[Challenger]

The next 'Rip" begins the first time you need service and talk to the so called 'Service Rep" Not a mechanic, his/her job is to up sell stuff you clearly don't need. ie: cabin and engine filters. Most likely his/her compensation is based on some sort of sales compensation.

[bovelsky]

I hade the same experience at Jenkins Kia in Ocala. They wanted 10k over MSRP for a Kia Sorento. I told them that they were nuts and I could buy a Lexus for that Price. So that is exactly what I did. I went to Lexus of Orlando and they gave me a fair price on a Lexus RX350 that was less than Jenkins Kia wanted for the Sorento. They were a pleasure to deal with and I was extremely satisfied. Try Lexus, they have not had as many issues with the chip shortages as the other brands

Originally Posted by LateBoomer

so I contact a local dealer (a Jenkins, but they are everywhere) about a particular luxury SUV on their site, that listed a price of about $66,500 (which is higher than the company says the MSRP should be but i get it - different times right now). They said sure come on by.

Now I know there has been some "market adjustments in prices" - but guess what this car LISTED on their site actually cost? $79,500!! and that was BEFORE another $1000 (dealer fee), and taxes, etc. What should have been a $73,000 car after taxes was actually an $85,000 car!

$12,000 markup due to supply and demand.

Of course it's worse. They have a big poster in the sales office - about how their Internet price is "guaranteed" and they pay the average of Kelley BB and Edmunds for trade-ins. We had two trade-ins. Kelley and Edmunds average for clean fairly new cars (both 2020 vehicles) said that we should have got between $54-$55K . they offered a whopping $49K!! so much for higher prices for used cars?

Honestly, I know that inflation was a bit out of control. And dealers could be shady...but glibly adding $12,000 to a new car's price, and under-valuing a used car by thousands?

very shady practices. We decided to sit tight with our existing cars until things are normal again.

are people really paying this much more over MSRP? Never seen it in my life...or is this just a Jenkins thing around here? very very sneaky to add this to the price actually on your website!!

Beware, people!!!

[MarkGoldberg]

I have a Hyundai from Jenkins. I also was not pleased with the sales team. Absolutely felt like the car sales stereotype.

[kkimball]

We had a similar experience in January. We were looking for a Hyundai Palisade and test drove one in their Ocala Genesis dealership. The first thing we noticed was the window sticker showing "extras" like nitro in the tires and pinstriping (I would have paid extra to have that garbage removed). The salesperson said the extra charges were negotiable, so we didn't think too much about it.

While there we also tried a Genesis GV80, which we really liked, and went to the Leesburg Jenkins dealership to try one with a higher package. The GV80 in Leesburg was just plain marked up by $15,000 (~20%). There was no way we were going to pay that kind of dealer markup.

I don't have an issue with them charging whatever they want for their vehicles. What I do have an issue with is the string of lies that came out of the salesperson's mouth along with the high-pressure sales tactics. I found it easy to walk away, but I understand that some people have trouble saying 'no' under that kind of pressure.

One of the lies from the salesperson was that no other dealership in Florida had a GV80 available. That was plainly false. Inventory was low, but every dealership we checked had a variety on the lot. We purchased from Central Florida Genesis two days later with the exact package we wanted. They had a $1,000 markup, which we could live with.

Last month when needing to replace a damaged tire, we found their parts prices to be almost double what we could get elsewhere.

We love the vehicle and that we didn't buy it from Jenkins.

[LateBoomer]

UPDATE:

Just proving how this is seemingly somewhat local and maybe a Jenkins thing. Called a Fitzgerald dealership in the Tampa area. Same exact car - no "market adjustment". Getting it for $15K LESS than Jenkins glibly offered me yesterday. I am driving down to Tampa tomorrow to complete the transaction.

Well there's a lesson here. Shop where there is more competition. Avoid Jenkins if at all possible. or maybe shop outside of the Leesburg/Ocala corridor entirely. There simply is not as much competition as is needed to keep dealers honest. Tampa has serious competition (major dealership corridors along Dale Mabry in Tampa, along US19 in Clearwater/Palm Harbor, as well as near St. Pete, a major corridor in Brandon, another in Sarasota, etc). Plenty of dealerships in the Orlando area as well.

Price-gauging in TV seems to be a hobby by businesses? They see as a bunch of rich, dumb, old people I guess? Is Jenkins affiliated with the coffee guy who is hawking his over-priced java here ?

[LateBoomer]

Originally Posted by Challenger

The next 'Rip" begins the first time you need service and talk to the so called 'Service Rep" Not a mechanic, his/her job is to up sell stuff you clearly don't need. ie: cabin and engine filters. Most likely his/her compensation is based on some sort of sales compensation.

well that WILL be the next question for me. Where to go to get reputable service . I can't see going to Jenkins.

I will ultimately be looking for recommendations on shops around here for the basic stuff (oil, tires) and potentially whatever else may be needed (body work, add-ons, etc)

I instantly became turned off by Jenkins. Even the Sales Manager was rather arrogant about the whole thing.

[Luggage]

Jenkins seems to known as the 1950's dealer. That said I never buy new. I buy Buicks which are typically bought by many Senior s and thus low on mileage. I save 30 or 40% on depreciation and there are a lot of them to choose from. My last three cars are from carvana. I did not have to deal with the finance manager and I got the highest trade in anywhere. They always have as they sell 50,000+ cars a year. I have not stepped into a dealership for years except for the repair and service department and everything is still under warranty.

[LateBoomer]

Originally Posted by Luggage

Jenkins seems to known as the 1950's dealer. That said I never buy new. I buy Buicks which are typically bought by many Senior s and thus low on mileage. I save 30 or 40% on depreciation and there are a lot of them to choose from. My last three cars are from carvana. I did not have to deal with the finance manager and I got the highest trade in anywhere. They always have as they sell 50,000+ cars a year. I have not stepped into a dealership for years except for the repair and service department and everything is still under warranty.

I may reach that point the next go around. But this time, I wanted what I wanted (or at least the wife was even more enamored with this model/make), and I didn't see any used models of this one around. but yes, going forward, probably going to go another direction

[bruce213]

Wait a year if you can, if your set on a new car get away from TV.

[larrycrilley@gmail.com]

Originally Posted by LateBoomer

so I contact a local dealer (a Jenkins, but they are everywhere) about a particular luxury SUV on their site, that listed a price of about $66,500 (which is higher than the company says the MSRP should be but i get it - different times right now). They said sure come on by.

Now I know there has been some "market adjustments in prices" - but guess what this car LISTED on their site actually cost? $79,500!! and that was BEFORE another $1000 (dealer fee), and taxes, etc. What should have been a $73,000 car after taxes was actually an $85,000 car!

$12,000 markup due to supply and demand.

Of course it's worse. They have a big poster in the sales office - about how their Internet price is "guaranteed" and they pay the average of Kelley BB and Edmunds for trade-ins. We had two trade-ins. Kelley and Edmunds average for clean fairly new cars (both 2020 vehicles) said that we should have got between $54-$55K . they offered a whopping $49K!! so much for higher prices for used cars?

Honestly, I know that inflation was a bit out of control. And dealers could be shady...but glibly adding $12,000 to a new car's price, and under-valuing a used car by thousands?

very shady practices. We decided to sit tight with our existing cars until things are normal again.

are people really paying this much more over MSRP? Never seen it in my life...or is this just a Jenkins thing around here? very very sneaky to add this to the price actually on your website!!

Beware, people!!!

This woman is a former car sales person and now is a car buying consultant. You can watch your videos for advice and you can even hire her to coach you or to represent you in purchasing a vehicle. The videos are worth a look.
C.J. (@smell.like.bad.decisions) TikTok | Watch C.J.'''s Newest TikTok Videos

[B-flat]

Originally Posted by vintageogauge

True. I was ready to trade this past winter and got a firm offer from Carvana, drove to the dealer with my wife's car and said I just wanted a cash deal no trade. We agreed on a price and I told them Carvana was buying my car, they asked for their offer so I showed them the printed copy, they matched the offer and also saved me the sales tax on the trade amount which was about $2,000.00. I went home and got my car, they looked it over and had no issues with it, went home with the new one. Buying a car is as easy or as hard as you want it to be and it's so much easier to trade now with all of the on-line buyers giving firm prices. There is no way I would pay a dealers fee or prep fee or for items they chose to add to their cars in stock. They used to play those games back in the day with rust proofing already applied and paint sealant, etc., never paid for any of that foolishness either.

I had a similar experience except I went to Car Max in Gainesville at the time they made me an offer to buy my mini van at specified price. When I went to another dealer to make a purchase they offered me less for my trade than Car Max but when I showed them my written offer they matched the trade-in price from Car Max.

Check this web site out the man who runs it has some great advice and services at what I think is a bargain price.
Fighting Chance: Your Customized Solution to Getting the Best Car Deal

[LateBoomer]

Originally Posted by bruce213

Wait a year if you can, if your set on a new car get away from TV.

yup. see my "Update" above. Buying the same car in Tampa tomorrow for $15K less

[jimkerr]

Originally Posted by LateBoomer

so I contact a local dealer (a Jenkins, but they are everywhere) about a particular luxury SUV on their site, that listed a price of about $66,500 (which is higher than the company says the MSRP should be but i get it - different times right now). They said sure come on by.

Now I know there has been some "market adjustments in prices" - but guess what this car LISTED on their site actually cost? $79,500!! and that was BEFORE another $1000 (dealer fee), and taxes, etc. What should have been a $73,000 car after taxes was actually an $85,000 car!

$12,000 markup due to supply and demand.

Of course it's worse. They have a big poster in the sales office - about how their Internet price is "guaranteed" and they pay the average of Kelley BB and Edmunds for trade-ins. We had two trade-ins. Kelley and Edmunds average for clean fairly new cars (both 2020 vehicles) said that we should have got between $54-$55K . they offered a whopping $49K!! so much for higher prices for used cars?

Honestly, I know that inflation was a bit out of control. And dealers could be shady...but glibly adding $12,000 to a new car's price, and under-valuing a used car by thousands?

very shady practices. We decided to sit tight with our existing cars until things are normal again.

are people really paying this much more over MSRP? Never seen it in my life...or is this just a Jenkins thing around here? very very sneaky to add this to the price actually on your website!!

Beware, people!!!

Jenkins is a very unethical company. I’d never do business with any Jenkins dealership.

[Northerner52]

JENKINS IS HORRIBLE. Unfortunately some buyers don't know and they get em.

Originally Posted by LateBoomer

so I contact a local dealer (a Jenkins, but they are everywhere) about a particular luxury SUV on their site, that listed a price of about $66,500 (which is higher than the company says the MSRP should be but i get it - different times right now). They said sure come on by.

Now I know there has been some "market adjustments in prices" - but guess what this car LISTED on their site actually cost? $79,500!! and that was BEFORE another $1000 (dealer fee), and taxes, etc. What should have been a $73,000 car after taxes was actually an $85,000 car!

$12,000 markup due to supply and demand.

Of course it's worse. They have a big poster in the sales office - about how their Internet price is "guaranteed" and they pay the average of Kelley BB and Edmunds for trade-ins. We had two trade-ins. Kelley and Edmunds average for clean fairly new cars (both 2020 vehicles) said that we should have got between $54-$55K . they offered a whopping $49K!! so much for higher prices for used cars?

Honestly, I know that inflation was a bit out of control. And dealers could be shady...but glibly adding $12,000 to a new car's price, and under-valuing a used car by thousands?

very shady practices. We decided to sit tight with our existing cars until things are normal again.

are people really paying this much more over MSRP? Never seen it in my life...or is this just a Jenkins thing around here? very very sneaky to add this to the price actually on your website!!

Beware, people!!!

[MidWestIA]

If you don't NEED a car now wait until the covid short supply or excuse goes away