[mceb]

Sales, Ordering, & Allocation FAQ <--- Read here if you have ordering questions

There have been so many questions on ordering/allocations etc. I'd like to build an FAQ on the topic. I'll need small_dealer's help here If anyone else wants to pitch in that's fine too, we'll make it a group effort.

Put the question in the title area of the reply. Put the answer in the normal text area (see my example in next reply).

Here is the construction thread here if you want to feed items for this FAQ, thanks:
http://www.solsticeforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3991

 

[mceb]

What's a VOM Number?

VOM stands for Vehicle Order Management. It's your order number within GM's system. It's 6 characters made up of numbers and letters.

 

[mceb]

What's a "Zero-Zipper"?

"Zero zipper" is a forum nickname for a group of people who had a problem during the first 1000 ordering on 4/15. These people had the system reject their zip code as invalid if it started with a zero (such as 07470). This error caused these people to miss out on their chance to get a first 1000 car.

GM later gave dealers effected by this problem an extra car in their first allocation and promised this group of cars would be built just behind the first 1000 cars.

 

[mceb]

What's the "Free Maintenance" group?

Again, a group of people had problem during the first 1000 ordering where their order appeared to complete but did not have the necessary internal reference numbers assigned to finalize the order. This caused them to miss out on the first 1000 program.

EOP HQ offered these people 24 months of free maintenance on their cars and promised they would be built soon after the first 1000 group.

 

[mceb]

What are Event Codes?

Event codes show the status of the order in the system. Using your VOM order number the dealer can lookup your status (event code) in the syetem.

• 1100 preliminary order placed/accepted at dealer

• 1101 preliminary order added

• 1102 preliminary order added thru web

• 2000 order accepted by GM

• 2001 order generated to dealer

• 2005 order replaced with GM Prospec order

• 2030 order re-edited

• 2050 order changed

• 2500 order is preferenced or "picked up"

• 3000 order accepted by production control

• 3100 order available to be sequenced

• 3300 order scheduled for production

• 3400 order broadcast (internal plant order produced)

• 3800 vehicle produced

• 4000 vehicle available to ship

• 4104 bailment invoice

• 4B00 bayed (note it's a letter "B" not 8)

• 4106 release bailment

• 4150 vehicle original invoice (dealer billed)

• 4200 vehicle shipped

• 4300 intermediate delivery

• 4V03 EDD (estimated delivery date)

• 4800 rail ramp unload

• 5000 vehicle at dealer

• 6000 vehicle delivered to customer

 

[Small Dealer]

How can my dealer check the status of my order?

Your dealer will get the vin and status through the VOMS (Vehicle Order Management System).

The access VOMS through the GM server in the dealership. Through the web portal of GM Dealerworld, they can also check status through the order workbench.

 

[Small Dealer]

How do dealer's get their allocation numbers?

Allocation cycles are broken down into 4 month periods.

Dealers were notified by Pontiac in early April, what their allocation would be for the first four months of production.

The amount of the allocation was figured differently then normal. Most allocations would be based on previous 12 month sales history. The Solstice team used a formula that was 50% based on previous sales and 50% based on market oppertunity ( as indicated by roadster sales level of a dozen or so other cars).

The allocation numbers come alive through different available reports in VOMS or through the Order Workbench in Dealerworld. Reports can show a two or three months allocation break down, and a weekly break down for the coming month. (This is how one member's dealer was able to say that their car would be picked up during the dealer order cycle that begins August 18th).

 

[SOL MIO]

Vehicle Order Event History

For those who are going crazy waiting, I thought this would help!! It is a recreation of my Vehicle Order Event History. You can get a copy of yours from your dealer for the asking. By comparing your history to this one, you may get a better idea when your car will be delivered!!

If it is too small to read, try clicking on the pic. for larger view...Good Luck!!

 

[Small Dealer]

What does it mean to have an order "picked up" by GM?

We are using the term "picked up" here on site to indicate tha the order has been "preferenced" by GM/Pontiac. This is the when the order is taken from the dealer order bank/pool and pulled into the GM system. The only regular orders that have been "picked up" are part of the first four month allocation. There have been two dealer order cycles where Solstice orders have been "picked up".

Moderator Note: Having your dealer enter the order in system is not the same as being picked up. It sits in the dealer's order bank until GM picks it up at a later date (part of regular dealer's allocation)

 

[Small Dealer]

What determines when GM "picks up" an order?

Readers Digest Condensed Version: A calulated formula splits up planned production over time for each dealer is what determines when an order is "picked up".

Long version:

This it complicated and has many parts and is impacted by the car line and its stage of life. So what we will talk about is how the Solstice is being done as a Launch (new) Vehicle.

The 1,000 + units of production went to the 1000 First 1000 Exclusive Retail Order Solstices from the Apprentice program, the registration number mess ups or Free Maintenance Solstices, and the software mess ups or Zero Zip Sosltices. So we will be talking about regular allocation cars.

For the first round of regular allocation, Pontiac selected a four month time frame. They start by taking the amount of Solstices that they planned to build during that time frame. Then they determined a formula to split them up between their dealers.

Unlike other launch programs in the past, the Solstice allocation was not figure by percentage of Pontiac sales during the previous 12 months. Only 50% of the allocation went that way. The other 50% was based on potential roadster sales in each dealer's area of primary responsibility. This was determined by looking a selected roadster sales in the past, 11 or 12 different cars. This formula determined how many cars each dealer woul dbe allocated during that first four month persiod. This figure was provided to dealers through a special web site posting in early April.

The VOMS allocation system, will then break this four month number up into individual months. Dealers will see reports two months out that show them what they will have available.

At the beginning of a month, the system will break the number down into weekly dealer order cycle allocation quantities. Again a delaer will see a report with this infomation.

When each dealer order cycle starts on a Thursday, the dealer gets reports showing how many cars they are allocated, any production constraints (options/colors not available to order or in limited amounts), and how many of those constrained items they have been allocated.

Before 6pm on Saturday the dealer is responsible for confirming the amount of cars they were allocated, asking for more, make sure that there are enough buildable orders to match the request and constraints and placing his orders in a prioritized list.

Sunday and Monday, the system crunchs numbers and puts together its choices and schedules.

Tuesday, the delaers get the results of the order cycle. See what they did get. There is also one last chance on Tuesday to make any changes to orders, within constraints.

Tuesday night the orders selected are Preferenced or "picked up" by the system and assigned an event code of #2500.

In usual situations by the end of that week the system will have assigned the order's first Target Production Week. Currently this isn't being done for Solstice, but should return not long after regular allocation production starts.

Now thr process would have several differences if we were talking Grand Prix or Montana SV6, but this is how the Solstice is working.

Since the allocation is determined by calculations, it is possible for a dealer to get an allocation even though they may not have a sold order currently in their order banks. And before another dealer who may have sold orders in their bank. Hence the two themes of several of my posts. 9,000 orders may not be the first 9,000 built and oder number 9,000 may get built before order number 6,000.

 

[Small Dealer]

How do orders get pooled in dealer's order bank and later picked up?

Dealeships can enter as many orders as they want into VOMS (Vehicle Order Management System). As many sold orders as they take or as many stock orders as they want. These orders will be acknowledged by GM with VOMS order numbers, and they will sit in the dealer order bank/pool. In fact it is beneficial to have orders in the pool, so you do not miss an allocation oppertunity. The dealership will place them in order of priority. GM/Pontiac will be able to see the number of orders each dealership has placed and if they are sold or stock.

When a dealer order cycle starts on a Thursday, the dealership will see how many of each line they were allocated. They will also see the allocation of any constraints.

A dealership can also request additional allocation. They may not get it but they can ask. Any additional allocation would come from dealerships that turned down their allocation or from extra capacity above the allocated amounts. This isn't going to effect Solstice, I would think.

The dealership could enter the 5 orders they took in April right into the system. They would be there for when the dealership received an allocation amount. The system would then just them "pick" them "up".

 

[Small Dealer]

How do I find out my dealers allocation numbers?

The only way to know a dealership's allocation is to ask them. It is not available to the public, to other dealerships, or if you read enough posts here-sometimes not even available inside the dealership.

All orders go into the dealership order bank/pool/pile. A sold order would be coded differently, and have the buyers name/address included.

The weekly (for the most part), there is an allocation process where dealerships are told how many (if any) orders GM/Pontiac will take from the pool that week. The only way to know if your order has been allocated/preferenced/"picked up", is to ask the dealership.

 

[Small Dealer]

Who decides which orders get picked up in which allocation?

Dealership sets the priority list, and that is the order GM/Pontiac takes the cars when/if the dealership gets an allocation spot.

They can set it in any order that the want. Dosen't have to be by order taken date. They can change the order each dealer order cycle that they receive allocation. The dealership can move orders ahead of others that may have been in the system longer.

 

[DreamerDave]

What questions should I ask if ordering a Solsitce?

1. Has he sold all of his first quarter allocation?
2. How many was he allocated? Anywhere from none to 15. If none, leave.
3. What position you'll be on his waiting list? Can he put that in writing?
4. Is he selling it at MSRP with no "because we can" mark up? If he isn't, leave.
5. What kind of deposit does he want? From zero to $2000 but $500 and $1000 are normal.