Unpopular Opinion Time:  Dealer Stickers

"Boxer_4" (Boxer_4) 02/01/2016 at 14:37 • Filed to: None

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I’ll just come right out and say it: I like ( inoffensive ) dealer stickers. Let me explain...

When most people look at a car, they think about the design, or maybe the performance. I think about those, too, but I also think about the history. I’ve always liked history, but not in the traditional sense. My focus has always been with cars; the when, the why, the how (not exactly history, but I digress)... I see those stickers as part of the car’s history. Every car was sold new at some point, shipped all over the country/world just for someone to buy. I find it fascinating to think about where a particular car started out once it was shipped from manufacturing. It makes car-spotting especially fun when seeing older, more mundane cars.

Take this R32 GT-R that I saw at Cars and Coffee this past fall. It was the first time I had seen an R32 up close, and it was awesome! However, one detail that really stuck out was on the rear bumper cover. That’s a Japanese dealer sticker (I believe; correct me if I’m wrong). The overall condition of the sticker makes me think that it’s about as old as the Skyline itself.

Following this GT-R’s journey, it started life being built in Musashimurayama, Japan, was shipped to Numazu, Japan to be sold as new, spent another 25 years who knows where in Japan, to end up on the East Coast. Fascinating ( at least, I think so ...)

I’m probably rambling with no solid direction at this point. I know that most people typically either hate dealer stickers, or don’t give them a second thought. I do acknowledge that there are plenty of awful dealer stickers/badges, and that most older designs are a lot better than the newer designs of today.

Mercedes Streeter > Boxer_4 02/01/2016 at 14:43

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I’m okay with dealer badging too, but only when they are applied to windows or license plate holders...or are not made of cheapo stickers.

Sn210 > Boxer_4 02/01/2016 at 14:45

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I have the original dealer plaque on my mr2. I almost took it off but a friend of my father's convinced me to keep it. It's actually from a Chevy/Toyota/AMC dealer!

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > Boxer_4 02/01/2016 at 14:48

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In the past, I had the dealers remove their stickers, but with my Subaru I decided to keep the dealer badge. Randy Marion Subaru uses actual metal badges so it doesn’t look cheap to me.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > Boxer_4 02/01/2016 at 14:48

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Totally agree. Saw a 1968 Chrysler Newport coupe 383ci hemi 4spd on auto trader and it still has the dealer sticker on it. That dealer is still around with the same name, I want to buy it an take it to the dealer.

MLGCarGuy > Boxer_4 02/01/2016 at 14:50

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The older dealer stickers look cool and are discreet. The new stickers are often poorly placed and obnoxious.

Jarrett - [BRZ Boi] > Mercedes Streeter 02/01/2016 at 14:51

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+1 to the plate frame only.

I would get it in writing prior to putting a deposit on a car that they would not sticker it. (fortunately, most of the new car dealerships here like the frames instead of the stickers)

Laurence > Boxer_4 02/01/2016 at 14:53

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I’m on and off with dealer stickers; many tell a story, and don’t stand out too much, but I’m not sure about in America, but in the UK, its pretty common for dealers to put these stickers on car windows, and I can’t stand them; not only do they create blind spots and seem to fade after a few years, but they’re gigantic lumps of ugly. A big car dealer that seems to sell a bit of everything has these gigantic yellow stickers that I seem to see everywhere, and they never fit in with the look of a car, especially the expensive stuff

Wacko > Boxer_4 02/01/2016 at 14:55

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on the last 3 cars I bought, I asked the dealer how much they will take off of the price to keep their stickers on. Not one lowered the price. Once I get the car home take out the hair dryer and rubbing alcohol.

I also warn them, If they install a dealer plate in the front, I will not buy the car. Since here in quebec we have no front plates, which means holes have to be drilled to install the front plates.

Future next gen S2000 owner > Boxer_4 02/01/2016 at 14:56

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The day I have a dealer sticker on my car is the day that dealer cuts me a check for advertising revenue.

Mercedes Streeter > Jarrett - [BRZ Boi] 02/01/2016 at 14:57

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The dealership I took delivery of my smart from puts a rubber circle (containing the crest of the family that owns the dealer) of roughly 4"-5" in diameter on the rear bumpers of every car they sell.

These things are so huge you can spot a Loeber Motors car from at least a half mile away. On smarts, Mercedes-Benzes, Porsches, BMWs, and more...

Look at this distance shot of the dealership, the darn crest (to the right of the left side reverse lamp) is almost larger than the rear lamps.

I am glad that whoever applied mine to the back of my car did a bad job, the decal fell off during the first day of ownership.

The decal now resides on my computer desk at home, where the thing is on there so tight it’s not ever coming off.

Jack Does Cars > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO 02/01/2016 at 14:59

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And they’re a good dealer, too.

Boxer_4 > Future next gen S2000 owner 02/01/2016 at 15:01

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I totally get that point of view, too.

Boxer_4 > Sn210 02/01/2016 at 15:04

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I think it adds character.

Our local Toyota dealer started out as Dodge/Plymouth dealer that added Toyotas as an experiment. They no longer sell Dodges or Plymouths (obviously).

d15b > Boxer_4 02/01/2016 at 15:04

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If the decal is actually a metal badge and has a interesting (read: not ugly) design, MAYBE.

Boxer_4 > Wacko 02/01/2016 at 15:05

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Dealer front plates are annoying. Pennsylvania doesn’t have front plates, either, so it bothers me when I see cars with unnecessary holes drilled in their front bumper covers.

Boxer_4 > Laurence 02/01/2016 at 15:08

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The only place a sticker in a window works is if the sticker is in a blind spot. We almost never have dealer stickers in windows. That is mostly reserved for Manufacturers to place stickers such as roadside assistance numbers or small place of manufacturer stickers.

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > Jack Does Cars 02/01/2016 at 15:10

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That they are. I got a good deal, and they were very nice to deal with.

Boxer_4 > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO 02/01/2016 at 15:10

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That is a nice badge. The design is quite nice, too.

Lossy > Boxer_4 02/01/2016 at 15:11

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Streator is now I believe Murdock Chev.

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid…

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > Boxer_4 02/01/2016 at 15:11

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I find it funny how many cars I’ve seen with that badge at my school, which is 5 hours away from the dealership.

Boxer_4 > Mercedes Streeter 02/01/2016 at 15:12

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I’m not a big fan of plate frames (I removed mine within ~6 months of ownership). I like the stickers that require you to actually look for them, rather than being in your face.

Boxer_4 > Lossy 02/01/2016 at 15:15

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That is another thing I find interesting, dealer stickers from defunct dealers.

Boxer_4 > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO 02/01/2016 at 15:17

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Is Randy Marion in a bigger town/city?

We have that, too, in Pennsylvania, but we have one dealer family purchasing a good number all of the smaller dealerships. Their sticker isn’t too bad to look at, which is good, since you see a lot of it around here.

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > Boxer_4 02/01/2016 at 15:21

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It’s in a smaller suburb of Charlotte called Mooresville. They have Subaru, Ford, and GM dealerships. It was about 2 hours away from my home in Greensboro.

Also, what dealer are you talking about? I lived in Montgomery county until I was 14 and still go up often.

Urambo Tauro > Boxer_4 02/01/2016 at 15:24

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My car has the shadow of a dealer badge that was removed some years ago. The paint around it faded just enough to see it.

It’s very hard to read, though. I didn’t even know it was there until the first time I detailed and waxed the car. I can’t even get it to show up on camera. It’s like Isla de Muerta: it cannot be found except by those who already know where it is.

Frank W. Doom > Boxer_4 02/01/2016 at 15:29

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I have a 72 Buick with an emblem from the original dealer in my hometown. They were out of business before I was born, and it’s a nice metal piece. It’s a neat addition to the car. Whatever restoration work the car endures, that emblem will stay.

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > Boxer_4 02/01/2016 at 15:30

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I work at a Ford dealer as a service technician. I can’t stand our stickers and the stupid front plate we insist on putting on nearly every vehicle we sell. If I ever buy one of our cars, both are getting removed immediately and/or never being put on in the first place.

DoYouEvenShift > Boxer_4 02/01/2016 at 15:47

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I would only keep them if it was a funny or interesting name.

Like if I buy a Corvette from Stingray Chevy down the road from me.

Or a Falcon from Harrison Ford

Maybe a Vibe from Gay Pontiac

Bird > Boxer_4 02/01/2016 at 15:55

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It’s a little tough to see, but the original Nagano Toyota sticker from the dealer in Japan was still on our Crown that we imported. I owned an ‘89 Camaro in college that had a sticker from City Chevrolet in Charlotte, NC on it. (As in Days of Thunder, City Chevrolet). Always thought that one was pretty cool.

shop-teacher > Boxer_4 02/01/2016 at 16:11

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I’m with you, and for the same reason. Old dealership stickers are often interesting. Like you said, the key is if they’re inoffensive. I kept the one on my ‘06 Sierra when I bought it new, because I thought it would look interesting in 20 years.

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter 02/01/2016 at 16:15

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Yeah, those Loeber ones are HUGE!

shop-teacher > Wacko 02/01/2016 at 16:16

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That would enrage me! Sadly, I live in a front plate required state. It really ruins the front end of some cars.

Wacko > shop-teacher 02/01/2016 at 16:21

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one advantage for living in quebec

Jack Does Cars > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO 02/01/2016 at 16:31

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Didn’t you get the interior by Steve?

Klaus Schmoll > DoYouEvenShift 02/01/2016 at 18:09

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How about a BMW from Richard Wagner?

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > Jack Does Cars 02/01/2016 at 18:18

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Yup.

The Opponaut formerly known as MattP123 > Boxer_4 02/01/2016 at 18:35

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I’m with you. I keep these gems on my 72 Cutlass.

Boxer_4 > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO 02/01/2016 at 18:58

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The dealer is Ciocca. They’re a good dealer for both sales and service, but I do miss seeing some of the old dealer names around.

Boxer_4 > Urambo Tauro 02/01/2016 at 18:58

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That’s part of the issue, too. You have to remove those logos early, else there will always be a remnant.

Boxer_4 > Bird 02/01/2016 at 18:59

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That’s awesome!

Boxer_4 > Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey 02/01/2016 at 19:02

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That bad, huh?

There are a lot of truly awful dealer stickers out there.

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > Boxer_4 02/01/2016 at 19:04

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Aren’t they connected with Faulkner? My dad’s ex girlfriend used to have a Hyundai Veracruz with a Ciocca Chevy sticker on the back.

Boxer_4 > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO 02/01/2016 at 19:15

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Yes. I’m not sure the full story, but they are somehow connected.

They have 9 Ciocca branded dealerships now, in Allentown, Quakertown, Souderton, West Chester, and Harrisburg (quite a big spread for a dealership franchise).

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > Boxer_4 02/01/2016 at 19:33

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Very big spread. Ah good old Quakertown, one of the weirdest places I’ve ever been.

ranwhenparked > Boxer_4 02/01/2016 at 20:03

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On old cars, they can be a neat curiosity. On a new car, they’re obnoxious. I guess you just have to rely on enough people not caring enough to stop the dealer from applying them, and then wait a couple of decades for them to become desirable.

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > Boxer_4 02/01/2016 at 20:05

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Yeah. I don’t have a picture, but they’re massive plastic badges that just stick out like a sore thumb. Plus the plates don’t look great either.

Besides, with two dealers under the same company in the same county, there’s enough vehicles around with their name on it.

Eggplant > Klaus Schmoll 02/01/2016 at 21:48

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Only if it’s a ‘Ring edition.

Or maybe a classic Wartburg?

pip bip - choose Corrour > DoYouEvenShift 02/02/2016 at 04:46

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use to be a Harrison Ford dealer in Melton Victoria.

Nauraushaun > Boxer_4 02/03/2016 at 21:26

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I hate dealer stickers. Something about the whole stealership thing these days.

But I feel very differently about older stickers on older cars. Somehow it seems like a piece of history, and I don’t know where the line is drawn.

greasemonkey235097 > Boxer_4 02/04/2016 at 15:20

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Old, antiquated, ok, today, new car, no way, family run aristocracy, i dont like them, i think their business model is crap towards the consumer, and after they take my money they still want free advertising, no way.

With family and friends i offer to remove the dealer sticker and turn around the license plate ring