Not sure if there would have been any way to avoid this as it's too late now. I really should read the window stickers more carefully. Within an hour of taking delivery of my new HHR a few weeks ago I had peeled off all the chrome molding that ran along the wheel wells and the silver pin strip that ran the length of the vehicle. Those were two cosmetic things that were not going to fit into my appearance objectives so they had to go.

Yesterday while working in the garage I noticed one of the small window stickers that I had left on the bench. To my amazement, that stuff was part of some "package" that was priced at $275.00. I figure I wasted like $200 of it which is long gone since trash pickup is every Friday around here...

This thread is kind of a heads up to those of you about to buy an HHR and also to ask how much do you guys figure the "clear door edge protection" and some kinda 3M protection (paint related??) is really worth. I'd have loved to have seen this $275.00 before buying. Could I have had avoided paying this?? Anywho, it's over with now, I learned another lesson...

 

So these were dealer installed accessories?

 

That is what it's looking like. Amongst the other 14 or so HHRs on their lot only mine and one other had the chrome molding. I reviewed their online inventory the other day to confirm. I'm not sure where my HHR came in from. The dealer had done a few HHR swaps and mine may have originated from another dealer who felt inclined to add this molding garbage. I could be way off, it may have come from GM this way. I just find it very odd that VERY few HHRs originate with this "package". I could definitely have done without it. My impression was that they had just thrown that stuff on to dress it up on the lot..had no idea it had any value behind it.

 

another cheap way for them to make a profit. $10 worth of junk and they stick you for $275

 

Pretty much exactly what came to mind...

 

Hmmm you could always go back to thedealer + say that the trimwork "peeled off after you brought it to a car wash/detail place".......

 

I remember once I bought a new s-10 and the next day I went to pick it up, they tried to charge me another $100 for pinstripe (tape!) I said I was peeling it off as soon as I got home and someone there would have to eat that $100, not me!! Ha, $100 would have bought enough tape to stripe a 100 cars!!!