Dealer Documentation etc fees?

[Virtual-Chris]

Sure you do. What are they going to do? Spank you? Cancel your order? It is a bullshit fee and it’s pure profit, there’s no such thing as a document fee. Are they paying someone $800 an hour to file paperwork?

So I complained today, and was told, "That's the fee, and it's cheaper than most other dealers". They weren't budging on it.

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[Bronco4lyfe85]

So I complained today, and was told, "That's the fee, and it's cheaper than most other dealers". They weren't budging on it.

Personally I would have told them drop the fee or I won’t buy the car.

 

[Virtual-Chris]

Personally I would have told them drop the fee or I won’t buy the car.

Maybe when there’s half a dozen broncos on the lot, I might have some leverage, but with every Bronco sold for the next year or two, you either pay it, find another dealer (which I’m trying to do through this thread) or buy something sitting on the lot that you can negotiate on.

 

[Steveo21]

I told the dealership if this is mandatory and I have to pay, find a way for me to save money somewhere else, or toss something in for free.

 

[Virtual-Chris]

I told the dealership if this is mandatory and I have to pay, find a way for me to save money somewhere else, or toss something in for free.

You've done this on your Bronco purchase? or past purchases?

 

[Steveo21]

You've done this on your Bronco purchase? or past purchases?

Bronco. We went through everything that was negotiable. We also discussed financing rates, employee pricing and loyalty discounts. Not sure exactly what I’ll get, but I’m going to leverage everything I can to get whatever discounts I can. Fingers crossed!

 

[pan-y-cerveza]

Maybe when there’s half a dozen broncos on the lot, I might have some leverage, but with every Bronco sold for the next year or two, you either pay it, find another dealer (which I’m trying to do through this thread) or buy something sitting on the lot that you can negotiate on.

Don't forget that without you the dealer doesn't have a Bronco.

If they don't sell it to you it's a total loss. It's not like they can turn around and sell it to the next guy. Any profit they make, no matter the deal, is more than they make if you walk away from the Bronco.

 

[Virtual-Chris]

Don't forget that without you the dealer doesn't have a Bronco.

If they don't sell it to you it's a total loss. It's not like they can turn around and sell it to the next guy. Any profit they make, no matter the deal, is more than they make if you walk away from the Bronco.

I'm not sure I follow. Most dealerships have more reservations than they will get vehicles. So if one walks away, they will just go to the next in line. They will sell every vehicle they can get, whether you walk away or not.

What dealer are you guys dealing with where you can just threaten to walk away from your Bronco reservation and have the dealer drop the fee?

 

[Mustang Mike]

I’ve never heard of a documentation fee?

You don’t mean Destination & Delivery (freight) do you? In Ontario it’s about $2000?

I believe it should just be MSRP + Tax + Freight an if you’re paying an “admin fee” or “nitrogen charge” or “glass etching” go somewhere else!

 

[Mustang Mike]

In fact, if it helps anyone who’s being gouged by their dealer, here is my order sheet from today.
I actually ordered a while back but wanted to make some minor option changes prior to the 19 March order cutoff, but it’s in the system and these are prices $1900 freight is the only fee, but that’s listed right on build & price.
If you can get you dealer to waive any other “fees” and if they won’t call Ford Canada and request a change of dealership and they will switch your reservation to another dealer!

Also shoot for that priority code 10! Although reservation timestamp is king, you never know how this bronco algorithm will shake out!

Good luck!

 

[Virtual-Chris]

In fact, if it helps anyone who’s being gouged by their dealer, here is my order sheet from today.
I actually ordered a while back but wanted to make some minor option changes prior to the 19 March order cutoff, but it’s in the system and these are prices $1900 freight is the only fee, but that’s listed right on build & price.
If you can get you dealer to waive any other “fees” and if they won’t call Ford Canada and request a change of dealership and they will switch your reservation to another dealer!

Also shoot for that priority code 10! Although reservation timestamp is king, you never know how this bronco algorithm will shake out!

Good luck!

Note if you add the federal excise tax to the destination and delivery you get the $2000 that appears in price and build.

At some point, you will need to sign the offer to purchase which will have other charges like taxes, levies (for tires or batteries, etc) and dealer fees. Anyone who hasn’t raised this topic with their dealer, should do so, to avoid a surprise later.

Ive talked to a few dealers in BC and they all charge $600-$800 for a doc fee. It would be nice if Ontario dealers didn’t pull this stunt.

If anyone knows of a BC Ford dealer that is not charging a doc fee on Bronco purchases, please let us know.

 

[Mustang Mike]

Note if you add the federal excise tax to the destination and delivery you get the $2000 that appears in price and build.

At some point, you will need to sign the offer to purchase which will have other charges like taxes, levies (for tires or batteries, etc) and dealer fees. Anyone who hasn’t raised this topic with their dealer, should do so, to avoid a surprise later.

Ive talked to a few dealers in BC and they all charge $600-$800 for a doc fee. It would be nice if Ontario dealers didn’t pull this stunt.

If anyone knows of a BC Ford dealer that is not charging a doc fee on Bronco purchases, please let us know.

Yes you’re correct on the $2000 D&D being with tax!

This is the price, an no other fees will be added between now and the Broncos arrival (unless I were adding accessories or something).
I have a very strong working relationship with my salesman who is the dealerships sales manager & I don’t expect any surprises. This is the second vehicle I’ve ordered with him and we’re in a small town so there’s a certain amount of trust between both parties (customer & salesman).
In 2017 I orderd my Mustang and also didn’t get hit with any hidden fees. The order price didn’t change when the rest of the purchase paperwork was drafted up to sign other than a -$500 military discount and a -$1000 consumer cash that were taken off the final price. The $1000 discount was honoured as it was only offered after I ordered.
Usually if you factory order a vehicle & in the weeks/months it takes to arrive, Ford happens to changes the programs or rates for the better you will get that deal. Although I don’t suspect anything like this will change on the Broncos.
Maybe you can shop around your area online? It might be worth sitting down and drafting an email with your build & price all configured and the price broke down (kind of like my order sheet) and be very clear that you won’t pay any hidden/admin/doc fees. Then just email it to each & every Ford dealership you’re will to travel to for your Bronco. Whoever’s willing to play ball gets your business and although email isn’t necessarily a signed legally binding contract it’s still something in writing which is slightly better than a handshake? Just keep confirming in all interactions the price and keep reiterating that you don’t want any hidden fees added.

 

[Billm0066]

Two I've been in contact with in BC charge $599 and $699.

I thought car buying had evolved where this kind of add-on fee was history, but I guess not. It's a shameful practise. Imagine going to Canadian Tire to buy a grill and when you get to the checkout, the clerk is adding a $30 fee. Why can't Ford just ensure the pricing includes adequate margin for the dealer in the price so we don't need to go through this nonsense? Ugh.

If the dealer charged more for the car and no doc fee why would you care if it’s the same amount? Lol

 

[Razorbak86]

That's too bad no dealers in Canada are offering any discounts. In the US, some are.

Yeah, I've seen that, but that seems like a win-lose type of situation... you may save, but at what cost with respect to delivery? Certainly these dealers are just queuing up buyers that will not see vehicles until mid-decade! You might as well wait for initial lease returns to save!

Chris, if you really believe that, then I think I know why your dealer has you over a barrel.

 

[Squatch]

Two I've been in contact with in BC charge $599 and $699.

I thought car buying had evolved where this kind of add-on fee was history, but I guess not. It's a shameful practise. Imagine going to Canadian Tire to buy a grill and when you get to the checkout, the clerk is adding a $30 fee. Why can't Ford just ensure the pricing includes adequate margin for the dealer in the price so we don't need to go through this nonsense? Ugh.

Sure you do. What are they going to do? Spank you? Cancel your order? It is a bullshit fee and it’s pure profit, there’s no such thing as a document fee. Are they paying someone $800 an hour to file paperwork?

Gather 'round kids. I'm going to tell you a tale of car sales 20-odd years ago...

Car buying evolved with the advent of the information age and car selling was forced to adapt. Now that most people knew not just that there was an invoice, but the exact number! The sales staff were usually paid about 25% of the profit... well, after a doc fee and any other operational fees the dealer felt were incurred due to sales staff. If you've looked at new car MSRPs and invoices, you may have noticed there's not that much profit in a passenger car (not too much in our Broncos). There might not be any calculated profit left to take 25% of for the salesperson. What happens? They get what's called a "mini" which varies by dealer, but ranged from $1-200 per vehicle. Now, if you sold that car at invoice, then the dealership eats all that cost (out of holdback if the flooring fees haven't eaten that up). The salesperson sold on average 12 cars per month back then... 12 x $200 minis = $2400/month... what a lucrative business! Dealerships started getting fewer and fewer customers willing to pay anywhere near MSRP and rolled the fees they were taking out of the gross profit into the documentation fee. So, congratulations, you played yourself... as the meme goes.

If that grill costs about $2000--to make it proportional to the Bronco--you can bet that $30 of it is baked in like the enamel coating.

Imagine going to a cashier and asking for invoice on everything you buy? You'd save more money over your lifetime than doing it at the car dealerships if you could get it.

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