Assembly and Destination Charge?

[Brokermike]

So I've been negotiating a price on a new 50hp tractor. Thought we had everything squared away and then the salesman informs me that there is $500 assembly charge and $350 destination charge that applies, and that these are charges from the manufacturer (e.g. non-negotiable).

It's been a while since I bought a new tractor. Is this the norm now?

FWIW even with the additional fee I think I've managed a fair price, it isn't neccessarily a deal breaker it just struck me as really odd and a touch unprofessional that it wasn't mentioned in the their sale flyer advertising their huge sale.

 

[mddorange]

I have never heard of that. Sure didn't have to when I bought mine.
Is there another dealer in the area?

 

[murphy1244]

What brand was it?

 

[kco]

I checked my notes and quotes from shopping in 2011. I had two or three quotes each from Bobcat, Kubota and Kioti. The original Kioti quote had a $1,000 add-on item for "Assembly, battery, shipping and PDI". The Kubota quotes just had the total price and Kioti quotes after the first one still showed a line for "Assembly, battery, shipping and PDI" but the cost was $00.00. If you initially were just verbally discussing figures it may be an honest omission. But once down to a written quote I think they should include everything.

When I bought my truck in 2003 we haggled for a while over trade-in, options, etc. It got confusing so I told the salesman I wanted to see a final price with everything, including taxes, in. We agreed to that. Then they had an accounting person join to draw up the final papers. All went well until he added the British Columbia environmental fee (which is a tax for some hazardous or hard to dispose of things like tires, batteries, etc). It was not a lot, but I said I would not pay it. I had stipulated and received a price with ALL taxes in. The accountant continued to argue. However, a guy from the next office (turns out he was the dealership owner) poked his head in and called the accountant to see him. The accountant came back and said the quoted price was fine.

I think missing the environmental tax may have been a mistake on the salesman's part but I had been very clear on wanting the final, bottom-line price. The dealer did the right thing.

Looking at my old Kioti quote(which I bought 8 years after the truck) I see an "Environmental tire levy" at $00.00. This is because we eventually dealt on an "all-in" price and he adjusted his invoice to reflect that.

I suppose you need to decide whether or not the salesman was misleading you. I have always seen items like "dealer preparation", PDI (whatever that means), shipping, etc., on the few vehicles and one tractor I've bought new. That's why I always ask for a final "all-in" price. It is particularly important when comparing different brands.

If the salesman wasn't being misleading and you're happy I wouldn't worry about it. But you could use it as something more to bargain on.

 

[Will_C]

I always had for a total price... I don't care what or how the dealer charges, I just care about the bottom line. I almost walked away from an ATV purchase when the dealer tried to charge notary and document fees after we agreed on a price- they decided they could live without it as I got to the front door!

Will

 

[davrow]

Hmm, I'd say it is totally optional for a dealer to specify one or roll it into the quoted price (which seems by far the more common practice). But it HAS to be done up front, not at payment time. What they are doing to you is wrong.

That is also an exorbitant amount for both fees in my opinion.

 

[Billrog]

I agree with davrow the quoted price should be the end price. I was quoted a price for a new Kioti 4 mons. ago and dropped in yesterday to buy it . engine heater, remote H outlet,work light and batter, $190.00 shipping and assembly $700.00 were on the bill over and above the quote but were NOT added to the original quote on the bill.

 

[kco]

I agree with davrow the quoted price should be the end price. I was quoted a price for a new Kioti 4 mons. ago and dropped in yesterday to buy it . engine heater, remote H outlet,work light and batter, $190.00 shipping and assembly $700.00 were on the bill over and above the quote but were NOT added to the original quote on the bill.

I think your experience was similar to mine(not surprising since we have the same dealer). That is, the price paid was the same as the original quote, which included ALL negotiated items. It usually won't matter if they show the add-ons separately on the bill as long as what you pay matches the original agreed price. I say "usually" because people buying for a business may like different breakdowns for tax allocations.

For initial verbal "ballpark" inquiries I can see where dealers may just quote the tractor without preparation and environmental charges. Competitors likely do the same. But when it gets to serious negotiating and final prices the dealer and buyer should always work on the total end price with all charges in. That's what should be shown on the dealer's written quote to the buyer.

 

[bcp]

I've seen several new cars with something like

ADP $2000

added to the list of charges.

"Additional Dealer Profit"

Bruce

 

[2458n]

Bruce I knew what my reply was going to be. I read your response and we were on the same page. The ADP is 100 percent correct. My sister was moving cars in the showroom where she works. She said she had to do it herself because they had a 440,000.00 Lexus in there.

 

[MHarryE]

When I have run the "build my tractor" quotes on line they have included shipping and assembly/dealer prep as a line item. Still when I have got quotes they have either included it in the price before options total or as a line item. The bottom line is always what I pay - until the day after I sign the papers when I call back and ask, "What will it cost me for you to install leather interior, satellite radio, GPS guidance, etc.

 

[paulfun9]

Those charges were not mentioned and do not appear on my written statement from my purchase this year. The negotiated price we settled on is the price I paid when I returned to finalize the sale a couple days later. If at the last minuet they would have tried to add some kind of charge onto it I would have walked and went to the other dealer that I had negotiated with as their price would have covered the 750 extra your being hit with.

 

[BleedingOrange]

It really ticks me off that dealers try and pull this crap.
If you cann,t buy a particular item without freight and set-up as an option, the cost should be buried in the price.
However, when buying any large item, asking for an out the door price will eliminate last minute surprises.
My last question when wrapping up negotiations on larger items is always, " what number do I have to write the cheque for ?"

 

[PILOON]

Even worst is 'fuel surcharge' on stamps at the post office, as if the weight of an envelope or small package really affects the MPG of that truck.
Were it to be a true calculation it should read $0.0000005 per.
Just another cash grab !

 

[Tractor Tom]

Be Prepared to walk away. If "Admin Fees" or whatever they call them where not discussed up front, I would not pay and walk away. The ONLY addition to a quoted price is usually Sales Tax and nothing more. Anything else is shady business! What will they nail you for at service time?? Lunch for the Mechanic???

 

[poosniffer]

I purchased my Kubota after my experience with the local JD dealership.Test drove a JD with FEL and was quoted a price.Came back the next day to complete the sale and was told that the actual price would be $800 more due to the rear remotes which were already on the tractor.Shady.

 

[sixdogs]

I'd say bye-buy and pick something up over in New Hampshire where the price will likely be better anyway. Dealers that don't play straight up front and try to twist everything they can aren't likely to be in business all that long anyway. When I lived in Maine, New Hampshire was where guys went after the local Maine dealers forgot where they came from.

Don't let them get away with this cr*ap. Push back.

I've done it and even walked out in the middle of the deal when they tried to jack up an already agreed price. They later came around and offered the agreed price but I said no and that I was unable to trust them now.

 

[Looking4new]

My bill of sale which is right in front of me shows the quote I got on 14 April 2012. Price on in stock units for one Kioti CK27hst + KL 130 Loader + Cab installed + 1 Meteor 68" snow blower with front mount Kit = $27,000.oo + Hose Tax (HST) $3510.oo for a total of $30510.oo Plus delivery $400.oo = $30910.oo
The $400.oo delivery is because the dealer is 2 hours south of me.. He even loaded the tires for that price. I blindsided him on that one. The tractor had a rear remote on it, too. NO extra fees or other bull crap. We negotiated in April and I paid in June and took delivery in July. I wouldn't hesitate to deal with this guy again and I also send other people to him. I buy my filters from him, but the other accessories I buy from someone else closer.
I walked out of two other dealers because they wanted to screw me around. One quoted 35,000. for the same tractor and said there was no 'wiggle room' on the price. Then wanted to start adding PDI, freight and on and on.

 

[Oiltech]

Get a quote in writing with taxes included, it's black and white exactly what you will pay. Anything added is a deal breaker and I walk. They make tractors everyday but we don't buy one everyday so it should be our way only.

 

[paulfun9]

My bill of sale which is right in front of me shows the quote I got on 14 April 2012. Price on in stock units for one Kioti CK27hst + KL 130 Loader + Cab installed + 1 Meteor 68" snow blower with front mount Kit = $27,000.oo + Hose Tax (HST) $3510.oo for a total of $30510.oo Plus delivery $400.oo = $30910.oo
The $400.oo delivery is because the dealer is 2 hours south of me.. He even loaded the tires for that price. I blindsided him on that one. The tractor had a rear remote on it, too. NO extra fees or other bull crap. We negotiated in April and I paid in June and took delivery in July. I wouldn't hesitate to deal with this guy again and I also send other people to him. I buy my filters from him, but the other accessories I buy from someone else closer.
I walked out of two other dealers because they wanted to screw me around. One quoted 35,000. for the same tractor and said there was no 'wiggle room' on the price. Then wanted to start adding PDI, freight and on and on.

I still am amazed at how some dealers think they can still blind side you with their bull! In this day of quick information at our fingertips I don't see very many people walking in with NO IDEA of what a big ticket Item costs.
One of the dealers I went to for a price on the Kioti was way more than everyone else and insisted he couldn't do any better, then tried to add the cost of a loader on top of that during the free loader program. When I questioned that he said that the model I was looking at did not qualify for the free loader even after I told him that 5 min before walking in his door I looked the program up and it did indeed qualify and that he needed to look it up right then and there! H e hit some buttons on his computer and turned back to me and said it surely is not on the list. I laughed at him before I left and got a price about 20 min later for the same machine for about 7000. less including the free loader.