josemohan

HI GUYS,
I have my C300 to be delivered in two weeks...and the dealer wants me to pay 500$ for something called " ADVERTISEMENT FEE " added to the price...He claims all new buyers are bound to pay this amount..Has anyone went across anything like this???or ever heard about it.....???
Maybe something I dont know Cuz this is the first car Iam buying brand new at the dealer...Please clear this for me...Thanks in advance...!!!!!

micropower99

What the hell, no way man, hes trying to scam you big time.

ColoradoDriver

It may be a valid charge, if your deal is based on "invoice" costs. For example, many of us have agreed to an invoice plus price. Actual invoice costs include a regional advertising fee, which is what Mercedes charges the local dealership for its share of brand advertising.

DucatiGuy

The add fee is usually rolled into the price of the car. What the dealer has done for you is itemized each cost, and is showing you everything $ for $. It's not uncommon to do so (kind of their way of saying, hey we're being open and honest with you), but as you can see from the previous response, many are unaware of such costs... You're not being taken for a ride, but remember there's ALWAYS room to negotiate, even with the add fee... How likley the dealer will budge on that and other costs within the price, well that all demands on the car and the damand for it...

PoaMike

^+1

mkaresh

Exactly. I don't know about Mercedes, but GM shows these fees on the invoice.

On the other hand, if the dealer is trying to add this fee to the MSRP, that's BS.

amdeutsch

That fee and the reasons for it (lack of it) have been discussed in the W203 forum. It might pay to go and STFF there.

josemohan

thanks man.......

josemohan

they are asking me MSRP plus this 500$.....anyone rem'b how much they paid for it...?????

ColoradoDriver

You should not pay that if you are paying MSRP. However, most dealers do charge a "dealer handling and prep" charge that is about $500 per car, regardless of the price you pay. But like everything else, that too is negotiable!

Remember, many of us are paying about $2500 below MSRP. So your deal is already a poor one.

Cloud9

I just looked at my purchase agreement and no advertisement fee added. The only fee added was the standard destination fee of $825.

micropower99

Actually I paid MSRP with iPod adapter and installation included. Up here in the north they are sold out everywhere and I have yet to find anyone get more than 500 off MSRP in the area. (Never in my life have I paid MSRP but this car was sold out in almost every dealership in BC)

tanktube67

NEGOTIATE, just because the W204 is new model, don't pay MRSP

Txhurdle

You won't see it on a Purchase agrrement, only printed on an Invoice. I agree that your local dealer shouldn't be trying to sneak the fee across to you on top of the MSRP. It's part of the initial cost of the car, not an 'Extra' fee that pops up after the fact.

josemohan

thnx guys for the help n info.....
i spoke over with the dealer yday....n finally..they have 3000$ taken off the invoice...hope dat wasnt bad....!!!!

Derspeed

Ad fee is hard to avoid. You shouldn't be paying it on top of MSRP though. Is your salesman new? Destination fee is the one they won't move on. Tell your dealer you want the car at invoice and go from there. There is also a dealership hold-back fee that I have used as a negotiating tool in the past. Walk if you are not comfortable with the terms. There is more than one MB dealership. I paid around $400 over invoice for my C and I didn't take it from inventory; I ordered it.

Kar don

lemme guess, MB of westwood?

josemohan

chilledbenz

Did you mean M.S.R.P. instead of invoice? I find it hard to believe you could get $3000 off invoice, it sounds more like a discount off of the M.S.R.P. or sticker price as its also called. As for the advertising fee....that money pretty much goes to your salesman, in some cases you can have it removed, but if you like your salesman might as well give him the kick back.