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Ordering 101.....?

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In simple steps, how did you order your rig, AND how did it end up in relation to invoice. I want to learn what works.



I know some but assume I don't, and start at the beggining. I don't have to order right away.



Thanks in advance,



JRG
 
JRG -

I probably broke the ordering rules, cause I changed trucks when mine came in, I wanted bigger by the time it arrived. I shopped several dealers, met several sheisters, and ended up at a dealer where I have purchased many times before. I now know I went there for a good reason.



Most of the dealers, in AZ at least, so far are trying to hold MSRP for lot stock vehicles, and orders are taking about 6-8 weeks. Lot trucks are moving in 1 to 2 days after prep.



Some dealers will, if you order similar to what they are ordering, such as, don't order Snow Plow Prep in Phoenix, will let you buy a lot stock vehicle that arives before your order at your order price. They basically are 'buying' your truck for later sale. There is some risk in that, and the dealer should get something for the risk. But I don't think any dealer is going to have a long inventory for a while.



I went to a dealer web site that uses the chrome car book and 'built' a couple of vehicles. I ignored the MSRP and used only the Invoice price.



The first vehicle I 'built' is the base vehicle with the minimum I would accept, and the other had everything I wanted. You will be surprised at the difference sometimes, and may opt for the packed truck.



When I arrived at my desired vehicle with all the options, I added invoice price, -$500. 00 customer loyalty credit, some get a cirtificate, but you can just whine and get it too, and if you have a business tax ID in your name, -$300 for that too, you'll need to ask for it and have your business license.



These credits are paid to the dealer from DC without expense, I believe. If you don't get these, invoice is still a great price. ( unless you wait till July for Year End Rebates which may be $2000 !!!)



Add in Tax, Title, License, and modest documentation fee, be prepared to spend as little as $50. 00, if a dealer charges $250 doc fee, he's a crook. ( It takes an office girl 45 minutes to do this at the most. )



Dont forget the destination charge for your area, usually $740. The prefered package discounts you see don't affect invoice, only the MSRP, same goes for regional discounts.



Don't add any dealer prep, market adjustment, advertising fees, or other fees, that is all.



The other expenses don't apply to an ordered vehicle, and DC pays the dealer 2 Hours ( I think ) for vehicle pre-delivery checkout and prep. You shouldn't pay for this too.



Take the codes that you have from the 'built' vehicle and shop the dealers. Go to the various local owned and smaller dealers, and the larger independant '5 star' dealers. The chains are often crooks and tack on fees and extras. Tinting, undercoating, glass etching, scotch guard, etc etc...



Ask for the fleet manager or internet manager, ignore the salesmen, and explain you would like to place a truck order.



Discuss terms First, tell them what you are willing to pay in relation to invoice and fees, if they are sheisters, youll know before you waste your time. Don't ever be afraid to walk out.



Pre printed fees or finance requirements are a sham, cross them out, add a credit, or walk. Don't complete a sales contract and note at this time, just a vehicle order.



Most every dealer will give the credits above against invoice price for ordered vehicles with a deposit of $500. 00 to $1000. 00. Use a credit card, never a check or debit card.



If they won't do invoice, then make sure that any amount above is no more than a couple hours labor peeling plastic, a carwash, and a tank of fuel. That is the only out of pocket expense they have for selling you a truck.



I think everyone understands that dealers are paid quarterly 'hold back' of 3% for every vehicle they sold, minus flooring charges for vehicles they have sit on on the lot. Ordered trucks are sold trucks and the flooring expense may be as little as $5 or $6 bucks a day ( 5-9% simple interest against account) from delivery to closing of the sale. At least this is how it was explained to me.



If the dealer is truly earning your business I think it holds true that you would return and give them more business or service. Let them make their money by earning it.



Using your list, build the truck on the order system with the fleet manager right at his ( her) desk. He will print an order confirmation form and the order is entered.



Then sit back and wait.



I hope I didn't ramble but my last truck is the 6th personal vehicle I have purchased this way or similar since 1994, I've got two more kids that need a vehicle, and the wifes is getting old, so I am sure I'll get more practice.



This was certainly the cheapest (in relation to MSRP) and most expensive vehicle I ever bought.



BTW, I am supposed to be doing CAD work on my computer but can't resist coming over to the TDR and seeing whats up. I hope this 1/2hr respsonse helps!
 
JRG,



Since you live in Estacada, you may want to try one of the following dealers. I've had very good luck with both of them.



Dishman Dodge - Spokane, WA



Dave Smith Motors - Kellogg, ID



You may want to also try the following web site. It will help you determine the packages, dealer invoice, MSRP, etc. They probably don't have the 2003 info yet, but I've found this site to be very useful/helpful.





MSN Carpoint



Good luck, keep us posted. -Ken
 
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DIESELMAN, Ken B,



Thanks very much for the replies!



I have some rereading of the posts as to I want to examine and take some notes.



I have heard of Dave Smith, I guess I could call them and just tell them what I want and have them fax me a quote. Do have to factor in air fair and gas.



Thanks again,



JRG
 
Originally posted by DIESELMAN

Don't add any dealer prep, market adjustment, advertising fees, or other fees, that is all.




Are you sure you can ditch the regional marketing/advertising fees? My truck orders have been very similar to what you described, but everything I've heard and read says those aren't "optional".



I guess without some hard evidence I don't feel assured enough in demanding that they be taken off.
 
another dealer recommendation

Since you're in Western OR (checked on maps. yahoo.com), you could make the trek north to Burlington, WA to Frontier Dodge. It's probably a 5-6 hour drive, I guess. I bought my truck from them basically the way DIESELMAN bought his - well, without the swapping part - and paid $199 over invoice. I think they now go $59 or $49 over invoice. If you get the farm bureau credit or any of those others, I think you can apply it to that price since those are DC credits not dealer ones.



I had very good luck with both the ordering process and service department and have recommended them to several people and none have come back and yelled at me for a bad recommendation.



When I went in to order mine, I had the invoice printouts in hand and knew exactly what I wanted. I had plenty of time since I was deploying for 6 months so I walked in intending to factory order. I was at first accosted by a (I think) relatively new salesman on the floor. I sat down with him, let him go through his spiel and when he "triumphantly" returned from the manager's desk with a price (in big red marker, circled even) that he had "won" for me... well, it was the second sticker price and I laughed right in his face and reminded him I had the invoice pricing right there in front of him. At that, he got disgusted and said, see the fleet guys in the back. So, I had a good laugh and a good deal out of it plus good follow up service. A little long for you to drive, but if you can't find someone local, they're worth the trip. And I think if you're taking it home you won't pay WA sales tax, but of course you'll have to check that. Good luck!
 
Originally posted by David Muench





Are you sure you can ditch the regional marketing/advertising fees? My truck orders have been very similar to what you described, but everything I've heard and read says those aren't "optional".



Well, I don't think anything is off the table when negotiating a price, but DC isn't, or at least not as far as I've seen, adding a regional marketing/advertising fee to the charges for ordered trucks. If the dealer is paying for local advertisement, and you can assume that they all do, isn't this a cost of doing business? Just as I advertise my business to my clients, and charge more to work in some areas, I also decide wether to add this expense to my bids on my own. This is what makes me competitive, this is what makes dealers competetive.



Those expenses that are added, without a competetive dealer to defer to, would have to remain if the dealer chooses to add them, and the buyer chooses not to walk. A Pencil eraser can work wonders.



Those regional discounts shown on the Mulroney sticker are deducted from the MSRP, they adjust the price to make a lot stock vehicle that the dealer is borrowing money on to have on his lot appear competetive in a given market, but don't affect the cost of a vehicle to a dealer and as such don't belong in a negotiated order. It is a discount in the Mark-Up, and without a mark-up, you can't have a discount. I don't believe the dealer gets that discount added to the hold back.



I do believe in over invoice purchases when you buy off the lot. The dealer has taken a considerable risk in telling DC to send me on down $5 million or so in those new fangled trucks. I think I can sell them. Not much risk there! The faster he sells them the less the factor gets. But the moment a truck arrives without a buyer, the dealer spends money and deserves to earn money to cover his sales expense and risk taken.



If the flooring rate is say 8%, then the dealer has 120 days to turn everything or be giving away his money. I don't know DC's rate to dealers or even if dealers have the manufacturer factor their inventory or if they handle that out of pocket or with a commercial factor. But money does cost money to use.



The worst think anyone can do is say no deal.



Once you remove the intimidation factor, the whole process is fun! Especially when you go in educated as to the process and product, and teach the sales guys about THEIR product!



Sorry for my long posts, I can type at up to 180WPM, and talk that fast too!
 
Ultimate Frosting: If you have a dealer that will not work with you, order the truck the way you want it from one of the dealers that like the TDR and they will have it dropped shipped to the very same dealer on a "Courtesy Delivery". This cost usually runs about $200. I just signed up one of the dealers that I work with to the TDR yesterday. We now have a "brother" in the biz!
 
Ad fee is included in invoice pricing....

If they're trying to tack on MORE advertising, you're getting screwed. You can try and have them take it off, but they are apparently required to pay it, so.....
 
Dave Smith Motors

Hoowdy neighbor.

I ordered my 99 through Dave Smiths and pricing ended up at Invoice (Edmunds & Kelly Blue Book matched their quote) plus $250 for the sales person, $49 license/title fee and $56 for airfair to Spokane. The tank was full and still had between 1/8 and 1/4 when I got home to Beavercreek, OR. Only one problem - They lost my truck for about an hour and if you go up there you will see why - tons-o-rigs everywhere.



Happy Shoppn'



PS: Dave Smiths beat all the local deals by a minimum of $1800.
 
Ordered my Truck exaclty how I wanted it. Told them I was ready to order at the right price and they offered $200 under invoice. I then got $2500 back from DC in the form of incentive. Turned out to be a killer deal. My advice is go in and say you'll sign at "X" under or over invoice... make them negotiate with you. They'll try to haggle off of MSRP but insist on working from invoice.



CJ
 
Does Dave Smith Motors have the trucks with the "california border state emissions" I do not want to go near having any california equipment. That is if I am taking a raod trip this time next year. Most likely not but new york is not know for honest anything. Especially car dealers.
 
ordering 101

jrg, this is first time reply from new member hopefully it works.



We bought a Durango in 2000 form Gill Martin at Duane DeWees in Aberdeen WA over on the coast. He beat Dave Smith by $200. his number is 1-877-625-0800. He beat the Seattle and Tacoma dealer by $2000-3000.



I have been talking to him about a 2003 ram, and he has been great, sadly I'm waiting for the doctor to fix my shoulder later this month before I order my truck. I just have a need to ensure I have a job before forking over my money.



We had one service thing with the Durango, we were headed to the coast for a seminar and then the next morning flying out of Sea-Tac for a week in Arizona. I checked the oil before leaving and found lots of white milky gunk, first thought blown head gasket. I called Gill he put me on the phone with a mechanic and agreed that was a real possiblity. I told Gill we needed a car to get back to the airport (about 125 miles) and then be gone for a week. his reply "not a problem I'll find you a used car on the lot and you can take it, have a nice trip. Your Durango will be fixed when you come back. "



Well about 4 hours after dropping off the Durango he called the cell phone and said it was fixed, just a bad condensor.



oh!!!!!!!!!!!!! one more important point, when it was here in my driveway it was under warranty, by time we drove there it was out of warranty.



I sent two others too him and they both said he was great!



good luck, tell him Steve and Debbie sent you
 
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