turninghawk
Orlando, FL
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Joined: 09/11/2003
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OK, just so some previous posters understand -- Doc fees are never 'taken off' or 'eliminated' -- you still pay them -- they're just hidden in the paperwork.
If a dealer has a doc fee of, for example $299, and you refuse to pay it, they might just knock another $299 off the price of the vehicle, but will never eliminate the doc fee itself.
If a dealer charges it, everyone 'pays it' -- Otherwise, you would see class action law suits the likes of which the industry has never seen.
Ask any new or used car dealership's Business Manager, and you'll find out the truth.
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Huntindog
phoenix arizona USA
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Joined: 04/08/2002
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ABout 10 years ago I bought a couple of new quads. The dealer had a doc fee of 95.00 each on them, and explained that the mandatory license plate and registration was included in that. Our DMV back then was a nightmare to deal with. Everytime I had to go there it literally took all day. So I thought that was a pretty good deal.
One of the quads plates arrived in the mail, and I discovered that it only cost 5.00! 90.00 profit for the dealer X2 fpr 180.00 total. I was feeling sorta ripped off at that point, but it was a done deal.
A month later and the other quads plate still hadn't arrived.
I called the dealer and told them. Their response was that it must've gotten lost in the mail and I could just go down to DMV and get a duplicate.
I laughed and told them that I wasn't going anywhere. and that they charged me 95.00 for a 5.00 tag, just so I wouldn't have to deal with DMV....And that they needed to handle this for me..They understood my point and took care of it.
So at least on that deal, it didn't turn out too bad.
I do agree that if there is low or no doc fees that the unit is most assuradly marked up somewhere else.
My last truck purchase had doc fees of 350.00. But the price was really really good. It all works out in the end.
Huntindog
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Geodude
Ottawa, Ontario
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Joined: 05/25/2003
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When we bought our 2011 F-350 then our 2012 Hyundai Accent, both dealers tried to extract that fee as part of the deal. In both cases I said sorry, that just rubs me the wrong way as it's pure profit for doing what you should be doing as a dealer, and that unless the fee was dropped the deal was off.
In both cases the fee was dropped.
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JALLEN4
Florida
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Joined: 10/02/2003
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With all these stories of buyers bringing dealers to their knees, it is a wonder there is a dealer still in business any where. I think I want to pay that guy who bought the exact same truck as his buddy for $13,000 less. He is missing a great opportunity to be a professional vehicle shopper!
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RandACampin
Kathleen, Georgia
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Joined: 04/06/2006
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I could care less about doc fees, dealer prep fees or any other fees...the only thing I care about is thebottom line price out the door. Everything else is posturing by both sides. And anyone who thinks they got one over on the dealer by "I'll walk if you charge me this" is very disillisioned....your paying.
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LarryJM
NoVa
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Joined: 11/09/2007
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romore wrote:Very common practice. Some dealers will waive it but for most it's either pay or go somewhere else.
They tried adding like $300 to my last vehicle purchase and I said "AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN" since I gave them a bottom line price I would pay out the door and held them to that. They went backed and worked things where I still got my "bottom line out the door price".
Just "SAY NO" and mean it including walking.
Larry
2001 standard box 7.3L E-350 PSD Van with 4.10 rear and 2007 Holiday Rambler Aluma-Lite 8306S Been RV'ing since 1974.
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mark1228
USA
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Joined: 04/19/2008
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Just to clarify, Doc fees are not license fees, they are "documentation" fees for the paperwork the dealer is required by law to do and maintain for a given number of years depending on what document it is. I am not saying it is right or wrong, I am just saying Doc fees are not license/dmv fees. There is alot of paperwork that goes along with every sale and frankly the customer does not see all of it. The list of required paperwork has gotten much longer in the last 10 years. This is paperwork required by the government. Again, not saying it is right, but is an expense that every dealer bears and as others have mentioned, it gets paid for one way or another. I agree with the posters that say to shop an "out the door" price.
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pitch
NY
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Joined: 06/08/2005
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I've never seen a document fee. If we are trading in we keep our old tags,if buying new, new tags. Dealers will add the registration fee (a ball park figure), but when the new registration arrrives in the mail there is always a check for the overage.
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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Joined: 07/22/2007
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rvtommy wrote:Where else can a dealer make a profit??? They can not make any money on the truck when the cost of the truck is all over the internet!!! The dealer makes more money on financing, stealing the trade and all those little extras such as mop and flop, paint coatings, and anything else they can dream up!!! Just glad I am not a dealer trying to sell against the internet!!! rvtommy
rvtommy I expect some are posting their emotional views because they have never tried feeding their families selling vehicles. I know being in business has taught me the hard way that admin staff really is an overhead that someone has to pay. The salesman's commissions are not the only 'cost' of doing business. When one has to stop hiding these real costs in the true selling prices they have to be put in print.
I was caught off guard at an estate auction to learn I was paying the selling fees on TOP of the winning bid. Gas stations are now often charging for 'free' air. Doc fees do not make me happy and I will complain but I do understand. Tips is another way business owners hide the true selling prices of goods/services and can do it legally.
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sc3283
St Louis
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Joined: 01/15/2008
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years ago everyone paid doc fees...they just didn't know it because they were not individually charged.....they were included in the selling price of the vehicle.
with the price wars that are occurring....to get the lowest advertised cost.....all the fees that used to be included in the sale price have been removed and listed individually....it is NOTHING new....just a different way of presenting it to the consumer. Here in MO..."Doc" fee has NOTHING to do with licensing or insuring....only getting the vehicle into the new owners name and if financed, getting the proper paperwork the the finance company..
SO STOP complaining...you have all paid it if you have bought new in the past
04 D-Max Crew Dually
96 Monaco Dynasty 36'
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