What's the deal with dealers?

[Kwame69]

I'm driving down a street and come across a 1994 E320 in a used dealer's lot. I inquire about perhaps trading my 1989 300e for their 94 E320. Mileage on my 300e is 123,400 and 126,000 on the e320. This guy tells me, I'll offer you $2,400 for your toward the trade and I look at him and I'm thinking to myself"he's out of his natural mind". Fellow W124 members can you believe they just that value the W124.

[bill streep]

Not a surprise - what was he selling for? Take a look at www.kbb.com, (Kelly Blue Book), and you'll see what the difference between trade and retail is. Oh, and let me know if you'll take $2400.

[Robert Goodwin]

You got quite far along in the process. I can't get that far. Last used car lot I was on had the car I wanted to look at at their lot a block away. Couldn't see it unless I signed a statement that I was going to buy. While rolling my eyes and looking over the pimps ( I mean sales managers) head, I saw a little sign that read, Processing fee $345, Everyone Pays. Glad I don't NEED a car. KBB is a good guide to car prices and explains what a dealer is entitled to for the work and expense tp sell a car. Processing fee is not included. That is like the Area Adjustment that Northern Virginia dealers charge because their customers will pay it. Oh, and they also charge a Processing Fee. The good news for you is, if the A/C evaporator has not been replaced in the 94 you looked at, you just saved $3,400 by passing it up.

[Grey Ghost]

it appears that the quality of dealer service varies widely. On the one hand, you've got Tom Hanson at Caliber Motors, which sounds like it runs a customer-friendly facility.

On the other, you have Messrs. Kwame and Goodwin's experiences.

We all know these dealerships are not philanthropic organizations and sales margins are thin, but profit can be pursued without degrading the experience MBUSA is striving so hard to create for its customers (by standardizing many aspects of the dealer's public face).

As in any other profession, there are good dealers and bad. Over time, enough customers will "vote with their feet" and abandon the bad ones.

[Tom Hanson]

You know what sickens me the most about dealers in general is that they will even try to tell you the same lies when you've been in the dealer industry twice as long as they have. It's too bad there are so many scumbags in this business. Last time I tried to buy a car (not the one from Caliber), I got about 3" from the sales manager's nose and told him to give me back the keys to my trade so I could leave. He started to say something, and I said "RIGHT NOW"!!!!!! Didn't take him long, and I was on my way. The next day I was driving my new C320.

[Tom Hanson]

P.S. What's a "processing fee" ? We have docummentary fees out here that generally run $50-$75. This helps to cover administrative costs for the paper trail that goes with every transaction.

[Robert Goodwin]

Processing fee and documentation fee are the same. A garbage fee added to the price by the selling dealer to increase his profit margin. I always insist upon recieving a Bill of Sale and refuse to pay extra for it. There is enough of a spread between cost and price to accomodate these fees now as there was for the past 90 years. In my opinion, it is pure greed on the part of the automobile sales industry and falls in the same category as Area or Metropolitan adjustments, another garbage fee intended to part the customer from more of his money. If I offend any dealers who are reading this, I do it because I find your conduct offensive and reprehensible.

[Grey Ghost]

Stop sugar-coating your comments concerning the dealers. We're all friends, so you may speak directly.

[Robert Goodwin]

OK.

[Jim300D2.5]

Worked in parts for a dealer, In auto business and are Nation wide ( clue) they would deliver a small sheet metal parts order to towns 150 miles away next day and the mechanicial shops locally, several miles away couldn't get alternator, water pumps, fuel pump etc. delivered to them in 3 to 4 hours,
they had ford diesel vans with cube bodies cost approx $ 42,000. lucky if they lasted 230,000 miles market value of 3-4 yr old cube with 225,000 pretty close to zero.
the genuis parts manager never did figure out that 85% of those orders would have fit into a long box pickup with a supercab. Mile per gallon better than diesel, cost of gasoline less than diesel, cost of maintenance less than 1/3 ,cost of pickup half of van , resale value 2 to 3 times better and much safer to drive pickup on bad roads 2 lane mostly than econoline with dual rear wheels.

Last I saw there other business a Blockbuster in court for truth in advertising , they will charge no late fees!! God What a Great
Company ( pleasant song playing in background) However restocking or buy back fee may be more than late fee. So hard to change your ways. they must have forgot that it wasn't there car dealer business rules always screw the customer at all cost. .
their benefit plan no health care and don"t let the door hit you!


their business practices will land them in court with a large award most likely in
sexual harnessment!!


dealerships #1 salesman of 20 + years with them
doesn,t drive any products he sells. Can You Say Bill Of Goods!!!














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