Dealer charging dubious 'admin fee'

konark

I also don't want to lose the car.

Is it the only car the manufacturer ever built? No, there are thousands of identical ones for sale; buy one.

Hintza

AdrianC wrote: »

The only figure that matters is the total amount you need to pay them to walk away with the car. How they get to that is irrelevant.

True, but that is not the point. The point is when you see a car for sale you go in haggle a bit, agree a price and they say +£99.

Foxtrot Oscar

If they want the extra then price the car accordingly. It is a typical ruse that has got the budget airlines in trouble and similar to the supermaRket "offers".

They just take the pith.

AdrianC

Hintza wrote: »

True, but that is not the point. The point is when you see a car for sale you go in haggle a bit, agree a price and they say +£99.

Foxtrot Oscar

If they want the extra then price the car accordingly. It is a typical ruse that has got the budget airlines in trouble and similar to the supermaRket "offers".

They just take the pith.

If people didn't focus on some intermediate figure, forgetting what the bottom line was, these marketing tactics wouldn't work. All you need to do is say "And that's the final figure, all the charges and fees included?"...

Hoof_Hearted

I really dislike these admin fees. Not many situations where you pay somebody to sell you something separately from the product price. I wouldn't buy from these companies because it seems like sharp practice. They advertise cars for a lower price but then add on a fee. I agree that the total price is important but it is a source of irritation.

Herzlos

AdrianC wrote: »

If people didn't focus on some intermediate figure, forgetting what the bottom line was, these marketing tactics wouldn't work. All you need to do is say "And that's the final figure, all the charges and fees included?"...

You're already on the forecourt by then though, which is the whole point.

AdrianC

Herzlos wrote: »

You're already on the forecourt by then though, which is the whole point.

Just because you're on the forecourt doesn't mean you HAVE to buy.

Herzlos

AdrianC wrote: »

Just because you're on the forecourt doesn't mean you HAVE to buy.

Indeed. But it does mean you've potentially wasted your time. The airlines got slapped pretty hard about these add-on fees, so I wonder how long before it catches up on car dealers.

AdrianC

Herzlos wrote: »

Indeed. But it does mean you've potentially wasted your time. The airlines got slapped pretty hard about these add-on fees, so I wonder how long before it catches up on car dealers.

So ask 'em if there are going to be any fees on top of the advertised price when you phone up to ask about the car.

Although I'd assume that anybody would be negotiating the price anyway, so the advertised price - whether it's with or without fees - is only a guide.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Is the car a bargain at for example £6099, could you find another priced at £6099 same car same condition same mileage?

Would you buy the car at that price, if so just buy the better or more conveniently located, it doesn't matter how they arrived at the price, its what's coming out of you account is what matters, not how they divi it up at EH branch level.

Would it feel better if the sales bod wore a shinier suit, they priced the car @ £6199 but there was no admin fee?, we all know some places like EH and some supermarkets charge admin, so just mentally add the admin charge to the price when comparing cars.

Nearlyold

The Fee is optional, there should be a sticker in the bottom left hand corner of the windscreen that tells you this. If the dealership try to tell you its compulsory tell them to put that in writing and you will pass it on to Trading Standards and the Advertising Standards Agency - they will back down. See this
https://www.asa.org.uk/Rulings/Adjudications/2013/11/CD-Bramall-Dealerships-Ltd/SHP_ADJ_236544.aspx#.Vi4JpeFOehc