Honda dealer ripoff!!!

[Art]

I'm not sure if other dealers charge so much. But, when I stopped at the local stealership last night, I saw a 07 Accord SE. Had the hand written list of options with the cost. Wheel locks for $299.00!!!! Is that usual for a stealer to charge so much???

[jdeanski]

Originally posted by Art
I'm not sure if other dealers charge so much. But, when I stopped at the local stealership last night, I saw a 07 Accord SE. Had the hand written list of options with the cost. Wheel locks for $299.00!!!! Is that usual for a stealer to charge so much???

The real question is who would be so gullible to believe they cost $299.00?

[Art]

Originally posted by jdeanski


The real question is who would be so gullible to believe they cost $299.00?

No doubt....I know they mark up and charge for installing them...but THAT'S robbery!!!

[whizmo]

No worse than the $799 wax job (aka paint protection packages), $399 Scotguard sprays (aka fabric protection packages), $299 door edge guards (parking protection packages), and $489 wheel protection packages (wheel ding insurance). Ridiculously inflated accessory prices are SOP at most dealers and of course, few are stupid enough to pay this much. But it allows the dealership to start with a higher number so your discount appears bigger.

- Mark

[tim.s]

Originally posted by Art
...Wheel locks for $299.00!!!! Is that usual for a stealer to charge so much???

Boy, that is silly - everyone knows that wheel locks only cost $60 per wheel.

[jl_ss]

That's just the dealers way of starting higher to bargain with the uninformed. First thing the dealer does once the bargaining starts is to say, I'll through in those $299 wheel locks at no charge instead of reducing price. Then they'll throw in pinstriping. This is typically not a dealer you would want to buy from. I consider anything installed already as free.

[Art]

Originally posted by jl_ss
That's just the dealers way of starting higher to bargain with the uninformed. First thing the dealer does once the bargaining starts is to say, I'll through in those $299 wheel locks at no charge instead of reducing price. Then they'll throw in pinstriping. This is typically not a dealer you would want to buy from. I consider anything installed already as free.

And what's funny is nearly EVERY vehicle there....is pinstriped. I'd tell them "ya know what, I'm not paying for that stuff, if you want to sell it to me...take it off or I'll head to another dealer". And, this dealer IS noted for being crooked.....(I know most are crooked, but this one even more so).

[tracy]

Oh, that's a rip-off compared to the great deal on wheel locks I was offered...

[drm1111]

Isn't it fun when your smarter about the vehicle that the stealership salesman!! I love it. Man I must have got the generic cargo tray. Wonder if the $500.00 tray comes with KY?? lol

[tim.s]

Originally posted by jl_ss
That's just the dealers way of starting higher to bargain with the uninformed. First thing the dealer does once the bargaining starts is to say, I'll through in those $299 wheel locks at no charge instead of reducing price. Then they'll throw in pinstriping. This is typically not a dealer you would want to buy from. I consider anything installed already as free.

Some dealers through them in or take them off, but many don't.

The Honda dealer close to where I live is really bad about add ons. I browsed through the lot when they were closed to look compare the Pilot and Ridgeline. Almost every unit had LoJac plus a combination of pinstriping, upgraded wheels, tint, and that clear film paint protector - none of these things can be easily removed at the time of sale. The add ons ranged from $1500 to $3500+.

I don't think I saw a single unit that didn't have mods or add-ons.

[jl_ss]

Originally posted by tim.s
Some dealers through them in or take them off, but many don't.

The Honda dealer close to where I live is really bad about add ons. I browsed through the lot when they were closed to look compare the Pilot and Ridgeline. Almost every unit had LoJac plus a combination of pinstriping, upgraded wheels, tint, and that clear film paint protector - none of these things can be easily removed at the time of sale. The add ons ranged from $1500 to $3500+.

I don't think I saw a single unit that didn't have mods or add-ons.

Those dealers are even worse. I tell them it's free or I'll buy elswhere. If they don't budge, I don't buy. I wouldn't buy a vehicle that had a loJac installed, then removed anyway.

[whizmo]

My local dealer where I bought my car has a standard "pack" that gets put on most cars before sale: paint protection, fabric protection, door edge moldings, and wheel locks. These all go on 2nd stickers that jack the price up about $1500, then they tack on another $1500 for ADM (Additional Dealer Markup). All this for a car that commonly sells below invoice. I don't know how they keep a straight face when then attempt to lure someone into paying these prices.

I know for a fact that the dealer contracts with a local company to add all this stuff to the car for about $75 per car.

Whether a car has it or not is somewhat random as the contractor only comes around every two weeks, so if the car you're interested in just hit the lot, it may not have the stuff. They still have it on the sticker, it just may not be on the car.

None of this bothers me terribly because virtually all dealers do it. You just tell the dealer at the beginning of negotiations that you don't care whether the pack is there or not - it's worthless to you - and they can either find a car w/o it, or they can eat it. They really don't care either as it's only $75 out of pocket which is typically in the noise level on negotiations anyway.

Some people do pay it, so I guess they hit the lottery with this sort of tactic now and then.

- Mark

[Sportymonk]

First, I have a good friend that will get me great prices on Honda accessories. Name is Tim. works at Hondacuraworld. Runs an ad around here sometimes. (Noobs, look at the top of the page).

As to buying, I sent emails out stating what I had in hand from cars.com and what I wanted. Specified I wanted no add ons and an itemized breakdown of the price (doc fee etc.). Negotiated tow pkg to be installed by dealer (ok, wimped out there but Tims price helped negotiate). Bought warranty and accessories from Hondacuraworld and our own WWong. Bought the Pilot at Leith Honda in Raleigh. Just bought my wife Civic there also. Would never walk in to buy again. email is the way to go.

[mattchalmers]

Another tactic is to ask for the vehicles yet to be delivered and specifically ask that nothing be done. That is what I did. Put a $500 deposit on the Pilot we wanted that had not arrived and asked them not to even put the dealer's sticker logo on the vehicle.

As for the other stuff, it is very simple. When I negotiated with another dealer, I was very direct. "I will remove the wind deflector and anything else as soon as I take delivery. So you can either remove it and install it again on someone else's, or you can charge zero and I will remove it and sell it on eBay."

[hondacuraplanet]

Time to run an internet special on wheel locks for $199.00

Hey, it's $100 off! Any takers?