Shady Dealer Tactics

[Timo]

It finally happened to me. I saw a great deal out of state and was ready to buy. I called the dealer before make sure of the pricing before I started to make plans. I asked for a dealer worksheet and they seemed to be more interested in trade ins and financing which made me wary. I finally got the worksheet and needless to say the numbers were JUUUUST a bit off.

LISTED PRICE
MSRP $96,020
DLR Cash $11,025
Ford Cash $3,000
Other $6,000
Total before tax $75,995

DEALER WORKSHEET
MSRP $96,020
DLR Cash $10,525.55
Ford Cash $3,000
Pro Pack $998
Ikon Anti Theft $698
Taxable Fees $1,163.27
Non tax Fees $138.50
Total before tax $85,492.22

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[BigFootie]

Just a bit

 

[Timo]

Just a bit

Glad you got what you wanted. Not many 2 doors near me much less Heritage Editions. One dealer had a few 2 door manuals for a while. Out of staters got most of those.

 

[BjornBeserker]

Your dealer forgot the $500 for “lifetime nitrogen” which my dealer told me was standard at all dealerships and would double the life of my tires!! I told them I was fine with the 78% nitrogen from the factory. The salesperson looked very confused.

 

[TrailDust]

At least they didn't push the Tru Coat!

 

[BigFootie]

I still think the 500.00 catalytic converter engraving on an all electric Lightning is the ultimate low add on.

 

[Greg2060]

Your dealer forgot the $500 for “lifetime nitrogen” which my dealer told me was standard at all dealerships and would double the life of my tires!! I told them I was fine with the 78% nitrogen from the factory. The salesperson looked very confused.

A local dealer actually tried this with me when I was first shopping around. Went somewhere else real quick. Love the 78% nitrogen from the factory line!

 

[userdude]

Your dealer forgot the $500 for “lifetime nitrogen” which my dealer told me was standard at all dealerships and would double the life of my tires!! I told them I was fine with the 78% nitrogen from the factory. The salesperson looked very confused.

It is lower when his heads that far up his [bleep].

 

[DriveAllNight]

I've found the best way to prevent that nonsense is to walk in and tell the salesman upfront, I know what I want, I've been shopping it around and another dealer just tried to get me for thousands of dollars of dealer add-ons so I walked out.

If you can sell me this model with no extras, at this price, I'll buy it.

I've done this multiple times and it has worked at some dealers. Others will not flex on their add-ons, that's when I walk.

The idea is to be well informed, know what you want, and make it very transactional. Don't waste their time, and demand it in return.

If you're going to be a tire kicker for hours before you buy, they actually deserve to take more of your money.

As a side note, my last 5 vehicles all came with wheel locks they did not charge me for. And my Bronco has Nitrogen labeled valve covers, so I assume they were filled that way, not really sure, wasn't on the bill.

 

[userdude]

I've found the best way to prevent that nonsense is to walk in and tell the salesman upfront, I know what I want, I've been shopping it around and another dealer just tried to get me for thousands of dollars of dealer add-ons so I walked out.

If you can sell me this model with no extras, at this price, I'll buy it.

I've done this multiple times and it has worked at some dealers. Others will not flex on their add-ons, that's when I walk.

The idea is to be well informed, know what you want, and make it very transactional. Don't waste their time, and demand it in return.

If you're going to be a tire kicker for hours before you buy, they actually deserve to take more of your money.

As a side note, my last 5 vehicles all came with wheel locks they did not charge me for. And my Bronco has Nitrogen labeled valve covers, so I assume they were filled that way, not really sure, wasn't on the bill.

Yes, going in and knowing what you want, having your financing ready to go, etc. Good sales people know how to make a quick deal. The salesmen who will work with you are generally going to spot that and say upfront something like "you know what you want, don't you" and get right to it, so dithering or hemming and hawing is a good sign you oughta leave and go elsewhere.

And avoid anywhere that has lots of spurious add-ons on the windshield. Unless you like to haggle, that's a warning sign. This is also the "Avoid Honda dealerships" rule. lol

And if you can't wander a lot without being hassled for it, might want to reconsider. However, having different sales people walk up and ask if you need anything isn't necessarily a bad sign; maybe they're hungry for a sale. Just watch out for ones with a glint in their eye. But they should leave you alone if you decline help.

Being a tire kicker deserves to get took for a ride? I guess. Generally the definition of tire kicker is someone whose not buying, and if a salesman can't figure out THEY oughta move on, that sounds like their problem.

 

[DriveAllNight]

Being a tire kicker deserves to get took for a ride? I guess. Generally the definition of tire kicker is someone whose not buying, and if a salesman can't figure out THEY oughta move on, that sounds like their problem.

I'm not saying they deserve to be taken for a ride, but if you walk in ready to sign for a price, and you take almost none of their time or you did it over the phone, which is what I did with my Bronco, minus a test drive to make sure it was up to snuff.

That's a big difference than people that eat up hours of time and multiple days because they don't know what they want.

People's time is worth something. There should be a reward for not taking up their time, not necessarily a punishment for taking up their time.
But it's perspective for sure.

 

[Timo]

I've found the best way to prevent that nonsense is to walk in and tell the salesman upfront, I know what I want, I've been shopping it around and another dealer just tried to get me for thousands of dollars of dealer add-ons so I walked out.

If you can sell me this model with no extras, at this price, I'll buy it.

I've done this multiple times and it has worked at some dealers. Others will not flex on their add-ons, that's when I walk.

The idea is to be well informed, know what you want, and make it very transactional. Don't waste their time, and demand it in return.

If you're going to be a tire kicker for hours before you buy, they actually deserve to take more of your money.

As a side note, my last 5 vehicles all came with wheel locks they did not charge me for. And my Bronco has Nitrogen labeled valve covers, so I assume they were filled that way, not really sure, wasn't on the bill.

Problem is, i know exactly what i want and will not budge. I don't need stickers $1700, beadlock capable wheels for 3k, the 3 little carbon trim pieces for $1700, nitrogen in my tires or any other unnecessary add ons. Just give me a Raptor with power seats and the color i want. I would spring for the color match top, at the price i want and nothing else. I missed out 1 because i had to buy my daughter a car and another because i missed an email from a dealership that sold it before i could reach out. I have credit union financing, Ford Financing or cash if i have to but i don't confuse needing something with wanting something. I assume an increase of $1500 for the student 1st responder and military discounts.

 

[DriveAllNight]

I won't buy a dealer modified vehicle, they charge to much and rarely do anything I would even want.

With that said, I will if there's no charge on something I can undo.

Never have I ever considered a vehicle with thousands of dollars of dealer upgrades, but someone must be buying them, which is great if that's what they like.

 

[indio22]

After negotiations were over and a price was agreed on, a dealer tried to slip a $400 "vin etching" charge on the contract I was about to sign. So watch out for those type of antics.

 

[vrtical]

I feel like I am the 1% dealers don't want to deal with so they fast track what I want lol

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