Bull**** or legitimate?

I'm stripping the dealer of any significant profits and want to know if the $200 pre delivery inspection is a bull**** charge and something to fight.. Or something I should just pay.

Thoughts?

That's obviously why I posted the question.

But what basis do you have for calling it BS?? Do you call it BS because you wouldn't pay it? Or do you call it BS because you know other dealers don't try to charge a pre-delivery inspection?

.. In any case, if I see it, I'd for sure challenge what and why does that charge applies to.

I'm also trying to locate on Edmunds.com, an article that talked about the bogus charges.

I also just found this article I remember reading long time ago...
http://www.carbuyingtips.com/car6.htm
"Don't let them charge a dealer prep. Many dealers tack on a $200-$600 dealer prep."

at what point does it become a cost of running a f***ing dealership? No sh** you need to prep the cars.

It's the principle vs money at that point.

CODB should be upfront in the paperwork. IF the total cost is attractive then great but if you are paying full price with no discount then it is BS

I had no trade in so it was easier to negotiate a price actually under invoice on my Q5. But there was a 195.00 fee that was on the invoice sheet (under invoice not MSRP) that I had to pay. If you get a copy of the invoice you should see it. This will not show up on Edmunds. Most people pay this. Whether there adding on to this I would find out.

I'd probably pay it - Think I did when I got my
RS

My company sells hydraulic equipment that ranges in price from 5k to 105k. We do "pre-delivery" inspections at no cost. The cost is made up in the profit for selling the unit.
I think it's BS but if you decline the insp. then anything that goes wrong with the car while under warranty will probably be a fight to get covered.

My company sells hydraulic equipment that ranges in price from 5k to 105k. We do "pre-delivery" inspections at no cost. The cost is made up in the profit for selling the unit.
I think it's BS but if you decline the insp. then anything that goes wrong with the car while under warranty will probably be a fight to get covered.

+1 I think it's BS fee that is tact on.

+1 I think it's BS fee that is tact on.

Ok I said it earlier it's not a BS fee. Audi of America tacks that on, not the dealer, HENCE the "PORT PREP CHARGE" verbage. IE you're paying for the car being prepped at port. You'd think people dropping $40K+ on a car would get that. We've also discussed the regional advertising charge on the invoice as well. Both are legitimate fees. Like I always say, pay profit, if you don't you can go live in Cuba and be a communist and wait in line and get everything for cost. Capitalism is about profit.
End Rant.

You'd think people dropping $40K+ on a car would get that.

You have it wrong here. I think the people that can afford a $40k+ car "get" that this is a BS charge. Building COGS into your top-line price is business 101. Tacking on fees to either jack up profits or make your retail price look artificially more competitive is pure BS.

If you checked out at a supermarket and they charged you a fee for the time of the cashier, would you pay it? What about a shelve prepping fee?

We've also discussed the regional advertising charge on the invoice as well. Both are legitimate fees. Like I always say, pay profit, if you don't you can go live in Cuba and be a communist and wait in line and get everything for cost. Capitalism is about profit.
End Rant.

Again, nothing legitimate about it. The fact that auto retailers all work together to legitimize and standardize these fees puts it a lot closer to the communist state you describe above. In my eyes, adding this crap on at the end makes you walk away with a bad taste in your mouth. And that's not something I would want to do to my customers if I were selling "luxury" goods. Just $.02 for one of the buyers of your $40k cars that just doesn't "get it".

The pre-delivery inspection have always been free with every new car I have ever bought, including my 2 Audi. I suppose the next thing is they will charge you for a full tank of gas too.

Ok I said it earlier it's not a BS fee. Audi of America tacks that on, not the dealer, HENCE the "PORT PREP CHARGE" verbage. IE you're paying for the car being prepped at port. You'd think people dropping $40K+ on a car would get that. We've also discussed the regional advertising charge on the invoice as well. Both are legitimate fees. Like I always say, pay profit, if you don't you can go live in Cuba and be a communist and wait in line and get everything for cost. Capitalism is about profit.End Rant.

So are you saying that prep fee is the profit for the dealer? We are talking about a specific fee here.

The pre-delivery inspection have always been free with every new car I have ever bought, including my 2 Audi. I suppose the next thing is they will charge you for a full tank of gas too.

^Seriously... why not charge a full tank of gas.

No the prep fee is not profit. And the "pre-delivery inspection" is free. Port prep, is not.

No the prep fee is not profit. And the "pre-delivery inspection" is free. Port prep, is not.

Okay... good so the pre-delivery inspection is free. I think that answers the OPs question if he was refering to the "Pre-Delivery Inspection" fee. Hence, a BS fee.

Total BS. Before I signed anything with my dealer I asked for all the fees upfront. I didn't pay anything except for Title/Registration and the NY State Tire waste fee.

Unless you look at the invoice sheet not the MSRP you will not even see the 195.00 port inspection fee, chances are the dealership isn't going to show it on your paper work. Of coarse if they add an inspection fee of there own then you would have a reason to complain. They don't even check the tire pressure from being over inflated for shipping.

On the other hand the dealership has the right to include whatever fees are needed or whatever makes them money. Afterall they are a business. On the customer's end however, when negotiating - you should be discussing FINAL numbers +/- some small amount for registration fees since the dealer's use estimations. Dealers make most money on customers that do not do their homework, who are softies or if there is a monopoly type situation in a particular neighborhood. This is just my opinion.

I'm stripping the dealer of any significant profits ...

You should argue every charge in an effort to make sure the dealer and your sales rep lose money on the sale. That way when you take it in with an issue, they will be sure to go out of their way to help you.

Bullsh!t or legitimate?

I'm stripping the dealer of any significant profits and want to know if the $200 pre delivery inspection is a bullsh!t charge and something to fight.. Or something I should just pay.

Thoughts?

Are you taking about the pre delivery inspection fee by Audi at port or a pre delivery inspection by the dealer? The Audi pre delivery inspection fee is already added to the invoice cost and should not be an extra on the sales agreement.

I used the set-price option offered by USAA (and probably many others), which was $1000 over invoice, no haggling.
When I arrived to pick-up my vehicle, they charged $1000 over invoice, PLUS the dealer prep fee of some $350. I was mortified. I showed the sales guy all of the paperwork (none of which disclosed this fee), and told him I would go through with the deal but would call USAA to find out why I was charged this on top. The dealership ultimately relented and reversed the charge. But I didn't appreciate that it wasn't disclosed upfront when I ordered the car. Whether it's a legitimate charge or not, it should be disclosed when purchasing the vehicle, not 4 months later when it's time to pick it up.