BUYERS BEWARE!!!
I’ve been searching for a Sierra EV for a couple of weeks now. Yesterday, I found what looked like a great deal from a dealer about 1.5 hours away from me. After filling out their online form, the price actually got better — it dropped from $71,505 to $70,505. I scheduled a visit for today, Saturday 8/9/25.
This morning, before making that 1.5-hour drive, I called to clarify some questions. The day before, a sales rep (Sammy) had told me the $7,500 EV tax credit is applied at the time of purchase — but he wasn’t 100% sure and said he’d get me an answer before my appointment. Later, a different sales rep (Alex) called and told me the tax credit is something I would have to file for with the IRS at the end of the year. After hanging up, I went online and read mixed information about it.
So today, before driving there, I called again to get a definite answer from someone who actually knew. Finally, I was told that the tax credit is taken off at the time of purchase — so off I went.
The website, after filling out the form, showed a pre-tax price of $70,505, and I was told I qualified for three additional incentives/rebates:
$7,500 EV tax credit
$1,250 Costco Executive Member discount
$250 Non-GM 2011 or newer vehicle owner incentive
That brought the pre-tax price down to $61,505.
After test driving (which, by the way, had to be done in the salesperson’s personal vehicle because the test-drive unit was in limp mode with a fault), we came back inside. Ben, the salesperson, took my information and went into a closed-off room to “work the numbers.”
When he came back, the first thing I noticed on the printout was that their “starting price” was actually $69,505 — even lower than the $70,505 I had been quoted online. But somehow, after supposedly applying my incentives, his “final” number was $79,505 after tax. I was shocked — that’s an $18K difference between my pre-tax expectation and his post-tax price. Red flag #1.
I asked to take a picture of the printout so I could review the numbers. He refused. Red flag #2. If there’s nothing to hide, why not just say, “even better, I’ll make you a copy”?
At that point, I got up and left. On the drive home, I kept thinking — there’s no way $18K is just taxes and normal fees.
I texted Ben asking for a breakdown of the $18K difference. He said I didn’t qualify for a “Healthy discount” because I’m not a GM supplier employee. I replied, “So this GM supplier discount is worth $18K??” He avoided answering directly and instead said, “If you find another dealer beating my deal, I’ll price match.” I told him I still wanted a breakdown of the numbers.
He eventually admitted there was an extra $4K charge for something I never ordered — the so-called Big Star Protection Package (windshield PPF, window tint, wheel locks, etc.). Red flag #3. When I said I never ordered it and wanted it removed, he said it’s “not optional” and is “done to all vehicles to protect the investment.”
Even with that overpriced, mandatory add-on, we were still missing over $10K in unexplained charges. This makes it clear that the advertised price on their website is never actually achievable — it’s just bait to get people in the door. When I called him out, he claimed it was all listed under “details” on the website. I checked — another lie. Red flag #5.
Cash offer? No difference. Advertised price? Not real. This dealership wastes your time with fake prices just to get you in the door.
They cost me 4 hours with my kids and a full afternoon — don’t let them do it to you.
