this is why they're called stealerships

[tonycarguy]

I recently bought a car. In the office of the Finance Manager, the guy pulled out the "dealer options" sheet that lists all the 'useful' things I could buy such as extended warranty, VIN inscription, paint protection, etc.

The one that caught my attention was the tire protection. For only $875, I could get 5 years of free tire replacements if any tire is damaged beyond repair. He said it's worth it because the tires on my car are run-flats that cost $400. I knew this was [censored]. I declined then went home to check the tire prices: $130 + mounting, so about $165 out the door each. For $875 I could buy 5 of them! I doubt I'd have 5 flat tires in 5 years.

No wonder people don't trust dealerships

 

[addyguy]

I agree that dealerships made mad cash off a lot of stuff, but 5 flats in 5 years isn't THAT unbelieveable......

 

[Oilpants]

Where did they wnat to inscribe it??? lol A car saleman offered my brother in law moleculer sealing of the finish off a new vechile. I thought every body knew that you shouldnt even wax a new finish for a few months!!

, VIN inscription, p/quote]

 

[tonycarguy]

Originally Posted By: addyguy
I agree that dealerships made mad cash off a lot of stuff, but 5 flats in 5 years isn't THAT unbelieveable......


For me it's unbelievable because I've only had 2 tires damaged beyond repair in 20 years. But that's besides the point. The point was, it was very unethical for the guy to say that the $165 tires cost $400, obviously in an attempt to try to sell the service at a bloated cost. Statistically speaking, that service was probably worth $125-200.

 

[wapacz]

Originally Posted By: Oilpants
Where did they wnat to inscribe it??? lol A car saleman offered my brother in law moleculer sealing of the finish off a new vechile. I thought every body knew that you shouldnt even wax a new finish for a few months!!

, VIN inscription, p/quote]



not really cars have there paint baked on and are fully cured before they leave the factory. Now any repaint once it leaves the factory may need some cure time. To know how much though you need to talk to the paint manufacture and now if the paint shop has an oven and if so how hot it gets.

 

[wapacz]

Originally Posted By: tonycarguy
I recently bought a car. In the office of the Finance Manager, the guy pulled out the "dealer options" sheet that lists all the 'useful' things I could buy such as extended warranty, VIN inscription, paint protection, etc.

The one that caught my attention was the tire protection. For only $875, I could get 5 years of free tire replacements if any tire is damaged beyond repair. He said it's worth it because the tires on my car are run-flats that cost $400. I knew this was [censored]. I declined then went home to check the tire prices: $130 + mounting, so about $165 out the door each. For $875 I could buy 5 of them! I doubt I'd have 5 flat tires in 5 years.

No wonder people don't trust dealerships



wow they also jacked the price on the plan up at least compared to what the dealer her offered. I think they wants 400 to 475 for 4 years or 100,000 miles of accidental protection on the tires and the rims. I figured for it to even work for me I would have to kill a few tires or take out a rim. Neither of which I have ever done.

 

[ZZman]

The Saturn dealer here adds over $ 900.00 to every vehicle for paint and fabric protection. That so turns me off that I would never consider buying a Saturn from them.

 

[LAGA]

Two years ago, The dealer wanted $1800 for the paint protection on my Silverado.

 

[Michelob]

When I bought this car the finance guy gives his warranty pitch and I say no thanks the warranty only covers breakage not wear and tear and I can get a better third party warranty that would cover wear and tear if I want one. He says it does cover wear and tear so I ask him for a copy of the warranty and show him where it says it does not cover wear and tear and he says even though it says it does not it does cover it. Either he was stupid or he though I was.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

You have to negotiate the price of the add ons - I took the tire warranty for my wife's 05 rav4 - she's constantly getting flats since she drives near the shoulder flotsam and marbles. I negotiated the price to $200 - if I recall correctly. She ended up having 2 tire replacements and 2 flat repairs. so I just about broke even. The whole idea is to get out of the finance office spending the least amount of additional dollars.

 

[jcwit]

When I buy a car, and this has been my policy for almost 50 years, I don't negotiate "period". I ask for the bottom price and tell them they have one shot at selling, and I either walk or buy. Many, many, many times I walk needless to say.

Add-ons are not even discussed.

Of course I've been in purchasing since I was 14.

 

[callbay]

It is sad how many people do buy these overpriced and often times useless items from dealers. I have leared one of the best and most useful words is "NO"! Sometimes one has to say it several times but it is always good practice.

 

[Cutehumor]

I bought my vibe through the internet sales manager, had my preapproved check through capital one, and they didn't try to upsell me on anything. I was shocked.

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

Originally Posted By: addyguy
I agree that dealerships made mad cash off a lot of stuff, but 5 flats in 5 years isn't THAT unbelieveable......

If you live in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area chances are you will get 5 flats in 5 years...Prabably more then 5 flats.

 

[mjoekingz28]

Originally Posted By: CROWNVIC4LIFE
Originally Posted By: addyguy
I agree that dealerships made mad cash off a lot of stuff, but 5 flats in 5 years isn't THAT unbelieveable......

If you live in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area chances are you will get 5 flats in 5 years...Prabably more then 5 flats.



Yeah, but a flat costs $5-10 to fix not $400

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

Originally Posted By: mjoekingz28
Originally Posted By: CROWNVIC4LIFE
Originally Posted By: addyguy
.

If you live in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area chances are you will get 5 flats in 5 years...Prabably more then 5 flats.



Yeah, but a flat costs $5-10 to fix not $400


True.

 

[eljefino]

The same thing happens at the rental car counter where they presell you a tank of gas at $2.59 saying the average price in the region is $2.74.

A 13 gallon tank would have to be returned with .75 gallon or less to "win" under that arrangement, and gauges are tricky that low.

 

[tonycarguy]

Originally Posted By: CROWNVIC4LIFE
Originally Posted By: addyguy
I agree that dealerships made mad cash off a lot of stuff, but 5 flats in 5 years isn't THAT unbelieveable......

If you live in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area chances are you will get 5 flats in 5 years...Prabably more then 5 flats.


And then the dealer would probably charge $1500 for the tire service in that area. I'm sure they do the statistical analysis then add $500+ profit margin to the statistical break-even

I knew a sucker, I mean a guy, who paid $1000 for the VIN inscription on a $15000 car. What was he thinking. Comprehensive insurance is far cheaper

 

[mrsilv04]

A local GM dealer that has already been notified that he is losing his dealership always tacked on $90 upcharge to every new vehicle that they sold, to squirt undercoating inside the wheelwells.

They'd simply do it to every vehicle, as soon as they took delivery of it. It was a "forced" add-on. I wouldn't have that done, even if they paid ME $90 for it.

Having that khrap sprayed all over inside the wheel wells on a new vehicle would drive me crazy.

 

[wantin150]

Ordering your cars the way you want (if you can) is the way to go. What you want is what you get and nothing more.