Dealer fees

[Dave_s]

Not sure this is the right place to put this, but I figure there are alot of knowledgable people hanging around so I may as well ask.

I 'm looking to replace my Taurus. Its got 196K on it and it failed emmisions. It has served me well. The dealership I'm dealing with wants to charge me a "dealer convienince fee". I'm going to ask them what the fee pays for. While I wait on that though, I figure regardless of the answer its a junk fee. Whats a reasonable junk fee? I'm in CT if that matters.

[Willyum]

You may want to make this more clear, "convienience" for what ?

[shorod]

Don't salvage yards still pay for your "junk" vehicle if you drop it off with them? Heck, usually they even pay you if they have to pick the car up and tow it away.

I too would be curious to learn what the convenience fee is for.

-Rod

[robroy55]

Hello, I sold cars and trucks for 12 years and the Dealer Fee is just extra profit to the dealer. Just tell them you are NOT going to pay the Dealer Fee at all. Believe me, they will NOT let you leave with purchasing the new vehicle over a fake dealer fee!! If they say thay can't and have to charge you this fee, just get up and start to walk out the door and they WILL call you back in!!! Be TOUGH and stand your ground!!!

Trust me, they are there to SELL cars and trucks not to have customers walk away!!

Good Luck,
Rob Roy

[Dave_s]

In should have explained that by "new" I meen "newly mine". Its a two year old car.

I am going to have trouble walking away on this car. I have been looking at online prices of the car, and I can't find anyone selling a similar car before taxes, tags, and fees for what I am paying after taxes tags and fees. I figure I can get anyone down a little bit, but I would have to get someone down 15 to 20 percent to get the same price on the same car. I may just have to eat the fee.

The worst part of the whole thing is that if they had told me about the fee in the first place (when I asked for a total price on the car), I would have just paid it. Now I want to argue it.

[Hungrycat7]

Just argue it!!!! They are going to take the car to a salvage yard or auction and get money for it! Why would they charge you if they are going to make money on it? It is just a scam to boost numbers. Like the previous poster said just argue it. If they say you have to pay it walk out!!! You can bet you won't even make it out the door before they reconsider this so called "fee."

[DistanceGuy1]

Are you sure they are not referring to the a dealer Conveyance fee as opposed to what you typed.. Convenience fee?

I too am from CT and dealers will charge a Conveyance fee for the "paperwork they have to do." It is BS, but this what a Conveyance covers.

[Dave_s]

He called it convenience, but he may have meant conveyance. He has not been the most forthright of folks. I am going to call another dealership tomorrow and see if they will match his price on a similar car. If so, the fee goes or I go. If not, I will try to argue it, but I'm not going to walk out on the better deal because of it.

[Dave_s]

Its conveyance and not convenience. I asked the guy what it is for. He said to build in some profit. You would think that the profit was built into the sales price. Being frustrated with the guy, I stopped into a bunch of other dealerships today. No one has any interest in matching the price on a similar car. Looks like I'll be paying his fee.

[rhandwor]

You will do better buying outright. Normally a scrapyard will pickup your vehicle at your house free maybe even give you a couple of hundred dollars.

['97ventureowner]

Originally Posted by rhandwor

You will do better buying outright. Normally a scrapyard will pickup your vehicle at your house free maybe even give you a couple of hundred dollars.

The price of scrap has risen dramatically in the past few years to the point in my area most scrap dealers are picking up junk vehicles for free and paying a minimum of $100 to $150 on up to $350. I got rid of a minivan back in June and got $250 for it, whereas a few years ago probably would've only received maybe $25 to $50 for it.

[Dave_s]

The conveyance fee applies regardless of my trade in. I have asked around at a couple of dealerships. They all want the fee.

I'm getting $600 for my sable. it has 156K on it, a dent in a door, and a broken off mirror. It also has the SEL on. It seems there is an issue with one of the solenoids inside the trany. The car is worth its weight in metal less crushing fees. I think that comes out to less than $600.

[rhandwor]

I've found that asking for an outright price its cheaper than buying it with a trade in your actually paying them to take your vehicle. Ask another dealer and ask for both prices.
Normally they have a shipping fee from where it was mfg. to the dealer I think this is what your concerned about.

[Willyum]

It seems like the discussion is about at least 2 different things. !. The D & H charges dealers charge when purchasing a vehicle. 2. The cost to junk out a car.

[Dave_s]

It looks like I'm paying the fee. I called another less local dealer and asked if they can match the price (less the conveyance fee). They were nice about it, but told me they don't have anything similar at that price.

As for the other issue, as to if it is worth trading in a car, I can't speak to the case in general. In this case, I am getting more than the market value for it. I can't complain.