My dealings with a local dealer. I am not the least bit happy.

[MikePA]

So I guess my beef here is that if the price on the unit is a cash only price, then that needs to be made known prior to me sitting down at the guy's desk to make the purchase. I think that is a reasonable expectation.

I agree.

 

[Champy]

Or a better approach may be for a Dealer to post a higher (financed) price, then provide a discount for cash purchases. Although the higher posted price will drive comparision shoppers away...........tough call here. I vote for full disclosure by the dealer to avoid conflicts and retain future customers who appreciate open transactions without hidded fees.

 

[LMTC]

Surprise! I have contacts with dealers representing several of the major tractor brands and that is commonplace. Special financing rates are subsidized by the dealer. What happens at most of the majors is that they cover it in their pricing and the cash or bring-your-own-financing customer gets hosed...but no one is aware of it. I suppose some may, on a case by case basis, offer a discount to a customer not using the financing. I try to explain this to shoppers all the time when they toss out the special financing the new tractor dealers offer....somebody pays for everything, and 0% interest is not free.

 

[riptides]

So I guess we can look at this from BOTH angles. As a shopper (we had this discussion a while back) ask for discounts on Cash sales. I guess if you go in up front saying you would like to fianance, then some more wiggle room is required.

I guess, is that the best deal, revolves around cash or credit?

-Mike Z.

 

[N80]

I agree with the OP. This IS bait and switch and technically it IS illegal, but hard to enforce and prosecute. If they are taking a hit from the manufacturer, that is between the dealer and the manufacturer. The only thing you can do about it is go somewhere else. Which is exactly what I'd do. The profit margins might be low, but not as low not selling it.

When I bought my tractor I was assessed a $100 paperwork and processing fee that I was not made aware of at the time of sale. I was a little peeved at first but taking other excellent goods and services into account (such as free out of town delivery) I didn't let it bother me.

 

[mjarrels]

Remember when there was always two prices for gas? Cash or credit!

mark

 

[AlanB]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial] I went to a local dealer today in search of a new mower and I found one that I liked.
It had a price tag on it, placed there by the dealer.

So I decide to buy it, but when we I tell him that I want to put $2000 down and finance the rest, he says he is going to have to charge me an additional $200.

Now since the manufactuers website clearly states that they are currently offering x% interest rates, I feel that charging me another $200 is being dishonest. Because if I factor in the extra 200 bucks, the APR is more than double the advertised rate.
I have contacted their corporate headquarters but have not yet received a reply.

I say this is a bait and switch and is unethical, if not ilegal.

What say you all?
[/FONT]

I am probably in the less then popular group here, but I bet that "manufacturers Website" said something along the lines of "subject to dealer participation" or some other disclaimer written in small print.

I guess I feel like as much as you are saying the dealer should have forewarned you that the financing charge would have been extra, I would say there could have also been a point early on in the talks where you could have said, "I intend to use the finance plan from XYZ manufacturing" and they would have told you of the charges.

Then again, if enough people get a bad taste from this dealer, they will not be around after a while and the problem will be sorted that way.

Sorry it did not work out for you, but I think there was a two way line of communication that should have been happening, and did not, and too say it was all the fault of one side strikes me as harsh.

Now had they tried to get you to buy it by offering you that financing (and maybe they did, I do not know) then to raise the price after that I would have just got up and walked out..............

Have done that too a car dealer or two along the way that figured they would "pressure" me into a deal at high interest after offering me a low interest deal then switching up when I showed up to pick up the truck.

Hope you find what you are looking for.