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What did your dealership charge you for tint?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by capek, Aug 22, 2009.

  1. capek

    capek New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2009
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    Location:
    Houston, Tx
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I ask because I place a hold on a Prius II that had no tint, but when it arrived and I went to the dealership to complete the paperwork and pick it up, they had installed tint on it, with a price tag of $495. They didn't even mention any of this to me, there was just a sticker on the car giving the price, and then of course it was included in the final price I payed. What really piques my interest though is that, while shopping online to find available Prius' in my area, I remember seeing one at another dealership, that listed in the options section tint for $299.

    So is the $200 discrepancy there explained by the fact that the $299 was coming from the factory, and so was different and for some reason less expensive? Or was I just ripped off for $200, and there is no explanation for a $495 tint charge?

    I was getting state and federal CFC deals that totaled $8,000, and the timing was very precise, and this particular dealership seemed to be the only one that was accepting both the state and federal programs, so I was more concerned with getting the deal done than haggling over every little issue. I was just thinking about this though, and wanted to get some feedback from this site.
     
  2. Priusfinder

    Priusfinder New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2009
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    Location:
    San Francisco, CA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    We generally pay $200-$300 for aftermarket tinting. What happened to you though is that the dealership was looking for ways to pad their profit on a car that they knew you were saving $8000 on. The dealer wanted a piece of that, and this is how they achieve it.

    When the market for Prius is tight, it's common for dealers to load accessories with high profit margins so they can earn more profit from their limited supply of cars.

    I spoke to one dealer today who told me how he was insisting that every new Prius be purchased with "Car Care Protection" for $2995.

    There really isn't much you can do about this if it is disclosed to you up front. However, if it isn't part of the original deal you agree to, you can make a stink, and threaten to report the dealership to the appropriate consumer affairs bureau in your state. Also, escalate to the sales manager or general manager, since often these last minute surprises are added by the salesperson trying to pad their commission.
     
  3. pfreeus

    pfreeus New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2009
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    Location:
    CA, USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Hollywood Toyota had the tint for around $550 I think with the two front windows not tinted.
     
  4. PracticalEfficiency

    PracticalEfficiency New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2009
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    Location:
    Oklahoma
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Mountain States Toyota told me the charge for window tint would be $300.

    When I got there, they said it "mysteriously" was $400 now due to the extra windows on the Prius. So I just said I'll skip the tint. Not surprisingly, they told me "they checked with the tinter" and it was actually $300. I just skipped it and am getting it done at a custom shop.

    Dealerships are cesspools when it comes to honesty.
     
    fsu23phd likes this.
  5. cpatch

    cpatch New Member

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    Jul 23, 2009
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    Location:
    Carlsbad, CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Mine quoted me $300 for all but the front, $400 including the front. They couldn't tell me, however, what kind of tint they were putting on (I even spoke to the tint guy) so I went to a private tint shop and paid $340 for ceramic on all windows except the lower back.
     
  6. FLP

    FLP Junior Member

    Joined:
    May 9, 2009
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    Location:
    South Florida
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    I paid $200 for tint at my dealer. I don't know what kind of tint they put on, but it looks nice and does help keep the inside a bit cooler in the South Florida heat! First time I've had tint put on any car, but I really like it. Makes my Prius look even sharper then it already did.
     
  7. radioprius1

    radioprius1 Climate Conspirisist

    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2009
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    Location:
    Iceland
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    My dealer had charged $400 for tint. My local car shop charges $200 for lifetime warranty on their premium tint.

    The whole car buying process is so slimey. My good friend is a car wholesaler so I kept him on the phone throughout the whole buying process. My salesman told me things like "we can't lower the price because then toyota thinks we aren't any good and wont send us more cars." I would have probably waited for a better deal, but my dealer offered me so much on my trade in that I couldn't pass it up. My dealer has been good to me, did the free customization thing (backup beep, seatbelt beep, etc.)
     
  8. SilverPriusIII

    SilverPriusIII New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2009
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    Location:
    Bay Area, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
     
  9. capek

    capek New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2009
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    Location:
    Houston, Tx
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Yep, that's what I figured. In addition to the fact that due to CFC Prius' in my area were especially scarce, the Toyota dealership I bought one from was the only one in my area that was willing to apply both the state and federal CFC programs on the same purchase, so my overriding feeling in all this is that I was just happy to get a Prius and get my $8,000. I guess I was a little less of a negotiator then I otherwise would have been, but with all the CFC variables involved, I felt like a bit like I was walking a tight rope, and just wanted to get to the other side before I fell.

    Additionally, I don't really feel like I can make a stink, because my car was waiting out front when I pulled up to the dealership, and I saw that it was tinted, and for whatever reason didn't ask any questions about it, so it's my own fault that I didn't bring it up, even if they didn't either. I was definitely in a CFC haze, on top of the 'first-new-car' haze I was in. Not the best position from which to negotiate for a new car, but then again, I got an amazing deal with all the government incentives, so I'd be a real fool if I felt too bad about the whole thing! :D

    edit: I gave my car a closer look, and all the windows are tinted except the front windshield. It looks really nice--I really like how my blizzard white looks with tint--so no biggie that I was probably overcharged a bit.
     
  10. djasonw

    djasonw Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2004
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    Location:
    Coconut Creek, FL
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    You're better off getting aftermarket tint but choose the best quality. The cost should not exceed $200. Anyone who paid $500 for tint got ripped off.
     
  11. EJFB1029

    EJFB1029 New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 16, 2008
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    Location:
    Corpus Christi, Republic of Texas
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    $99 for lifetime tint, anyone paying dealer for tint is ripped off period, dealer pays $50 for tint and charges $300, thats ridiculous.
     
  12. capek

    capek New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2009
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    Location:
    Houston, Tx
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Well, today I went to my dealership to talk to my salesman about this and an issue I had where the car was making this rattling noise the day I bought it, and had to leave it over night. For the rattling issue my salesman had said they would give me a discount on the leather package I was planning on purchasing. So what I got was a $100 discount on the leather package, 2 coupons for free oil changes, and 3 days free rental car while they install my leather. The $100 discount brought the leather package from $1,399 to $1,299.

    Think I came out all right for myself? :eek:hwell:
     
  13. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2009
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    Location:
    Redondo Beach, CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Given they refuse to customize your personalized settings free of charge, I wouldn't even give them any business.
     
  14. capek

    capek New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2009
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    Location:
    Houston, Tx
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    II
    I thought about doing that, and I probably should have told him to f- himself and not give them my business for the leather, but with school beginning, it would have been difficult to get my leather installed without a rental car, and since I got one free for three days, I didn't want to walk away from that. I'm going to email the general manager who I've spoken with, and explain the situation. I just wish I had bothered to look for a place like priuschat before I purchased my car, then I would have known a lot of this stuff before hand.