Originally Posted by BMWTurboDzl
As a teenager I was volunteered to help a family friend who owned a Dodge/Jeep/Chrysler dealership. Spent a Saturday washing cars which had just been sold. We washed them, pulled stickers and such, cleaned the interior and wiped down hard surfaces with a spray which had that "new car" smell etc. It's more or less a BS fee but there's an argument to be made that the w/out the fee it would be incorporated into the price anyways.
I was on of the "prep guys".
Yours is a good example of a fee that is or should be listed as a line item on the final invoice. The total is nothing other that the itemized listing of fees, prices or charges EVERYONE should read, understand or question as they peruse.
As a prep guy, you either took on a paid employee position as a "free" volunteer or your term volunteer is meaning something else. My point being the prep stuff is done and does cost the dealership unless they all net 'free' volunteers. B.S. fees and getting ripped-off are sometimes another way of describing things when customers walk in demanding $3000 over wholesale for their trade in.
Originally Posted by demarpaint
A dealer prep fee is just another fee to rip someone off with, or something for a dealer to use as a negotiation tool. Either way it's BS, and drives their profits higher. Some people pay it though. I tell the salesman right from the get go, I negotiate on the out the door price, no hidden fees, no surprises, the bottom line with taxes, etc. If he/she or they don't like it I'll buy from someone else.
That's the trick.
Remove emotion, vote with your wallet and at times, "the dealer" will let you walk away. There are some deals or customers they don't want or need. Sometimes the last day of the month or year does factor in.
Originally Posted by DaleRider
Pssst......dealer prep costs are already figured into the price of the vehicle. For every auto maker. If it weren't, dealer prep fees would be listed on the window sticker instead of a dealer add-on sticker. Use of the add-on sticker usually ([censored] near always) represents just ADM.....additional dealer markup....or ADP.....additional dealer profit.
Originally Posted by Char Baby
I am aware of fees that dealers add on to the vehicle such as:
Paint Sealant
Pinstriping
DOC Fee
etc., ect., ect.
Here's a video(there are others similar) that will help you to avoid this in the future.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g53DkNWRgDE
Yes ! Add-on's may be something you want on the car anyways or not. They are tangible items usually and if you want a car with no UV protection / sealant or ? they call it, no accent striping, mud guards or Lifetime LOF , you can negotiate or ask to take the next car off the rack before it goes to the add-on department. They would have some mark up on those items/labor as does the wrench I bought at AutoZone.
There are some shady business , dealers , managers and salespeople for sure so it pays to read, listen and question. Thinking dealerships give away cars at little to no profit while having giant well-lit showrooms, "free coffee and donuts" , imported marble floors and 72 degree service bays is about as victimized as deserved.
The OP question directed to the mgr or sales staff would provide the insight most of us are looking for. Do we get a straight-up answer winning some trust or something more long winded?
I expect a fair offer when working out a car deal and tell them right up front. If they don't respect my time or honesty, we get that figured out before wasting much time. Some of them respect that direct honesty and reciprocate. Honestly, I'm not out there to train dealers. I find one that works and repeat.
*Heck, if they are all crooks lying and ripping people off, save yourself some time and just go to the one closest to your house!
As a teenager I was volunteered to help a family friend who owned a Dodge/Jeep/Chrysler dealership. Spent a Saturday washing cars which had just been sold. We washed them, pulled stickers and such, cleaned the interior and wiped down hard surfaces with a spray which had that "new car" smell etc. It's more or less a BS fee but there's an argument to be made that the w/out the fee it would be incorporated into the price anyways.
I was on of the "prep guys".
Yours is a good example of a fee that is or should be listed as a line item on the final invoice. The total is nothing other that the itemized listing of fees, prices or charges EVERYONE should read, understand or question as they peruse.
As a prep guy, you either took on a paid employee position as a "free" volunteer or your term volunteer is meaning something else. My point being the prep stuff is done and does cost the dealership unless they all net 'free' volunteers. B.S. fees and getting ripped-off are sometimes another way of describing things when customers walk in demanding $3000 over wholesale for their trade in.
Originally Posted by demarpaint
A dealer prep fee is just another fee to rip someone off with, or something for a dealer to use as a negotiation tool. Either way it's BS, and drives their profits higher. Some people pay it though. I tell the salesman right from the get go, I negotiate on the out the door price, no hidden fees, no surprises, the bottom line with taxes, etc. If he/she or they don't like it I'll buy from someone else.
That's the trick.
Remove emotion, vote with your wallet and at times, "the dealer" will let you walk away. There are some deals or customers they don't want or need. Sometimes the last day of the month or year does factor in.
Originally Posted by DaleRider
Pssst......dealer prep costs are already figured into the price of the vehicle. For every auto maker. If it weren't, dealer prep fees would be listed on the window sticker instead of a dealer add-on sticker. Use of the add-on sticker usually ([censored] near always) represents just ADM.....additional dealer markup....or ADP.....additional dealer profit.
Originally Posted by Char Baby
I am aware of fees that dealers add on to the vehicle such as:
Paint Sealant
Pinstriping
DOC Fee
etc., ect., ect.
Here's a video(there are others similar) that will help you to avoid this in the future.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g53DkNWRgDE
Yes ! Add-on's may be something you want on the car anyways or not. They are tangible items usually and if you want a car with no UV protection / sealant or ? they call it, no accent striping, mud guards or Lifetime LOF , you can negotiate or ask to take the next car off the rack before it goes to the add-on department. They would have some mark up on those items/labor as does the wrench I bought at AutoZone.
There are some shady business , dealers , managers and salespeople for sure so it pays to read, listen and question. Thinking dealerships give away cars at little to no profit while having giant well-lit showrooms, "free coffee and donuts" , imported marble floors and 72 degree service bays is about as victimized as deserved.
The OP question directed to the mgr or sales staff would provide the insight most of us are looking for. Do we get a straight-up answer winning some trust or something more long winded?
I expect a fair offer when working out a car deal and tell them right up front. If they don't respect my time or honesty, we get that figured out before wasting much time. Some of them respect that direct honesty and reciprocate. Honestly, I'm not out there to train dealers. I find one that works and repeat.
*Heck, if they are all crooks lying and ripping people off, save yourself some time and just go to the one closest to your house!