've not shopped at Albertson's in about four or five years after that flagrant slap in the face to our troops. BIG thumbs down!
4. Chevrolet. Bought two new Camaros, and Chevrolet repaired the convertible top on one 28 times before declaring it was a lemon and deciding to replace it. Sadly, I traded it in for a brand new Z-28 Coupe with the G-92 competition package, and then, they couldn't repair the brakes so it would stop straight! It took then 6 tries to repair the drivers seat before they finally ordered a new seat cushion, preferring instead to constantly send it out to a local upholstery shop to mess with! After about a dozen tries with the brakes and no suvccess, I finally took it to a little shop where a mechanic fixed it in one afternoon, albeit at a cost of $300 to me, which was wholesale. You could then stop from 140 with hands off the wheel. 5 thumbs down to Chevrolet, but 5 thumbs up to Dara at C&D Auto Care!
5. Smart Solar and QVC. Smart Solar because they lied about replacing parts under their warranty several times and never did, and QVC because their stance was too bad, so sad, it's the manufacturers problem. That was until I blogged about the issue, and then they offered to refund if I would send the fountain back and they would credit $6.95 toward shipping. Pack it all up in the "original packaging" like that would be available, and ship it back for a refund and a stupid shipping credit. When the damned fountain weighs about 50 lbs waterlogged! It's cast resin and not supposed to water log I suppose, but then again, it was made by Stupid Solar. Instead, we've cut down our shopping by about 90% from QVC, won't buy anything from Stupid Solar, and passed the word around, so let's see how their bottom line looks next year.
6. Anden Homes and Warmington Homes. They won't care that they made the list, as they both went belly up right after building the last few homes I lived in. But they do deserve to be on the list as grab and run developers anyway.
7. Verizon Wireless. They spend so much money on commercials and the idiots who follow one or two people around, it's no wonder the rest of us get such crappy service. After a year of a really bad operating phone, that wouldn't ring, receive calls, couldn't hear the other party, etc. they finally replaced it piece-by-piece and it still wasn't right. I was with Verizon and their predecessors for over 20 years, and now I'm with AT&T and am very happy with the switch. Because I truly can say that I HEAR YOU NOW! Before all I could say was HUH?
8. Washington Mutual: You'd think after being a failed bank and being bailed out by JP Morgan/Chase, these people would learn something by now. No, not even that, but hell, no! Their primates closed an entire online account when requested to cancel a single transaction, and nobody in their offshore call center in the Philippines or India, or wherever the hell it is, could rectify the problem. Nor could anyone in any other place that was called. Even the local branch was useless since they are totally unable to handle any banking issue that might have to do with the Internet! Thus, an online business languishes while they screw up and tell you they need three or more days to try and correct a situation they, caused and maybe it will be fixed by then, and than again, maybe not. So, they just lost two more accounts. That makes 5 accounts they lost from us in the past three months ,and two more to go that are time deposits. Frankly, they are destined to fail again, and you can say you read it here in November 2008. Wasted Moo will fail again!
9. Car Companies, et al: I guess this is no surprise, but auto dealerships are going out of business all over the country. Some dealers that have been in business for 66 years, such as Bigelow Motors in Belleville, NJ are closing their doors. That's a shame. But wait, before we cry over the 700 dealers expected to go belly up in 2008 (up from 430 in 2007 according to the National Automobile Dealers Assn.) listen up. Some dealers who have laid off employees and cut hours are still holding out for top, over-inflated prices on specialty models that have become showroom queens for months. One dealer has a Mustang that they want way over 30K over the sticker price as a "Market Adjustment" on! And every other high performance vehicle has an upcharge that they just don't want to negotiate. Im that case, I wish them well as they sink to the bottom of the septic tank and wonder how they got there. Like Carlos Mencia says: Dee Dee Dee!! Stock your showrooms with super high dollar specialty cars and jack the price when America can't afford the economy cars!
10. There will be more as time permits...but as they say at the show...that's all folks!

Incidentally, I've highlighted the Best of the Best in Green and the Worst of the Worst in Red.

When the Freight Train Takes a Dirt Road Detour...

When the Freight Train takes a dirt road detour, it's time to start believing that something is really wrong with the economy, and those running the railroad. And, friends and readers, this freight train we call our nation's economy has not only taken that dirt road detour, but has run through the swamp as well!

What was a well oiled locomotive, pulling our train through the hills and valleys of the economy, sometimes straining a bit uphill, and sometimes free-wheeling and getting a good ride on better days, has been derailed by the political machine that was designed to serve the nation, not bankrupt it. That and the giant corporations that keep bleeding us dry, and filling their pockets while ours have nothing but lint left in the bottom!

For those who believe in paying more taxes, be sure to vote democrat in November. Regardless of what you think of Bush, the war or anything else, remember who has been at stoking coal into the locomotive for the past two years...the democrat controlled house and senate, and not the republicans. Ol' Bush might be the throttle man, but the train doesn't run very well unless you have good backup fire, and he sure as hell hasn't. I don't agree with some of his decisions, but it takes a consensus and that he hasn't had. In-fighting and pork-barrel spending just hurts everyone. Just look back to the Clinton years and the tax tables to see how much more your taxes will be, and get ready.

The government thinks you're an endless source of money. You paid all that money into Social Security in preparation for retirement, if you can ever afford it, and then they tax at least part of it. They constantly entreat you to save for your retirement in a 401(k) or an IRA, and if you do, they tax it when you withdraw it, no matter how little it is, or how much you have left.

If you work hard and pay taxes, you pay for those who sit on their butts and collect welfare, or who are here illegally, and have baby after baby free on your dollar, yet you can't afford to pay your medical insurance co-pays when you get sick or have to be hospitalized! The hospital writes off the care for those people but do you think they will write yours off? No way! You'll go to collections and they'll put a lien on everything you own to try and collect. All while the illegals and welfare cases go merrily on their way for free! And, for those on welfare, every free baby gets them more welfare money, WIC money, food stamps, etc. And you're paying for it. They won't admit who the baby's father is because the State might actually make the father pay, unless he is in jail, as many are. Plus, they get more on welfare if they just claim they don't know. Some women have six, eight or ten children each with a different "baby daddy"! Sure makes a case for involuntary sterilization, doesn't it! Or at least cut off welfare after one! Work or no welfare works too!

The government simply increases taxes to cover any and all shortfalls. politicians have diarrhea of the mouth and promise no new taxes but then sneak them in the back door so you won't notice them. Or at least hope you won't. Increase the sales tax by one cent seems minuscule and they tell you it's also paid by all the tourists and transients so it's a good thing. But when do tourists and transients but cars and appliances and the big ticket items that costs the most where that extra cent really hurts? Nobody tells you that, do they? Plus, the tourists go away and you're stuck the rest of the year and for many years with the tax!

Same with taxes to cover hospital districts, such as the one that was defeated narrowly this week for Tri-City Medical Center. They spent 400K on the election, 400K on TV ads, God knows how much for consultants and newspaper ads (couldn't that money have gone to repairs and modernization?) and the bond measure failed. For the third time! Here's a hospital that can't govern itself effectively, and has been whining for years about the same issues. They constantly put a proposition before the people asking them to tax themselves, using scare tactics that the hospital will close if the people don't approve a new tax. Didn't work before, and didn't work this time either. People are saying No More Taxes! Especially when you want to tax people who don't use the hospital (their insurance requires they use other facilities), tax only part of the cities covered so most of the people who use the hospital don't get taxed, the high use by illegals who pay nothing and no taxes, etc, etc.

Big business is suffering in this country, and in some cases, rightfully so. Take the auto industry. I don't drive foreign cars, so let's go from there. We took too long to catch up to the quality of the foreign imports, and we let them get too great a foothold in the US. Their pricing was more attractive, they lasted longer and didn't have to be replaced every few years. Their fuel economy was better and during the first fuel crisis we learned absolutely nothing. The US automakers didn't downsize vehicles and the public didn't really seem to want smaller cars, so as soon as it was over, we went back to burning gas and diesel like it was never-ending, and here we are again in a worse situation than ever.

And now, like then, the gas companies are raking in monumental profits,while we're standing with empty pockets wondering how to fill the tank on the behemoth in the driveway! And the US automakers are in trouble, trying to figure out how to survive in the marketplace. They're losing billions, yes billions of dollars every quarter, trying to stay alive, closing plants and laying off workers, stopping production of some SUV and truck lines and minivans, etc. Did it take this long to learn that the time was coming that gasoline and diesel would run short or too costly to fuel everything? And that fighting higher fuel mileage standards wasn't a prudent thing to do?

And, maybe some introspect is in store for some workers themselves, to see where it's actually worth the price they are paid to fit nuts and bolts onto a vehicle. Here's some amazing information and it goes to show how our own unions and workers have priced their own companies right out of the market. Sure, the buyouts are fine for them, since an autoworker worker making 60K could receive 100K and up to 81 weeks of severance pay to accept the buyout. (This varies by company, time worked, etc. Some Ford workers are offered $140K after 10 years)

Per the Center for Automotive Research: " On average, active union members cost automakers $130,000 a year, whether they are working or not, according to the Center for Automotive Research. That cost drops to $50,000 a year when someone retires early or takes a buyout, and once that retiree is old enough to move onto Medicare and Social Security, the cost drops to $20,000 annually. " Any wonder the cost for an automobile is so high?

Regardless, we're on that freight train and taxes and big business have derailed us and only government and big business are going to get those rails back in place to a healthy economy. We need to stabilize jobs in sectors where people can make a reasonable wage, have healthcare benefits, reduce taxation that is based on giving away to everyone and every nation that won't do for themselves, and start being America again. Maybe we need to reinvent the railroad and lay the tracks ourselves to assure it's done right, and use the cowcatcher to fling off the politicians who stand in the way enroute to a strong and healthy economy!