Avoiding Additional Dealer Markup
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,298
Likes: 3,198
From: Oro Valley Arizona
Avoiding Additional Dealer Markup
Still another thread about a last minute ADM surprise. Folks get it in writing. It a 100 grand transaction. Not a handshake on a busy street corner buying an every day used Camry. So certainly worth being chiseled in stone. I drafted a simple 5 point memo and had the Sales Mgr (not salesman) initial each and both of us sign/date it when we placed our deposit. Nothing fancy, nothing objectionable, and no reason to not sign it if they were going to be good to their word. I.e. No ADM, no dealer installed add ons (packs), no financing, no extended warranty, contract price GM MSRP plus local/state tax, MVD license, and their standard dealer doc fee. We hand wrote in their typical doc fee so that amount had a memorial. It wasn't onerous looking and no reason to not sign it. Unless their plan was to change the deal at the last minute. They made a copy for their files, I took the original. Could they have still muscled me? Maybe? But surely was far less likely. When our number came up, I asked the salesman if their copy was still in our file. It was. And nothing weird happened. Bottom line don't be shy and you might avoid being shocked.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 1,666
Likes: 1,151
Still another thread about a last minute ADM surprise. Folks get it in writing. It a 100 grand transaction. Not a handshake on a busy street corner buying an every day used Camry. So certainly worth being chiseled in stone. I drafted a simple 5 point memo and had the Sales Mgr (not salesman) initial each and both of us sign/date it when we placed our deposit. Nothing fancy, nothing objectionable, and no reason to not sign it if they were going to be good to their word. I.e. No ADM, no dealer installed add ons (packs), no financing, no extended warranty, contract price GM MSRP plus local/state tax, MVD license, and their standard dealer doc fee. We hand wrote in their typical doc fee so that amount had a memorial. It wasn't onerous looking and no reason to not sign it. Unless their plan was to change the deal at the last minute. They made a copy for their files, I took the original. Could they have still muscled me? Maybe? But surely was far less likely. When our number came up, I asked the salesman if their copy was still in our file. It was. And nothing weird happened. Bottom line don't be shy and you might avoid being shocked.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 449
Likes: 68
Anyone who has an agreement in writing and the dealer refuses to honor should stay away from that dealer. Additionally send GM a copy of the letter and a statement of the problem. Enough people complaining and GM might do something about it. It has always been a problem buying a limited supply car for MSRP , people get greedy.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,298
Likes: 3,198
From: Oro Valley Arizona
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,298
Likes: 3,198
From: Oro Valley Arizona
Worked Perfectly
Why didn't you just reply to the other post instead of starting a new post? And AGAIN, writing doesn't matter. RHD gave a whole lot of us on this forum Z06 @ MSRP *in writing when deposit was placed* and then retroactively changed the deal adding on $13K in mandatory stuff like PPF (done in house).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 5,767
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From: Rural NW Georgia. GO DAWGS!
2024 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2016
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Because they're an honest dealer. A dishonest dealer would probably still sign it, because they know that in the end they still hold all the cards. When the abrogate the agreement your only real choices are to pay the ADM or walk, and let them sell the car to someone else.
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