I ordered my 2015 GL450 3 months ago. Since I want the car for a family road trip in Sep, I inquired for several dealers and found one that could "guarantee" the deliver by the early Sep.(Told me the production date is Sep 2nd.) They asked for "pre-payment' of $5000 for ordering. (I'm ok with that as long as they could deliver the car on time.) After the pre-payment, I had heard nothing from the dealer until I emailed them for an update of my car in the last few days in Aug. (just 4-5 days from the production date) They said the MB had pushed back the production timeline for more than 2 weeks to Sep 19.

OK! I need to wait 2 weeks more. Now, I learned my lesson and started to check the status every few days. Last week, dealer told me the car was ready and loaded on a truck heading to here. I thought the endless waiting would be end now. (dealer said the car went into production on Sep16) I heard another "story" from dealer today. They said the car didn't pass the quality exam WHAT? There is a missing part on the vehicle. They sent the car back to the factory???() I just have ENOUGH stories from them and I really want to give up this order. I told them I want my deposit back. They said it is non-refundable.


What will you do? Any advices would help! Thanks in advance.
Should I find a lawyer?

 

I have had a 2015 GL450 on order since May. It was initially supposed to be produced in July, but for reasons my dealer has not been able to learn from M-B, production was held up due to an unspecified production constraint. It was finally produced earlier this month, was released to the shipper on the 13th and arrived at the dealership on the 23rd. The PO number on the vehicle is the same as the original order. I suspect your dealership is telling you everything they know.

Unless you specified a guaranteed delivery time in writing, if the deposit was considered non-refundable at the time of the order, nothing has changed. In any case, why start over with another order?

 

My dealer asked for 1000 deposit and told me I have the right to refuse the vehicle "for any reason" and would get all my money back.

 

File a complaint at BBB. I did, and got what I wanted. :-)

 

Call the corporate office MBUSA,


1-800-FOR-MERCEDES (1-800-367-6372)

 

I ordered my GL350 in July. They asked for $2K deposit, but said that if for ANY reason I will not buy this car - they return my money back. I think you need to call to MBUSA and complain. BTW..ordered Range Rover for the end of November delivery and they said the same thing - money back garantee.

 

+1 - I've ordered 3 different MB's in the past from 2 different dealerships. On 2 of them I put down fully refundable deposits, of which 1 of those I decided not to buy and they gave me back my deposit no questions asked. On the 3rd (my recent GL550 purchase), I offered a deposit on the order and my sales manager said, "you're a good customer, I don't need to take any money from you to secure the order."

 

Well.... I am in no way defending the dealer or issuing judgment. Any build order should be confirmed clearly based on factory PO# - and customer should get a copy of that factory order at the time the agreement was made. That was a serious mis-step.

1) I ordered my 2015 GL450 3 months ago - one that could "guarantee" the deliver by the early Sep.(Told me the production date is Sep 2nd.) -

Answer - 3 months out the system assigns a production Decade (1-2-3) and system does NOT assign a specific production date until 30-35 days out from that decade.

2) one that could "guarantee" the deliver by the early Sept.(Told me the production date is Sep 2nd.)

Answer - Now everybody knows Monday Sept 2nd is Labor Day, and that prior Sat/Sun is Labor Day weekend - anybody knows that. All mucked up on timeline, from production "date" the rig is released to VPC, SPC options are installed there as well... let's call VPC 4-7 days with or without added SBC options. . Then from VPC released to carrier holding area, another 3-5 days, before the carrier gets it rolling - and then carrier transit time to dealer - then at the dealer 1 day for prep. Anyone who expressed or understood Sept 2nd production date (again with Labor Day weekend just before - with system process time would be "early September" - which I personally consider "early" is 1st 10 days Sept - now that thinking is plain off base - a true Sept 2nd production date would mean for my area Sept 15 delivery - which is mid-Sept.

2) They asked for "pre-payment' of $5000 for ordering.

Answer - "Pre-payment" is not a "deposit". In most states pre-payment is accepted against the deal as it closes. In almost all states deposits are full refundable. Pre-payment in most states is legally refundable at discretion of the dealer. Based on recipt for that money, or confirmation email - frankly if the word "pre-payment" is used for most states that's a separate thing that "deposit"

3) I had heard nothing from the dealer until I emailed them for an update of my car in the last few days in Aug. (just 4-5 days from the production date) They said the MB had pushed back the production timeline for more than 2 weeks to Sep 19.

Answer - Sept 19 is end of 2nd decade - and that specific date would have been assigned about August 20 -

4) Last week, dealer told me the car was ready and loaded on a truck heading to here. I thought the endless waiting would be end now. (dealer said the car went into production on Sept 16)

Answer - it is impossible, repeat impossible for a rig produced Sept 19 to be on a truck Sept 20th

5) I heard another "story" from dealer today. They said the car didn't pass the quality exam WHAT? There is a missing part on the vehicle. They sent the car back to the factory???

Answer - I have seen rigs at VPC, that then show released to carrier a particular day, that following day showed pulled back to VPC for another 3-5 days. There is NO rig that gets up on a truck by the carrier that isn't 1000% good to go.

You have a rig, built the way you want it, that is running 2-3 weeks "late" - either you want the truck or not.... and frankly remaining open build dates for GL's starting now are end-Nov/into Dec for those dealers that still have open/changeable slots.... same rig fresh production order will be a Christmas present - versus same rig will be in your hands 1st week October.

it's your choice to make.

 

Labor Day was on Monday September 1st.

 

I have a copy of P.O. dated 9/5/14 for GL350. Dealer did not require a deposit. This is my 6th car purchased from this dealer since 2006. Have been assured that delivery will take place the week of 10/27/14.
That said, I'm willing to wait a week or two if stuff happens that is out of the dealer's control.
If I don't like the GL when it arrives (I'm gonna like it), the dealer will sell it to another buyer and quickly.
These vehicles are in fairly high demand. Can't imagine that one would want to keep your deposit.