WHYTHO? Don't You Just HATE When You See Dealers Do Things Like THIS?

WHYTHO? Don't You Just HATE When You See Dealers Do Things Like THIS?
Every now and then we like to pop into dealers.

For me there's a couple reasons why I like to do this: First, it keeps me on my toes. It's always good to try and stay ahead of what dealerships are up to in order to move product. Second, it's good to connect with folks on the front lines to understand what products are doing well and which are fizzling.

And there's the funny and interesting stuff you catch on the way. Such a thing happened recently.

I was walking around a showroom of an unnamed dealer when I saw a bright blue Toyota RAV4 sitting on the floor. It was painted a standard color but it featured some vinyl attached to the roof, blacked out wheels and some blacked out emblems. All in, not a big deal.

Well, until I got around to looking at the sticker.

Advertised as a Special Edition RAV4, this dealer was charging $4,490 for this "package." In other words, a perfectly fine product that should retail at sticker for $32.1K* — which is already too much — is now retailing at $36.6K*.

*These figures do not include title, taxes and fees.

At first I laughed and then snapped pictures. Then I realized there's a chance someone will walk in and get duped. To me, that's a bit irksome as there is no RAV4 Special Edition.

So, I just have to ask: Don't you just HATE when you see dealers do things like THIS?











Car4life1Car4life1 - 9/28/2019 12:23:50 AM
+4 Boost
Because they know some idiot will walk in and pay $40k for a Rav 4 so why not. He will even brag to his buds that it’s the “special edition” LMAO


PUGPROUDPUGPROUD - 9/28/2019 4:39:27 AM
-2 Boost
As W.C. Fields use to say "There is a sucker born every minute!" As with everything in life, "Be aware or be taken advantage of."


TomMTomM - 9/28/2019 12:42:34 PM
+3 Boost
The saying is attributed to P.T. Barnum - not W.C. Fields.


rockreidrockreid - 9/28/2019 8:49:54 AM
-1 Boost
Just imagine when a potential Taycan buyer walks into his local Porsche dealer expecting to pay $150k. Laughter will ensue from the salesman pointing to a red-roped off floor unit marked up $40k past the msrp.


2ndbimmer2ndbimmer - 9/28/2019 10:13:21 AM
+3 Boost
Simple really. People want accessories and if they can put it in the finance, they will do it. You can't walk in to a dealership after the fact and order tint, step bars, roof racks and finance them.
Yes, over $4,000 is crazy for the little they did. People do like being different and there are a lot of RAV 4's on the road.


2ndbimmer2ndbimmer - 9/28/2019 10:17:43 AM
+1 Boost
Oh, and we can easily tell which Toyota dealership this is. I won't name them though...


MDarringerMDarringer - 9/28/2019 11:11:59 AM
0 Boost
Yes, we can.


MDarringerMDarringer - 9/28/2019 10:25:23 AM
-2 Boost
We don't do dealer packages for several reasons:

1. The package does not guarantee a quicker sale, people will often shun it for the extra cost.

2. The package does not guarantee a higher profit; people who bargain--you know the ones who aren't pansy entitled unicorns in safe spaces--will simply say "I want this vehicle but I'm not paying for the package, so either remove it or discount the price.

3. If we put an appearance package on, it is not covered by the warranty and if something goes wrong with it, we are 100% on the hook for the repair cost.

Finally, if a customer wants accessories, we will be happy to install them.


MDarringerMDarringer - 9/28/2019 11:29:13 AM
0 Boost
Another troubling thing is that the "adjusted MSRP" tag looks like an official Toyota tag which implies that it is legitimate like the Monroney sticker when it isn't. That is a deceptive business practice and potentially one that could result in litigation agains the dealer.


skytopskytop - 9/28/2019 12:21:41 PM
+3 Boost
Don't get mad, just walk yourself OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP and find an honest dealer instead.


MDarringerMDarringer - 9/28/2019 12:31:25 PM
0 Boost
Bingo

And if people are dumb enough to fall for this they deserve to get taken to the cleaners.


TomMTomM - 9/28/2019 12:53:41 PM
+1 Boost
Things like this tend to happen more when the dealership is a "group", "mall", or a Separate Company that owns a lot of dealerships.

I have always posted that I still prefer my small locally owned dealerships (Where the owner is likely on the floor most of the time). THeir service departments tend to have long term employees - and are actually able to fix the cars too. Few people take the time to have a long term relationship with their dealers - but in the end the good service you receive makes it all worthwhile.

The closest I ever came to having a dealer package was when my Pontiac dealer ordered ALL his inventory with full size spares (THat is going WAY BACK) - because he could always remove them if you did not want it. I actually had a dealer LOSE my sale - because between the time I first saw the car - and when I came back the next day to buy it - he added a Vinyl Roof -something I never would want -eve at no charge.


MDarringerMDarringer - 9/28/2019 7:19:00 PM
0 Boost
This isn't even remotely a true statement: "Things like this tend to happen more when the dealership is a "group", "mall", or a Separate Company that owns a lot of dealerships."

The "...small locally owned dealerships..." are a rarity these days.


mre30mre30 - 9/28/2019 11:25:28 PM
+3 Boost
How about the Cadillac customers 10+ years ago who would pony up an extra $4,000 for the "Vogue" tire package and then for the "carriage roof" (i.e fake convertible) package?

In New Jersey, I can't tell you how many of those "carriage roofs" ended up in a premature rust situation for somebody's new STS. The vehicles would be 5 years old and there would be rust dripping out from under the fabric roof all over the "Diamond White Metallic" paint.


MDarringerMDarringer - 9/29/2019 10:21:04 AM
-1 Boost
New Jersey...eeew!
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