My experience, you will be really lucky to get discount off of MSRP theses days. When folks get at MSRP it’s like a deal. Lol. You can pressure them. You in control. Good luck.

 

I was so happy to get MSRP for mine. I didn't even test drive.

 

.

 

I wrote to MB USA and this is the response

 

Basically what we all knew already

 

Are they doing this because they are having to make up for decreased sales, or because they know they can do it due to a shortage of vehicles OR both?

 

Dealer discretion they're doing it because they can. FWIW I have never, nor will I ever pay MSRP or above – ever. No one buys, or leases away goes the mark ups! In a lease? Buy it out – wait it out!

 

I paid a 10k premium over MSRP for mine. Then again, I got out of my old lease with cash out my way so kind of a wash.

The way I see it, an S class isn't a necessity. It's purely because I want one. As such, I am not giving away a year or two of my life driving anything less than what I desire. I could be dead tomorrow, or by the time the premium vanishes. Money comes and goes. Time is what truly comes a at premium.

 

Each to ‘his’ own.

 

To me, why would I pay a markup on the lot if I can order and pay MSRP? May as well plan ahead and order.

 

I placed an order and deposit 18 months ago with a local dealer. Last week I got this email ---- My reaction is WTF" I confirmed that your position in the queue from the 2021 list carried over into the 2022 G63 list and you are in position number one for the next G63 allocation. I think it only makes sense to stay with the order after having waited this long. I’ve had many conversations with my GSM, Richard, specifically about your order and a couple other orders that I placed. We really don’t know what condition the SUV market or the economy or the world will be in on the week that it arrives so I think it makes sense to let it get built and work with him on his “fair market price” when it comes in."

 

I put in an order for a 550 this week. The salesperson didn't mention the markup until after I placed the order. I'll still go and look at it when it comes in. If they aren't willing to negotiate at that time then oh well. I guess I didn't need it anyway.

 

If it is a matter of principle, even $1 markup over the MSRP is not acceptable.
Personally, I do not go this far.
I am not eager to say I do not mind any markup at all. But I am also not eager to say I would never buy a car with a markup.
Afterall, it is MSRP which is just a suggestion only.
A dealer can markup or he can give a discount. He has the freedom to do so and I have the freedom to buy from him or somebody else or not buy at all.
I would consider, case by case, how much the markup is and how long I want to wait (buying off the lot vs ordering) and then decide if I would accept a markup.

 

If you are in South Florida Bill Ussery Mercedes Benz in Coral Gables and Cutler Bay is a class act!!! While my father would take me to the original Coral Gables location I now frequent the Cutler Bay location because Luis Gutierrez (company lifer and GM) foments an incredible customer service based culture.

ask for Joe Maya and tell him Prio sent you!

 

Can anyone recommend a MB dealer in Ohio or neighboring states?

 

Exactly. Ordering cars is the future and is actually the better way to buy a car in terms of being able to get exactly what you want in the car with zero compromises. You don't miss out on anything you wanted, nor do you pay for additional options you didn't want. If you have the luxury of time, ordering is the way to go. Some people might be desperate or under pressure to get a car immediately, which sucks for them. They totaled their current car, existing lease is over, or they just impatient as hell. Then you are subject to the current market conditions. If you are "cutting the line" compared to almost everyone else these days, it makes sense you might pay a little more.

I do think it's funny seeing people saying things like "I will never pay MSRP or higher for a car" and bashing dealers for doing this when they are selling half the cars they used to, and everything in the world costs more than it used to. Meanwhile, we have all literally received tens upon tens of thousands of dollars in discounts on cars we have purchased/leased over the years due to the previous "market conditions" and were happy to beat the crap out of dealers to get the prices we wanted. Now, trade-ins are worth more than ever and most of us can pull equity and make thousands from our existing leases, which almost never happened back in the day.

"But nooooo, I will wait two years to get the car I want rather than pay the actual price of the car!" And by then, your trade will be worth less, there will be no equity in your lease, and the base price of the car you want will have increased by a few thousand bucks.

 

You do understand it is a discretionary dealer markup. Anyway, I say again to each his own. I understand in this day and age those who think differently are immediately called out and considered wrong but hey, I was never a sheeple. You want it, willing to pay for it, so be it and best of luck. This time around, after my wife I who mind you have been simultaneously leasing from the same dealer for the last 12 years … will not.

 

But you are missing a key fact you stated. Discounts. I received $21K off my S class when I got it 3 years ago. Now they are selling at MSRP. To ask us to pay over is asking too much...

 

Exactly, they want to benefit from mismatched supply and demand but begrudge the dealer doing the same thing.

But thats the point, you (and I) benefitted from them having more supply than demand, so how can you say they shouldnt benefit from having more demand than supply? Its a two way street.

Did you just offer to pay MSRP when you could have paid less because "Hey, thats fair!"?

 

I believe if you and your wife have been leasing from the same dealer for 12 years (back of the envelope math - 8 leases!) your dealer should consider offering you a discount on this Mercedes, regardless of current market conditions. Your loyalty and relationship over 12 years should be valued and rewarded. That’s my opinion.

 

I completely agree, unfortunately experience has shown me dealers are too short sighted for that.

 

Agree 100%. I think the current limitation is that the Sindelfingen factory is not automated high enough for this kind of efficiency.

Maybe the best way is to order online (Tesla style?) or even pay online? Then, one can even avoid the hassle of dealing with the salesman and save a trip to the dealership.

 

^ this. 100% behind the idea. Dealerships are an obsolete idea since potential customers know more about the new vehicle than the salesperson.

And this comes from someone who's had a decade-long relationship with my salesperson, who is a true gentleman. Despite this, I'd rather do all online and skip the dealership altogether. When my wife got her Tesla a couple of years ago, the whole purchasing experience was an eye-opener; why can't all makers be like that?

 

Apologies if you had read this in another post but want to warn anyone in mid ohio to avoid this dealership. My G63 that is now in production and when they told me that I needed to pay market value I sent a nasty complaint to the GM. Well they told me to stick it, its either take it like a good boy and pay up or do business elsewhere. If you are in Mid Ohio don't do business with these guys. Extortion!! Feel free to give them a bad google review

Mr. Santini –

I apologize for the delayed response - we investigated the circumstances surrounding the order for a 2021 Mercedes-Benz G 63W4- unless you have something else documented, it appears that all we have in writing is a copy of what we refer to as a ‘build sheet’ not an agreement, we actually are relying on the verbal agreements/communication made back in December 2020. As I’m sure you understand, we were not able to obtain or fufill the order on a 2021 G63W4 ( the vehicle Kenneth Stuart (Ken) has been telling you about is going to be a 2022 model)….MBUSA has not released the pricing on the 2022’s as of yet.

When we accepted your deposit, it was pre-pandemic- there was no reason to believe we could not fufill your order…our industry was turned upside down once Covid 19 hit – mostly due to severe supply shortages. As an industry, our total sales numbers dropped precipitously – ‘some’ of this was offset by holding more gross profit on a per vehicle basis although the G Wagon was already in short supply back in December 2020 when you first gave us a deposit.

Ken suggested that it may be better if we communicated via telephone although since you already wrote that you’ve been speaking to an attorney regarding the order, accusing us of both racketeering and / or extortion, I told him the more we have ‘in writing’ the better. So here we are, in writing, acknowledging that we could not deliver you the specific vehicle you ordered.

I certainly apologize that we are not able to provide you with the vehicle you ordered and for any subsequent miscommunication…we will return whatever monies you may have given us as a deposit / partial payment.

Thank you and have a nice weekend.

Marc Wigler

President & General Manager

Crown Automotive Group of Dublin

 

March 2022