Is This A Dealer Scam?

[loglove]

My sister just recently purchased a new buick and the salesperson convinced her that a team of experts performed a 3 day 15,000 point check on the car.

The problem is that he charged her a $600 dealer prep fee to covers their cost of removing plastic from the seats, vacuuming, adding fluids, and preparing it for sale.

I'm assuming it's too late to get that fee back, but is this a regular practice of car dealers or did she get scammed?

 

[Jimbrown]

It is a regular practice. Sometimes it is negotiable but it depends on dealer and the particular car.

How do I know dealer fees are legit? - Ask.cars.com

 

[thatguy]

Around here they have "process fees" which is for completing and filing the DMV paperwork..

Brian

 

[ToadHill]

I guess it depends on how bad they want to sell the car. If they ever told me they wanted $ # 1 to prepare a car for me to pick up I'd be out the door in a minute. The only add on they have around here is a fee to register the car, cost of plates plus $20. It's worth the $20 not to have to deal with the DMV.

 

[RichZ]

I never heard of anything like that!! Why would they have to do that on a brand new car, except to charge you more money?

 

[texbaylea]

EDP = extra dealer profit.

I would have been out the door.

Vernon

 

[jpm]

car dealers have been trying this bs for years. last one that try it with me i subtracted my "cwf" check wrighting fee was the same as the dealer prep

 

[skipro3]

car dealers have been trying this bs for years. last one that try it with me i subtracted my "cwf" check wrighting fee was the same as the dealer prep

Now I don't care who you are, that's funny!!!

 

[RollingsFarms]

car dealers have been trying this bs for years. last one that try it with me i subtracted my "cwf" check wrighting fee was the same as the dealer prep

thats classic! i'll have to try that sometime and see how it works out for me

 

[LMTC]

My sister just recently purchased a new buick and the salesperson convinced her that a team of experts performed a 3 day 15,000 point check on the car.

The problem is that he charged her a $600 dealer prep fee to covers their cost of removing plastic from the seats, vacuuming, adding fluids, and preparing it for sale.

I'm assuming it's too late to get that fee back, but is this a regular practice of car dealers or did she get scammed?

Part of the problem is that she believed that there is such a thing as a 15,000 point check and that a team of experts did it in three days. Sellers will charge what the law allows. Is it ethical? IMO some of it is not, but there is a separate issue of responsibility on the part of the buyer. IF this is the first time your sister has ever bought a car, she has learned a valuable lesson....never do it again without someone she trusts with her who is more knowledgeable and more firm.

My wife has sat with me through the purchase of two new vehicles in the past two years, one for us, one for our middle son. Her comment when the last one was done was "I could never do that. I'd pay way more than you did." And that is true for some people. OTOH, when someone in the family needs comforting, my wife goes or calls because even though I'd do anything for them, I come off as a hard hearted son of a gun (and I'm really not). Big ticket purchasing is a skill, and one many people are weak in....and there are plenty of sales people ready to take advantage of that, though certainly not all. Your sister probably has some areas of incredible strength and talent, but car buying isn't among them; have her take someone next time.