Reviewed : 08/11/2025
Comment : 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.
While discussing options, I told Ben the color I really wanted was Thunderstorm Gray. He told me GMC had stopped producing and selling that color. That sounded strange because it’s still listed as an option on GMC’s own website. To be sure, I later called three other GMC dealers — all confirmed the color is still available. Red flag #1: If they’re willing to lie about something as basic as a paint color, what else are they willing to mislead you about?
Ben then 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 #2.
I asked to take a picture of the printout so I could review the numbers. He refused. Red flag #3. 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. 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 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 is a $4K charge for something I never ordered, the so-called Big Star Protection Package (windshield PPF, window tint, wheel locks, etc.). Red flag #4. 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 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.
To make matters worse, after several texts asking Ben about the remaining price difference, I was completely ignored — proving that once you challenge their inflated numbers, they drop you.
Cash offer? No difference. Advertised price? Not real.
They cost me a full afternoon, don’t let them do it to you.
Next stop is BBB, Dealerrater, cars, Edmunds and email to Ms. Barra & Mr. Reuss.