Dealership Badging

[rrrucke]

Hey - has anyone told their dealership "not" to badge their smart? I did! Unfortunately Ray Catena Motors (aka smart center Edison) has a hideous dealership badge in the shape of a large circle which I told them not to stick on the rear of my car. I can't believe they put that ugly thing on all their luxury cars!!!

It's bad enough that they have a license plate holder advertising their dealership. But happily when I take delivery, Danny said he would swap out their plate holder for my custom one.

[rwcmick]

I HATE dealership badging. I don't think San Jose sticks anything on there other than the license plate surround. I've never understood how dealerships get away w/ that. To top it off, a lot of the stick-ons on hideous!

[SMART]

No word on if my smart center has been doing any placement of there cars but I would like to nip that one fore sure.

Does anyone know what the car arrives like and what preparation is performed by the dealership?

[SmartBob]

I HATE dealership badging. I don't think San Jose sticks anything on there other than the license plate surround. I've never understood how dealerships get away w/ that. To top it off, a lot of the stick-ons on hideous!

Yeah, I just peal 'em off with the help of a hair dryer or something and replace it with my Darwin Fish or maybe a "If you see this fortwo a rockin' don't come a knockin' sticker. LOL

[stevenvillatoro]

Hard to believe that any dealer still would try to add their badge, sheesh! Put that right up there with pinstriping. (Anyone planning on pinstriping his/her smart???)

[kurt013]

I was just reading the posts on dealer prep and doc fees. Seems to me that should be part of their job as an automobile dealership. I propose car buyers form a pact to charge the dealer a "badge fee" if they want to advertise on the cars we are paying for.

[SMARTnTiny]

I've had my dealership remove ugly stickers. I'm of the same mindset of kurt013. I'm not paying for them to advertise on my car. Yes they can give me a license plate bracket which, if I'm unhappy with their service, I can easily remove. Otherwise - I'll shop with a dealership that WON'T do it.

[Pivosmart]

Free advertising for them. Any badge comes off a block away from the dealer. Doc fees? Waive them and I might let you have your license plate holder on my car.

[BeSmart]

Originally Posted by kurt013

I was just reading the posts on dealer prep and doc fees. Seems to me that should be part of their job as an automobile dealership. I propose car buyers form a pact to charge the dealer a "badge fee" if they want to advertise on the cars we are paying for.

Let's see, what would be reasonable? It should be higher for Floridians. $800? Maybe correlated with the doc fee charges? This seems reasonable.

[young-nyc]

at some dealerships they don't just stick on something as simple as a sticker or a stick on badge,
my friend who bought an M5 a while back had a "PAINT ON" dealer name on his trunk...
boy was that hell to get it removed..