Community Forums

ChiefGeek · 02-27-2012, 11:39 PM

Is this normal to have a $300 processing fee and $500 prep fee on a new TT?

Mr_D · 02-27-2012, 11:56 PM

Not that I know of, but I haven't bought a TT since the 1980's. Seems like it would be just extra dealer profit that should be in the purchase price.
Although the car dealers seem to charge a "document preparation fee", and again, that should be part of the sale and a dealers cost, not passed onto the buyer as a separate line item.

tomdinwv · 02-28-2012, 05:01 AM

The dealer I bought my used pop up from wanted to charge a $295 prep fee, but I got that waved by telling them I'd go somewhere else. When I bought my new TT ( at a different dealer ) There was no mention of any prep fees. They even threw in a WD hitch and sway control for no extra charge.

jzick · 02-28-2012, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomdinwv

The dealer I bought my used pop up from wanted to charge a $295 prep fee, but I got that waved by telling them I'd go somewhere else. When I bought my new TT ( at a different dealer ) There was no mention of any prep fees. They even threw in a WD hitch and sway control for no extra charge.

I have not bought a travel trailer in years, but almost every time I look at a vehicle of any kind there are goofy fees added by dealers. We looked at a car the other day that had a "competitive fee" added to the MSRP. The dealer said that was added as the auto was a popular model. When we start negotiating for a vehicle our first statement is that we will not even consider paying the extra fees, whatever they are.

smiller · 02-28-2012, 07:56 AM

Dealers charge all manner of fees, some that are truly required and others that are pure BS/extra profit. The best way to sort it all out when shopping among multiple dealers is to always negotiate on an 'out the door' price, that way they can play all the games they want but the bottom line stays the same.

edj · 02-28-2012, 11:18 AM

It is easy to get those BS extra charges dropped. If they don't drop them after requested by you, get up and go out the door. 95% of the time, you will find them dropped before you reach your car.... If they insist on being stubborn, there are lots of other RV dealers around.

Fred1609 · 02-28-2012, 11:47 AM

we bought our new 5er 2 years ago and after getting the best price we could, DW told the dealer that we werent paying any of the extra fees. After some talking they accepted our conditions.

LadyFitz... · 02-29-2012, 03:30 PM

If comparison shopping, ask for the "out the door" price. All that really matters is the bottom line price; how the dealer arrives at that price (lowered purchase price, dropped fees, increased trade-in value, etc.) doesn't really matter.

papaquad · 02-29-2012, 07:37 PM

Just closed this week on our new TT, no extra fees were added, just taxes and enviro fee.

easdsa · 03-03-2012, 07:46 PM

Every vehicle I've purchased, new or used, has been on an "out the door" price. I tell the sales people that I'm not interested in what "discount" they are giving me or what the trade-in price is or what sort of fees they charge. All we are discussing is the size of the check that I write.

If the dealer wants or needs to charge a $300 "document fee" that's fine. He can cut the price by $300 on line two and then add the document fee back in on line three. I've been told that the document fee is a state law, but I've never seen a real reference to back that up, and I really don't care.

smiller · 03-03-2012, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kb0zke

Every vehicle I've purchased, new or used, has been on an "out the door" price. I tell the sales people that I'm not interested in what "discount" they are giving me or what the trade-in price is or what sort of fees they charge. All we are discussing is the size of the check that I write.

Yep. If you start debating the fees/discounts/etc. with them then you're playing their game. All that matters is the bottom line.

Mr_D · 03-03-2012, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kb0zke

I've been told that the document fee is a state law, but I've never seen a real reference to back that up, and I really don't care.

It's probably allowed by state law but not required AFAIK.

denverhank · 03-07-2012, 11:41 AM

Bottom line, out the door price is all that matters, how they divy up the money is their problem, not yours. And don't fall for "your payment would only be $x", always go with out the door pricing as they'll give you a low payment but the terms will only be in their favor of making more money.

derald1961 · 03-07-2012, 07:36 PM

I would tell them to drop it or I would walk. Those fees are instant profit add on's. Very few people are gullible enough to pay them but it's 100 percent for the dealer when a sucker does and it makes the dealer look like a stand up guy when he waives the fee when someone refuses or starts to walk out the door.