[EBZ06]

In 2018, knowing the "for sale by owner" market was limited for a 2016 Chevy Camaro SS, I contacted both Carvana and Vroom to sell my car. Carvana offered me more than I was looking for. Vroom met the offer. HOWEVER, Vroom gives you about a week to make up your mind. I waited 5 days. By that time, with no prodding by me, they had increased their offer by $1K. The process was absolutely painless. They came promptly; picked up the car; two days later I had the check.

[PJackpot]

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!!!

Interesting. Had no idea this was going on. I bought my last vehicle in 2018. Always go the last day of the month when the dealership is looking to buck up end of month sales numbers. Played two Toyota dealerships against each other, and made out well. Sounds like things have changed.

[Larry P.]

I'm in the Automotive Industry in Detroit and the biggest reason for the extremely high new and used car prices are due to the global semiconductor shortage. New vehicles use over 200 semiconductors per vehicle and there are assembly plants closed all over the country until this shortage can be alleviated. We're looking at mid-2022 before things are back to normal and dealers can get back to normal inventory levels. Unless you absolutely need to buy a vehicle it would be much better to wait until next year when prices will (or should) return to normal levels; it's all about supply and demand right now.

[tvbound]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

One thing I never do is to go into the salesperson's little cubicle. That is one of the first things I tell them. I always stay the lounge area. They hate that.

Their #1 priority is to keep you in the dealership and getting you into a cubicle, makes it easier for them to do that. Their #2 priority, is to talk you out of your keys for your current vehicle to 'supposedly' perform a test ride so as to determine trade-in value. Since they like to play 'keep-away' with your own keys, NEVER give them your keys, but offer to ride along if you are in fact thinking of trading in (which you shouldn't admit to up front anyway). As to inflated MSRP's, it's always been 'whatever the market will bear' and these days - that's pretty high.

[4JRKR]

What can I say. Sometimes capitalism seems unfair. As you keep saying, because of low supply and high demand most desirable (new and used) cars are extremely high right now. By the way, so are homes/condos/golf carts, but that’s not too much of a concern if you are not a buyer in this market.

Regardless, it might be a good time to sell one of your late model low milage use cars, and live with one vehicle until the market changes. That is - become a seller in this seller’s market.

To do this most effectively look at other places to sell your used vehicles. Online try Carvana, drive your trade to a close CarMax, and then take your trade to the dealership (the manufacture of the trade). See who will give u the highest price.

It may also be a good time to order a new EV. Delivery will be several months out, but the cost will be fixed when you order it.

[HORNET]

This is the world we now live

[Geodyssey]

Originally Posted by LateBoomer

i know there is gamesmenship in new cars. Played it many times. but this??? "Oh you didn't read the fine print near the asterisk on the website" (which means that the listed price does not reflect the actual price, even before taxes and fees...got it)

I expect games. I don't expect to be hit with a $12,000 "Market Adjustment" that's not reflected in the price until they've had you in the chair for an hour....

that's beyond the pale

"beyond the pale", indeed. (look it up)

[Geodyssey]

Originally Posted by ROCKMUP

Its not "SHADY" at all, its called capitalism and everyone is happy with it until they aren't.

To paraphrase neoconservative Ben Shapiro "If you don't like it, start your own d@%$ car dealership!"

It's the American Way.

[Beyond The Wall]

Jenkins Hyundai in Leesburg has been taking advantage of villagers and elderly For years. Can’t speak of other Jenkins dealerships.

[Prism]

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.

Good info - never go into a cubicle! Also be ready to walk out and DO walk out, don't be in a hurry. They'll call you every few days for a couple weeks, then give them another chance. Or not.

[BlackhawksFan]

I used to work at Bill Bryan CDJ many of the vehicles especially the Chargers, Challengers and Jeeps have add on done by the dealer. Maybe wheels, different tires, off road packages etc. We had a Jeep Gladiator that had $24,000 in dealer add on extras.

Make sure you read the list and you're getting everything listed on it, like pinstriping.

Also you can negotiate if you buy sticker you're foolish.

[Villagesgal]

Never buy new or used from. JENKINS, check dealers in Ocala, Inverness, Crystal River and Orlando, no Villagers Markup and you can have it serviced at any local dealership. Saved thousands by going to Crystal River.

[tvbound]

Originally Posted by Redbuddrr

Jenkins Honda Leesburg
I decided I wanted to buy my leased 2018 Civic, which has a residual of $12,400 which is what was on my contract. Jenkins wanted $13,700. for me to buy it. That included sales tax, other taxes, and $999. handling fee, which was ridiculous. So I thought maybe I should trade for a new 2022. Sticker was $26K they added a $5000. market adjustment and another $5000 worth of accessories which took the sticker to about $37K, for a $26k window sticker Civic!!
I called Honda credit to buy out the lease, and they told me that the price I would pay them was $12,400., sales tax was already included in the number. I asked that's all? Yes that's what we need a check for.
Not only price gouging, but illegal to charge me for sales tax twice.

Consumer Reports is advising those whose lease is up, to seriously think about going ahead and paying the residual and purchasing it. In normal times, this was usually the more expensive route, but with the craziness that is going on now, it makes a lot of sense. Particularly since if you're buying out the lease of a vehicle you personally leased from new, there isn't the age old concern of used vehicles - which is how the previous owner had treated it before you.

[Challenger]

Originally Posted by LateBoomer

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.

Sumter Tire on 301 in Wildwood has a great rep for tires, and service. Wildwood Tire ditto. Both family run and here for decades.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by BlackhawksFan

I used to work at Bill Bryan CDJ many of the vehicles especially the Chargers, Challengers and Jeeps have add on done by the dealer. Maybe wheels, different tires, off road packages etc. We had a Jeep Gladiator that had $24,000 in dealer add on extras.

Make sure you read the list and you're getting everything listed on it, like pinstriping.

Also you can negotiate if you buy sticker you're foolish.

I would never pay for any dealer add-ons. You can get a guy to come to your house and install pinstriping in about 5 minutes for less than 30 percent of what the dealer charges. And, I can't verify that it happens often, but I understand that some dealers will substitute unused, but older and lower quality tires on new cars, because the tires are not part of the car manufacturer's warranty.