Dealer Prep Charges

[onemoreday55]

I've ordered a new Telluride, the EX with the EX Premium package, and I'm quite excited!! However, one snag I've run into is the dealer prep charges, and what they entail. My salesman has reflected that the dealer prep charge is $1,989, which doesn't include the normal title, license, inspection, and sales tax fees. I have been told it includes "get it ready for pick up", which I'm assuming includes wash, etc., but the salesman is also saying the prep charges include ceramic window tint and nitrogen in the tires, which by all indications online, are not required. I've requested an itemized dealer prep charge list, but I'm told they don't have one. I'm thinking, "why can't you get me one??" It's my money, and I should be able to figure out how I want to spend it!!

What say you?

Many thanks,

Freda

 

[Zipp]

I've ordered a new Telluride, the EX with the EX Premium package, and I'm quite excited!! However, one snag I've run into is the dealer prep charges, and what they entail. My salesman has reflected that the dealer prep charge is $1,989, which doesn't include the normal title, license, inspection, and sales tax fees. I have been told it includes "get it ready for pick up", which I'm assuming includes wash, etc., but the salesman is also saying the prep charges include ceramic window tint and nitrogen in the tires, which by all indications online, are not required. I've requested an itemized dealer prep charge list, but I'm told they don't have one. I'm thinking, "why can't you get me one??" It's my money, and I should be able to figure out how I want to spend it!!

What say you?

Many thanks,

Freda

Some dealers seem to like to add their own "packages" which are usually non negotiable.
In my experience before we ordered, it seemed to be way to increase MSRP and just call it something special...
Just my opinion.
Curious if anyone sees value in any of these dealer "add ons".

 

[arattle]

I've ordered a new Telluride, the EX with the EX Premium package, and I'm quite excited!! However, one snag I've run into is the dealer prep charges, and what they entail. My salesman has reflected that the dealer prep charge is $1,989, which doesn't include the normal title, license, inspection, and sales tax fees. I have been told it includes "get it ready for pick up", which I'm assuming includes wash, etc., but the salesman is also saying the prep charges include ceramic window tint and nitrogen in the tires, which by all indications online, are not required. I've requested an itemized dealer prep charge list, but I'm told they don't have one. I'm thinking, "why can't you get me one??" It's my money, and I should be able to figure out how I want to spend it!!

What say you?

Many thanks,

Freda

It's fluff, basically a way for them to raise the price while pretending they're providing you something in return. This is stuff nobody needs at a cost that greatly exceeds what's reasonable. My first dealer tried to sell me an interior/exterior protection package for $3800, which is the same kind of deal. I walked away.

If this was such a great value, people would be asking for it instead of being saddled with it.

 

[Jsm172]

I've ordered a new Telluride, the EX with the EX Premium package, and I'm quite excited!! However, one snag I've run into is the dealer prep charges, and what they entail. My salesman has reflected that the dealer prep charge is $1,989, which doesn't include the normal title, license, inspection, and sales tax fees. I have been told it includes "get it ready for pick up", which I'm assuming includes wash, etc., but the salesman is also saying the prep charges include ceramic window tint and nitrogen in the tires, which by all indications online, are not required. I've requested an itemized dealer prep charge list, but I'm told they don't have one. I'm thinking, "why can't you get me one??" It's my money, and I should be able to figure out how I want to spend it!!

What say you?

Many thanks,

Freda

Walk away and find another dealer is what I would do

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[StillinSaigon]

I've ordered a new Telluride, the EX with the EX Premium package, and I'm quite excited!! However, one snag I've run into is the dealer prep charges, and what they entail. My salesman has reflected that the dealer prep charge is $1,989, which doesn't include the normal title, license, inspection, and sales tax fees. I have been told it includes "get it ready for pick up", which I'm assuming includes wash, etc., but the salesman is also saying the prep charges include ceramic window tint and nitrogen in the tires, which by all indications online, are not required. I've requested an itemized dealer prep charge list, but I'm told they don't have one. I'm thinking, "why can't you get me one??" It's my money, and I should be able to figure out how I want to spend it!!

What say you?

Many thanks,

Freda

Ask @StephenCantrelle about this. He’s on this forum and has forgotten more about KIA’s than most people will ever know.

 

[onemoreday55]

It's fluff, basically a way for them to raise the price while pretending they're providing you something in return. This is stuff nobody needs at a cost that greatly exceeds what's reasonable. My first dealer tried to sell me an interior/exterior protection package for $3800, which is the same kind of deal. I walked away.

If this was such a great value, people would be asking for it instead of being saddled with it.

Since I've already put my $500 down to be able to place the order in the first place, would it be to my advantage to try & get the dealer prep charges list from them again? If I get out of the deal, won't I lose the $500?

 

[onemoreday55]

Walk away and find another dealer is what I would do

thanks for the quick response. My concern is, I've already put $500 down to be able to place the order? I don't want to lose the $500. Would it be in my best interest to request the dealer prep charges list again?

 

[onemoreday55]

Ask @StephenCantrelle about this. He’s on this forum and has forgotten more about KIA’s than most people will ever know.

How do I get in touch with Steven? I clicked on his tag, but it wouldn't let me notify him. I clicked on "follow" him.

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[Lukass66]

thanks for the quick response. My concern is, I've already put $500 down to be able to place the order? I don't want to lose the $500. Would it be in my best interest to request the dealer prep charges list again?

If they didn’t mention these “prep” charges before you ordered your vehicle then I would bitch at the sales manager that they be removed, or you want your 500 dollar deposit refunded. 2,000 dollars in “prep” charges? wth kinda dealer is this?

 

[LiquidUte]

These "dealer prep" charges if "mandatory" are bogus. I'm going to look into doing protective film and ceramic coating, but that will be at my leisure at an installer, time and price of my choosing. Charging money to replace perfectly good air with nitrogen is a scam. Costco fills my tires with nitrogen whenever I stop by for free (bought the tires there) but air is about 78% nitrogen anyway. If that "dealer prep" package was not listed on the original order then I would be pissed and take it to the manager and tell them you'll report them to the consumer protection agency and Kia corporate. They're being greedy and shady. Then I'd add them to the bad dealer list.

 

[DarkMossJustin]

I've ordered a new Telluride, the EX with the EX Premium package, and I'm quite excited!! However, one snag I've run into is the dealer prep charges, and what they entail. My salesman has reflected that the dealer prep charge is $1,989, which doesn't include the normal title, license, inspection, and sales tax fees. I have been told it includes "get it ready for pick up", which I'm assuming includes wash, etc., but the salesman is also saying the prep charges include ceramic window tint and nitrogen in the tires, which by all indications online, are not required. I've requested an itemized dealer prep charge list, but I'm told they don't have one. I'm thinking, "why can't you get me one??" It's my money, and I should be able to figure out how I want to spend it!!

What say you?

Many thanks,

Freda

Try to get your deposit back, then, as others have already suggested:

Walk away.

You didn't actually order a new Telluride.

You put yourself on a wait list with a dealership for a back order for when they eventually get precious allocations from Kia/KFOS.

A legitimate dealership will refund you you the $500, because nothing has actually been ordered, you're just in line behind a list of customers to order something that will be ordered and built months after you hand the dealership a check.

If they don't give you your $500 deposit back, think about what other shenanigans they'll pull later on.

Write down every detail: dealership location, address, salespersons, managers, owners, in case further action is required.

You may lose $500 to a shady dealership, but it's likely better than losing thousands later to these scammers.

Sunk-cost fallacy. Don't lose any more to these guys.

Another red flag:

Nitrogen-filled tires.

Classic scam.

Atmospheric air is regularly over 78.08% Nitrogen with variances in altitude and temperature.

Unless a neutral third-party measures 100.000% Nitrogen coming out of your "Nitrogen-filled" tires, this is something you shouldn't fall for.

Ceramic window tint from these scammers is probably just Windex.

What's next?

Window VIN etching as "Security package"? Cheap pin-striping? Leather treatments and mysterious "protective" coatings?

Walk away and find a legit dealership.

 

[arattle]

Nitrogen-filled tires.

Classic scam.

Atmospheric air is regularly over 78.08% Nitrogen with variances in altitude and temperature.

Unless a neutral third-party measures 100.000% Nitrogen coming out of your "Nitrogen-filled" tires, this is something you shouldn't fall for.

I have to take issue with this particular point - I know it's off-topic here. Nitrogen filled tires are a legitimate thing. Even though air is mostly nitrogen, it's the oxidizing effects of oxygen that you're trying to avoid, as they expedite breakdown of rubber compounds. Most nitrogen is cryogenically produced, which means it's also extremely dry (<-40F dew point) and does not contain any other impurities. Aircraft tires are filled with nitrogen specifically because of these properties, as well as it won't support combustion - in the event of a blowout, the tire does not burn until nitrogen is depleted and replaced by air.

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[Tortuga07]

I have to take issue with this particular point - I know it's off-topic here. Nitrogen filled tires are a legitimate thing. Even though air is mostly nitrogen, it's the oxidizing effects of oxygen that you're trying to avoid, as they expedite breakdown of rubber compounds. Most nitrogen is cryogenically produced, which means it's also extremely dry (<-40F dew point) and does not contain any other impurities. Aircraft tires are filled with nitrogen specifically because of these properties, as well as it won't support combustion - in the event of a blowout, the tire does not burn until nitrogen is depleted and replaced by air.

Completely disagree. Tire degradation is not a legitimate concern unless you expect your tires to last more than 10 years (what a waste of a great car). Airplane tires are filled with nitrogen because of extreme rapid changes in ambient air temperature.

 

[DarkMossJustin]

I have to take issue with this particular point - I know it's off-topic here. Nitrogen filled tires are a legitimate thing. Even though air is mostly nitrogen, it's the oxidizing effects of oxygen that you're trying to avoid, as they expedite breakdown of rubber compounds. Most nitrogen is cryogenically produced, which means it's also extremely dry (<-40F dew point) and does not contain any other impurities. Aircraft tires are filled with nitrogen specifically because of these properties, as well as it won't support combustion - in the event of a blowout, the tire does not burn until nitrogen is depleted and replaced by air.

Please tell me how one can guarantee 100.000% Nitrogen with a single valve system? Exactly how much Nitrogen goes into the tires? Any traces of totally-free atmospheric air inside?

 

[arattle]

Please tell me how one can guarantee 100.000% Nitrogen with a single valve system? Exactly how much Nitrogen goes into the tires? Any traces of totally-free atmospheric air inside?

By filling from a nitrogen cylinder, that's certified 99.9% nitrogen or above? It's surprisingly cheap, especially with the low pressures that a car tire requires. You don't fill by volume, you fill to recommended pressure. There's less pressure fluctuation due to temperatures as well, as moisture (and partial pressure of water vapor) are responsible for most of that.

 

[Tortuga07]

By filling from a nitrogen cylinder, that's certified 99.9% nitrogen or above? It's surprisingly cheap, especially with the low pressures that a car tire requires. You don't fill by volume, you fill to recommended pressure. There's less pressure fluctuation due to temperatures as well, as moisture (and partial pressure of water vapor) are responsible for most of that.

I think you're missing his point. You'd have to have a second valve on the tire in order to purge the existing air from it for an extended period of time. Or you'd have to pump the tire down to vacuum while still somehow maintaining its seal.

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[onemoreday55]

If they didn’t mention these “prep” charges before you ordered your vehicle then I would bitch at the sales manager that they be removed, or you want your 500 dollar deposit refunded. 2,000 dollars in “prep” charges? wth kinda dealer is this?

Sadly, it's a reputable dealer on the west side of Fort Worth, one of a group. However, the same dealer on the east side of town isn't charging those fees. One friend bought hers in December, and the only "non-factory installed equipment" charge on her vehicle is for $850; however, she doesn't remember what it's for.

 

[onemoreday55]

Thanks to all for the input. I'm going to try a couple things with this dealer, then, if they won't budge, I'll request my $500 back.

 

[onemoreday55]

Thanks to all for the many great ideas with which to haggle this dealer.

I sent an email yesterday, noting I did not order the ceramic window tint or the nitrogen in my tires, and therefore, did not want to purchase them. I was told this is how they sell the vehicle, these charges had been disclosed, and they gave me the impression they wouldn't sell the vehicle without those charges. Over the weekend, I looked at a friend's sales agreement, and her "non factory installed equipment" charge was only $850, so I had what I believed to be good intel (keep in mind, my friend purchased hers from a sister company location on the other side of Fort Worth).
In my next email yesterday afternoon, I reflected that, NO, those charges were not disclosed, nor could I get a list of the actual charges on the $1,989 list to satisfy my curiosity. I reminded them I did not want these items, then mentioned that my friend's "dealer prep" was only $850. Then, I asked if they were not willing to sell the unit without those items. Later today, the salesman emailed me to say, he'd spoken with his sales manager, and that they would remove the ceramic window tint, and remove $1,000 from the previous dealer prep amount. However, he didn't mention the nitrogen charge. So, this afternoon, I noted that omission, and reflected the fact that now my dealer prep is at $898, so, if they nitrogen was also removed, what would my charges be. I'm awaiting his latest "deal".

If all is well, I will move forward with the purchase with this dealer. However, you guys have taught me much and I will proceed, not only with my original notes on how to finalize the purchase, but with your comments in my armor tool kit, and I will watch their every move like a hawk!! I already have other questions for the finance associate!!

Thanks again!!

Freda