Sarge
Well-known member
That's who I've been working with since March. I was referred by the Chief Engineer of the WL platform. I haven't been dropping names and contact info b/c that seems like a rude move, but where I am now, my 'consideration' has about run out.
I CC'd him on my letter to the Buy Back department to proceed last week, stating that Steve had not responded to any emails or phone calls in nearly 4 months, and I simply wanted to proceed with the buyback separately regardless. I asked them to make the 'turn in' date as far out as possible (they previously put it on hold), as I would try finding someone else at Stellantis to help with a replacement. I also left Steve a very sincere voicemail last week to the effect that I intend to look for someone else to help since he has not responded to a single email or phone call for so many months. Low and behold, he arose from hibernation with an email on Friday that he would talk to the buy back department and be in touch early this week with 'next steps'.
I don't know what to make of any of it. I've heard rumor that they stopped 'offering' buy backs (ie, unless you get a lawyer and force the issue) b/c they have exceeded their budgets with this car already. Truth in rumors? Who knows, but it certainly seems plausible.
I just want what I bargained for in the first place, with a little bit of hard earned 'mea culpa' frosting on it. I haven't been anything but polite, affable, considerate and patient with them - my first buy back offer came as a result of just asking a customer cares representative for general information on the process, while concurrently working with Steve. In reliance on his representations about 'having a magic wand' and being able to do things no one else can (to help), I deferred to his direction... I was clear about what I wanted, he was trying to make that happen, and then 'poof' - the wizard with the magic wand disappeared without a trace. Now he's back, so I guess we'll see what I have to do to get to where I should be after all of this. I'm in no mood for weak-sauce renegotiations, though. My dealer offered to take my car in on trade for the MSRP price I paid for it (from a different dealer 1500 miles away) so that Stellantis could do a trade assist, which would have left Stellantis completely in the black on TWO cars, but now it's just a five figure loss on a branded buyback... not my fault. I've done everything I can to help them.
I'm not greedy, but I am principled, and this is no longer 'about money'. They need to make right. Hopefully that happens, and I can sing the praises of my replacement while posting photos here in the Tetons of my finally-awesome Jeep that the marketing department scouts will be asking locations for. I'd much rather be a friend, ally, and asset to Stellantis and the Jeep community. We'll see which way this goes, I guess.
