$1,350 battery replacement?

[RiverMtnBeach]

Just to close-out this discussion... Some good news and I'll let this one go.

Service writer called and said the manager agreed the pricing on parts was somewhat high. Offering me some future service credit. Not a lot, but at least they agree that total is kind of crazy for batteries considering not even Mopar sells them at full MSRP.

So... Giving them another chance in the future - cautiously. But it's the sign of a good business when you at least try to keep a regular, local customer happy.

BTW - Hope all the folks here defending outrageous dealer prices never find themselves in my situation. Thanks for calling me a fool and telling me I need to learn a lesson. Really helpful there chief!

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[RiverMtnBeach]

You are trying to compare your special situation to what about 99.9% of all other vehicle owners experience.
It's not a dealer ripoff thing. They are finally treating you like any other customer and it appears to anger you that you no longer get "special treatment".
You can't compare.

the only issue I see here is you lost your special status at a dealership and you are mad about being treated like every other customer who has to WAIT IN LINE while you get special treatment and pricing.

You were lucky - and your luck ran out and now you are being told - you are like all of our other customers, no more, no less, special.

I'd be pissed if I saw you getting bumped to the front of the line and given special treatment and pricing - that's where I'd come out griping and tossing their name around.
Welcome to the rest of us.

No, you just sit there and take it without at least asking. It's a negotiation. Do you just walk into a dealer and buy cars at full sticker while getting pissed at everyone else getting a deal? No?
You get what you ask for. Like someone else posted earlier: It's a business, not a charity. They aren't going to help you out unless you ask, and if you don't negotiate you're a fool.

 

[Lost1wing]

I've worked with them before, and they have given me a deal when they knew I could just come by and take the truck elsewhere. What changed? "Oh, gee, tough luck it's not running... We'll charge you full MSRP this time." It's this opportunistic bullsh*t that pisses people off, and they deserve the hate for it. Sorry, not sorry.

I looked up the price of a filter and fluid for my Grand Cherokee transmission. I called ahead to see if they had it and they did. When I got there the parts guy told me the total and I had to ask if he included the filter. He said yep! I paid and looked at the bill. I was not charged suggested retail price. He charge dealer/installer price instead. I asked about that and he said, if we install it you get the dealer discount. I asked why I got the discount. He said you have multiple vehicle listed on my account, that's why. That would explain why I was charged full price $835 for a hub assy the time I sent my wife to get it. She called me and said it is a lot more than $380. She told the parts guy that I called it in. He found the part and ticket and charged her the $380.

Suggested retail is a crime, I don’t care aboit the number of lights they need to keep on. It's just stealing.

 

[Stan H]

I looked up the price of a filter and fluid for my Grand Cherokee transmission. I called ahead to see if they had it and they did. When I got there the parts guy told me the total and I had to ask if he included the filter. He said yep! I paid and looked at the bill. I was not charged suggested retail price. He charge dealer/installer price instead. I asked about that and he said, if we install it you get the dealer discount. I asked why I got the discount. He said you have multiple vehicle listed on my account, that's why. That would explain why I was charged full price $835 for a hub assy the time I sent my wife to get it. She called me and said it is a lot more than $380. She told the parts guy that I called it in. He found the part and ticket and charged her the $380.

Suggested retail is a crime, I don’t care aboit the number of lights they need to keep on. It's just stealing.

Me myself I am totally cool with paying MSRP ,We have to if we want Stellantis /chrysler/Jeep/ (insert name here) to survive its our duty as Jeep owners .






















Not.

 

[Waltzforzizi]

Just to close-out this discussion... Some good news and I'll let this one go.

Service writer called and said the manager agreed the pricing on parts was somewhat high. Offering me some future service credit. Not a lot, but at least they agree that total is kind of crazy for batteries considering not even Mopar sells them at full MSRP.

So... Giving them another chance in the future - cautiously. But it's the sign of a good business when you at least try to keep a regular, local customer happy.

BTW - Hope all the folks here defending outrageous dealer prices never find themselves in my situation. Thanks for calling me a fool and telling me I need to learn a lesson. Really helpful there chief!

I wouldn't this dealer can go f itself, but just my 2 cents.

 

[Lost1wing]

Not.

 

[Stan H]

My Sarcasm runneth over !!

 

[RiverMtnBeach]

Suggested retail is a crime, I don’t care aboit the number of lights they need to keep on. It's just stealing.

It's not a crime, but people don't understand what MSRP really means: It's the MAXIMUM they can charge for an item without running into legal trouble. It's literally the most they can wring out of you without getting sued. Hotels do this too... It's euphemistically called "Best Available Rate" or "BAR." If you're paying BAR rate at a hotel, that's the MOST they can charge you and you unfortunately failed at finding the real price others are paying.

I don't understand why so many on this board are like "oh, the poor dealer just doing their thing and you're cheating!" No, that's not how MSRP works - it's literally at their discretion, and they DO size up your situation and charge what they can. Like it or not, that IS the business. Is it right? IMO, no.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

No, you just sit there and take it without at least asking. It's a negotiation. Do you just walk into a dealer and buy cars at full sticker while getting pissed at everyone else getting a deal? No?
You get what you ask for. Like someone else posted earlier: It's a business, not a charity. They aren't going to help you out unless you ask, and if you don't negotiate you're a fool.

We aren't talking buying new. I always annoy them when buying new - they know in the end I'm not a first time walk-in buyer.

We're talking the shop - which often operates on its own budget and expenses.
you were getting a great deal, and then you lost that deal.
And in the end, you paid, got pissed and brought it public instead of going back and asking what's up.

I do ask, I go in with printouts of competing prices on identical parts - and sometimes they'll match, sometimes not.
I got tires from a Jeep dealer that beat the online people - including Discount tire and so on.
I got a discount on phone mount accessories - showed them online prices and said "I'd much rather buy here".

 

[ShadowsPapa]

It's not a crime, but people don't understand what MSRP really means: It's the MAXIMUM they can charge for an item without running into legal trouble

Sorry, but that's not right. Dealers can and often do mark prices up. There's no legal trouble involved.

There are cases with other businesses where there are agreements that set a maximum, but for cars and trucks "in most cases" - it's not a legal limit.
MSRP - the S = SUGGESTED
There is no legal constraint.

(BAR is a bit different and can vary from day to day as it's the best publicly available rate for that day. Not a great comparison)

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Dealers barely stock anything and then they still overcharge and use the slowest shipping known to man.

They have to order from the regional depots. Typically, parts come next day if the depot has it.
Can't say they barely stock anything because they are trying to stock for each line they sell, and the most commonly needed parts for each year, version, model.
Ram trucks, Jeeps of all sorts from Cherokee to JT to JL, JLU, Grand Cherokee, Compass, Renegade, Wagoneer and more - then the cars - each year and version and engine and transmission combination. One dealer here quoted over $5,000,000 in parts at any given time. And if they don't sell, that's money and space tied up in inventory - which takes someone to manage and space to store, and insurance to cover.

I spoke recently with a guy who works on Lexus vehicles - it seems even they don't stock everything as a part was needed for the dash and it was taking days to get it. Toyota had that part on hand, but......... that's a no-no legally and ethically. So the customer waited for the Lexus part.

I wished I could recall the brand name . But everything about it and the seal was identical.

NEW NEW, or reman?
Not really common to get brand new never ever been bolted on water pumps at parts stores.

 

[sharpsicle]

Sorry, but that's not right. Dealers can and often do mark prices up. There's no legal trouble involved.

There are cases with other businesses where there are agreements that set a maximum, but for cars and trucks "in most cases" - it's not a legal limit.
MSRP - the S = SUGGESTED
There is no legal constraint.

(BAR is a bit different and can vary from day to day as it's the best publicly available rate for that day. Not a great comparison)

Exactly. However, some brands have contractual agreements with retailers that they cannot list for above or below MSRP. This is why sometimes you see sites with prices that can't be shown until you add it to the cart.

Either way, MSRP is only enforceable if a contract is in place. It has no legal standing.

 

[Stan H]

NEW NEW, or reman?
Not really common to get brand new never ever been bolted on water pumps at parts stores.
[/QUOTE]
Brand new ,Never had a mark on it and no refinish either .freshly spanked !!

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Exactly. However, some brands have contractual agreements with retailers that they cannot list for above or below MSRP. This is why sometimes you see sites with prices that can't be shown until you add it to the cart.

Yes, that's why I added the "other stuff" bit. For cars, Jeeps, Chevy, Ford,, it's SUGGESTED and there may be dealer markups and you either pay it or walk to a dealer that will sit and talk about a price.
It's suggested, not a contracted price that limits what the dealer charges for a car.

Some of those you mention actually sell for less than the price they have with the manufacturer - they cannot display it in a TV commercial, print ad or online.
And there are some that simply say - we will not vary from that price.
Some manufacturers where you can buy directly from their site will say "we won't undercut our partners" and you pay either the same or more from the manufacturer.

Some are free to wiggle on prices, some are not..
But on cars for the most part - a dealer can do whatever they want with the price.

(as far as "BAR" for hotels - the EU and some countries have had issue with that sort as seen as price fixing)

 

[Zachanadandy]

They have to order from the regional depots. Typically, parts come next day if the depot has it.
Can't say they barely stock anything because they are trying to stock for each line they sell, and the most commonly needed parts for each year, version, model.
Ram trucks, Jeeps of all sorts from Cherokee to JT to JL, JLU, Grand Cherokee, Compass, Renegade, Wagoneer and more - then the cars - each year and version and engine and transmission combination. One dealer here quoted over $5,000,000 in parts at any given time. And if they don't sell, that's money and space tied up in inventory - which takes someone to manage and space to store, and insurance to cover.

I spoke recently with a guy who works on Lexus vehicles - it seems even they don't stock everything as a part was needed for the dash and it was taking days to get it. Toyota had that part on hand, but......... that's a no-no legally and ethically. So the customer waited for the Lexus part.



NEW NEW, or reman?
Not really common to get brand new never ever been bolted on water pumps at parts stores.

So the dealer can't stock enough parts because they have multiple models but magically the parts store can...for every brand? Seems legit.

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