The wife has finally decided to purchase a Prius (after a LONG, drawn out selection process). Here's my dilemma: I went to my local dealership who I used to work for a few years back. I still know several of the personnel there including the fixed op mgr. He introduced me to a saleman and sales mgr. and explained who I was. They said, no problem. They said they would give me the employee price which was $500 over invoice. Fine with me, I know the dealer needs to make money even on its employees. The problem is this. They wanted me to sign a buyer's order on the spot. I told them make me a copy and I would "discuss it with my wife". If everything looked OK, I would return with a signed document and a check for a deposit. When I got it home I realized that they were going to charge in addition to the $500 over invoice the following: Dealer Holdback - $433 Processing Fee - $399.99 Online Filing Fee - $10 Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't the Dealer Holdback the money they get back from Toyota (2%) at the end of the quarter? If they think I am going to pay them for something they are going to receive anyway they are out of their minds. And the fees???? I like how they were pre-printed on the buyer's order. $410 worth of admin fees??? Here's the kicker. I went online a e-mailed a few dealers outside my area. One dealer came back with an offer at invoice + $99 filing fees. They never met me and this is the deal I get. Needless to say, I will be going back to my local dealer and ask "can you match this?" and question why they are charging me the additional $842.99 profit. Does anyone else find the first dealer suspicious? Is the deal at the 2nd dealer too good to be true (I have the price in an e-mail)?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Family Hybrid @ May 2 2007, 07:32 PM) [snapback]434402[/snapback]</div> I would go see the other dealer fast, Maybe thats why you don't work there anymore you knew thier ways!! and could not work for them anylonger . would be hard to trust their service dept. at those prices
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Family Hybrid @ May 2 2007, 09:32 PM) [snapback]434402[/snapback]</div> A lot depends on your state. In Georgia, it looks like all of the Dealers made a pact and charge $499 for so called doc fees. Honda is charging $399. Then they get $30.00 paperwork fee. Tax, tag, lemon law fee $23-$30 They will try to sneak in some other fees, like Toyoguard. If they back out the doc fee, they give less for a trade, etc. I found it very hard to get dealers to write anything down. The internet dealers are slick too.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priussoris @ May 2 2007, 09:41 PM) [snapback]434410[/snapback]</div> The strange part is that this dealer has a pretty good rep in the area. When I lived in NYC I worked for a scum of the earth dealer, but still was able to buy my wife (then fiancee) a car at invoice with no hassles. Anyone had any luck buying a car from a dealer over the internet?
I bought my first Prius using the internet, followed up with phone calls, no problems at all. I guess I'm just lucky I've never delt with scummy dealers at least for sales anyway....
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Family Hybrid @ May 2 2007, 08:32 PM) [snapback]434402[/snapback]</div> Typical sleaze. Perhaps you should contact more dealers, perhaps out of state to see if you can get better offers. If you want to haggle with dealer #1 make a counter offer of $843 under dealer #2's price.
UPDATE, 5/3/07 I called my local dealer and asked them if they could match the offer I received through the Internet. They called me an hour later and said "Good news, you don't have to go to NoVA for your car. We will match their offer." I verified the OTD price and they were only $10 higher (not going to question that). I signed the buyer's order and put a deposit on the vehicle. They said it would be 2-3 weeks before they can get the vehicle. I know this is a stupid question, but, why didn't they just do this deal in the first place? Lesson learned: It is better to go on the Internet than to know someone at a dealership. P.S. Anyone want to buy a '98 4Runner?
Welcome, Family Hybrid, to PriusChat and Prius-dom! Your profile doesn't show where you are in VA, but from the "you don't have to go to NoVA" quote, you're obviously somewhere south of what I call the great state of North Virginia. Regardless, I invite you to our first ever Central VA Prius meetup this Saturday at Haley Toyota in Chesterfield. Come talk to current owners and learn all about your car before ever taking delivery. Heck, even if you already know all about it, come see us! See this thread for details.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimboK @ May 3 2007, 08:26 PM) [snapback]435127[/snapback]</div> Thanks for the invite. Unfortunately I will be in SC this weekend. I definately would like to attend the next time you have one.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Family Hybrid @ May 3 2007, 06:55 PM) [snapback]435113[/snapback]</div> If you will willing to pay a higher price why should they offer to sell lower? Obviously their tactic works enough times to be profitable.
