Negotiating on pre-order?
Member
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 197
Likes: 49
From: Vermont
2023 GLC 300, 2021 VW ID4
Every dealer is different. My experience was the dealer ordered my car, no deposit required, and we negotiated when delivered. Kind of puts me at a slight disadvantage with the exact car I wanted in the dealer’s hands and having to take the deal or go looking someplace else.
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Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 9
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Lexus RX450h
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 664
Likes: 33
From: Ft. Lauderdale
2015 C300, 2025 GLC300 4Matic
Your biggest problem is not the price, but the tariff - which is at least 25%. Mercedes has committed to paying the tariff for the rest of 2025, but I don't think they have given guidance beyond that. I just took delivery of my order a few weeks ago. I had a negotiated price before it was ordered. If they would have added a tariff onto that, I would not have taken delivery.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 431
Likes: 64
From: Delray Beach, Fl
GLC SUV 350e4 Verde Silver Metallic
Every dealer is different. My experience was the dealer ordered my car, no deposit required, and we negotiated when delivered. Kind of puts me at a slight disadvantage with the exact car I wanted in the dealer’s hands and having to take the deal or go looking someplace else.
Keep asking about availability. They say around September +/-. The 2023 had COVID markups, but by the time the car was delivered they had disappeared. Who knows what will happen with Tariffs!
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 102
Likes: 17
From: NJ
2019 S450, 2020GLC300
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2025
Posts: 27
Likes: 5
2026 GLC300 C
I got a good thing out of this thread so returning the favor. (MY2026 has dashcam option that my sales person wasn't aware of and insisted it is really not available).
Anyways, I was able to put a factory order for 2026 GLC300 Coupe for my choice of features back in July. We picked it up on Oct. 02. I had negotiated a 10% off of MSRP. Pricing wasn't out yet at the time of order so it was a gamble with all the tariff stuff going on. It turned out to be 70,470 after a couple of weeks of my order. For the full disclosure, I did put in 10% down based on MY2025 pricing, and had told the dealership that the down payment was their's to keep if I backed out for any reason. I had been to only one dealership to test drive it back in May. They had stuck to MSRP back in May. They didn't hesitate any 2nd time around when I asked for 10% off over the email in July with Non-refundable deposit offer. I had been poking other dealerships in DC area but without actually going there in person, no one was budging below MSRP. The 2nd best offer was 3.5% below MSRP after I offered 10% nonrefundable deposit. I figured dealership doesn't want to get stuck with a unit they may not have ordered otherwise. My committing 10% showed them I was serious, and an easy sell. In fact, I did all the documents 100% online. When I went to pick it up, it was quick in and out like I was stealing it out of parking lot!
Anyways, I was able to put a factory order for 2026 GLC300 Coupe for my choice of features back in July. We picked it up on Oct. 02. I had negotiated a 10% off of MSRP. Pricing wasn't out yet at the time of order so it was a gamble with all the tariff stuff going on. It turned out to be 70,470 after a couple of weeks of my order. For the full disclosure, I did put in 10% down based on MY2025 pricing, and had told the dealership that the down payment was their's to keep if I backed out for any reason. I had been to only one dealership to test drive it back in May. They had stuck to MSRP back in May. They didn't hesitate any 2nd time around when I asked for 10% off over the email in July with Non-refundable deposit offer. I had been poking other dealerships in DC area but without actually going there in person, no one was budging below MSRP. The 2nd best offer was 3.5% below MSRP after I offered 10% nonrefundable deposit. I figured dealership doesn't want to get stuck with a unit they may not have ordered otherwise. My committing 10% showed them I was serious, and an easy sell. In fact, I did all the documents 100% online. When I went to pick it up, it was quick in and out like I was stealing it out of parking lot!
Last edited by mbscapd; Oct 14, 2025 at 08:58 AM.
