Mercedes Price Fixing Inquiry!
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 5,583
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From: Washington D.C.
2024 GLE63s / 2016 GLE63s (traded) / 2016 E63s / 2002 E55
Mercedes Price Fixing Inquiry!
Nov 2002 issue (page18) of EuroTuner reports:
"Mercedes-Benz USA LLC has recently been brought under legal scrutiny due to a lawsuit accusing the company of price fixing....The claim is that Mercedes purposefully encouraged some New York-area M-B dealers not to battle each other on pricing, but rather build the brand as a whole and sell the cars for the same dollar amount. One dealership and a handful of customers are now claiming this illegal. If Mercedes is found guilty of price fixing, expect the company's stock prices to drop dramatically..."
"Mercedes-Benz USA LLC has recently been brought under legal scrutiny due to a lawsuit accusing the company of price fixing....The claim is that Mercedes purposefully encouraged some New York-area M-B dealers not to battle each other on pricing, but rather build the brand as a whole and sell the cars for the same dollar amount. One dealership and a handful of customers are now claiming this illegal. If Mercedes is found guilty of price fixing, expect the company's stock prices to drop dramatically..."
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 524
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From: So. FL
2003 SL Launch Edition, 2003 E500 Pewter/Stone
The MBUSA efforts at eliminating negotiating started with lowering prices by cutting dealer margins a number of years ago. I bought a '94 300SE on which the MSRP was about $72 thousand and paid about $58 thousand at year end. Margins are no where near that now.
I actually prefer the no negotiation approach and think it makes it a more dignified process. In my case I am always trying to get the newest model so negotiations are usually out of the question anyway. On the other hand, if dealers want to compete, that should be their prerogative.
I actually prefer the no negotiation approach and think it makes it a more dignified process. In my case I am always trying to get the newest model so negotiations are usually out of the question anyway. On the other hand, if dealers want to compete, that should be their prerogative.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 560
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Porsche 997 C2S
I'm not necessarily sure it's any more dignified than before. Even now people (including myself) generally get anywhere from $500-$1000 off most of the models in the MB lineup (I'm excluding specialty/high-demand vehicles such as most of the AMGs, etc.) My dealer in NJ already told me that they're taking $500 off the new E320's already.
I don't think we know what lack-of-dignity is until one walks into a Toyota/Honda/GM/Ford dealership. There you see some major wheelin'-and-dealin'. And remember how lucky we are that we deal with MB dealerships.
I don't think we know what lack-of-dignity is until one walks into a Toyota/Honda/GM/Ford dealership. There you see some major wheelin'-and-dealin'. And remember how lucky we are that we deal with MB dealerships.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 379
Likes: 38
From: middle o' ma
15 AMG S63 4-matic coupe
Originally posted by KrispyK
I don't think we know what lack-of-dignity is until one walks into a Toyota/Honda/GM/Ford dealership. There you see some major wheelin'-and-dealin'. And remember how lucky we are that we deal with MB dealerships.
I don't think we know what lack-of-dignity is until one walks into a Toyota/Honda/GM/Ford dealership. There you see some major wheelin'-and-dealin'. And remember how lucky we are that we deal with MB dealerships.
you could have a forum dedicatd to slimeball dealings with some of those guys.
I had one guy check out my car for a trade in value. Initially, he refused to give me my keys back until we had negotiatied the deal. Told him to stuff it. Got my keys and walked.
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Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Sandy Eggo
02 C32AMG
Originally posted by KrispyK
I'm not necessarily sure it's any more dignified than before. Even now people (including myself) generally get anywhere from $500-$1000 off most of the models in the MB lineup (I'm excluding specialty/high-demand vehicles such as most of the AMGs, etc.) My dealer in NJ already told me that they're taking $500 off the new E320's already.
I don't think we know what lack-of-dignity is until one walks into a Toyota/Honda/GM/Ford dealership. There you see some major wheelin'-and-dealin'. And remember how lucky we are that we deal with MB dealerships.
I'm not necessarily sure it's any more dignified than before. Even now people (including myself) generally get anywhere from $500-$1000 off most of the models in the MB lineup (I'm excluding specialty/high-demand vehicles such as most of the AMGs, etc.) My dealer in NJ already told me that they're taking $500 off the new E320's already.
I don't think we know what lack-of-dignity is until one walks into a Toyota/Honda/GM/Ford dealership. There you see some major wheelin'-and-dealin'. And remember how lucky we are that we deal with MB dealerships.
