WTF- Internet Fee??? Are you for real dealership?

"Tom McParland" (tommcparland) 09/25/2013 at 13:33 • Filed to: STEALERSHIPS, car buying, customer sevis, Automatch consulting, Automatch

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I have been working on a deal for a client that wants a pre-owned Genesis R-spec. I found one for a good price but the advertised price includes a "loyalty discount" only for people who have a) purchased cars and/or b) have had vehicles serviced at that dealership within the past 36 months. If neither of those apply to the buyer an "internet fee" of $1250 will be added to the price of the car. When I called them out on the fact that the car had a damage report on the CARFAX and that internet fee was a load of crap. They said they will only negotiate in person. You have no idea how much I wanted to tell them to go f*ck themselves. Epic fail dealership...epic fail.

HammerheadFistpunch > Tom McParland 09/25/2013 at 13:35

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Its a convenience fee. in that its convenient to fee you.

Tom McParland > HammerheadFistpunch 09/25/2013 at 13:36

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I can't believe places still operate like this...do they even internet bro?

HammerheadFistpunch > Tom McParland 09/25/2013 at 13:38

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for a fee they do.

PS9 > Tom McParland 09/25/2013 at 13:39

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Could you imagine how shitty life would be if we had to buy EVERYTHING through shifty fucks like them?

505Turbeaux > Tom McParland 09/25/2013 at 13:40

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I work for 120 dealers across the country and have never seen this. Can you provide the dealership's initials/brand and general location so I can make sure I don't have to make a call to some dickhead internet manager?

Tom McParland > 505Turbeaux 09/25/2013 at 13:42

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Here is a link to the vehicle listing. ..all the info should be there.

Meatcoma > PS9 09/25/2013 at 13:42

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Somewhere there is always a shifty bastard handling something in every transaction. I mean like here I am interacting with you right now, handling your response. From your home with your wife on your computer... not really but if you thought about how many shifty people a transaction routes through, there is more than enough opportunity for some serious shit to go down.

Tom McParland > 505Turbeaux 09/25/2013 at 13:42

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What exactly do you do for the industry?

Victorious Secret > Tom McParland 09/25/2013 at 13:44

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Flaming bag of shit, anyone?

Meatcoma > Tom McParland 09/25/2013 at 13:44

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It's like the internet-only price. If you go in to test drive it, but don't schedule the test drive 'online' then they will try to weasel out of the price. Anything to squeeze another dollar out of the consumer.

505Turbeaux > Tom McParland 09/25/2013 at 13:48

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not mine, but we do work for a competitor very close by. No r specs in house or I would send you over

505Turbeaux > Tom McParland 09/25/2013 at 13:49

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I am Director of Digital Advertising for a firm that works with tier 2 and 3 dealers and dealer groups

Tom McParland > 505Turbeaux 09/25/2013 at 13:50

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Fascinating...would you mind telling me more about how that works? I'm sure that might result in a fairly lengthy post. So if you don't have time or don't feel like it, no worries.

Captain_Overboost > Tom McParland 09/25/2013 at 13:55

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Internet fee? bwah hah hah hah hah hah hah haaaaa

It'd be all I could do to not drop the phone laughing in his face (so to speak). There's an "internet fee" alright, it's something *I* "charge" as the buyer. Since I can literally shop dealers all over the country via the internet, the "fee" is if you don't have the best price, I won't be buying from you.

I've bought cars from all corners if the continental US. Even after I paid for enclosed shipping on a couple, the best deal wins with me. When I'm buying a car, I'm not in it to make friends. It's just business.

505Turbeaux > Tom McParland 09/25/2013 at 14:01

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Well I can cut it kind of short to satisfy your interest. I work at a firm that handles print, digital, and TV/Radio advertising for all kinds of dealers, mostly new. My particular segment is working on web design, social marketing, search engine optimization and search engine marketing. In short, making sure when you are there searching for a Genesis R spec a particular dealer ranks above the competition in either paid results, or in organic (the classic search engine, say Google or Bing, result), through many different channels. Some on site optimization is highly technical, some of it is just semantics. Keeps me in the industry and interested. But when I hear stupid things like this "internet fee" you speak of, I do make calls and tell people their reputation is at stake.

Tom McParland > 505Turbeaux 09/25/2013 at 14:02

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Neat thanks for the explanation.

desertdog5051 > Tom McParland 09/25/2013 at 14:36

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That is pure BS. That would turn me off from ever buying anything from them, ever.

Tom McParland > desertdog5051 09/25/2013 at 15:18

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And that is what they fail to realize. Not only did they lose my sale, whenever I talk to someone about buying a Subaru or Hyundai (those are the brands they carry) the first thing I am going to say to that person is avoid this dealership.