lumper
Senior Member
The dealer I was dealing with since last October told me several times that she had never seen her dealership charge a markup on any car release in the past several years and that she didn't expect that to change, of course the day the cars (ITS) actually hit the lots that policy slipped.Loyal customers are being driven away!
I have purchased three Acuras from the same local dealer over the past 20 years and that includes working with the same salesmen for nearly as long. Over that time, I came in for parts, tires and service and when I did, I stopped to chat with my sales guys and look at the new models.
Most of those conversations were about when will Acura finally produce something that’s as fun as my 6MT TSX. Obviously, the ITS is the answer and I went in early on thinking it would be no problem for me to reserve one at MSRP. However, this dealer insisted on a $5,000 ADM and would not guarantee my position in line. Meaning if someone were to offer them more for my color preference, it would go to them. At least they were honest about that.
Their best deal for a 20 year customer was $3,500 ADM in addition to accessories they sell for two to four times over MSRP. My personal favorite being the $80 sun shade which has an installed price of $252.
I’m more about honesty and loyalty than getting the best price but I refuse to pay ADM especially when MSRP is already so exaggerated and profitable. I contacted several other dealers with my simple offer of MSRP, taxes, tags and dealer fee. Thankfully, a nearby dealer agreed and I now have a deposit on an ITS due to arrive in September.
The local dealer has lost this sale and all my future business as I have no intention of setting foot there again.
This new car purchase also made me take a closer look at insurance rates. I’ve had Allstate since I started driving 37 years ago and my father had been with them many years before that but I decided to get quotes from all the majors.
I was shocked to find that Allstate was at least double what others were charging for the exact same coverage and they were four times more than Progressive. I sent the quotes to my Allstate agent who replied several days later saying they could not do any better. Bye Allstate and hello Progressive.
Neither valued my customer loyalty at all so I left. Good reminders to know your worth and go where it's appreciated.
Then it was the first 200 of these cars that are up for grabs, if you order or pre order one, you can have it at msrp, but all others after those, will pay a $5k mark up.
The funny part is, the dealer I wanted to deal with, adopted this policy but a few of their local competitors did not, so for me it was as easy as moving from one dealership to another about 5 minutes away to find a deal for sticker, how can, I be sure?
Because they offered me a car a few weeks ago for MSRP, and I almost took it.
If I had been more prepared for it, I would be driving it right now.
I have to wait until I have a bit more of a down payment and with that, they said I can still have a car at MSRP when I am ready in a few months.
I then looked around and found two other dealers willing to do the same, so the ITS isn't as hard to get as the FL5 when it comes to market adjustments, you just need to call around.
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