dockhan

3 weeks ago,I had agreed to purchase a 2011 GLK with the color and options I wanted and was told that the dealership was expecting one to arrive on the 16th. We agreed on invoice plus $1000 and they faxed me an invoice that included the VIN and I made a downpayment of $1000. The vehicle arrived yesterday and I'm going tomorrow to pick it up 200 miles away but today the dealership faxed me a new invoice with a price $500 more than the first. They are saying that this is the actual invoice price and don't seem to want to budge.
What can members who've already bought their GLK advise? Should I insist on the original price?
BTW, I still have a copy of the first invoice. It may seem just a small amount but when tax and interest are factored in the actual cost increases by almost an extra grand.

Cartman

fax them the invoice they gave you the first time. i would say to take back your deposit if they did not agree and try to find another MB dealership that will match that price, but since that one is 200 miles away i am assuming another dealership will be farther. 1500 over invoice is not a bad deal but it is the principal. you could always threaten to get an x3 instead. i would suggest talking to the sales manager

iewoals

Insist on the original price. That's dishonest what they are trying to pull. Either they can give you the deal at the price you originally agreed at or they can keep the car and refund your deposit.

bigben320e

Bottom line, insist on the price you were given first.

Just a thought, if they are pulling these dishonest tactics, do you even want to buy the car from them at all? Personally, I would tell them I am walking and get my deposit back and not deal at all. These are very old and tired dealer games, they need you (anyone) to buy the car more than you need the car.

Added bonus, tell them you want $1,000 less than the original price or you are walking. Play games with them...see what they do. Remember: you are in control of the deal. Not them.

dockhan

Thanks for your opinion. Am heading to the dealership tomorrow and will keep you posted. I must say I've heard and read a lot about the MB buying experience and didn't expect something like this. This is going to be my first MB.

bigben320e

Good...there are some horror stories on this forum and many others about the "MB buying experience". It varies from dealer to dealer, for myself, only 1 of 3 my MB's was bought at a dealer. I got much better deals at high-end non-MB dealers. Just my experience.

Good luck!

rmfnla

Sorry I saw this so late.

This is a common dealership ploy to add a bit more profit to the deal.

Best way to respond is to say, "I have your written offer in hand and my attorney is eager to come down to discuss it with you."

It's amazing how the magic "attorney" word makes things happen smoothy.

gsrjc

Agree... stick with the written agreement from your fax. That is a binding contract as I would assume.

NYCGLK

I know 500 bux is 500 bux, but it's relatively small amount to ruin your buying purchase, most of the dealers would try to do this anyways.

dockhan

Thanks for your support guys, I read some of your posts late.
Anyway, I bought the vehicle at the price they insisted on, which was 1500 more that the original invoice.
They wouldn't budge since I was paying cash and did not have a trade in, they couldn't make money elsewhere. It still ended up being about 2000 off MSRP and the vehicle was in perfect condition despite a rigorous scrutiny.
Sorry for the poor pics, its nasty today outdoors.

3Stars

Congrats. Main thing is you happy with the vehicle. Post more pictures on the 2011 GLK. Does 2011 model have a compartment under passenger seat like the CRV? Recently, we saw a GLK with back bumper like your without the blacken out area but with air diffuser, wonder what package is it?

BestorNicht

It's the AMG styling package.

rmfnla

Exactly. In the scheme of things being happy with the car is more important than worrying about saving a few bucks.

I see you got the Xenon package; I wish I'd thought to get that!

As to the blacked out area, my 2011 is black so I can't help you there.

Bottom line: my GLK is the first MB I've bought in almost ten years and I LOVE it.

Peter_02AMG

I just brought my wife a 2011 GLK 4-matic fully loaded, AMG package, Pano, keyless go, parktronic, adaptive head light and more. Sticker was $50150 I got it for $500 over invoice which was $47650 (invoice 47150). I don't get it, how do they stay in business if they only making $500 on each car. I think there another invoice that they don't want consumer to know.

3Stars

Nice. More interior or engine bay pictures? Wouldn't it nice if AMG front brace bar was included?

BTW open another thread under your GLK, so we can discuss/post picture about your 2011 GLK and not hijack OP's thread and since you are not 'disappointed with MB dealership. '

iewoals

I wouldn't worry about them making money on the car. They wouldn't sell it to you if they didn't make enough. They have holdbacks and other volume incentives too.

Dark_Knight

whats an AMG front brace bar?

rmfnla

"Wouldn't it nice if AMG front brace bar was included?"

Do you mean a strut tower brace?

Does AMG offer those?

Peter_02AMG

Did you mean a brush guard.

BestorNicht

Just be happy car pricing isn't randomly inflated like it is in Canada.

I pretty much got the same car as you (minus the Keyless Go) for ~ 56k + taxes.

Maybe MB stays in business by making up for the "savings" down south by dinging us up here

kyoshiro

I had a 1500 discount from MSRP, duno how much it is above invoice but then again, it was straight up and we didn't ask for more. We indeed get dinged quite a bit up here in the great white north

NYCGLK

exactly... and invoice price is not what they pay for the car. You have MSRP to rip some reach ppl off. Then you have Invoice to tell us we got great deal. And then there is real cost that nobody really knows. When I was buying there was factory rebate and you could get car for 1.5k under invoice, but my dumb *** was thinking too long so I had to settle for 500 under invoice. I believe MB was having those rebates recently as well.

pho75

Real happiness is buying the product at the price you wanted and enjoying it. Settle for anything else and you are lying to yourself. "It's only $500 more, at least you're happy." Pure self denial at work. Customers like this are a swindler's dream come true. Would you be happy if someone gave you $500 for nothing? Well, that's what you just did to the salesman. He will surely think fondly of you as he and his girl dine on lobster and imported caviar. But you know, at least you're "happy".

iewoals

Ya, just recently they had 2k rebate to the dealer as a "marketing incentive" for the 2010's. Of course if you found a willing dealer that meant you could get the car for 2k under invoice.

When buying a car always work multiple dealers. That way you have a better feel for how low you can go. Edmunds and these other price sites help but sometimes they show prices that are higher than what you can get the car for.

NYCGLK

To me it seems that first statment is pure self denial, that way you can spend 50k on 20k car... as long as you are happy with the car it's all good.

Realizing that you might have overpaid 500 for 50k car and living with it seems to be a normal reaction.