BS Dealer Add-ons

"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
11/15/2014 at 19:38 • Filed to: Stealerships

In the light of day, went I went to return the CX5 I took on an overnight test drive to the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! who nearly pulled one over on me last night, I noticed this little bastard. I think it rates his own post, lets talk about these bogus profit-padders.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Now, I've seen plenty of these before, and it's usually for something stupid, like $250 for pinstripes. This one was by far the worst I've ever seen. Let's break it down line by line.

V.I.P. PROGRAM $399

Now, I have no idea what exactly the VIP Program consists of, but I presume strippers are involved. Apparently it gets you into the elite club along with all of their customers, ever, because every car on the lot had this sticker. I didn't notice them last night, or I would've walked immediately.

LIFETIME CAR WASHES $209

This is something that many dealers give away for free, or nearly free, but you want me to pay $209 for it? How often would I have to take you up on that to be remotely worth it?

2 AUTOGUARD APPLICATIONS $198

So you're going to wax it twice? Gee, thanks! The last dealer I bought a car from gave me six of those, for free.

BASIC MAINTENANCE $189

A little vague here guys? I'm guessing it's two oil changes, a tire rotation, and some "inspections".

RETAIL VALUE $995

We're throwing around the word "value" a little loosely, dontcha think? Unless this includes an all-night threesome with those VIP strippers, I'd place the "value" of this package at roughly nothing, give or take. But don't worry, because:

DELIVERY AND HANDLING ARE INCLUDED

Oh goody.

What's the most egregious dealer add-on that you've ever seen?

DISCUSSION (19)

TheHondaBro > shop-teacher
11/15/2014 at 19:40

Did they try to sell you titanium muffler bearings and grade-98 blinker fluid?

thedevilinside > shop-teacher
11/15/2014 at 19:44

I would tell the salesman to shove it and leave. That many bogus charges is ridiculous!

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > shop-teacher
11/15/2014 at 20:07

Wow, I almost bought a club sport miata from CJ Wilson when Ford delayed my Fiesta ST AGAIN (still a bit of a sore spot). But that was because the ebay price was 25k......I shudder to think of what they could've tried to pull had I shown up "Oh well there's another 3k in dealer charges and another 2k in tax and title"

DipodomysDeserti > shop-teacher
11/15/2014 at 20:12

I told FIAT I didn't want any of the add ons, so they took off the charge and gave them to me anyways. I just got an email saying it's time to reapply my zaktec for free. Whatever that is

shop-teacher > TheHondaBro
11/15/2014 at 20:13

I can only image the hell I was in store for, had I gone into their F&I office.

shop-teacher > thedevilinside
11/15/2014 at 20:14

I had already decided to walk, when I noticed those stickers.

shop-teacher > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
11/15/2014 at 20:16

That's exactly what would've happened.

Funktheduck > shop-teacher
11/15/2014 at 21:00

The dealership I got my 3 from didn't try any of this. Then again, they had to bring my car in from NC to Atlanta so it was exactly how I wanted.

shop-teacher > Funktheduck
11/15/2014 at 21:04

I've been working with another dealer, who is much much better. I'll post about them, if we complete the purchase.

PatBateman > shop-teacher
11/15/2014 at 21:21

When I bought my truck back in 2006, the salesman added a $300 alarm to the final invoice. I caught it before I signed. He said that it was already installed and that if I wanted the truck, I'd have to pay it.

My response: "So we negotiated a price for the truck, but the alarm wasn't included, even though it is currently on the truck?"

"Well, it's something we add onto all the vehicles..."

"Take it off, because I'm not paying for it. You're either going to take off the $300, or have to pay a service tech to take it off before I leave. It doesn't matter to me. I have a perfectly good Yukon that I can drive off this lot to another Ford dealership."

They took the alarm off, I left happy.

shop-teacher > PatBateman
11/15/2014 at 22:28

That would have seriously pissed me off.

PatBateman > shop-teacher
11/15/2014 at 22:51

Oh, it pissed me off. A lot. But I wanted the truck so I gave ultimatums instead of flipping his desk over.

truebeliever > shop-teacher
11/16/2014 at 10:50

I'm saying, if you don't get that tru-coat you get oxidation problems, and it will cost you a heck of a lot more than $500

Kinja'd!!!

Kahlessj > shop-teacher
11/16/2014 at 12:18

The local mazda dealer tried that shit too. they added a 1300$ final dealer inspection to every car on the lot. i asked them if they were doing head jobs on every car mazda sent them. they had no answer for why they felt the need to add 1300 to every car. but i notice more and more dealers doing this. mostly with the lame seals package and window etching to pad 6-700$ onto the car.

Kyzilla > shop-teacher
11/16/2014 at 12:22

I Noticed a similar sticker when I was looking at Accords. I checked out 5 dealers and they all had the same "detailers package" and they ran from $300 all the way up to $1800. They all consisted of a pinstripe, door edge guards, mudflaps, and anti theft wheel locks. Some even had nitrogen filled tires for $60....... Went with VW. Haven't looked back.

shop-teacher > Kahlessj
11/16/2014 at 12:44

$1300 to inspect a brand new vehicle? Wow! Pure balls.

NYSS > shop-teacher
11/18/2014 at 17:41

the $10,000 adendum sticker on the first 2014 Corvette sold in the NY Tri-State area....

"market value" adjustment...

(edit: before I get smoked on here, I explained that over the phone that was what the deal was, and that if he waited 6 months there wouldn't be anything like that, and he could buy under sticker... guy HAD TO BE the first on the block with it... so before I get killed here just know the guy knew what he was doing)

and the guy leased it... ouch

... Glad to have been the salesman on that deal

shop-teacher > NYSS
11/18/2014 at 18:21

Hey, if he knew what he was getting into, and was willing to pay, that's on him.

NYSS > shop-teacher
11/18/2014 at 18:45

and thats always been my stance.. people make a big deal out of crazy markups... (personally there ridiculous but this is why we live in a free country and North Korea is the way it is) I would never pay em, but salesmen and dealers are always crooks in the eye of the public no matter what way you slice it... 5% of the shit makes the other 95% shit too