These outrageous "dealership" fees?

[ShelbyDee]

I've been to two different Jeep dealerships (South Texas) and I'm being met with these ridiculous dealer fees that they are both telling me are non negotiable. Is this a thing with Jeep? In all states? Or am I getting screwed...
At one dealer, the extra total "package" was 3k. Included tinted windows, wheel locks, nitrogen in the tires and a few other things. Basically crap I didn't need or want. But he stood firm and said it's a "dealership thing" and is applied to all Jeep's and can't be negotiated. I walked out.
Went to another Jeep dealer, and there's was almost similar, but they charged 2k. Guy also said the same thing. I walked out again. lol
This is just insane to me. Anyone heard of this?

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[WhippetTaxi]

Yes, one of the dealers in central Texas (Georgetown) had this same bizarre package of things like window etchings and theft locating features for a mandatory price of around $2000. They had two different Gladiators that I was very interested in, but their refusal to budge on the dealership "packages" caused me to walk.

 

[ShelbyDee]

Yes, one of the dealers in central Texas (Georgetown) had this same bizarre package of things like window etchings and theft locating features for a mandatory price of around $2000. They had two different Gladiators that I was very interested in, but their refusal to budge on the dealership "packages" caused me to walk.

Wow that's just crazy to me. It's completely unnecessary things and quite a good chunk added on to the vehicles price. Quite discouraging.

 

[aceisback]

Yep, even with one of the “below invoice” dealers mentioned here often. $2K in non negotiable dealer add ons does not equal 8% below invoice.
When I air back up after hitting the trail it is not with nitrogen. And I would like the tint of my choice not yours. And I absolutely do not need nor want your little flashing blue LED under the steering column.
Really don’t need your dealership decals or license plate frames, but I can deal with those until I get home.

 

[AmosMoses01]

I'm pretty sure the dealer @WhippetTaxi mentioned is where we got my wife's JLU - since we got it less than 24 hours after it arrived, it "only" had the Lojack (and fee) applied to it, not any of the other stuff. In today's market unfortunately there's not a ton of flexibility - it is a seller's market. I've watched the Central Texas dealerships' inventory of Gladiators steadily drop over the past several weeks - so you'll probably see not only more "mandatory add ons" but likely just "seller's market" price bumps. Saw that on JLU's over the summer, with one dealer in either North Texas or Oklahoma (was shopping all over at the time) simply adding $2K due to "high demand" of the vehicles. BTW, you may have some price wiggle if you have a quote on stuff like tint. Most dealers are using LLumar, so if you have a quote/estimate from a local shop on doing 360 (all windows) using LLumar they may price match in a negotiation. EDIT: The Mopar wheel locks are $80 from Quadratec, so you can point that out too.

I had a Nissan dealer in 2007 do the ludicrous upcharge for nitrogen in the tires on a Frontier - pretty much noting it on the financial papers without any discussion at all during price negotiations. I asked what the heck the crazy charge (something stupid, around $500 or so) was. Their response was "Oh, the vehicle was already prepped with nitrogen in the tires, so you've got to pay for it." It was NOT a seller's market, so I told them there was no way I was paying for nitrogen. After they tried to sell me on the benefits, I told them it wasn't worth the money they're charging since the atmosphere is already 78% nitrogen. I was walking out the door when they conceded...

 

[MDPensFan]

I've been to two different Jeep dealerships (South Texas) and I'm being met with these ridiculous dealer fees that they are both telling me are non negotiable. Is this a thing with Jeep? In all states? Or am I getting screwed...
At one dealer, the extra total "package" was 3k. Included tinted windows, wheel locks, nitrogen in the tires and a few other things. Basically crap I didn't need or want. But he stood firm and said it's a "dealership thing" and is applied to all Jeep's and can't be negotiated. I walked out.
Went to another Jeep dealer, and there's was almost similar, but they charged 2k. Guy also said the same thing. I walked out again. lol
This is just insane to me. Anyone heard of this?

Sounds like two dealers conspiring to screw the consumer. I see where some dealers are charging Adjusted Dealer Markup on their vehicles or doing crap like this. Supply and demand, free market, etc etc. That's fine, but there's a reason dealerships in Idaho and Eastern Tennessee are doing volume that would make a big city dealer blush. Buy from one of them and save yourself 6k or so. It will be well worth the transport fee or hassle of driving back home, not to mention you can order it exactly how you like.

 

[1996XJ]

Yep, even with one of the “below invoice” dealers mentioned here often. $2K in non negotiable dealer add ons does not equal 8% below invoice.
When I air back up after hitting the trail it is not with nitrogen. And I would like the tint of my choice not yours. And I absolutely do not need nor want your little flashing blue LED under the steering column.
Really don’t need your dealership decals or license plate frames, but I can deal with those until I get home.

Does gupton try and hit you with add ons once the jeep is delivered to him? Or Am I misunderstanding your post? I ordered from the factory because I was told dealers can't add shit on to those orders. Sorry if I misunderstood.

 

[Lateralus]

Around here there's usually a sales pitch before signing the paperwork. A Toyota dealer tried to get me to purchase a $600 "high tech" body coating. I laughed at him and told him I wouldn't pay $50 for the service if he offered it. He laughed back as well lol.

A couple of jeep dealers have offered third party warrantees. I cut one woman off before she could finish her pitch to tell her I wasn't interested and her mood went from pleasent to annoyed.

I would be sure to leave some feedback on those dealers googel map reviews to let others know how they do business. In my circumstance I could opt out. I'd be furious if after negotiations a dealer said I have to pay 2-3k extra for some bullshit upgrades.

 

[aceisback]

Does gupton try and hit you with add ons once the jeep is delivered to him? Or Am I misunderstanding your post? I ordered from the factory because I was told dealers can't add shit on to those orders. Sorry if I misunderstood.

No. It wasn’t Gupton. It was one of the ones out West here. I actually plan on flying in and picking up from Gupton to drive back to California.

 

[steveorama]

I've been to two different Jeep dealerships (South Texas) and I'm being met with these ridiculous dealer fees that they are both telling me are non negotiable. Is this a thing with Jeep? In all states? Or am I getting screwed...
At one dealer, the extra total "package" was 3k. Included tinted windows, wheel locks, nitrogen in the tires and a few other things. Basically crap I didn't need or want. But he stood firm and said it's a "dealership thing" and is applied to all Jeep's and can't be negotiated. I walked out.
Went to another Jeep dealer, and there's was almost similar, but they charged 2k. Guy also said the same thing. I walked out again. lol
This is just insane to me. Anyone heard of this?

At the dealership I bought mine from in June in Austin, had the same thing. $2k additional for tint, door guards, wheel locks, and nitrogen. I told them it wasn't on the window sticker so I didn't want them. They said they couldn't take it off and I reminded them that they could since it wasn't on the factory window sticker and that was something they added. I also reminded them that their cost most likely for those 4 items was probably around $500- $600 bucks max. We met in the middle at $1k since they were giving me more for my trade than anywhere else. Everything is negotiable, even during these times. It's just a matter of how bad they want the sale or the trade.

 

[calicorks]

Mine came with window tint, wheel locks, and the stupid plastic bed liner. I paid $1000 all of it, but got $7k off the truck MSRP. I didn’t care to negotiate and given that was the only Rubicon that was Sarge Green within 200 miles I took it. Before this silly market situation, I would of never have bought it. They won this time.

 

[Matts4313]

I've been to two different Jeep dealerships (South Texas) and I'm being met with these ridiculous dealer fees that they are both telling me are non negotiable. Is this a thing with Jeep? In all states? Or am I getting screwed...
At one dealer, the extra total "package" was 3k. Included tinted windows, wheel locks, nitrogen in the tires and a few other things. Basically crap I didn't need or want. But he stood firm and said it's a "dealership thing" and is applied to all Jeep's and can't be negotiated. I walked out.
Went to another Jeep dealer, and there's was almost similar, but they charged 2k. Guy also said the same thing. I walked out again. lol
This is just insane to me. Anyone heard of this?

You are at south point in Austin, arent you?

That is dealer specific. Nyle Maxwell in N Austin does not add those fees. But Gupton in Tennessee beats them both in price.


EDIT - Just saw you put "South Texas", so you are not in Ausitn.

 

[The Bean]

Yeah these are “Addendum Stickers” and they’re not unique to your area. Almost every dealership from FCA to Toyota uses these things to pad their bottom line on every model sold. When I got my Jeep last year I spent 6 hours negotiating on the OTD price, and refused to pay the addendum. GSM finally just said “tell me your price to get you to buy” and he met it. Finance guy was great, and even threw in the road hazard for free. Some dealers are like the one I bought from, others would rather lose a sale over the addendum sticker until someone else comes along and pays for it.

 

[jeepers29]

Yes, one of the dealers in central Texas (Georgetown) had this same bizarre package of things like window etchings and theft locating features for a mandatory price of around $2000. They had two different Gladiators that I was very interested in, but their refusal to budge on the dealership "packages" caused me to walk.

Be glad you walked out, MH service is the worst of the worst. I have had great luck at Covert.

 

[WhippetTaxi]

Be glad you walked out, MH service is the worst of the worst. I have had great luck at Covert.

I agree--the Covert Jeep service seems well organized and friendly. Took the Rubicon there a few weeks ago for its second oil change and tire rotation.

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