Do You Agree? Cadillac Executive Claims Stealerships, Not Product Is The Reason Sales Are Down In An Up Market

The read article link is bad. Adds some stuff at the end that confused the web site.

Correct link is: http://carbuying.jalopnik.com/cadillac-executive-says-dealerships-are-part-of-the-pro-1671792875

I say test your beliefs! You believe your problem is that you have 3 times as many dealerships as BMW or Mercedes, then shut down 2/3 of them and even up the score. Sales not up? Believe it's marketing? Hire the best marketers and throw a pile of money at marketing. Believe your sales staff aren't good at "stealing" BMW's and MB's customers? Then hire in-the-know customer thieves, give them the best training possible, and set them free.

Put your beliefs to the test, and eventually one of two things will happen:

(1) You'll discover one or more of your beliefs were right and you'll become a megastar, or...

(2) You'll exhaust all your current beliefs, and the only thing left will be the unbelievable: Not enough people think highly of Cadillac or its products, and they choose to get something else.

Best of luck on your journey of discovery. And I mean that most sincerely!

The caliber of Customer Service at the 2 Cadillac dealers near me it sub par compared to the Mercedes dealer. The Sales people, the Sales Manager where I got my ATS are morons.The sales guy, a good ole boy, nice, know his product, but reeks of cigarettes. The Sales Manager is a toad. I called the dealership and spoke to 4 people about turning in my dads Buick off lease, sure no problem, see you Saturday. I show up as they're opening the doors, there is no one there, but the Sales Manager tells me we don't take off lease cars in on Saturday. I asked him if he knew whether I was a customer of that store, that I'd spoken with 4 people that worked there...etc... I also asked him if I was turning the car in off lease to take home a new one, would he do the turn in? Of course they did and it took 5 minutes, but he totally pissed me off. Then my dad gets a bill for $185.00 for a scratch on the Buick, that wasn't there. Guys are Jack@$$'$.... the other dealer, has guys that work there, their kids are the Service Reps. So you pull in in your $50K car and some kid who's 19 takes it and handles your papers.... Never had a bad experience with the 5-6 Mercedes I've bought. The dealers are at a different level. This article is completely true, they make great cars, but they'll lose the customers to bad, ignorant customer service. Cadillac has to be BETTER, not equal!

No, that is called an "American way" of customer service. You can't seriously expect the German level customer service from a Cadillac dealership, because guess what, America is all about cheapness, arrogance, ignorance and stupidity, and all at the same time, freedom. And Cadillac definitely represents America quite well. The United States does not know what "luxury" is, that's something the British, Germans and the Italians would understand well. "Luxury" is never an American thing, it is a European thing.

And I personally never really cared about my dealership experience at the Cadillac dealership when I got my Escalade. It was pretty much "loose" and it certainly did not feel like I was at a luxury car dealership.

But it is ok that way. Because America is not about luxury, it is all about being an Average Joe.

I have said this before and I will say it again, the dealerships are a problem. First, most of them share a showroom with other GM products. The sales people and techs also sell and work on lessor models of GM products. The sales people dress like they are going golfing, to a rodeo or on a picnic.

Now, check a Lexus dealership. No other brands, and the techs work only on Lexus. Here, in my area, the Cadillac dealer also sells Chevrolets, out of the same showroom, and the Chevy tech is also the Caddie tech. Sorry, it doesn't scream luxury, it screams mediocrity.

And, all the recalls from GM didn't help. Force the dealerships into separate facilities, catering only to Cadillac and have the sales people at least dress to sell that level of car. See also, MB and BMW for further lessons in sales demeanor and customer service.

But I much prefer it that way. Because that actually feels like an "American" auto brand. Definitely feels like it actually comes from Detroit.

While the dealerships MAY be part of the problem - they are NOT the only problem.

The fact is - Cadillac has - by its own admission - abandoned the American Large sedan Luxury market - and they cannot expect those people to buy the little tiny cars that they offer as alternatives realistically.

The older American buyer wants a LARGE car inside - with the ability to seat 5 Plus a large trunk - and a spare tire too. They are not looking for a tiny sports sedan - with minimal rear seat space better called a package shelf - and no trunk space (and no spare tire too). Having run flat tires are not of any use - if all they get you is to the nearest service point - who cannot get the replacement until next week and at enormous expense.

Don't Blame the dealership for YOUR choice - GM. If you want those customers back - then sell are car for them. (note - the Escalade sells in record numbers still).

If GM only wants to compete for those who buy German cars - they are simply cutting up a different market into smaller shares - and they do not have the panache of the german makes for the prices they are asking. When the CTS was a bigger car than its price competitors - it sold well enough. Now it is not bigger - except in price. Breaking into THAT market will indeed take time - a LONG time.

First, let's remember Cadillac significantly outsells Audi in North America. The reason Cadillacs are not selling is because of price. The ATS should begin at $30K and top out in ATSV form at $45K loaded. The CTS should begin at $35K and top out at $60K for the CTSV.

de Nysschen is a moron.

Cut the prices.
Lengthen the warranty.
lengthen the wheelbases of the ATS and CTS 2-3 inches.
Change to names

Here the Cadillac dealer is in a tiny cubby hole behind the Chevy dealer. The building itself cannot even be seen from the street.

Cadillac does not need to reduce the number of dealers. It needs to make all its dealers "stand alone" and to focus on customer experience.

Please, I'm not a racist but this is sure going to sound like it. From the cars on the showroom floor, and the dealer installed options, my local Cadillac is catering to a segment of the population that I do not belong to. Did I word that OK?

I really don't care that it's this way because I'm not that interested in the current Cadillac products, but I can see where many people will judge the product by what they see on the showroom floor and not understand that there are more appropiate and less "adorned" vehicles available.

That's fine. But it's ok, racism is a part of the American history, as it is heavily rooted in its history.

And racism is still strong in the U.S. today, when Germany is accepting more and more immigrants, as they want more skilled workers.

So, this kind of shows why the U.S. is a third world country, when most of the European countries, especially Germany, are leading the world in almost every field (*cough* Except military *cough*)

Cadillac needs to shun it's ghetto pimp image...did I word that correctly?

Stealership? Sounds good. I mean, what do you expect. You are buying cars that come from the world city that no one wants to visit.

You can't honestly expect "luxury" or "quality" from anything American, as there is no such thing as an American status symbol. Ever wondered why all the status symbols are pretty much all European?

I honestly don't mind buying a Cadillac from a Chevy dealership, or a Buick dealership for that matter, as that is what I like about the American auto brands. Cheap and 'Murica F ya kind of stuff are the "real" American products.

caddy's are nice, but im still not feeling half of their lineup..
cts and escalade are great,
ats , xts, srx are just too damn plain..
i prefer small cars, and i wouldnt mind an ats-v if it looked good , sorry its just not a great looking car..

My most recent experience in a Cadillac dealership, words used by the salesman to describe the Escalade "she purrs like a pussy cat" "creampuff" and "rides like that king size waterbed at your favorite hotel in Vegas" ......yikes.

Cadillac needs to follow Tesla, move sales to the mall and let your "dealerships" handle service and repairs,

Cadillac needs to focus on what made it Luxury cars. After the GM bankruptcy I see more combined GM brand dealers Cadillac should always be a stand alone store. Customer service needs to improve at all of them be that can be said for almost all brands.
Cadillac does not have any real selection of cars. the new CTxxx is plain stupid. They need names and more models every car on the lot looks the same and very boring at best. Give us a nice wide ride something that 3 adults can comfortably sit across the back seat and don't forget the leg room yes I want a larger car. If I wanted a small MD or BMW I would buy one.
A rear wheel drive full size car the size of the old Fleetwood. no more mini caddies

it's just whining from an exec that can't extract the legacy of GM DNA that will persist. GM proved it can't fork a brand when it killed Saturn.

Hiring de Nysschen will literally result in Cadillac closing its doors.

Why does Cadillac use great names for its show cars (Evoq, Imaj, Cien, Ciel, Elmiraj) and alphabets and CT whatevers on its cars. ATS, CTS, and CT6 MEAN NOTHING to consumers.

The Elmiraj was an event. They need to create a sensation and then build the sensation. They need to build show cars for the street. That would sell.

Could not agree more!

Lincoln is providing more down to earth approach differentiated badge engineering, something de Nysschen/Cadillac should take note. The "black label" option/mods, personalized dealer services, european style dealer service. Lincoln isn't pretending or aspiring to be world class. Lincoln isn't whining either.

Every vehicle Lincoln has is either a Focus or Escape or Fusion or Taurus or Explorer or Expedition as a base and the fit, finish, execution of materials aren't even comparable to GM or Cadillac let alone the German competition..