Gobi Gladiators Waiting Room

[Chumley]

Yeah, what this guy said.

All said and done I got my Jeep home for about $8-9k under msrp. $150 flight, $120 hotel room, and 2 tanks of diesel included.

I see this dealership referred to a lot, and there's a thread for it.

I appreciate the support and advice to shop elsewhere but this will be my 6th Jeep and unfortunately know how troublesome they can be, sold two of those due to problems another local dealer wouldn't advocate for me about.

I live in Silicon Valley and most everyone marks up Gladiator Rubicons from $5,000 to $10,000, believe it or not. I talked to a guy at a Porsche dealership and they just sold a 911 GT3 Touring which normally goes for about $160K to $200K for, get this, $150K over MSRP. It's just crazy here.

I've learned over the years riding BMW motorcycles that if you have problems the dealer is the one that makes the difference.

Also, I work for the City so want to support local - if it makes sense.

Thanks all.

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[USMC_1Wire6337]

I appreciate the support and advice to shop elsewhere but this will be my 6th Jeep and unfortunately know how troublesome they can be, sold two of those due to problems another local dealer wouldn't advocate for me about.

I live in Silicon Valley and most everyone marks up Gladiator Rubicons from $5,000 to $10,000, believe it or not. I talked to a guy at a Porsche dealership and they just sold a 911 GT3 Touring which normally goes for about $160K to $200K for, get this, $150K over MSRP. It's just crazy here.

I've learned over the years riding BMW motorcycles that if you have problems the dealer is the one that makes the difference.

Also, I work for the City so want to support local - if it makes sense.

Thanks all.

I understand supporting local. I try to do that up to a certain point too. That point is saving thousands of dollars over what I could get from the local supplier. If it was within a few hundred or the travel expenses ate up the savings, then sure stay local.

For example, I live near Sacramento and no dealers are doing anything under or even at MSRP without some serious concessions. By spending $300 worth of Southwest points and using one of my free hotel stays for the drive back, I was able to save $4,200 off MSRP for a max tow Sport S with preferred equipment and Aux switches. That equates to about 7%ish invoice and close to 10% off MSRP.

Loyalty is one thing, but you gotta think how much loyalty you will get from the other direction especially when they are not budging on price for that loyalty. Just food for thought.

 

[aceisback]

I appreciate the support and advice to shop elsewhere but this will be my 6th Jeep and unfortunately know how troublesome they can be, sold two of those due to problems another local dealer wouldn't advocate for me about.

I live in Silicon Valley and most everyone marks up Gladiator Rubicons from $5,000 to $10,000, believe it or not. I talked to a guy at a Porsche dealership and they just sold a 911 GT3 Touring which normally goes for about $160K to $200K for, get this, $150K over MSRP. It's just crazy here.

I've learned over the years riding BMW motorcycles that if you have problems the dealer is the one that makes the difference.

Also, I work for the City so want to support local - if it makes sense.

Thanks all.

Same deal as @USMC_1Wire6337 for me. I live in the Central Valley and EVERY dealer within a 200 mile radius of me had a $5-8K over MSRP and wouldn’t budge. Some even said it was BS that any dealer would sell at up to 8% below dealer invoice.
Long story short: couple hour flight from Fresno to Boise saved me right at $8K below MSRP. So a $16K turnaround from shopping local. Local loyalty only gets you so far.

 

[Pedal Metal]

The substance of anything is usually always in the details. Sure, “Support local” is a great tag line and meme, but make no mistake about it, you’re simply a customer number and another sale to most businesses. So, I view most all deals from an arm’s length point of view. I’ve seen lies, manipulation and tacky service front and center and remember feeling mistreated so many years ago when I first went to a couple dealerships on my own. So, I learned a lot from those experience. As a result, I usually try to be very aware of what conversations I have and I try not to take any of it personal as it really only is if you let it be. As the a party to the negotiation, the buyer has a great deal of power if they’re smart enough to use it effectively. Some can’t be bothered or they’re easily manipulated or whatever it is that I don’t understand. However, for me, it’s very little trouble to make a phone call and structure the broad strokes of a deal in a conversation or move on until I can. Sure, I’m open to creating a relationship for future transactions, but today’s transaction has to win the day before we worry about tomorrow.

 

[Chumley]

The substance of anything is usually always in the details. Sure, “Support local” is a great tag line and meme, but make no mistake about it, you’re simply a customer number and another sale to most businesses. So, I view most all deals from an arm’s length point of view. I’ve seen lies, manipulation and tacky service front and center and remember feeling mistreated so many years ago when I first went to a couple dealerships on my own. So, I learned a lot from those experience. As a result, I usually try to be very aware of what conversations I have and I try not to take any of it personal as it really only is if you let it be. As the a party to the negotiation, the buyer has a great deal of power if they’re smart enough to use it effectively. Some can’t be bothered or they’re easily manipulated or whatever it is that I don’t understand. However, for me, it’s very little trouble to make a phone call and structure the broad strokes of a deal in a conversation or move on until I can. Sure, I’m open to creating a relationship for future transactions, but today’s transaction has to win the day before we worry about tomorrow.

We all come from different places in how we deal with things like purchasing a vehicle. My motto is "be prepared to walk away" because a salesman could sense your eagerness and possibly manipulate it. But I also understand the business side of things. As past president of the Downtown Association in my town, and I now represent the city locally and at the State level, I understand what buy local truly means. Agreed, it does not mean to waste your money but there's more to it as I had mentioned.

I'm comfortable with my arrangement now but the report back on how the order is being processed may play into a different position by this weekend.

I always figure in the long game, the future is just as important to me as a slight win now.

 

[Rahkmalla]

Also, I work for the City so want to support local - if it makes sense.

Sounds like local isn't supporting you.

I kept my business at the local 3% under dealer (bout half hour away). That's supporting local. They made my buy process super easy. No deposit, just a few emails and it's ordered. Truck shows up? Few emails and a couple easy uploads and the paperwork is pre-printed. Show up with a check, sign sign sign, drive away.

Localish supported me, so I supported them. There are about a dozen MSRP-only dealers closer to me. They can earn my loyalty. You don't get it just by being close by.

 

[Chumley]

Thank you for the advice everyone. Now I wait like all of you.

 

[Vincentb]

Yay, finally hit Built status.

 

[BlueScapegoat]

Thank you for the advice everyone. Now I wait like all of you.

I feel like that just turned into everybody piling on you, I think the point has been made. As long as you're happy. And I for one am pretty sure you're going to be happy with the Gobi.

I keep opening the garage door to look at it.

 

[Chumley]

I feel like that just turned into everybody piling on you, I think the point has been made. As long as you're happy. And I for one am pretty sure you're going to be happy with the Gobi.

I keep opening the garage door to look at it.

BlueScapegoat, shhhh... don't tell anyone but I'm an elected official and I'm used to the piling on and understand defending one's position.

Thanks.

 

[USMC_1Wire6337]

BlueScapegoat, shhhh... don't tell anyone but I'm an elected official and I'm used to the piling on and understand defending one's position.

Thanks.

No intention of piling on, just having a discussion and sharing information. I apologize if it came across as that.

 

[Chumley]

No intention of piling on, just having a discussion and sharing information. I apologize if it came across as that.

No need to apologize, I've learned that people want to defend what they do for their reasons. The most important thing for me is we do what we do for a reason that is meaningful to each of us. I'm going to do what I do based upon what I know. In this case I feel I know a bit with five Jeeps in my past but I hope and expect this next one will not be like the others, I'm just prepared if it is.

 

[JoeInOh]

@Chumley I just got a chance to read through these posts and wanted to weigh in.

I am 100% into buying local and on top of that, buying USA-made - I am even willing to spend a little more to do that. I have two Jeep dealers near me. The closest one, when I told them of the price I received from Gupton, literally laughed at me - told me it was impossible. The second dealer, about 10 miles away offered me MSRP. I bought my JKU from them. As a previous post mentioned, if they had gone 3% under invoice I would have kept it local and went with them. But the Gupton price and the business model they are using is obviously sustainable (unless Marty Byrde owns the dealership). There is no reason a local to you (or me) dealership couldn't do the same thing. They make their business decisions and we make ours.

I will take my JT to the second (further) dealership that offered MSRP (where I bought my JKU) for service. They can make their money from me that way. I will be driving right past Tomko Jeep in Avon Lake to go to the further dealership. I hope they keep laughing at potential customers.

 

[skindata]

I tried getting a picture but driving 75mph and trying to snap a pic is pretty damn hard. Cassens had a full load of Gladiators driving West towards Chicago on I-80 on the way home from work yesterday near the Toledo airport. One Gobi Rubicon on the tail end ground floor, looked like a Gobi sport a couple ahead of it as well.

 

[Kevin2323]

I am tempted to try and sell my red eco diesel for a 22 gobi diesel being built for a dealer near me. I'm just afraid I may not be able to break even on the red even though I got a great deal from Gupton.

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