[GOT]

I picked a Caliber from a batch of them that was scheduled for shipment to the local Dodge dealer here.

I'm positive I saw a post somewhere where a guy was tracking his ordered Caliber via the VIN number. How is that done?

I'm wondering because the salesguys at the dealer here keeps telling me that the Caliber I spoke for is not here yet. However, I know it is... I've seen it in a backroom of the service shop. It's also listed on their very own website as on hand (same vin# and everything)... and I called the salesguy and told him so... and he gave me the run around (which makes me wonder what in the world is going on... they sold me a car and paid off my car and then they won't give me the car I bought... that does NOT make sense... ???) All the other Calibers that were delivered with mine are out on the lot and showroom floor.

Anyways... anyone know how to track a new car by the VIN #?

 

[Harley]

I wonder if someone else at the dealership may have arranged a "dealer trade" for someone in a nearby area, and they're trying to think a way out of it?

Heck, my Caliber was still being auctioned off by the dealer on eBay - for SIX days after I'd bought and taken possession of it!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dodge-CALIBER-SXT-2007-DODGE-CALIBER-SXT-BRAND-NEW_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6210QQitemZ46206078 14QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

 

[DodgeGirlKathy]

Picking from a batch of cars already being shipped is not the same as ordering a car. The dealership ordered them -- which is probably also why "your" car showed up online. It was in the shipment, the shipment delivery got logged, and, voilá, it's online.

The Daimler Chrysler Customer Assistance Center can tell you the status of a car down the production line based on VIN, but they ask you to verify your name and address with what is marked on the factory order. This is what other ppl here have referred to... which probaby won't help you. I supposed you could call anyway...

GOT, do you have any paperwork that proves "that" particular car is supposed to be yours? If YES, I would take your paperwork (with VIN #) and escalate the issue to the dealership's owner.

BUT... why is it in the shop?!? Maybe something happened to it in shipment that they may be trying to resolve before telling you "it's here"...?

Good luck getting this one resolved. Let us know how it plays out this week.

 

[GOT]

I wonder if someone else at the dealership may have arranged a "dealer trade" for someone in a nearby area, and they're trying to think a way out of it?

Yeah, that would be funny. On Sunday (26th) the sales guy asked if I wanted a different color. Of course I flat-out said no. But then I told him I'd take one of those Orange ones with the same options... and he just frowned.

BUT... why is it in the shop?!? Maybe something happened to it in shipment that they may be trying to resolve before telling you "it's here"...?

That's what I'm worried about. If it turns out that this car was damaged then I'm going to turn it down. I'm paying for a brand new car and it better be brand new... not refurbished.

I also wonder that maybe they might have drilled the front-bumper license-plate holder-holes. You see I specifically told them, "Do not drill the holes in the front bumper for the license plate." I know it's standard practice to do that which is why I brought it up many times and was promised several times that it wouldn't happen. So I think they might have drilled those holes and are trying to fix it (but if that's the case then it should've been in the body/paint shop, not the service shop). If it's more than that then there will be a big problem. Sigh, all the speculating is making me crazy

 

[Harley]

... The dealership ordered them -- which is probably also why "your" car showed up online. It was in the shipment, the shipment delivery got logged, and, voilá, it's online...

If that is partially referring to my situation, I do realize that.

The amusing part is that they LEFT it online as an ACTIVE auction for 6 days after I'd bought it. Obviously, as a bait-and-switch - which lead to an interesting discussion with the sales manager after the auction ended. You see, I and a few coworkers made some covert inquiries by phone, email, and eBay usernames during that period to check the status and availability of the vehicle.

 

[Silverfox]

Once the dealer takes delivery of a car, you won't be able to track it with the system mentioned on the board. Being that the dealer in question has the vehicle you ordered on the lot, one must wonder why they're not allowing you to take delivery and complete the purchase. Of course, if you haven't paid for the vehicle yet, the dealer has no obligation to sell it to you UNLESS you signed a purchase order for the vehicle. If it is currently in the shop, it's probably being cleaned and preperations for public sale are underway. These can take anywhere from an hour to days if there are several cars in a shipment.

If the car was damaged in shipment, the dealer would have sent it back to Belvadire to be replaced. Talk with the sales manager about the vehicle and inquire about what's going on with it. If you have a purchase order, take it with you. If you've got a signed contract and you've put money down, then make sure you can prove that, too.

 

[VVTCVT]

Get me the last 8 of the VIN# and I'll find out where it is for you.

 

[DodgeGirlKathy]

If that is partially referring to my situation, I do realize that.
The amusing part is that they LEFT it online as an ACTIVE auction for 6 days after I'd bought it...

Nope, I was referring to GOT, who mentioned the car was on the dealer's web site (which I was assuming is one of those Dodge pre-fab interfaces which would talk to the DCX inventory databases). (I'm a former programmer, sorry!) Yours was an eBay auction which they would have had to manage by hand.

Thank god I'm not in sales. I can't stand the games!!

 

[GOT]

Get me the last 8 of the VIN# and I'll find out where it is for you.

PM has been sent.

 

[superbang]

i sent one as well...

 

[GOT]

It turns out that I was right. My car was delivered to the dealer on the 26th! And they are STILL telling me it's not there. The three other Calibers it was delivered with are all out on the Dodge lot (and one of them has even sold).

GRRRRR...

Thanks VVTCVT!

 

[superbang]

It turns out that I was right. My car was delivered to the dealer on the 26th! And they are STILL telling me it's not there. The three other Calibers it was delivered with are all out on the Dodge lot (and one of them has even sold).

GRRRRR...

Thanks VVTCVT!

i'd be raising some hell... is there anyway you can find some official printout of yoru car being delivered to the dealership and then go in fists swinging?that totally sucks... i don't even have one built yet and i can't wait... to know that yours is sitting there and they wont give it to you is evenmore aggrivating! hell i'm angry for ya!

 

[Silverfox]

It's only been four days, though. It's probably still in the bay undergoing preperations for customer delivery. Don't get angry until they flat out tell you they "never got it."

 

[VVTCVT]

It turns out that I was right. My car was delivered to the dealer on the 26th! And they are STILL telling me it's not there. The three other Calibers it was delivered with are all out on the Dodge lot (and one of them has even sold).

GRRRRR...

Thanks VVTCVT!

If your looking for Sunburst Orange they gave you a false VIN. The VIN you gave me is stone white......
Vehicle InformationVehicle Identification Number (VIN):1B3JB48B17D504881Order Number (VON):16900957Sold Order:NoVehicle StatusCurrent Locationerformance Dodge, Lincoln, NEBay Information:Build Codelant Release (KZ), 02/18/2006Dealer Delivery ETA:No ETA Available
*ETA is an estimated date for delivery, not a promise or guarantee. Actual delivery may vary.
Vehicle Distribution InformationOrigin Assembly Plant:Belvidere Assembly, ILOrigin Shipping Location:Belvidere Assembly, ILDistribution Center:Council Bluffs, IA
Vehicle DescriptionMakeodgeModel:CaliberColor:Stone White Clear CoatDealer InformationDealer Code:44373Addresserformance Dodge1235 West O StreetLincoln, NE 68528

Vehicle Movement Information
Route MovementsEvent DateLocationCompleted.. Scheduled for Build (D1) 01/16/2006 06:40 AM CSTBelvidere Assembly, IL.. Built - Pending Inspection (I) 02/10/2006 11:09 AM CSTBelvidere Assembly, IL.. Ship To Storage (JS) 02/11/2006 06:08 AM CSTBelvidere Assembly, IL.. Ship To Storage (JS) 02/11/2006 06:08 AM CSTBelvidere Assembly, IL.. Ship To Storage (JS) 02/11/2006 06:08 AM CSTBelvidere Assembly, IL.. Ship To Storage (JS) 02/11/2006 06:08 AM CSTBelvidere Assembly, IL.. Ship To Storage (JS) 02/11/2006 06:08 AM CSTBelvidere Assembly, IL.. Carrier Can Put On Hold 02/11/2006 11:00 AM CSTN/A.. Plant Release (KZ) 02/18/2006 11:31 AM CSTBelvidere Assembly, IL.. In Bay At Facility 02/18/2006 01:33 PM CSTBelvidere Assembly, IL.. VIN Delivery Pickup 02/25/2006 07:01 AM CSTCouncil Bluffs, IA.. Unloaded From Railcar 02/25/2006 12:07 PM CSTCouncil Bluffs, IA.. Unloaded From Railcar 02/25/2006 12:38 PM CSTCouncil Bluffs, IA.. Gate Exit from Facility 02/26/2006 07:28 PM CSTCouncil Bluffs, IA.. Gate Exit from Facility 02/26/2006 07:28 PM CSTCouncil Bluffs, IACurrent.. Vehicle Delivered to Dealer 02/26/2006 09:15 PM CSTPerformance Dodge, Lincoln, NE

 

[Xtreme Thunder]

Sounds kind of sketchy if you ask me, I'd go there and demand your car or at least something.

 

[GOT]

If your looking for Sunburst Orange they gave you a false VIN. The VIN you gave me is stone white......

Interesting. It's supposed to be that Silver color. I'll check the ACTUAL VIN when I pick it up this evening. Thanks for the info!

UPDATE:
I went in today to take them my findings (after I double checked the VIN and all the other numbers) and to question wth is going on. Surprise surprise, my car came in last night they tell me Well whatever, at least I'm going to get it! The salesguy I've been working has been cool the whole time so I didn't give him any grief... and the front bumper has not been drilled for the plate-holder (at least that I noticed... will check the back inside bumper to see if they did in fact drill it and merely fixed it... which I'm OK with I guess because it looks good).

I take delivery in a couple of hours... finally.

I noticed on the dealer's "Caliber" wall (where they have a list of all the Calibers that are on the lot and ones that are inroute to them), that they are selling them before they even have them at the dealer! When they run out of them is when the sales drop. But when they have one or more on the lot for people to see them, they sell them fast. In other words, the Caliber looks good and sell when people see them in person.

 

[GOT]

I own a silver, SXT-sport Caliber now

The deal with the different VIN was odd. Since they didn't have the actual car they used the VIN of the car I test drove as the sale-car (and it was white). Confusing but whatever... everything turned out good in the end.

The hosers did in fact drill the front bumper... but they fixed it... they filled in the holes and painted it. It looks good... there are still some tiny little dimples where the holes are but you can't tell unless you right up next to it... and I'm good with that. I figure that's the reason they kept telling me the car wasn't in... because they were fixing the holes. I had a very odd request and I guess they weren't used to it... I don't know.

I'm happy with my new Caliber and we like it a lot