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Smart Shopper Documentation Fees
667 messages, Last post on Sep 18, 2009 at 3:24 PM
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Replying to: annmarie4 (Dec 17, 2008 6:45 pm) |
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Replying to: annmarie4 (Dec 17, 2008 6:45 pm) Tell them you'll pay the doc. fee but deduct that fee from the agreed on price since they were not upfront with it. Be ready to walk out though. |
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Just as you are not obligated to pay a "policy" fee on your car or home insurance, you are not legally obligated to pay a "documentation" fee on your new vehicle. "Oh, you have a "DOC"? See me walk! |
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I'm having a lot of problems with documentation fees in trying to buy a new Scion. It fact, it's been the deal breaker for at least three dealers already. I've already agreed to pay MSRP for the Scion, but the dealers in Massachusetts want an additional $300-600 in these fees. When I've balked at paying that they just say there's nothing they can do and decline to work with me. I've even been told it's a Scion fee! It's bad enough to buy at MSRP these days, but paying a doc. fee is just an insult.
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Replying to: hulkedup (Dec 29, 2008 4:04 pm)
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Replying to: exb0 (Dec 29, 2008 5:04 pm)
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Replying to: mikefm58 (Dec 29, 2008 5:53 pm) That is incorrect. Scions have to be sold at a fixed price; however, dealer determines what that price is, as long as all customers get the same price. Most dealers choose to sell Scions at MSRP, fitzmall decided to sell them at invoice. CarMax discounts them $250 off MSRP. As far as the processing fee, all dealers in MD are caped at $100. |
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The amount of Documentation Fee, set by a state, is pointless (gov't pretending to protect its sheep). Truth is: A dealer will determine what his/her profit will be or what profit and/or loss he/she is willing to take or endure. Let's say a dealer has 10k actual cost in a vehicle and a customer offers 10k - the dealer may think, hmm well at least I'll get my documentation fee, electronic filing fee and so forth - Whereas, if such fees did not exist - your offer would be rejected.. So what? You could just offer 10,500 (500 being the same as all the fees combined) - presto that should do it, right? Wrong! You see, 'evil salespeople' are not paid commission on doc fees, etc.. In larger Franchise dealers the profit decision process is worse.. for example, the 'main boss' may require all deals have a min profit of 1500 per copy.. So, the manager creates 500 in fees and (tells the salesperson the vehicle cost 1,000 more than it actually does - to avoid paying commission on 1k) - now the manager can cover what the Boss wants... so everything else is profit: the customer and salesperson sacrifice in order to pay the boss... The manager discounts the true value of your trade and so forth in order to make a profit (so he/she can get paid - more importantly so he/she doesn't get fired)... in short, "We don't Charge a Documentation FEE" - may sound great; but in truth it really doesn't matter if a Doc fee is charged or not.. Squeeze the balloon on one end and the air simply moves to the other end - all said and done! FEE or no Fee, retail cost or wholesale cost - none of it matters - What truly matters to you is where you will be squeezed; understand? Price doesn't matter to you, as much as how much you get for your trade right? (i raise the price and show it in your trade) - you refuse to pay a doc fee ( i devalue your trade or raise my price ) - All you care about is payment - hey, no problem = I'll stretch your term.. and so on.. happy motoring!
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Replying to: travist4 (Jun 28, 2009 10:38 am) Thank you.
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Replying to: euphonium (Jun 28, 2009 2:21 pm) Texas, California, Ohio, NY, all cap the document fee (at varying levels). I'm sure there are others..
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