Price gouging dealership

[TSAINTS1115]

This may be one of the most opportunistic periods car dealers have ever seen.

The flip side of the coin is this is also the most opportunistic period for owners ofcars to sell also. I owner my F150 for two years and sold it for $1000 over what I paid for it to CarMax. Unheard of in the past.

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[clippedwings]

I have a customized 2016 Transit Connect window van with 28,000 miles on it, never used commercially. I have seen several basic versions of this van offered on the web for up to $21,000 with twice or more the mileage. Just for grins I asked my dealer for a trade-in quote, which would obviously be easier than trying to sell it privately. They came back with an offer of 14K. Two days later my latest Carfax report showed up in my email. It valued my vehicle at $17,300, and their valuation doesn’t even recognize my custom add-ons. Where was the high-value figure everyone talks about getting for their used vehicles these days? And my van is a genuine cherry. One more bit that makes me wonder what this dealer’s actual intention is. If I hold out and eventually get the Maverick, the dealer still makes an easy 500 bucks (actually more, considering hold-back, etc. ). If I cancel, they stand to make a crap load more. For them it’s a win/win situation. They called me to see if I would like to look at a stock order that came in. I didn’t want it and didn’t inquire as to price. I assumed that it would be based on the same offer accepted on my retail order, but don’t know because I didn’t bite on that one. I have no idea what they are asking for their stock vehicles.

 

[huunvubu]

The past 11 years I have bought from Riverside Ford in Macon GA. Same salesperson, always felt like I was treated fairly. Always paid cash. we bought a used 08 GT500, 14 Mustang , 17 Mustang, 17 Fusion, 20 F150. My salesman passed away this year so we decided to try the dealership closer to home since we moved further away from Riverside Ford.

I ordered the Maverick from Phil Brannen Ford of Perry GA. I signed a buyers order for the total delivered price. I would not have done any better anywhere else.

$23,750 MSRP XL, bedliner, moonroof, floor mats, copilot 360, rear window, trailer hitch, tailgate lock.
$1,620.23 GA TVAT
$78 GA tag fee
$799 Doc Fee
$26,247.23 OTD

$799 Doc Fee

Average Dealer Documentation Fees by State

GA

$502

$0 to $899​

No cap or rules

 

[MysticRob]

$799 Doc Fee

Average Dealer Documentation Fees by State

GA

$502

$0 to $899​

No cap or rules

Exactly why I like using X-Plan when I buy. Those document fees are insane.
As for the ADM / Limited Inventory price gouging, while any dealership can do it, IMHO you have to be truly dumb to fork out the extra cash instead of simply shopping around.
Hell, you could fly from coast to coast, buy one in another state, and have it trucked back to your home state for less cash than some stealerships want with their markups. The "gotta have it now" crowd may fall for it, but it'll be a cold day in hell before I do.

 

[BMCGC]

it'll be a cold day in hell before I do.

Really? Post your contract when you buy.

I have not seen a dealership that did not charge a doc fee in over 25 years. I have walked out of a dealership for refusing to pay a doc fee. One dealership wanted a $1200 doc fee, when I said no, they said see ya, so I walked.

 

[Wilky4258]

I paid MSRP 32730.00 at John Kennedy Ford Pottsville PA no more no less off the Lot not pre-ordered.
I drove 2 Hours from NJ and deal stayed exactly the same. Honesty and professionalism. In and out of dealership in 50 Minutes. Don't buy anywhere else as Downs Ford Toms River was asking 13000.00 over MSRP and got someone to buy it for god sake.

 

[clippedwings]

The suspicions listed here by me may all just be in my head. Maybe I’m too impatient to deal with this screwed up situation the world is in at present. But I do suspect that the inside-info possessed by dealers allows them to work us in ways we don’t suspect - even if we are well-informed. Those blatant ADM’s we see listed here just reveal one method that’s being implemented right now, and in my book it’s pretty stupid because it makes those guys look really bad. But most owners of successful dealerships are multimillionaires, and NOT because they’re stupid. They can manipulate things behind the scene and catch many of us unaware - even savvy buyers. This new trend to place retail orders probably opens us up to schemes we haven’t even considered. Not trying to be a conspiracy theorist here. Just wondering how I could have ended up in a situation where I am spending so much money, and yet know so little about the circumstances. I’m feeling pretty gullible and stupid about now.

 

[Mainer500]

WOW don't just walk away from jerks like this but RUN and never forget AND post one star comments Too. But there's always someone who wants to be the 1st kid on the block with the new toy. You know them, big ego, little Richards

 

[Mainer500]

The suspicions listed here by me may all just be in my head. Maybe I’m too impatient to deal with this screwed up situation the world is in at present. But I do suspect that the inside-info possessed by dealers allows them to work us in ways we don’t suspect - even if we are well-informed. Those blatant ADM’s we see listed here just reveal one method that’s being implemented right now, and in my book it’s pretty stupid because it makes those guys look really bad. But most owners of successful dealerships are multimillionaires, and NOT because they’re stupid. They can manipulate things behind the scene and catch many of us unaware - even savvy buyers. This new trend to place retail orders probably opens us up to schemes we haven’t even considered. Not trying to be a conspiracy theorist here. Just wondering how I could have ended up in a situation where I am spending so much money, and yet know so little about the circumstances. I’m feeling pretty gullible and stupid about now.

You gotta watch the Chevy dude (or it might be the Chevy guy) on YouTube. I'd never buy a Chevy again but he's amazing at explaining how dealers manipulate people. Well worth watching a crap load of his videos, he's spot on and excellent!!!!!

 

[MightyMaverick]

This is what worries me. I'm afraid that despite ordering one, they'll still throw in an additional dealer markup to make up for lost sales and lack of inventory. But I've heard that if you order a vehicle, you have to get it as MSRP and nothing more. That's the rule. But that doesn't mean dealers won't follow the rules. I've heard of dealers marking up the price on pre-ordered vehicles. One good example is from Youtuber Pipsburgh Views who got charged $10,000 over MSRP on his pre-ordered Bronco and negotiated down to $5,000 over sticker, which is still shameful. I sure hope I'm not a victim of this because I really want this Maverick but I'm not willing to overpay for it. My dealer promises no dealer fees and upfront pricing so I really hope they follow up on it despite our crazy market right now.

 

[huunvubu]

The suspicions listed here by me may all just be in my head. Maybe I’m too impatient to deal with this screwed up situation the world is in at present. But I do suspect that the inside-info possessed by dealers allows them to work us in ways we don’t suspect - even if we are well-informed. Those blatant ADM’s we see listed here just reveal one method that’s being implemented right now, and in my book it’s pretty stupid because it makes those guys look really bad. But most owners of successful dealerships are multimillionaires, and NOT because they’re stupid. They can manipulate things behind the scene and catch many of us unaware - even savvy buyers. This new trend to place retail orders probably opens us up to schemes we haven’t even considered. Not trying to be a conspiracy theorist here. Just wondering how I could have ended up in a situation where I am spending so much money, and yet know so little about the circumstances. I’m feeling pretty gullible and stupid about now.

Those same suspicions you mentioned and reading about some dealerships marking up customer orders for Bronco's and Maverick's are what prompted me to get a signed "Buyer's Order" at the dealership where I ordered My Maverick.

This Buyer's Order is signed by me and the Sales Manager so it is a binding contract that I will pay for and the dealership will sell it for the agreed upon price listed on the contract. Getting a Buyer's Order done is the best way to be sure no games will be played when your Maverick is delivered.

These are my details from my Buyer's Order:

My Build: Velocity Blue XLT - Hybrid with Co-Pilot360 + Rear Sliding Window + 110V/400W Outlet in Cab

Vehicle Price: $24,620 MSRP Price
AutoNation Savings: $446.15 A-Plan discount
AutoNation Price: $24,173.85 MSRP - A-Plan discount
Sales Tax: $1,551.36 6.25% TX Rate
Documentation Fee: $150
State Inspection Fee: $16.75
Title Fee: $33
Tag/Registration Fee: $113.25
Road and Bridge Fee: $23
Other: $7

Total Purchase Cost at time of delivery: $26,068.21

So no surprises at all and when my Maverick gets delivered I will pay the $26,068.21 as agreed upon.

Having the signed "Buyer's Order" and with a Build Date of 11/22 it allowed me to sell my 2015 Honda Fit Ex to Carvana for a wow price of $16,523 which was $4,773 more that the dealership was offering for trading it in.

 

[MysticRob]

Really? Post your contract when you buy.

I have not seen a dealership that did not charge a doc fee in over 25 years. I have walked out of a dealership for refusing to pay a doc fee. One dealership wanted a $1200 doc fee, when I said no, they said see ya, so I walked.

Not sure I understand your post. Thinking you may have misread mine.
I had 2 points regarding the "cold day in hell" you quoted, both having to do with stealerships jacking up prices for everything they can.
#1, I won't pay multiple 100s of dollars worth of ADM "doc fees", which is why I like X-Plan pricing. Same reason you walked when faced with an astounding $1200, though some of that may have been required by law to charge a certain amount.
#2, I certainly won't pay ADMs for a vehicle, again why I like X-Plan pricing.
Now if I win the lottery I might not care so much and break my own rules, but then again if flush with lottery millions I likely wouldn't be buying a Mav, more like a GT500!

 

[BDennis]

This is what worries me. I'm afraid that despite ordering one, they'll still throw in an additional dealer markup to make up for lost sales and lack of inventory. But I've heard that if you order a vehicle, you have to get it as MSRP and nothing more. That's the rule. But that doesn't mean dealers won't follow the rules. I've heard of dealers marking up the price on pre-ordered vehicles. One good example is from Youtuber Pipsburgh Views who got charged $10,000 over MSRP on his pre-ordered Bronco and negotiated down to $5,000 over sticker, which is still shameful. I sure hope I'm not a victim of this because I really want this Maverick but I'm not willing to overpay for it. My dealer promises no dealer fees and upfront pricing so I really hope they follow up on it despite our crazy market right now.

This is why you lock in your price, including fees and no dealer add ons when you order. You can still lock this in before your Maverick arrives.

 

[BMCGC]

I am saying that I have not seen a dealership that has not charged a doc fee in over 25 years.

 

[huunvubu]

I am saying that I have not seen a dealership that has not charged a doc fee in over 25 years.

Average Dealer Documentation Fees by State

Some on the list can charge $0 for Doc Fees but none seem to do that.

A number of States cap the Doc Fee at a low amount. Like California at $55

Averages from the list:

Best: California at $55
Worst: Florida at $607

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