I'm Back! They made it!

[debi5475]

Picked it up today. I am now offically a vibe owner. Woohoo.Came with 5 miles. Took 2 months.I figured they were making it one piece at a time, shipping each piece in a different carton from Japan to California.

[wicked1981]

Congratulations you are now OFFICIAL!!

[Raven]

Congrats!I believe they are made in California, 1 piece at a time.

[debi5475]

Yep, edited above, I knew they are made in Nuumi, but figured they were sending the parts from Japan. One a day. And the dealer had Window vin etching on the bill today. $169.00. Nope. I just sat there and said, no, absolutely not, that is unexceptable. He said all their cars were etched. I did not care, thank you. And then he asked what I wanted him to do. I told him he was the professional, he could figure it out. They did . It dissappeared from my bill. I learned a lot. The last few months. Nope, unuh, no way. Thanks.

[Raven]

My windows were etched and there was no mention of a charge.

[Houston]

Quote, originally posted by debi5475 »And the dealer had Window vin etching on the bill today. $169.00. AAA does free window etching once a year here in Michigan at the main offices. Hey - you got it free, too!

[debi5475]

I know, it is a scam type they do, to charge you extra, like scotchguarding. I just scotchguarded the car myself with a can of scotchguard leather, that I already had.

[jake75]

Quote, originally posted by debi5475 »Yep, edited above, I knew they are made in Nuumi, but figured they were sending the parts from Japan. One a day. And the dealer had Window vin etching on the bill today. $169.00. Nope. I just sat there and said, no, absolutely not, that is unexceptable. He said all their cars were etched. I did not care, thank you. And then he asked what I wanted him to do. I told him he was the professional, he could figure it out. They did . It dissappeared from my bill. I learned a lot. The last few months. Nope, unuh, no way. Thanks. You should have told him "I did not give you permission to deface my car - replace the windows you etched or pay me $400 damages."

[Mavrik]

I would almost find it funny how you guys complain about things you just don't understand... in case of your car being stolen... a recovered etched window is like bling bling in your pocket. Its well worth the $169.

[jake75]

Quote, originally posted by Mavrik »I would almost find it funny how you guys complain about things you just don't understand... in case of your car being stolen... a recovered etched window is like bling bling in your pocket. Its well worth the $169.Well - help us understand. If my car is stolen and someone brings me one of my windows why am I supposed to be happy? And why woudl I want bling bling in my pocket anyway?

[Raven]

Quote, originally posted by Mavrik »I would almost find it funny how you guys complain about things you just don't understand... in case of your car being stolen... a recovered etched window is like bling bling in your pocket. Its well worth the $169.Recovering an etched window is like finding a needle in a haystack. When was the last time you were pulled over and the cop checked the serial numbers on your windows?

[scherry2]

Quote, originally posted by Mavrik »I would almost find it funny how you guys complain about things you just don't understand... in case of your car being stolen... a recovered etched window is like bling bling in your pocket. Its well worth the $169."IF" my car was stolen I would expect the Insurance company to come up with $$$$ and let them worry about their $169 window.

[Kari]

Quote, originally posted by Mavrik »I would almost find it funny how you guys complain about things you just don't understand... in case of your car being stolen... a recovered etched window is like bling bling in your pocket. Its well worth the $169.But it should be an option -- not a requirement. It shouldn't be a surprise that shows up on your bill. If they're going to insist on doing it to ever car they sell, then there shouldn't be a charge associated with it. If they want to charge for it, then it should be an option.

[JohnC]

First of all...Debi: CONGRATULATIONS on your new car! Looks like you ordered it with all the goodies.About VINs, there is a new way of steeling cars now, the dirtbags get your VIN then go to a dealer and have a replacement key made. Yes the dealer is supose to verify that you actually own the car but this is not always done. The thiefs just go to the next dealer until they get a key. I covered my VIN so it can't be seen from the outside. If it is etched on your window...May want your license plate number etched on the windows instead.Etching is pretty much a mute point here in Arizona, as many of our stolen vehicles are taken to Mexico. The Mexican government will not give them back even if your lucky enough to find it.

[debi5475]

that's what happened. It showed up at the last minute. The exact minute I was ready to hand over the checks. So I said no. I had read about expensive add ons that they do, and I didn't want it. I am a scientist. If I want my windows etched. I can take a diamond tip pen and do it myself for free. Not as pretty. But it would work. I could acid etch them if I wanted, for that matter. I have enough acid at my disposal to get rid of a body or two. Hehe. I did get all the extras except the alarm system. I will take it in to my local guy next week. The dealer said the windows are some kind of special glass, that I might not need them tinted? I don't understand. I was going to get them tinted to protect the leather and help keep it a little cooler, since the leather is graphite (the only choice). Should I? I have already rigged up my Saturn's cargo net to work in the back. The teenagers are not happy that I scotchguarded the car, they want to be in it, and it is in the driveway drying.

[Kari]

Quote, originally posted by silverawd26 »But as for the etching, Debi had a special order and did not pick that out as an option. I think the etching was done by the dealer after the vehicle was delivered. Just like when you add pin stripes. You do go the dealer to pick up your car and you did not oprder pin stripes, yet they are on there and even if they try to charge you for them or not, that is not what you ordered. Like ordering a a meal at a diner or something and they give you a salsa without asking you and try to charge you.... That's exactly what I was talking about...getting something you didn't ask for, then someone trying to pass off a charge. I don't agree with 'document fees' either, but if that's a state law, then that's a different case...not the dealer just deciding to add an extra option then charge you for it.Now, if you were buying a car off the lot, and it already *had* the etching, there would be no grounds to fight it because it was already there. If you were buying one off the lot and it did NOT have the etching when you looked at it and agreed to buy it, then they shouldn't do it without asking.

[Kari]

Quote, originally posted by silverawd26 »Yup.... Heck, when I go to order a vehicle and they throw in a bunch of extra's that I do not have to pay for, that would be a different story. That's exactly what happened to me...I got practically every accessory they had for the Vibe at the time, and I only asked for cargo nets and the cargo box.

[Psychobroker]

I still want to know why it's a good idea to have my VIN # etched on my windows...I just see it as another way for a thief to steal my car (see above post).

[MadBill]

I believe the main reason is that auto theft chop shops exist to disassemble and re-sell the components of a car. By identifying valuble and visible bits like the glass, the thief realizes that this reduces the salability, as the parts can be identified as stolen, allowing the police to nail the crooked body shop that bought them and leaving a trail back to the thief. Thus he may give the car a pass in favor of one without such I.D.(BTW, my glass was etched no charge by the dealer.)

[debi5475]

On a new topic, I am about to see if a revamped 11 yo saturn cargo net works in a vibe, throwing the teenagers in the car and taking the first trip to the grocery store.I did buy the cargo mat and the seatback backpack, and the bumper guard. Got them at dealer cost.

[scherry2]

Quote, originally posted by debi5475 »The dealer said the windows are some kind of special glass, that I might not need them tinted? I've never heard of that. special glass, yea right...

[kostby]

Congrats on finally having your new 'baby'!Quote, originally posted by debi5475 »And the dealer had Window vin etching on the bill today. $169.00. Nope. I just sat there and said, no, absolutely not, that is unexceptable. He said all their cars were etched. I did not care, thank you. And then he asked what I wanted him to do. I told him he was the professional, he could figure it out. They did . It dissappeared from my bill. I learned a lot. The last few months. Nope, unuh, no way. Thanks. BEWARE: That dealer is STILL a snake for doing it without asking first. You should quickly try to find a more reputable dealer in your area to work with as you enjoy your new Vibe. IMO I wouldn't trust your dealer any farther than I could throw a Vibe.ETCH is the reason I didn't purchase a used Vibe GT, instead of the Vibe base I eventually bought elsewhere.When the #@$%^&* dealer tried to charge me US$250.00 for ETCH that I didn't authorize, I walked. No one else wanted the car, either. They eventually took it to the dealer auction!BTW, I got my cargo nets on eBay from a Toyota dealer (same ones as the Matrix of course) for about US$25.00.

[debi5475]

The net worked fine across the back. And the glass is Solar-Ray light tinted. Supposed to keep out heat and UV rays. Yea, right. I guess all GM cars come with that. Did the previous years have that?

[21Rouge]

Quote, originally posted by MadBill »I believe the main reason is that auto theft chop shops exist to disassemble and re-sell the components of a car. By identifying valuble and visible bits like the glass, the thief realizes that this reduces the salability, as the parts can be identified as stolen, allowing the police to nail the crooked body shop that bought them and leaving a trail back to the thief. Thus he may give the car a pass in favor of one without such I.D.(BTW, my glass was etched no charge by the dealer.)So does anyones insurance company give them a discount because of this theft protection procedure?

[ragingfish]

I get a discounted rate because of glass etching. Not sure how much exactly, but hey, in Jersey, you take whatever discounts you can get!

[Stang2Vibe]

Quote, originally posted by debi5475 »And the glass is Solar-Ray light tinted. Supposed to keep out heat and UV rays. Yea, right. I guess all GM cars come with that. Did the previous years have that? GM has been using Solar-Ray glass in their cars for decades. What the manufacturer calls a tinted window and what I call a tinted window are as different as water and sand. Their idea of a tinted window is a joke.