jimmie jam

They are NOT being deceptive in that ad...the fine print says "except processing fees". You have to read the fine print. The larger print says no "ADDITIONAL FEES". It does not say NO fees. Still a rip off...would never buy there with so many other less expensive options, just sayin.

Rebel Yell

My biggest beef with doc fees is the dealers used to do the paperwork as part of the vehicle sale. But, somewhere along the line these fees popped up, and to me they are just clear profit for the dealers. We all know a dealer can't sell a vehicle without the requisite paperwork to go along. Now in North Carolina (maybe other states) they are charging add fees telling customers this is for the manufacturer's commercials, and print adds. So when they tell me they are selling me a car at invoice, they will tack on anywhere from $1000 - $1800 of bullchit fees that they pocket. And to top it off they'll tell you they not making any money on the sale. Pretty cool, uh.....

Now, if I'm buying out of town I would expect to pay any mailing fees associated with the transfer of papers.

jimmie jam

They will never talk about the 3% hold back on the invoiced amount of the car from GM either. Even if they show you a legit invoice they are still making the hold back.

Bill Dearborn

The sales receipt just has to show the doc fee that was paid, it doesn't say the selling price couldn't be reduced by an equal amount or the trade in value increased by an equal amount. North Carolina has that stupid law as well and I had to negotiate the fee away when I purchased my C7Z. Once we had come to an understanding of the price I was going to pay for the car and what they were going to give me for a trade in the sales guy made out the sales sheet and had the dealer doc fee on it. I had just driven 3 hours to purchase the car and it was late, raining and I was looking at a 3 hour drive home. That still didn't keep me from saying the deal is off if that fee is applied to the sale of the car. I told him I considered it a sharp stick in the eye of the Customer. The good price I had received for my trade in (I wouldn't have made the trip if I hadn't known it was going to be a good price) was increased to cover the fee.

Bill

Thunder22

If you think that's bad, about 6-7 years ago a local dealership tried to tack on a $1200 fee for get this.... advertising.

I was so stunned I just blurted out to the sales guy "what kind of fool pays that?" and he said "everyone". An obvious lie.

I got up, shook his hand, told him good luck and walked out.

ColoradoGS

I agree it wouldn't be unreasonable. On the other hand, when I am making a $70,000+ purchase I find small add-on fees annoying. MacMulkin FedEx'ed me twice and included a return FedEx envelope once and never asked for any sort of payment for the mailings. I don't know what other forum dealers do but I found this very professional. Otherwise it is "Uh, thanks for your $70,000. Can we, uh, have a CC number so we can charge you $7.95 to mail you the paperwork? And could you, uh, pay $7.95 to send us that big check?"

I found the same thing at the NCM. You pay $990 for museum delivery which is expensive but fine--it's a great experience. Then they ask if you want to window sticker ($30) and would you like it laminated ($5). Really? We are going to line-item lamination? When it came time to put my (cardboard) temp plates on, John remembered that I was going to drive in a huge rainstorm on the way home. He went and laminated the plate before attaching it. That to me is what I expect if I'm paying $1000 for an "experience". YMMV.

DAFFYDRUNK

With Mac, I had to pay to overnight a deposit check to get in in the allocation they had asap. I think the rest was covered by them. FEDEX overnight pouches. Pretty sure they included a return pouch for the paperwork and cashiers check once the car existed.

BTW, that was the most fun I've ever had filling out paperwork. That was when I realized the car was 100% happening. Never bought a new car before. Very exciting.

Globeman

Like everyone sez, no surprise fees at MacMulkin. You show up with the exact price that was quoted. No BS. As long as you don't live in New hampshire, you don't pay any registration fees or sales tax till you get to your own DMV. MacMulkin even put temporary New Hampshire plates on the car so I could drive it home. No charge for the temp plates either. It was a great car buying experience.

ColoradoGS

I had this happen once. I ordered a 2000 Tahoe from a Chevy dealer in Austin. 10+ weeks later it was built and arrived. I went to go pay for it / pick it up and in the paperwork I noticed a $700 dealer advertising fee. No mention had been made of it when I placed the order. I asked about it and got the same "it is standard, you have to pay it" line. I thanked him for his time and walked out of the dealership.

I was sure that they would do the whole "follow me into the lot" or "call me on the way home" deal but nope, nothing. I think they assumed that if I waited 10 weeks for the car that I would pay any fee they could come up with.

So I drove across town to a different Chevy dealer. As I was walking in the lobby a woman at the front desk (for some reason) did not wait for me to reach her and yelled out "Can I help you?" I yelled back "I'm looking for a salesman who wants to make an immediate sale." The sales desks lined the sides of the lobby and I think several of salesmen injured themselves trying to reach me first.

I explained what just happened and we agreed on the same price (invoice) and no dealer doc fees or advertising fees. We started on the paperwork and the salesman came back in with this sheepish look. His manager was insisting on dealer advertising fees. I didn't even have to make the argument. He dropped the price below invoice the exact amount of the advertising fees. It was a nice truck when it arrived 10 weeks later...

rbartick

I bought my C7Z at Kerbeck, I did the DMV work, and I didn't pay any doc fees. DMV charged me a $25 fee because I didn't submit the paperwork quick enough. I submitted it the day after I received it in the mail.

direct007

I would be more concerned with the bottom line than a doc fee on car selling for $50k plus. Assuming you are financing, since the cash deal doesn't require the doc fee...What is the interest rate you are paying at one dealer vs another. Kerbeck is offering 1.99%. Can the other dealers get you this rate? A .25% difference in the interest rate will more than wipe out the cost of a doc fee over the term of the loan.

dbirdhouse1

Here in the PNW dealers will add the fee and will be reticent to remove it BUT I have held my ground on this one and have not paid the fee. I always wait till just before I sign and see it, say nope and they have either waived it or lowered the price by that amount...

I know, especially with the numbers around it the 150 - 200 bucks added might seem petty but it is a (small) gesture on the dealer's part to show they want my business now and in the future.

jimmyb

When I bought my 2014, I negotiated an "out the door" price. I frankly don't care what the dealer adds on or whatever gyrations they do. I had a price that, IMO, was fair to me and the dealer.....they can put ANY thing under "doc fees/prep/whatever" for THEIR accounting, in the end, I paid the "out the door" price and wrote the check for THAT amount.

I think folks get in trouble when they start trying to play the DEALER'S game with all the various fees/taxes that a dealer can pile on. Do your homework (as a consumer) and come up with a NUMBER that YOU are happy with. Then, YOU say here's what I will pay, OUT THE DOOR. Then the dealer has the choice to accept or decline.

VistaVette

I negotiate bottom line - show it anyway you want on the paperwork. I spent many years in the car business - from the sales floor to closer, new car sales manager... When it comes to buying cars (or motorcycles) my attitude toward the dealer is simple: take the deal; don't take the deal - I don't care. I'm not unreasonable and I typically have a good idea where it realistically should be. I'm never buying something that is so hot I cant find it elsewhere.

Sailfun

I can't believe you guys have not brought up the charge for inflating your tires with nitrogen!

itchiesvette

call MacMulkin they are the best !

sTz

I also purchased my Vette from MacMulkin. Good dealer without doc fees, however, I see nothing wrong with Kerbeck charging whatever they want. You clearly knew what the fees were before finalizing the purchase. If you don't like it, then move on...

iclick

How bogus this is. Why not charge us for janitorial fee, utility fee, water fee, salaries fee, etc, ad nauseam. Their admin fees are part of doing business, period. For me it's the bottom line, and their fees factor in. In LA dealers can't charge more than $200 for a doc fee, which IMO is still bogus. Having no such profit gouging practices is one reason I bought from MacMulkin. Also, their cars are stored indoors and they do no demo rides, so your new car should be actually new.

itaylorm

Thanks for explaining this, always wondered

Globeman

I bought a car once and saw a $175 fee for "ADP". The salesman was reluctant to tell me what it meant. Finally he admitted that it was 'Additional Dealer Profit'. I think most people are so excited about getting their new car that they don't pay attention to a few $100 of unexpected cost.