Miata Mailing List: October 1993, Message #56
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   From: suskind@isdev1.melpar.esys.com (Barry A. Suskind)
Subject: Re: sticker ?
   Date: Wed, 6 Oct 1993 08:52:34 -0400

[uunet!rug.ac.be!Piet.Ruyssinck (Piet Ruyssinck)] Writes:
> 
> What is that 'sticker'-thing you're talking about ?
> Could enybody please enlighten me on this ?
> 
> Piet

'Sticker' refers to the piece of paper that was attached to the window of
the car. This shows the list price from the manufacturer. Frequently in the
US cars with high demand will command prices above the 'sticker'. I refer
to this as a rip-off. The dealers refer to it as "additional dealer markup".
Mazda never advocated this in regard to the Miata. In California I have heard
of cars being sold for as much as $5,000 over the list price of the car. In
the Washington DC area, most of the cars were sold for $1,000 to $3,000 over
list for the first year. You had to have been lucky to pay less. Even dealers
within a $500 mile radius of Washington, DC were raising prices.

Also when I talk about raising the price. I refer to any addition things the
dealer has added to the car that you cannot decline, like my "appearance"
package. The list on this package was $1,000. I have even seen dealers charging
for detailing the car as part of the purchase. At an Auto show I saw a $600
charge for detailing on a Ferrari!!! The type of packages dealers usually
stick you with are:

undercoating $200 (actual dealer cost $20)
appearance   $1000 (actual dealer cost $150) strips, mats, etc
rustproofing $1000 (actual dealer cost $100)
detailing $600 (actual dealer cost, nothing they just wash the car)

any other 'dealer' installed add ons you buy, you pay really high prices for.
Dealers in Washington, DC were charging $1,200 for dealer installed AC, while
the factory charge was $900.

Dealers also now will charge $100-$300 for "processing" fees when you get to
the guy that actually has you sign all the paperwork. This is another pure
profit rip off fee. After talking to several people that purchased new cars,
they didn't relize they had really been ripped off until after the sale. This
is because you figure once you are done with the salesman you are done with
the deal. 

I really hate car dealers.

-----  Barry A. Suskind, Information Services, E-Systems Melpar Division -----
----------------  7700 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA 22046 ----------------
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