Almost ordered a 2022.. credit report required?

Wiggums · January 14, 2022

Chevrolet dealership called me and said they were ready to order the 2022 Silverado. I wanted to order the High Country with SuperCruise so I came down to Escondido and we went through everything.. then the salesman apologized, "Late Availability" was shown on his computer screen. I was majorly bummed and he laughed, "Well, now we know..."

That dealership has been great and I would never go to another dealership. That said, is it normal for them to insist on a credit report before customizing a new truck? It didn't matter if I already had the funds to purchase the truck and was even willing to place a deposit, but I still had to fill out the credit application.

Was there a reason for that?

Edited January 15, 2022 by Wiggums

JimCost2014 · January 14, 2022

21 minutes ago, Wiggums said:

Chevrolet dealership called me and said they were ready to order the 2022 Silverado. I wanted to order the High Country with SuperCruise so I came down to Escondido and we went through everything.. then the salesman apologized, "Late Availability" was shown on his computer screen. I was majorly bummed and he laughed, "Well, now we know..."

That dealership has been great and I would never go to another dealership. That said, is it normal for them to insist on a credit report before customizing a new truck? It didn't matter if I already had the funds to purchase the truck and was even willing to place a deposit, but I still had to fill out the credit application.

Was there a reason for that?

With restraints on so many trucks, and inventory so low, probably just wanted to know you are a guaranteed buyer before they burn up one of their allocations. They will work harder to get the truck when they have a "brick" in front of them for a buyer.

New salesman, or someone you have dealt with before?

Wiggums · January 14, 2022

14 minutes ago, JimCost2014 said:

New salesman, or someone you have dealt with before?

They knew I was a previous customer of the dealership... salesman was new though.

Transient · January 14, 2022

Quality Chevy?

I've never had to do a credit report for a vehicle I've ordered. Every dealership I've dealt with throughout the country has only required a deposit, whether it's for a custom order or a dealer trade. One possibility is that the dealership is located between 2 large Marine Corps bases, and they've probably dealt with more than their fair share of stupid jarheads. I say that as a Marine Corps veteran, so I have some firsthand knowledge due to being one of those stupid jarheads myself many years ago -- young, dumb, and had eyes bigger than my wallet could afford. If you want, tell them to pound sand with the credit report, but you don't mind putting down a considerable, but refundable, deposit. Cash talks. Bullshit walks. A credit report doesn't change the fact that you could always change your mind later and not buy the truck.

Edit: Another thought is they're trying to commit you to purchasing through their in house financing partners so they could also make some money on the back end of the deal. There is a financial incentive for them to do this. My last purchase was financed by my credit union. Dealership never got to run my credit. I took them a voucher they needed to send to my credit union in order to get paid. When I told the dealership the interest rate I got they said they couldn't even come close to it.

Edited January 14, 2022 by Transient

redwngr · January 14, 2022

I've always ordered without a deposit and without signing anything.

Always with a dealer contact that knows me, but a couple of them we spec'd out over the phone.

Edited January 14, 2022 by redwngr

Phantom 4D · January 14, 2022

Most dealers pull a credit report themselves and you may not even know it. Last new truck I bought, left over 2019 Sierra, the salesman said "you guys have great credit". So we knew he pulled a report. I've never had one tell us we had to bring in a report.

f8l vnm · January 14, 2022

No not at all . You do credit when your ready to buy . We order about 10 new trucks every 18 months from GM for our Farm. When they come in we run our credit like every other time and pick it up . Its almost like they want to see who has more potential to buy from them.

shanemoon · January 14, 2022

14 hours ago, Wiggums said:

Chevrolet dealership called me and said they were ready to order the 2022 Silverado. I wanted to order the High Country with SuperCruise so I came down to Escondido and we went through everything.. then the salesman apologized, "Late Availability" was shown on his computer screen. I was majorly bummed and he laughed, "Well, now we know..."

That dealership has been great and I would never go to another dealership. That said, is it normal for them to insist on a credit report before customizing a new truck? It didn't matter if I already had the funds to purchase the truck and was even willing to place a deposit, but I still had to fill out the credit application.

Was there a reason for that?

Probably just trying to get you locked in with their finance partners.

steelerdude15 · January 15, 2022

This is a little off topic, but when I bought my truck a couple of years ago, the salesmen told me they do credit checks on people who want to take Corvettes out on test drives to make sure they’re serious about buying one. Maybe they want to make sure you’re serious about ordering the truck.

Wiggums · January 15, 2022

3 hours ago, steelerdude15 said:

This is a little off topic, but when I bought my truck a couple of years ago, the salesmen told me they do credit checks on people who want to take Corvettes out on test drives to make sure they’re serious about buying one. Maybe they want to make sure you’re serious about ordering the truck.

I even brought in an approval letter from the credit union of a recent loan application. I had the money ready, they should have known that.

Z45 · January 15, 2022

On 1/13/2022 at 11:53 PM, Transient said:

Edit: Another thought is they're trying to commit you to purchasing through their in house financing partners so they could also make some money on the back end of the deal. There is a financial incentive for them to do this. My last purchase was financed by my credit union. Dealership never got to run my credit. I took them a voucher they needed to send to my credit union in order to get paid. When I told the dealership the interest rate I got they said they couldn't even come close to it.

This^^^^^^^^

When I bought my truck I told them I did not need any financing yet they went the whole 9 yards trying to sell me financing. I got po'd a little and then the finance guy said it was his job to advise me on this (LOL meaning making himself a commission off the finance contract) and then they made me sign a form declining financing Its a sales ploy as indicated above^. No matter what you think, they have a sales plan to go through with every customer to maximize their profits. The also tried to sell me rust proofing and paint sealant, which I declined.

Keep in mind, you are dealing with salesman and they are going to be always trying to sell you something under the pretense of helping you.

Edited January 15, 2022 by elcamino

Transient · January 16, 2022

On 1/14/2022 at 8:03 AM, Phantom 4D said:

Most dealers pull a credit report themselves and you may not even know it. Last new truck I bought, left over 2019 Sierra, the salesman said "you guys have great credit". So we knew he pulled a report. I've never had one tell us we had to bring in a report.

They can't legally pull a credit report without you signing a document allowing them to do that