Is this dealer trying to do something nefarious or act in the best interest of its 2023 Corvette Z06 customers?
The 2023 Corvette Z06 was revealed months ago, and yet, there are still many uncertainties surrounding this amazing machine. One of those was just addressed last week, as GM finally announced pricing for the C8 Z06, which was a bit higher than most expected. Regardless, we still don’t know when, exactly, the 2023 Corvette Z06 might launch – though it’s still reportedly on track for this summer – and we also don’t know how many GM will be able to make amid various supply chain issues. Those uncertainties were apparently enough to prompt one dealer – Don Mealey Chevrolet in Florida – to return deposits for the car to its customers recently, according to several Corvette Forum members.
Why, exactly, the dealership is doing this is unclear, though the letter it sent to customers blames it on “a lack of timely updates, pricing information, and no foreseeable scheduled production.” The dealer apparently removed all of its reservation lists for the 2023 Corvette Z06 and refunded its customers their deposit money, noting that it doesn’t want to hold those funds when it doesn’t know when, exactly, it can deliver the cars.
This all sounds well and good, but it’s still a very strange situation. We’d also bet that most of the customers who placed a deposit on a new Z06 were more than willing to wait a little longer if necessary. Quite a few Corvette Forum members feel the same way, and there are plenty of alternative theories in this thread as to why the dealer decided to scrap its reservation process.
“I bet some of the dealers are doing this so they can get rid of the MSRP buyers and get MSRP +$30K buyers,” said MitchAlsup. Others apparently think otherwise, however. “I also received the letter last week. They never took any money for the deposit,” said Alchemist31. ‘They took charge card information and said they would charge $100 when they knew more about the ordering process. They returned the form with the charge information with the letter. I get my ’09 Z06 and my ’16 Z07 serviced there. If you order a C8 Stingray, it is at MSRP and always has been. So I will probably be ordering a ’23 Z51 or ’24 if they don’t have any slots left for ’23.”
Regardless, this move left a bad taste in the mouths of many others, and we certainly can’t blame them. It’s unclear if the dealer was trying to act in the best interest of its customers or if it’s in the process of doing something more nefarious, but we’ll know for sure in a few months when it takes delivery of the new Z06. For now, be sure and head over here and let us know what you think about this strange situation!
Photos: Chevrolet, Corvette Forum
Keyword: Chevy Dealer Returning 2023 Corvette Z06 Deposits Amid Uncertainties