AtlAvant

I negotiated to place an order today on a '01 A4 with the local dealer. Everything went fine, until we got to the paperwork and I saw a "Dealer Service Charge" added to the final price we had negotiated. I got so mad at what I perceived to be bulls*** that I walked out. It wasn't the amount -- it was the principle of me paying extra to cover their overhead (which should be built into the price of the car). He said it's a standard fee that all dealers -- not just Audi dealers -- charge, and that this dealer charged less than some others. I don't recall paying that fee on my previous car purchases.

Is he trying to pull a fast one, or is this legit? How many here have paid this fee? Please help, I'm trying to order the car ASAP, but don't want to be shafted.

Thanks.

Mindcrime

Tell the dealer to stick it. When I've evered ordered a car from the factory I never had any crap like they are trying to pass off on you.

Rhema

Before I started negotiations with my dealer, I explicitly stated that I was not going to pay for any service charges, prep fees, or other extras. Fortunately the dealership, Tischer Audi (MD), doesn't charge these things or try to pull a fast one over their customers.

AtlAvant

I know I shouldn't pay it, but I'm wondering if I'm making a bigger deal out of it than it is. Mainly, I'm wondering if I'm being stupid for passing up getting my car from a local dealer because of a measly $200 service charge. It just ticked me off -- the last straw, since I wasn't getting the best deal, anyway. If a lot of people have paid this, I guess I can suck it up and pay it. But if nobody else is, then forget it. So how many people here have paid a similar fee? Your responses will help me.

It's been 13 years since my last car purchase (not counting the wife's), and now I remember why it's such a dreaded thing...

Thanks in advance for your responses.

av_audi

Not all brand dealerships charge it, but I think Audi typically does. But it is of course negotiable. You can ask them to absorb it fully or partially.

Try to price a few different brand cars with carorder.com and look for the fees in their "invoice." With some brands you won't see any.

s4wood

Valid Fees

1) Advertising Fee (yes, I think this is a valid fee). What happens is that in major Metropolitan areas that regions dealerships have to chip in for local advertising on TV (and maybe in radio and print ads..I don't know for sure). This fee is passed on to the dealerships...and they recoup this fee on each car sold (exceptions may, however, happen)

2) Destination Fee (gotta pay this one)

3) Loan or Lease Fee (sometimes negotiable)


The fees that I really don't like to see are:

1) PDI or Pre-Delivery Inspection (or prep). If some dealership was trying to charge this fee..I would walk. IMHO, this is part of the overhead of running the dealership..prepping the car after they arrive on the transport trucks. (Do you see grocery stores charging for getting individual cereal boxes out of the big cardboard transportation boxes? No, you don't)

2) Major upcharges on LoJack, Permaplate, window etching, and the like. These items do not cost the dealership much...(I think LoJack costs about $305...dealers can still make a little bit on it...but I really don't like to see it being sold at $600 or more - how about LoJack at $395 or $425?...sounds good to me)

One other hint....money factors used to compute lease deals can vary ....be careful that you have a money factor towards the low end of the spectrum.<p><a href="http://registry.audiworld.com/audi/registry/details.asp?car=3821"><br><br>
<img SRC="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/AudiWorldPics/2000/ss_s4sig1.jpg"<br><br>
Steve S.
00 Nogaro S4
NorCal Audi Club
http://www.norcalaudiclub.org

Bill S

Once a negotiation is concluded, both parties should stick to the terms. My dealer also tried to add on charges after price was agreed, but fortunately I had the original deal in writing. It took a threat to go to the state Attorney General to fix it, and this was at Clair, generally considered a good dealer.

In my opinion, other than TTT (tax, title, tags, all of which ultimately go to the state, not the dealer), no charge is legitimate if not disclosed and agreed to during negotiations.

Of course, without proof of the earlier agreement, in practice your only real recourse is to shop around at other dealers. But I would insist on talking to the dealership's owner and explaining that dishonest negotiating tactics will be reported here.

R.H.Leon

Only fee paid beyond 1200 over invoice was $149 serv. fee. Went to two dealers & each charged it.