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Was working on a deal for a nice S-class, and was shocked to find a total of 5,000 of "what they refer to as protection fees or dealer conditioning fees". The car price was very attractive (but fair and within Carfax range), so I was excited at the beginning.
Once we agreed on trade in numbers and all other stuff, I was shocked to find a total of 5000 USD of additional feels which includes a few grands for protection and conditioning package as well as another grand for GPS tracking or VIN etching device. I got upset and asked for these fees to be removed, and dealer explained that they can not because these fees include their cost of re-conditioning the car, shipping it to their location when it arrived, fixing any issues and also their own dealership profit margin!.
I was like, whattttttttt? All this should have been included in the formal advertised vehicle asking price on the website!. They refused to remove it, but said they can reduce it or negotiate it!. Funny thing, I tried to inquire about the car through another salesman, and the other salesman "thinking I am a new client" sent me a new proposal that includes a NEW name for these fees, and this time a total of 7K (6K for what's called special certification and 1K for GPS theft tracking device). Probably I sounded more rich/dump to the salesman on the other line!!!!?
Is this normal in NJ !!!?? That's what they claimed. Also, wouldn't this really be a "Bait and Switch Advertising Fraud". I am sooooo disappointed after spending all that time and energy! Note: this is all separate from their doc fees of 800 USD.
I would tell them to remove the additional fees or you're done with the car and dealer.
I did, but based on how greedy they are, I think they would rather wait for a desperate dump buyer. Now they are coming back saying they can negotiate the fees but can't completely remove it. I am going to pass even if they remove it just for how shady and greedy they are. I would rather not do business with such folks even if they had the right vehicle. I sent them an email and encouraged them to consider reviewing the Bait and Switch Advertising Fraud guidelines for dealerships to make sure they are within NJ guidelines. I don't care if they will be offended, because this is a clear Bait and Switch Advertising Fraud !!!
Sounds like my search for my next S 560 will take forever!!!!!! Thus far, 3 deals had fallen : 1. Found an un-disclosed car damage of 28K body work done "not even on carfax for a total of 4 accidents/repairs" but I was able to find the details after tracking the body-shop contact info wherein the car was serviced at once. Entire left-side, doors and even rear quarter panel was cut and replaced. Terrible story!!!. 2. One other deal failed due dealer asking premium $s, and after I sent a friend to inspect we found bad tires, dead brakes and nearly dead rotors. 3. A nice S-class, but dealer got a surprise of $5-7K fees thrown at me last minute.
On one car purchase I held my nose and offered to pay all the extra horse**** and just reduced the purchase price by an equal amount. To my surprise, the salesperson was able to get the offer accepted; the way they played the game he couldn't negotiate the nonsense stuff but could sell the car for a lower price.
On one car purchase I held my nose and offered to pay all the extra horse**** and just reduced the purchase price by an equal amount. To my surprise, the salesperson was able to get the offer accepted; the way they played the game he couldn't negotiate the nonsense stuff but could sell the car for a lower price.
Yeah but then that is a game so that they are already a few thousands above the fair market price, and then the best you can do is to remove those fees and go back to the baseline of a typical price. So, worst case they are selling the car at exactly the asking price while we the clients think we negotiated a few thousands!. If those fees were not there, we would be negotiating on the asking price and truly discounting the price. It is just a game to make us feel that we reduced the price by thousands while actually we did absolutely nothing other than accepting the as advertised price!
How are you searching for vehicles (sorting by lowest price?)? Mileage? You can usually vet a dealer by reading their Yelp reviews. Yelp is a little more accurate as dealers can more easily create fake google reviews. I doubt you are, but if you're searching by lowest price you're likely to run into those scummy dealers that advertise stupid low and hit you with ridiculous fees when you arrive. You can still get a decent deal if you're willing to sift through the muck but I'd never give a dealer like that any business...
How are you searching for vehicles (sorting by lowest price?)? Mileage? You can usually vet a dealer by reading their Yelp reviews. Yelp is a little more accurate as dealers can more easily create fake google reviews. I doubt you are, but if you're searching by lowest price you're likely to run into those scummy dealers that advertise stupid low and hit you with ridiculous fees when you arrive. You can still get a decent deal if you're willing to sift through the muck but I'd never give a dealer like that any business...
My only searching criteria was based on spec's and the following must have: 3D Burmester, Exclusive Designo Interior, HUD and AMG body styling. If it's AWD, that's great, if it's RWD it must have MBC. Those spec's are hard to fine and only a few vehicles in the nation has those (based on my findings).
I told them that word by word. Have not received a single response on that comment since then. I don't want to create enemies, but I want them to realize that there are some buyers out there who are smart enough to call them out on such practices and that they should re-consider their business model.
Sadly, in the current vehicle market especially, it is simply a volume / numbers game. Still too many buyers chasing too few nice cars - so someone will grin and bear those fees. As much as I continue to support the local dealer franchise model, times like this remind us of why most manufacturers would go direct to consumer if they could. Many dealers stopped caring about their reputation or relationships somewhere in late 2020 and never looked back.
I told them that word by word. Have not received a single response on that comment since then. I don't want to create enemies, but I want them to realize that there are some buyers out there who are smart enough to call them out on such practices and that they should re-consider their business model.
You are kinder than I am. I would’ve left them a very poor review. Of course things could have been worse, but they wasted your time.
Was working on a deal for a nice S-class, and was shocked to find a total of 5,000 of "what they refer to as protection fees or dealer conditioning fees". The car price was very attractive (but fair and within Carfax range), so I was excited at the beginning.
Once we agreed on trade in numbers and all other stuff, I was shocked to find a total of 5000 USD of additional feels which includes a few grands for protection and conditioning package as well as another grand for GPS tracking or VIN etching device. I got upset and asked for these fees to be removed, and dealer explained that they can not because these fees include their cost of re-conditioning the car, shipping it to their location when it arrived, fixing any issues and also their own dealership profit margin!.
I was like, whattttttttt? All this should have been included in the formal advertised vehicle asking price on the website!. They refused to remove it, but said they can reduce it or negotiate it!. Funny thing, I tried to inquire about the car through another salesman, and the other salesman "thinking I am a new client" sent me a new proposal that includes a NEW name for these fees, and this time a total of 7K (6K for what's called special certification and 1K for GPS theft tracking device). Probably I sounded more rich/dump to the salesman on the other line!!!!?
Is this normal in NJ !!!?? That's what they claimed. Also, wouldn't this really be a "Bait and Switch Advertising Fraud". I am sooooo disappointed after spending all that time and energy! Note: this is all separate from their doc fees of 800 USD.
As @Tom in Austin said, tell them you’ll pay the fees if they drop the price by that amount. Also, if you are buying, not leasing, no dealer installed GPS tracker. They are all sticking with these egregious fees while they can.
But generally it sounds like a walk away situation.
As @Tom in Austin said, tell them you’ll pay the fees if they drop the price by that amount. Also, if you are buying, not leasing, no dealer installed GPS tracker. They are all sticking with these egregious fees while they can.
But generally it sounds like a walk away situation.
What's this about a dealer-installed GPS tracker? Is this an OBD device plugged into the port? What is the dealer's intent with the device, to sell subscription services?
I think that it gets plugged in somewhere on the way to the ODB port, I used to be on Jeep forums and they were prevalent there, from what I recall there where two reasons.
1. To track leased vehicles
2. To track vehicles that get stolen off the lot
These days there is the third option, to charge another grand for something that you don’t want! Or maybe we do want it on a $100,000+ car 🤪 just in case it’s stolen, but the Mercedes Me app does that too!
This behaviour is the death rattle of a lot of car dealers. They got used to games they could play when inventory was tight. Now that things are starting to settle down and inventory is rising a lot of them will be starving for a while as they try to maintain the facade of scarceness.
This behaviour is the death rattle of a lot of car dealers. They got used to games they could play when inventory was tight. Now that things are starting to settle down and inventory is rising a lot of them will be starving for a while as they try to maintain the facade of scarceness.
Agree. Scarcity has vanished. Local MB dealer has a full lot and showroom. Local preowned lot where I sold a vehicle had no room to drive in and out because it was packed solid with vehicles for sale. Prices are dropping as a result, and have been dropping since summer of '22.
OP you have encountered a sleazeball dealership. Walk away.
The GPS bulli***** is pulled by many. A thing that gets plugged into the OBD socket for often $1500.00 or more (they pay $100 or so for it) and is usually sloppily left under the dash so wiring will fall out while you drive. Do not pay any $$$ for that. Already installed? Remove it and give it back. Your car is already able to tell you where it is via MB’s app. As for “Reconditioning fees” if they don’t have it baked into the price already they are idiots that don’t deserve your business. ‘Doc fees?’ All are negotiable. Everything is negotiable. Everything. Worst they can say is no. Negotiate your best deal but be damned sure you are wearing your big boy pants as this will not be the dealership’s first rodeo. If they want to sell you the car they WILL negotiate. Be damned sure you READ EVERY WORD of the contracts. Those are also negotiable. YES they are. You can use your blue pen to mark right through ish that doesn’t work for you then initial it + initials of individual in F&I office. Will make for more time spent in the F&I office (they will NOT like this) but is important. The real chicanery happens in the F&I office. They deliberately make that move fast so you don’t pay close attention to what it all adds up to. QUESTION EVERY CHARGE. Don’t tell them you are aiming for a certain $$$ figure in a payment. They will screw you for all they can within that figure that WILL end up higher then you had in mind.
Agreed with all above. Even if they did this or that for you, to make this deal work... why would you want to give them ... your MONEY? In the end, they crapped on you. Forget about them. Find a trustworthy dealer, even if it's half way across the country and not near your home. It will be worth it and you'll always feel good about the deal as you drive the cars for years later. Or buy a brand new car and pay more than you want to pay to get something NEW and wonderful. Just keep it for years longer than you expect to keep it and over time, that extra money will be forgotten. That's what I did this time and I will NEVER sell my car! It cost so much, I have to space out the price I paid for it over 15+ years ;o)
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