Attention: TDR Forum Junkies Well after lurking for some time, like others I joined after placing an order for a 3500 last week! I can't began to explain how much I've learned from reading all the great posts here the last year or so... Fantastic!
Sorry for this long post, but I really need some advice as it appears I currently have two 3500's on order. (I can barely afford the price of one!)
I live in Northern California. Last year I put off buying a 2003 due to the S/O, lack of inventory and dealer greed. So I was expecting the worst when the new 04. 5's hit the lots... .
Much to my surprise, I was able to place an order at invoice, about an hours drive from home. Dealt with the fleet sales manager, no hassle, gave me a printout showing order with my name, address and VON. That was last week. No down, nothing signed. (But... only a verbal promise of invoice minus rebates!)
Yesterday, while out running around, I stopped by the local dealer (who is asking 10% dealer added markup over list!) Surprise, a salesman there grabbed me while I was trying to find the fleet manager & said he would do an order at invoice.
(I explained I already had an order in & was only asking because the other dealer wouldn't put anything in writing. )
He said invoice price would be in writing, made some written notes of the options I wanted, gave me a photo copy of his notes, saying that later in the day he would fax me a copy of the invoice, showing prices and actual options.
No down payment, I signed nothing, gave him only my name, address & fax #.
Hours later, I left him a voice mail that I was back home & my fax was on... within minutes I got a fax! An order form showing my name and a VON, vehicle ordered!. (He did sign the bottom saying invoice, minus rebates... but he is just a salesman & thats probably not worth much more than the amount of down payment he asked for... $0!)
So my question to anyone with experience or in the business (like Tommygun!);
What is my liability, with my name & address being on a dealer order ? (Which states on the top "not an invoice, "informational" and "subject to change")
No deposit, no signed agreement & the second dealer didn't give any chance to confirm I wanted to order. (I did want to give the first dealer a chance to put the deal in writing, before changing dealers!)
Neither dealer had any 04. 5 dually's in stock, both said that they routinely ordered under fake names, just to get priority orders for inventory... .
So is this just a bait & switch, after a customer waits for months maybe he'll pay whatever they ask?
Or is it just a great way to get priority orders for inventory?
First I thought I'll just wait and see who gets what and see how I'm really treated when it comes time to sign... . But now I'm wondering if I'm missing something!
What my liability might be, having two ordered, only wanting one?
I have searched for hours in TDR & DTR archives, google news, but not much info about special orders with no money and no agreements signed... . This thing is starting to put a damper on the excitement of waiting for my new truck... Help!!!
Sorry for this long post, but I really need some advice as it appears I currently have two 3500's on order. (I can barely afford the price of one!)
I live in Northern California. Last year I put off buying a 2003 due to the S/O, lack of inventory and dealer greed. So I was expecting the worst when the new 04. 5's hit the lots... .
Much to my surprise, I was able to place an order at invoice, about an hours drive from home. Dealt with the fleet sales manager, no hassle, gave me a printout showing order with my name, address and VON. That was last week. No down, nothing signed. (But... only a verbal promise of invoice minus rebates!)
Yesterday, while out running around, I stopped by the local dealer (who is asking 10% dealer added markup over list!) Surprise, a salesman there grabbed me while I was trying to find the fleet manager & said he would do an order at invoice.
(I explained I already had an order in & was only asking because the other dealer wouldn't put anything in writing. )
He said invoice price would be in writing, made some written notes of the options I wanted, gave me a photo copy of his notes, saying that later in the day he would fax me a copy of the invoice, showing prices and actual options.
No down payment, I signed nothing, gave him only my name, address & fax #.
Hours later, I left him a voice mail that I was back home & my fax was on... within minutes I got a fax! An order form showing my name and a VON, vehicle ordered!. (He did sign the bottom saying invoice, minus rebates... but he is just a salesman & thats probably not worth much more than the amount of down payment he asked for... $0!)
So my question to anyone with experience or in the business (like Tommygun!);
What is my liability, with my name & address being on a dealer order ? (Which states on the top "not an invoice, "informational" and "subject to change")
No deposit, no signed agreement & the second dealer didn't give any chance to confirm I wanted to order. (I did want to give the first dealer a chance to put the deal in writing, before changing dealers!)
Neither dealer had any 04. 5 dually's in stock, both said that they routinely ordered under fake names, just to get priority orders for inventory... .
So is this just a bait & switch, after a customer waits for months maybe he'll pay whatever they ask?
Or is it just a great way to get priority orders for inventory?
First I thought I'll just wait and see who gets what and see how I'm really treated when it comes time to sign... . But now I'm wondering if I'm missing something!
What my liability might be, having two ordered, only wanting one?
I have searched for hours in TDR & DTR archives, google news, but not much info about special orders with no money and no agreements signed... . This thing is starting to put a damper on the excitement of waiting for my new truck... Help!!!
