ShadowsPapa
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Bill
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2019
- Threads
- 180
- Messages
- 29,625
- Reaction score
- 35,244
- Location
- Runnells, Iowa
- Vehicle(s)
- '22 JTO, '23 JLU, '82 SX4, '73 P. Cardin Javelin
- Occupation
- Retired auto mechanic, frmr gov't ntwrk security admin
- Vehicle Showcase
- 3
It's unfortunate that people don't understand what the whole point of a deposit is. It's earnest money - showing "I am sincere, I am earnest, I want to order and this shows I am serious and as proof I offer up some money". But people whine and groan and bitch and complain.some do, some are legally not allowed to request a non-refundable deposit (states vary).
My state we have to refund all deposits, but the method of refund is open to interpretation. So if a customer was reasonable but just had a problem, we'd give them their money back by check. If a customer was shady, they'd get it back in store credit.
as for "if this were true" it absolutely is. Certain builds are hard sellers. Generally anything manual transmission that's not a miata, mustang, camaro, or challenger is going to take some time to find the right customer.
If I were a dealer, I would never take an order for a snazzberry manual JT sport or willys sport without a method of keeping the deposit if the person who ordered backs away.
manual transmissions, rollie windows, and pinkish hues will not find a buyer easily. especially not when combined.
Ordering a car isn't window shopping, it isn't a game where you order and order until you win.
It's serious business and impacts several people in that dealership. You may think you are screwing no one but the sales person, but...........
IMO a deposit should be NO REFUND except in hardship cases.
In Iowa, as long as it is stated it is non-refundable or if it does NOT state it's refundable, a business can keep the deposit. Having been in business myself, and having sold homes myself, people just don't get it.
One house I sold myself - no realtor involved, I had the contract written very clearly - and yet some woman came in all gushing over the house, it's just what she wanted, she'd take it, she wrote out a check for a deposit. Then later changed her mind (about a week later as I recall) and demanded her money back. Nope. She took the contract to her attorney who wrote an opinion that she needed to read before signing and that she agreed it was non-refundable.
Her antics were costing us in time and money because we had a bid on another house.
IMO, dealerships should be allowed to do the same - you waste our time and play games, you cost us money and time and effort and our sales guy spends time with you instead of someone not playing games, you lose. (hardship cases - illness, family matters, whatever, give 'em the money back)
Anyway, MSRP is a sum total of the base price, all options AND destination charges. I see it as extremely clear, cut and dried. How can anyone look at a Jeep WINDOW STICKER and not see that it's part of MSRP? It nowhere says "MSRP" and then destination charges and then "total price" - it shows base, then prices of each option as line items and then destination charges as a line item and then MSRP.
Look at this - line items - destination charges IS A LINE ITEM just like an option, THEN the MSRP or total price (excluding taxes, license, etc.)
Read the danged window sticker - never assume, never go by anything else.
And note the asterisk.
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