I've walked out the door over doc fees. Seems when they might lose a sale the doc fees seem to "disappear".
"After doing your homework offer what you are willing to pay including any fees. Not a penny more and walk if they say no." if you have done your homework, then it is a workable solution most times. It is how I bought my sububan and sold the Denali in the process. I got what I wanted on both sides. But I did not gouge on their very fairly priced vehicle, nor did I waver on what I wanted for mine. I was realistic on both sides, I was prequalified with my credit union, and did not need an extended warranty, lol. So it was math, it does help if no one is in love with said vehicle. In my case, I hate suburbans and loved my Denali, but i have 5 kids and needed something with less than 220k miles, so suburban fit the bill of a growing family.
Some dealerships seem to "forget" what the out the door price is.
Wife and I recently had a car negotiated on with an out the door price. We get to financing and they had a 295 doc fee added on the price we negotiated. They let us walk over not wanting to pay it. It also left a impression on me for that dealer.
Wife and I recently had a car negotiated on with an out the door price. We get to financing and they had a 295 doc fee added on the price we negotiated. They let us walk over not wanting to pay it. It also left a impression on me for that dealer.
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Congrats on walking. Doc fees are stupid.
When shopping for a vehicle I have a general idea first of what I want and can afford. Also know what I'm pre-approved for through the credit union. Typically I won't leave my name or identifying info with the dealer in the early stages of car looking. I do check out through KBB and may ask to take to my mechanic if I think that's appropriate. If I do leave info it may be an aliias.
When it's test drive time i do leave my name but with stern advice to NOT call, contact or otherwise bother me without my explicit permission. When it's price negotiation time I am specific about OTD numbers only. I tell them if doc fees are not part of OTD they'd better add them in up front. If they can't get to my price that day I tell them no-harm, no-foul but to contact me if they can meet my price. I also tell them I am continuing to look and tarrying on their part may lose them a sale.
I will apply all the salesman tricks they would like to apply to me to them instead. I appreciate the occasional honest, time considerate sales person I have the luck to find; those I treat with respect as they return the respect.
Most importantly I never allow myself to get so invested in a vehicle that I HAVE to own it. It works.
When it's test drive time i do leave my name but with stern advice to NOT call, contact or otherwise bother me without my explicit permission. When it's price negotiation time I am specific about OTD numbers only. I tell them if doc fees are not part of OTD they'd better add them in up front. If they can't get to my price that day I tell them no-harm, no-foul but to contact me if they can meet my price. I also tell them I am continuing to look and tarrying on their part may lose them a sale.
I will apply all the salesman tricks they would like to apply to me to them instead. I appreciate the occasional honest, time considerate sales person I have the luck to find; those I treat with respect as they return the respect.
Most importantly I never allow myself to get so invested in a vehicle that I HAVE to own it. It works.
I have walked out of dealerships in the past over price and/or doc fees. Some will work with you,others not. I hate spending 3+ hours in a dealership with them trying to sell extra cr@p.
And all this is why I most always buy from private parties.
I think I bought ONE car years ago from a used lot. That was it.
I think I bought ONE car years ago from a used lot. That was it.
If you go into the dealership with that attitude you're going to take it in the shorts. Discount the vehicle at least 10%-15% including doc fees and needed repairs and tell them to call you when you can reach your price. Stand firm, auto dealers will screw you in ways that you can't even imagine and the "talk to the manager" and the waiting game are used to wear you down.
