My Telluride SX-P is here! I am buying from Moritz in DFW. Just found out there is a $895 dealer prep fee. Is this standard? Was told it included pin striping and tinting. Said I didn't want those, but was told the $895 fee applied regardless. I'm paying MSRP less $400 military discount. Thoughts????
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Dealer prep fee
- Thread author Telly2
- Start date
Dealer prep fee is just an add on. Keep declining it... was it disclosed in your initial agreement? Does it include dealer doc fees or are those separate? If it wasn't disclosed in your initial agreement, fight with sales manager directly. Your salesman will do nothing.
If they won't do anything about it, ask them to tint your windows for you (if you want additional tint) or put on a prep coating like a sealant (Permaplate) (with interior/exterior warranty - if you want that). You can deny pinstriping and nitrogen or whatever else is in that package. Ask them to include the doc fees in that.
Fee should have been disclosed at initial order and agreement.
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Thanks. It wasn't disclosed till now. I am dealing with the sales manager. Don't want to lose it but it rubs me the wrong way!!
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Yeah, it would rub me the wrong way. I ultimately agreed to a tint fee and another item - combined $300 overpriced add-ons - but I got value out of them at least. Still got rebates and car was a good deal. I didn't walk. But that was disclosed up front. Keep fighting the good fight. Sorry it couldn't be smooth.
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Also, look out for the Texas Dealer Inventory Tax - they often try to add that in the finance process, but the consumer is not required to pay it. It will show up on a line item if they are charging you .
Will watch for the inventory tax. Also, I've been chatting with Ed Wallace from Insideautomotive.com since I started my vehicle search. He is a wealth of knowledge and has a fascinating radio program. I used Moritz based on them being one of his recommended dealers. When I posted on this forum about the fee I also emailed Ed. No idea when I would hear back because it's the holidays. I have already heard back from him and from Moritz! The tint and pin striping will be included for free and the dealer prep fee is being waived. Feel much better now. It pays to be an informed consumer.
Yes watch for those fees. I worked for a dealership and they did have a number of things they could make money on to include "prep". The latest is the cheezy PULSE add-on that consist of a sticker and a brake light pulse circuit. It is cheap but they make $$ on this "safety" item...
My Telluride is ordered. I get -$400 for military and -$400 for some standard minimum discount the dealer does off MSRP. Then I would get any rebate from Kia if we chose the higher interest rate for the loan. They only charge $80 for doc fees.
My Telluride is ordered. I get -$400 for military and -$400 for some standard minimum discount the dealer does off MSRP. Then I would get any rebate from Kia if we chose the higher interest rate for the loan. They only charge $80 for doc fees.
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Bogus….Dealer "prep" is paid by Kia, part of the destination fee. Dealers around here always charge a doc fee, supposedly to cover their cost in registering your car, dealing with payoff etc.. Usually $400-$600. Never had much luck getting those waived.
Love my new Telluride! Ultimately I paid $150 doc fee, no dealer prep and free pinstripe/tinting. Dealer add ons were cargo net, floor mats and mud flaps. So, all in all not too bad at MSRP for an SX-P. The extended warranty Moritz offered was just slightly higher than Kia of Muncie but Muncie offered the length I wanted 6/85k so I'm going with them on it. I got the $400 military discount and $1000 finance rebate. I only had a three week wait on my Telluride once I decided so I am very lucky (high volume dealer called me when they had one coming in exactly like I wanted)!
Ed Wallace
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I'm the Ed Wallace mentioned in this thread. For the record, the Texas Vehicle Inventory tax is a legitimate charge, been in place for decades and dealers don't keep that money. It's transmitted to the state of Texas in the same way as the sales tax and registration fees.
Welcome! Thanks for joining the forum. Yes, you are right - it's a legitimate charge, but one that the consumer is not required to pay - it even says as much in the finance documentation. It's a dealer charge... that doesn't have to be passed on to consumer - that was my only point. Many dealerships try and pass it along.
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I can't believe you recommend Moritz. This dealer prep fee BS is the reason I avoided them. Depending on the location they also ask for various deposits, some nonrefundable. We shouldn't have to fight dealers to avoid the dealer fee mark-up. Suggest you find a better area KIA dealer to recommend.
G
G-872712
No you shouldn't have to pay the dealership prep fee that is a scam that something that they pay regardless it is normal for them and you should still get the military discount if you do research online just say you're not getting it then I'll just get another car that doesn't do the prep fee and I'm sure they'll give you a call back very soon
