Be Aware Bogus "Dealer Prep Fee"

[BlueSmart&911]

Be aware that Smart Center of Smithtown is charging a bogus "Dealer Prep Fee" when picking up your car...other dealers do not charge this!

The fee is $349!!

We didn't choose which dealer our Smarties were shipped to and it really is unfair that customers who live nearest to that dealership get charged more than else where.

We should band together to get our $349 refunded...call 1-800-SMARTUSA and complain if you are one of us.

[JPaul]

Please, check:
http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/for...&postcount=314
Thank you.

[meaux61]

Dealer fees..

Check out the dealer fees thread. Smithtown is posted there along with most of the other fees in the country.

Meaux

Dealer fees..

What I am talking about is anything above and beyond MSRP, tax, title, license and destination charge.
Please list fees that are not included in the above.
From Highest to lowest dealer rip-off add on profit. Most are called "doc fees", some are called prep fees....even a notary fee!!!


Tampa, Fla - 599.00
Palm Beach Fla- 595.00
Tyson's Corner, Va-584.70-various fees mysterious and otherwise
Orlando Fla- WAS 799.00 PLUS 30.50 misc fees...down to 499.00 plus 30.50 under PRESSURE !!!
Louisville KY- 499.25
Clearwater, Fla - 699.00-reduced to 499.00 UNDER PRESSURE
Ft. Lauderdale Fl (Westin)-499.00
Sarasota, Fl- 489.50
Jacksonville, Fl -479.70- the seventy cents must be for licking an envelope.
Orange Park Fl- 479.00
Chandler Az.-400.00
Atlanta, Ga- 399.00
Merriam, Ks- 399.00
Va Beach, Va- 399.00
Charlotte, NC - 399.00
Carey, NC - 398.00
Knoxville, TN -395.00
Winston Salem, NC -389.00
Alexandria, Va-349.00
Smithtown, NY -349.00
Hartford Ct- 299.00
Lindon, UT- 298.00
Denver, CO -295.00
Englewood, NJ 295.00
La Vista NE-279.00
Lynnfield, Ma- 259.00
Bedford Oh- 250.00
Columbus Ohio- 250.00
Edison NJ-249.00
Albuquerque, NM-239.50
Creve Coeur, MO. -195.00
Bloomfield Michigan - $180
Lake Bluff IL-150.00
Lincolnwood, IL -150.00
Indianapolis-150.00 (raised from first delivery which was 95.00)
Milwaukee, WI - 125.00
Annapolis Md. - 100.00
Germantown, Md.-99.00
Cherry Hill NJ- 95.00
Tulsa, Ok - 89.00
Pittsburgh, Pa-55.00 (plus 29.00 misc dealer fees) TOTAL of 84.00
Roslyn NY 65.00
Beverly Hills Ca-55.00
Laguna Niguel Ca-55.00
Riverside, Ca- 55.00
Sacramento, Ca-55.00
San Diego, Ca-55.00
San Francisco, Ca-55.00
San Jose, Ca-55.00
Santa Barbara, Ca-55.00
Universal City, Ca-55.00
West Covina, Ca -55.00
Devon, Pa- 55.00
San Antonio, Tx-50.00 but BEWARE the $100.00 window etching, just say NO!!
Bloomington, MN- 50.00
Portland, OR-50.00
Seattle Wa.- 50.00
Manhattan, NY. -50.00
Roundrock Tx- 50.00
Dallas, TX- 50.00
Houston , Tx - 50.00
Sugarland Tx- 50.00
Buffalo NY - 45.00
latham, NY -45.00
White Plains, NY-45.00

Please...if your dealership is not listed here and you have had a delivery, please post doc fees and other dealer markups here. If you had NO doc fee or dealer fee, please note that as well. I want to get every dealer in the USA and thier policies.
Thanks,
Meaux


I think we should send this to Mr. Penske when we are finished so that he knows how these dealers are making him look bad on his promise. I am sure glad I do not live in Florida at the moment...even with 6 inches of snow on the ground.

[Dave Van]

My total fees at Pittsburgh/Rahal was $65. That was title, doc and tag. Pretty good when I see what other makes have been charging.

[Fredvon4]

bluesmart&911.... welcome the SCOA on going angst and rip off game....

Meaux61 has several long months compiling the LIST and we have beat the snot out of Dave Shembri and PAG to fix this inequety.... best we got was one or two Florida dealers to lower their's a tad but not enough

Glad my state limits this BS

You should try and get your state attorney General involved

[meaux61]

We lowered Atlanta a bit too Fred. Thanks!

Meaux

[jwight]

BlueSmart&911, just so we're all using the same terminology, they didn't hit you up for a dealer prep fee - they're reimbursed by smart USA for that. The charge you mentioned, and on Meux's list, is the dreaded dealer "doc" fee. We're still waiting for somebody to explain how that fee is derived and what documents it covers.

[BlueSmart&911]

On my bill of sale it is listed as "accessory" and I was charged tax on it also!

[Big Panda]

Originally Posted by BlueSmart&911

Be aware that Smart Center of Smithtown is charging a bogus "Dealer Prep Fee" when picking up your car...other dealers do not charge this!

HORSE....DEAD. PLEASE, stop the beating!!!!

[mmmeat]

Originally Posted by jwight

BlueSmart&911, just so we're all using the same terminology, they didn't hit you up for a dealer prep fee - they're reimbursed by smart USA for that. The charge you mentioned, and on Meux's list, is the dreaded dealer "doc" fee. We're still waiting for somebody to explain how that fee is derived and what documents it covers.

Doc fees are to pay for the preparation and printing of all the forms necessary for the deal. Reynolds & Reynolds - aka LAW Printing - usually is the form printer of choice for most dealerships. Interestingly, they are also the software supplier for about a third of the marquee dealerships nationwide. The forms aren't cheap to print ... and programming the forms costs money for the dealership, too.

As another aside, ReyRey - the printer - doesn't bother to check with ReyRey - the software - when they come up with a new form, so the forms sometimes are so big and so cumbersome that they don't fit in the printers, and they certainly never line up right. They're a PITA to program.

Some states - like California - limit the amount of doc fees (I believe that CA's are $55 max), some states don't.

Now ... to get back to the forms ... Watch how things add up. Programmers from ReyRey are taught to roll miscellaneous fees into certain lines. Doc Fees is a favorite, as not all forms have blank lines for everything that the dealer is charging you. They can't roll the fees into the Monroney price, so the fees have to be "hidden" somewhere else. The way the math works, the dealer knows the Monroney, they know the OTD price. They then subtract everything that appears on the form including the selling price, and whatever amount is left over is pushed onto the "doc fee" or other line.

So, Meat, what are these other fees? When I got to F&I the guy turned and showed me the screen.

Yeah ... but you don't know exactly what that screen shows. And, more importantly, there's a second screen that the dealer didn'y show you that lists additional fees - breaking them out on separate lines so the dealer's accountant knows where to apply the fees.

Your pal,
Meat.