| Rich |
| Well....I did it. I walked from my MDX. I won't bore you with the details but had a not-so-great deal (you know $$$$ over MSRP) but at least it was here (almost). When it came time to talk trade in, the dealer tried to low ball. I asked for more (just $500 more!! He siad no, that it would be viewed by his sales people that he was negotiating the price of the MDX and he could not do it becuase "that would cause havoc" on the sales floor. So I walked for $500. It wasn't the $500 really (could esaily affort that), it was the fact that they actually were so convinced that they were doing ME a favor. Let me tell you they were actually quite stunned that I walked. Maybe I am an idiot, but paying $$$ over MSRP and very high accessory prices was enough, but trying to squeeze me for the $500 was just too much...even for a precious MDX. That's the free market I guess. |
|
|
| TheWorm |
| Good for you. Are you going to do a deposit at another dealer instead? Don't forget to post in the Dealer Ratings section if you haven't already! |
|
|
| MGTD |
I would not worry about it. In fact you will probably feel better knowing that you had some contol. Why don't you pop down to Portland and get one there?
Also they will probably call you in a week asking you to reconsider. Tell them you have another one on target but if they want to make you a sweet deal you might reconsider.
The car is nice but it is not worth the hastles that some dealers put you through. I know. I waited 5 months for mine and pleanty of cars came around during that period for $x over invoice. I paid msrp with a few extras thrown in for my wait and the fact the dealer was nice. Even when I got my car the dealer gave me an insulting tradein. Well below wholesale. I expected that going in so I sold it myself for wholesale to a private party.
Chris |
|
|
| wmquan |
Good for you Rich. Some of the dealers around Seattle are still hoping to cash in on the general popularity of SUV's around here and whatever remains of Microsofties and dot-commers.
If you're still considering an MDX, Roger on this system works for a dealership in Portland and many folks are happy with him, though there'll be some kind of wait. |
|
|
| Kap |
Roger is a very nice guy, but he (or his dealership...) wants $1600 over msrp.
You can do better. |
|
|
| Kap |
Rich, the Washington state Acura dealers (all five of them) have been charging over msrp. A saleswomen (Kristi) at Hinshaws in Fife told me this week they would sell for MSRP, but she also gave me lots of misinformation so I didn't have much trust in her.
My experience is that you have to go out of state. I have one on order from Cerritos (California). It's less than convenient, but it is better than getting gouged. |
|
|
| wmquan |
quote:
Originally posted by Kap
Roger is a very nice guy, but he (or his dealership...) wants $1600 over msrp.
You can do better.
Ouch. Didn't realize that, thanks for the info. Hope you get your MDX soon!
Also didn't realize that all the WA dealers are now charging above MSRP. Getting ugly out there. I had bought from Acura of Bellevue before they decided to mark up the MSRP. |
|
|
| Kap |
William, the reason I was slightly annoyed with Roger is that last week his website quoted MSRP through 8/24/01, and when I contacted him he quoted $1600 over.
I pointed out the inconsistency, and he was vague in his reply. But in his defense, he has revised his site. It still lists MSRP, but now says to call him for price.
He seems like a good guy, but my bs antennae is oversensitized since I've been shopping for an MDX. |
|
|
| Rich |
Thanks for all the suggestions. I am still debating a solution. The funny thing is, the market price is what "we" are willing to pay. I am willing to pay the market price, and REALLLY wanted the MDX, but at some point dealers need to know that they are in the service business as well, and as so many of you pointed out, some day their reputation is going to matter. I told the Sales Manager so much and he shrugged his shoulders. The dealer also told me that he was sure he could get me the $500 more for the trade-in if I would only wait till he had more time and besides the vehicle wasn't here and they did not do purchase order sales. Huh? I think he was sure that once the MDX was here and I got in it, I would melt like butter and beg him to take my car. They tried a few other more dubious tactics and in the end I had to ask myself do I really want to reward that kind of behavior. I said no.
Still hope to have an MDX some day. Thanks again. :( |
|
|
| Sparkie |
Rich; Come on down to Texas - Here in the Dallas-Fort worth area MSRP and no forced accessories will get you an MDX :D :D :D
Sparkie |
|
|
| AtlantaMDX |
Rich,
Don't sweat it. You did the right thing. You'll feel better about it in the long run. I'd suggest taking your trade in car to Car Max or AutoNation and get a quote. Take it out of the equation of the Acura deal. I'd also CALL every dealership within a range that you are comfortable driving to in order to make a deal. I was able to call about 10 dealerships that were within 2.5 hours and took delivery within 3 days.
When you call, ask them to fax a quote on what you want and an ETA. Leave your name/number. You may not be able to get it in 3 days, but by dealing with multiple dealerships, you dramatically increase your odds. |
|
|
| RGWomack |
| Unfortunately, at present our dealership is $2000.00 over MSRP. But every other month our program seems to change. I'm not real happy with the program either but I don't have any control over it. The only thing it has done for us is slow down the wait time because many folks don't want to pay over MSRP and I certainly understand that. We are about caught up with the orders from the past. But as long as they are being sold before they show up I doubt our GM will change the program. Right now we are about 2 months out. |
|
|
| bdespain |
I am not sure where you were dealing. I live in sothern Idaho but bought mine from Acura of Spokane. I just started calling around and they had 3 coming in not claimed. They wanted $2500 over. I told them no thanks but left my name and number. Over the next 48 hours they had called me 4 times and the price was finally $200 over with rear mud flaps. Picked it up that week end. I was told that they didn't like to have them sitting around and since it was on the lot they wanted to move it.
Make sure everything is in writing. I had the VIN number, price, and trade-in faxed to me before I left home. They tried to work me a little when I got there, but I just showed them the fax and told them I wasn't in the mood. They shut up and processed the deal.
Call around you may get lucky like I did.:rolleyes: |
|
|
| lmeans |
It's too bad Rich that you had to walk away from an MDX especially since you were so close to having one. But think of it this way, you can put your order in for a 2002 and have a newer one :).
Lmeans |
|
|
| Todd Emme |
quote:
Originally posted by wmquan
Ouch. Didn't realize that, thanks for the info. Hope you get your MDX soon!
Also didn't realize that all the WA dealers are now charging above MSRP. Getting ugly out there. I had bought from Acura of Bellevue before they decided to mark up the MSRP.
Wow, you were lucky! A friend of mine who lives in the Bellevue area wrote to me recently that Acura of Bellevue wanted MSPR + $2000. Needless to say this plus the wait and the dealer gouging has made him more open to other vehicles. |
|
|
| genemish |
| I would never ever ever ever pay over MSPR for ANYTHING.. For a vehicle, lawn mower.. or anything else! :) |
|
|
| wmquan |
quote:
Originally posted by Todd Emme
Wow, you were lucky! A friend of mine who lives in the Bellevue area wrote to me recently that Acura of Bellevue wanted MSPR + $2000. Needless to say this plus the wait and the dealer gouging has made him more open to other vehicles.
Yep, they went above MSRP shortly after introduction. This despite the fact that their web site had bragged about no markup (the web site was updated and removed all this info). They claim that they are "up-front" about the premium, though that's small comfort.
Anyway, when we got our vehicle we needed one by around the time our baby was born. Had all WA dealers been asking for above MSRP, we would have bought the 2000 ML320 we were looking at, which the MB dealership would have gladly sold us for well under MSRP, along with an end-of-year dealer incentive that put it well below invoice.
Wish Acura could control its dealers like MB can and hold them to MSRP. While that would go a long way toward helping, it wouldn't satisfy all complaints since waiting lists would probably go from a few/serveral months to several months or a year, judging from posts here. |
|
|
| Morgan89 |
| Until I joined this site I was rather disappointed with my sales experience - I just expected some royal treatment considering what we have to drop for the MDX. Anyway, after reading all of your posts I must say Orr Acura in Shreveport, Louisiana was a really great experience. They added nothing, sold at MSRP, no surprises and I got my vehicle in 3 weeks. In addition, they researched for me where the best place was to register the vehicle (we're military and my husband and I don't have the same state of residence). They figured out a way for me to avoid paying ANY sales tax. They also gave me $2000 trade in for a car that was only worth $800 KBB. I better go back and repost my dealer rating in your section for that. My salesperson wasn't too bright though - he didn' t know much about the vehicle at all and we had to wait around the dealership forever to close the deal. But, at least I didn't get ripped off in any way. Maybe the cost of a plane ticket to pick up your MDX would make it worth it......just a thought. |
|
|
| Rich |
| As some of you suggested the dealership called today and now offered so as to assure that there are no "no hard feelings" that I can have the MDX with the trade-in I wanted. Guess what I said thanks but not thanks. Boy was that hard to do. I really want an MDX but I can't reward the behaviour that I saw through this deal. Plus, I'd have to deal with their service department even though the salesman said I wouldn't have to. Geez, you think he would have said something positive about his service department but nope all he was interested in was the immediate $$$ for a deal. Well, call me crazy... |
|
|
| genemish |
| They called.. I wonder if they'll call again.. bets anyone?! :) |
|
|
| Kap |
Rich,
Congratulations on refusing to play the game.
I couldn't stand dealing with the Washington state dealers. Their arrogance is amazing.
Why not search further afield and pay MSRP? When the rig arrives, you'll have a nice drive to break her in.
Good luck.
- Kap |
|
|
| ardvarkus |
Just a comment:
In general, I don't think the sales department cares ONE WIT how their behavior might affect your willingness to use the Service Department. (Threatening to not use their service group is a laugh..)
I don't think the behaviour of the Sales Department is a indicator of the performance of the Service guys.
OK, two comments.
Perhaps a very well run dealership would be more likely to have all their ducks in a row...and, they'd be more likely to understand the big picture impact of Total Customer Quality. (But this is Acura, not Ford or Lexus- what am I thinking.)
The moral of the story? Get the vehicle however and wherever you can- then get it serviced at the best local dealer.
Ard |
|
|
| phillyflyer |
I found this to be an interesting thread!
Rich, way to go. Don't reward bad behavior! There are dealers out there that are worthy of our business!!!
And Roger, say it ain't so! I have read your many insightful posts with nary a clue that you were charging consumers $$$ over MSRP. 
Ed  |
|
|
| ghm2112 |
Rich:
Good for you sticking to your guns.
If you are still interested in getting an MDX and don't mind venturing afield, I know of 2 guys who have been successful by:
1. contacting salesmen at dealerships NOT charging over MSRP with their specifics re: color and trim preferences;
2. getting on their list of people to call when orders fall through; and
3. being ready with checkbook in hand when the call comes.
Just this weekend a friend eliminated his "october-ish" wait for a tootsie roll MDX (like remery's) and is now 'rolling' in style. As a point of justice an MSRP+forced options dealer lost his business!!!!
Unfortunately, I only know a salesman here in NorCal so I may not be of much help to you in Ichiro City.
Good Luck and Happy Trails.:D |
|
|
|
