Dealership Tries to Buy Jeep During State Inspection

[GHWillys]

Anyone have this weirdness happen? A lady, I can only assume is from my dealerships BDC/internet sales dungeon texted me while I was waiting all day for my state inspection offering to buy my truck “and get me into something better” and that she “had an offer ready and could meet me back at the dealership.” Keep in mind that this is dealership that only sells Jeeps. I had noticed sales people come out and take pictures of my truck when I pulled into the lot which kinda creeped me out. I told her $120,000 ?(priced not to sell). That’s seemed to really offend her and she stated that “she was sure that I didn’t pay that much for it.” I agreed but said that I’m not really interested in selling, I do have close to $100k in it (not that I’d ever expect to get that back out of it) and the truck “has appreciated by $15,000 according to the Virginia Department of Taxation”. I also told her since she’s trying to buy the truck from a customer who’s just in for a state inspection for which there’s a national stop sale in effect, they must be really desperate. So I figure it’s a sellers market. She exclaimed that “they’re in business to make money!” Who knew?

This and the fact that it’s basically now impossible to call a dealership and get someone on the phone, make service appointments, etc. Things are getting weird.

I haven't experienced this in the year and a half I have owned my Gladiator, but I did have a salesperson at a Kia dealership years ago approach me while I was waiting for an oil change to ask about trading in my car to upgrade. I politely declined.
I would think that the sales staff at most dealerships would use this tactic to generate leads for sales, especially if traffic to the dealership has slowed down.

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[Wolf Island Diver]

What is a "vehicle inspection"?

See above under Virginia taxes, fees, fines and laws.

Virginia State Police safety inspection. All cars are inspected once a year. It costs $20. Our last governor tried to get rid of it. But like personal property taxes (pay the state 4.5% sales tax every year on the current value of your car…forever) every governor talks about getting rid of it, and then it never goes away.

 

[Wolf Island Diver]

I would give you $120,000, if the doggie was included. ?

He’s a working line bred master cat and frisbee herder. He’s priceless

 

[Wolf Island Diver]

They’d give you $38k and tell you the mods don’t add value. Then they’d laugh as they list it for $72k and list every mod… a week later they tell the guy who buys it they can’t take less than $72k, it’s a sellers market and they need to make money after all.

 

[Florida Mojave]

Yeah, it’s kinda weird. My dealership is sitting on tons of inventory and used prices are still high. Jeep has priced themselves almost out of the market so they’re not moving anything. There’s not a single 4xe on the lot under $70k. They had a modded Sport JT that only had a lift and tires. They wanted $20k extra for that. It’s not that I’d expect dealerships to not be trying to make money but I feel like they’ve gone crazy. It’s gotten to where you’re more likely than not to see a “market adjustment” on just about every car despite supply chain issues mostly having straightened out. Now they’re just trying to gouge people as long as they can. I know from my sister working at a Toyota dealership, salespeople are expected to sell above sticker at this point. They work down from the “market price” That’s the new normal, regardless of availability.

My suspicion was that they’d like to stick my truck up front where modded Jeeps bring people onto the lot. Or they really thought they could buy the thing for some ridiculously low amount and flip it quick. I’m so glad I’m not trying to buy a car now. It’s just more downward pressure on consumers. One more thing to add to the pile of BS screwing you over in every transaction or interaction with any market. We’ve got to be collectively reaching the breaking point.

Maybe you can work a deal with them to "pay you to park" on the lot and draw interested potential buyers - lol!!
Crazy how things are turning around in the markets....

 

[charliez]

That was just thier ice breaker to begin the process of trying to sell you a new Jeep.

 

[Viper501]

See above under Virginia taxes, fees, fines and laws.

Virginia State Police safety inspection. All cars are inspected once a year. It costs $20. Our last governor tried to get rid of it. But like personal property taxes (pay the state 4.5% sales tax every year on the current value of your car…forever) every governor talks about getting rid of it, and then it never goes away.

It finally went away here when the dealers started whining about having to increase the costs of inspection because they were losing money on them. No way the state was going to increase it and no way that the dealers were going to continue to do them so it quietly died. Now the Clampetts are free to drive any junk POS they want without any real recourse. The stuff that I see on the interstate going 70+ boggles my mind. It is like watching one of those cartoons where you’re just waiting for the punch line as it falls apart on the road.

 

[Pilsner]

It finally went away here when the dealers started whining about having to increase the costs of inspection because they were losing money on them. No way the state was going to increase it and no way that the dealers were going to continue to do them so it quietly died. Now the Clampetts are free to drive any junk POS they want without any real recourse. The stuff that I see on the interstate going 70+ boggles my mind. It is like watching one of those cartoons where you’re just waiting for the punch line as it falls apart on the road.

Good. Inspections are a joke. The government can't touch anything without screwing it up.

 

[BearDog]

I bought mine used a couple months before the world started running down hill instead of walking. Six months after, the dealership called and asked how I liked it. Told him "Same thing I told you when I bought it, I love this thing and God willing it will be the last truck I own." He then offered to buy it back. I said sure....$50k and it's yours (I paid $32k). Without hesitation he told me, "Done. When can you have it here?".

I was dumbfounded. Lmao. I laughed and said it's not for sale. He called me 6-8 times over the next year still wanting it.

 

[Viper501]

Good. Inspections are a joke. The government can't touch anything without screwing it up.

Pretty much but in some cases I think it helped *some* consumers / drivers to understand they needed to do some basic maintenance like tires, windshield wipers, and light bulbs. In Germany I understand that the inspection actually involves whacking the underside of the chassis to see if there are rust penetrations. Any penetration and the car is dead to them.

 

[RubiNewbCB]

Yeah, Virginia Is For Lovers…. of taxes, fees, fines and laws.

"CommieWealth" thanks to Fairfax and Loudon Counties

 

[Orange01z28]

I'm willing to sell right now, but there's no way a dealership will give me what i'd get private party

Unless they'd be willing to do a straight across trade for the right JLR 2 door

 

[Artsifrtsi]

I don't get them for my vehicles, but I do get for house. We got lucky and purchased a nice house in a great neighborhood relatively cheap, and over the last couple years it has nearly doubled in value. When I get the texts for realtors wanting to buy, I double the current value/estimate of the house.

 

[Erievon]

I got this on all three of my "Wave" oil changes. My truck is in the service bay, I'm in the waiting room, dude comes over
"Is that your Gladiator?" Yes sir...
"We want to put you in something new and better for the same price!!".
Ah great, I wanted to upgrade to a Rubi or Mojave.
"I can get you into a Ram for the same lease price you're paying!!! How awesome is that??".
I don't want a Ram. Can you get me into a JTR or JTM for close to what I'm paying now?
"Ah no, sorry, with interest rates your lease payment would be more then double what you're paying".
Thanks, is my truck done yet?

Ultimately I'm simply buying out the truck this month, I can't replace it for what the residual buy out is, so it seems like a no brainer to me.

 

[Erievon]

Yeah, Virginia Is For Lovers…. of taxes, fees, fines and laws.

Quite ironic, given their involvement in the founding of this country and separation from the King.

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