Are Doc Fees Bull ? ( Window Etching etc..)

[sage1]

I've been negotiating a price on a TE in my area with some minimal success and today when I got their "numbers" they also included a $370.00 doc fee (which they say they pay their office staff from) a 179.00 dollar window etching security feature and a 28.50 charge called a drive-away fee that covers the cost of them putting the new car info into the DMV system.

It all sounds like bull to me, especially the window security etching which has something to do with a stolen vehicle but that's what vin numbers and insurance is for. The Documnet fee seems like just more profit, same for the drive away fee.

What sort of "fees" are you folks seeing out there and what do you think of these?

 

[NHinAK]

The only fee that isn't negotiable (as far as I know) is the delivery fee of $810. Even that can be offset by lowering the vehicle price if you have a good salesman.

 

[SigSense]

My experience has been this: Tell them to take it off or you'll walk. Worked every time for me.

 

[Antman]

My experience has been this: Tell them to take it off or you'll walk. Worked every time for me.

+1 . Even had a salesman follow me into the parking lot and ask me to: "Come back inside, I'm sure we can remove those fees for ya."

Lowlifes, all of them IMO.:repuke:

 

[ClockWork]

Once the etching is done, it's permanent - unless you're talking about something different.

 

[Barry694]

Doc Fees

All of the fees are bull. However, most contracts will listed a doc fee of around $100 and will state somewhere in the fine print that this is not a mandated fee. Which means tell them to stick it. A lot of dealers have this preprinted on the form before they even fill it out for you to find. If they try to tell you it is required say fine, but redo the contract and reduce the price by the $100. In your case, $370 is absolutely ridiculous. Even the Lexus dealership in the D.C. area only listed $100 on their contract, which I had them take off. In fact they do not even have to do the DMV paperwork. They can give you the pertinent documents and you can take it to DMV and register and title it yourself. I did that on one of my cars when I first moved to DE from CA. I had to unregister my CA car anyhow, so I did both at the same time.

 

[the_josh]

That's all fluff their just trying to screw you on!

When I bought my truck I started st the invoice price and worked up, never start at msrp and try to work down. It's much harder that way


MSRP

Manufacturers SUGGESTED retail price

I know everyone knows that already but I think it helps as a reminder. Dealers have so many rebates from Toyota that they are making money no matter what even if sold at invoice

 

[WFO_Racer]

Negotiate via email.

Educate yourself on the cost of the spend.

Done correctly by the time you set foot in a dealer it is for final vehicle inspection with the vehicle brought to a area with good lighting for a thorough inspection before the wire transfer of funds.

This should not take any long than 45 minutes to sign the bill of sale.

People forget you are giving dealers a huge sum of cash they are not doing you a favor by selling you a car. I even expect refreshments to be served to me ( and I'm not talking some stale ass styrofoam cup of Costco coffee) during my transactions.

For the record the are bending you over dry on those add ons , hope they are at least buying you dinner first.

 

[1000MPH]

If I've already negotiated my "out the door" price I don't care how they divide it up.
Hmmm, are they taxable? Could be a slight benefit to you in lower taxes and reg fees.

 

[Silver T4R]

The last 2 vehicles that I bought I give them an "out the door price" that I'm going to pay. Thats for tax and all other fees. They can split it up however they want.

 

[Arterisk]

Negotiate via email.

I don't know if it's specific to Canada, but on the nearly 40 different dealership I've contacted via email, only 3 bothered to answer me. (and one of them was were I bought mine)

It's like if most of them don't feel confortable haggling via email.

 

[sage1]

Thanks for the feedback. No barrel bending going on here. I hadn't planned on paying them, we're negotiating but I'm in no hurry. If they actually etched the glass I probably wouldn't buy the vehicle, will have to see it.

My pricing is for 2011 TE w/KDSS no Nav and ranges from 36,800 to 38,000 plus bogus fees on the 38k unit. Only difference between the two vehicles is color and the pricer TE has remote start.

If I don't pick up one of these two in the next week I think I'll go with the out of state dealer who seems more up front with his pricing. We'll see.

S1

 

[bradtopp]

The act of etching isn't what they are trying to bully you into paying. The fee for the etching is to pay the "insurance" company who tracks the etched information and covers you if something happens.

Every time I have purchased a car from my local dealer I've made them remove the charge for the "etching," before I've made my deal. Don't let them bully you into thinking it is required since the etching is done. Tell them not to register it with the insurance company and to remove the charge. Done.

Once the etching is done, it's permanent - unless you're talking about something different.

 

[PracticalFJ]

My pricing is for 2011 TE w/KDSS no Nav and ranges from 36,800 to 38,000 plus bogus fees on the 38k unit. Only difference between the two vehicles is color and the pricer TE has remote start.



S1

I would make sure you really want that OEM remote start, I would do a quick search on this forum and read up about it. I've read that there are some drawbacks to the OEM system.

Whichever you choose, enjoy your new 4runner....They're Great!

 

[STLDAVE]

I have to agree witht he "out the door" pricing guys, that's what I negotiate for. As long as the total comes up to my negotiated price, what do i care how they split it up?

 

[sage1]

No I really don't want remote start. I don't know much about it though, I'll do a search. Only use I can think of would be to preset heat and defrost then fire it up a little early when we get snow.