Dealer misleading discounts - how is this allowed?

[Alex Davey]

Hi all. I’m looking at a raptor and coming from the UK where car sales practices don’t seem to be as ruthless.

With that in mind - does anything have experience of dealing with dealers that advertise a discount against MSRP but actually there is no discount. An example is below - they say it is 10k off MSRP but when looking at the window sticker there’s no discount against MSRP at all.

https://robinsonbrothers.com/ford-f-150-raptor-4wd-55-box-2018-baton-rouge-la-624f18

Is this allowed in the USA? I’m finding this whole process fairly daunting. Do you just avoid dealers like this?

 

[Qbngringo]

That isnt typical for car dealerships but you're shopping for a raptor. These have lower production and higher demand so many dealers charge over msrp for them. This is also common with the GT350 and other speciality cars. You dont usually find a discount on a raptor and if your in a popular area your paying above MSRP. This listing had a $10,000 dealer add on fee and the discount on the site is only getting rid of it bringing the car down to MSRP.

If you are looking in the south east its a good time to get a discounted 18 from the mid west like from this dealer in Kentucky. This is a bette more expensive build then you posted and even if you had to pay to ship the car you end up saving.

https://www.donfranklinfordlondon.c...10a0e0adf6e2a5c3f49a339f0.htm?searchDepth=1:1

Now is the time to get a discount on an 18 with the 19's only weeks away. Read this thread for more info

https://www.fordraptorforum.com/threads/msrp-considered-a-low-bid-by-galpin-ford.63224/

 

[pierceography]

Dealerships commonly list every incentive that's available on their websites, when in practice only 1-2 will actually apply.

You can call it shady, poor sales practices, dishonest, etc. But it's unfortunately common. Last time my wife and I bought a new Ford, one dealership claimed $6,100 off MSRP, but turns out is was around $2,000 because we didn't qualify for incentives like, "retired military", "public school teacher", "police/fire department employee".

Bottom line: Don't shop for a vehicle through the dealership's website; The price won't be accurate and they likely won't honor it. You either need to call them or show up in person (in person will give you better negotiation ability).

If you absolutely must look online, you can use Ford's "Ready, Shop, Go" process. You search inventory on their site (ford.com), find a vehicle that meets your criteria, then click, "See Dealer Price" and that's the pre-negotiated dealer sale price. You can reserve the price for 48 hours and it includes all incentives. You then work with the dealer on purchasing the vehicle at that price. For a Raptor, the best you can hope for is MSRP on a brand new one, unless you find a demo vehicle with some miles that's still listed as "new".

 

[SSWIM]

Yep. I posted in another thread of these type of tactics. They will "blanket" all F-150s. It will include 4K+ discounts and when you call they say its an internet mistake. Raptors DONT apply.

Sam

 

[smurfslayer]

It really is a shame that we all don’t have access to a universal repository of information... Some thing we could connect to with a computer and search the country for deals on Ford Raptors.... If we only had such a tool.



Dealers can be a bit arrogant about their stuff. Remember, their primary goal is to separate you from your money, secondarily, provide you with a vehicle of some sort, not necessarily what you want.

Negotiate from a position of strength. Have quotes before you visit another dealer so you can walk out with the confidence that you can simply take the deal you have. If some more local or preferred dealer thinks your sale isn’t important enough to match, you should consider this an affront to your dignity and treat those malcontents as if they are advocating for the total ban of tea or perhaps abolishing the public house.

MSRP on a current year Raptor is the benchmark for an “average” deal. That is to say, the dealer will make ~$8000.00 on the sale. When the 2017 models were new, about $2k over was ‘acceptable’ to some and many members here paid significantly more. Once the market stabilized, only the dealers who are stuck on stupid ask for over MSRP. I think now, about $2k under MSRP is a reasonably achievable and good price. Others have done better, depending on the local market and other factors and of course, your mileage may vary.

Good luck!

 

[Deleted member 12951]

Welcome to America!

Car salesmen / Dealership here in America are considered the scum of a profession and most hated/distrusted. Most would rather get their teeth pulled than walk into a dealership. The next step up is a politician. Car salesmen will do everything in their power to take advantage of you so you have to be on high guard.



Good luck!

 

[Raptorguy1]

Yep. I posted in another thread of these type of tactics. They will "blanket" all F-150s. It will include 4K+ discounts and when you call they say its an internet mistake. Raptors DONT apply.

Sam

My salesman told me the same thing. He said an outside company sets up the listings and puts the same offers as other F-150's. I told him how I felt about it and they've since corrected it.

 

[Alex Davey]

I understand the offers being automatically applied and those shady practices but if you look at the truck I listed, the dealer actually mistates the MSRP of the truck as being 78k, then say they discounted it by 10k to 68k.

When I look at the window sticker of the truck the msrp is 68k. The statement on the website that the msrp is 78k is incorrect. How can ford be ok with that?!

It’s not ‘internet mistake’ type tactics, they are actually misstating the msrp of the truck. Surely that is a lie on the face of the listing. Madness!

 

[pastorwug]

These salesmen are losers that typically only have a high school education. They've failed at every other profession and are left being trained to subtlety lie to people at a car dealerships. The art of convincingly lying to people is what makes them rich. Sales staff changes often because most people have a conscience and can't continue the game.
No reason to ever enter a dealership to buy unless you are willing to swim past the delusions and attempt to correct these boys into making a decent deal.

 

[pastorwug]

https://www.foxnews.com/auto/porsche-sales-executive-stole-2-5-million-from-customers-lawsuit-claims

 

[smurfslayer]

I understand the offers being automatically applied and those shady practices but if you look at the truck I listed, the dealer actually mistates the MSRP of the truck as being 78k, then say they discounted it by 10k to 68k.

When I look at the window sticker of the truck the msrp is 68k. The statement on the website that the msrp is 78k is incorrect. How can ford be ok with that?!

It’s not ‘internet mistake’ type tactics, they are actually misstating the msrp of the truck. Surely that is a lie on the face of the listing. Madness!

https://www.ag.state.la.us/ConsumerDisputes

You’re right. The dealer website clearly says the MSRP is 10k over what the window sticker says. Get screen shots before the dealer takes them down. Report them to both Ford and the ag office above. They are probably perfectly ok indicating that they’re overcharging you, charging you a dealer mark up, or whatever, but the MSRP is binary; it is accurate or it’s a lie. In this case, the dealer is flat out lying.

Bonus points if you call them or visit them and record the conversation(check and be sure LA is a one party consent state first). If they confirm the MSRP is 10k over, that tells you it’s not a web service provider mistake, and it shows intent to deceive. Intent is key in proving a consumer complaint.

 

[Deleted member 12951]

Robinson Brothers Ford has a BBB A+ rating and been in business for over 70 years. Ford ain’t doing shit. I would get over it and move onto a different dealership. There are plenty of others out there. Otherwise go ahead and waste your time.

 

[smurfslayer]

in some states, it would be a waste of time but some would take it more seriously. A fine is possible for deceptive advertising in some states; in reality, most of the time they just make the vendor correct it.

however... If everybody does what you suggest, nothing ever changes. because with only one complaint, an AG consumer protection office will consider it a fluke, but with 30 complaints, they’re less likely to just “let it slide” and make them correct the advertising error. Remember the pre-internet “bait and switch” ads? I got suckered into that by a local dealer when I was trying to buy my first car. With no help from me, but about a month or 3 later, they were fined for exactly that and fined a pretty significant amount; it made the local 6 o’clock news.

 

[Alex Davey]

I thought about reporting it to the Baton Rouge Better Business Bureau and saying I am concerned by the rating given the misstatements on the website. Then I decided I have enough admin going on with the move from the UK to USA and left it. I’ll just avoid them.

It’s a shame the practices are so shady.

 

[carsonmd]

Usually referred to as "conditional" offers. Dealers use it all the time to lure you.

 

[bighaeb]

I instantly put them on the list of dealers I won’t do business with. I feel your best bet will always be online shopping, and find dealers that have realistic discounts disclosed up front (for instance, between $1000-$2500 off)

 

[smurfslayer]

I thought about reporting it to the Baton Rouge Better Business Bureau and saying I am concerned by the rating given the misstatements on the website. Then I decided I have enough admin going on with the move from the UK to USA and left it. I’ll just avoid them.

It’s a shame the practices are so shady.

Well, at least once you’re finally moved over here you’ll finally get to legally drive on the proper side of the road.
;-)

 

[Alex Davey]

Well, at least once you’re finally moved over here you’ll finally get to legally drive on the proper side of the road.
;-)

Ha. I’ll look forward to it. Given the width of the raptor however I imagine I might be on both sides!

 

[smurfslayer]

I recall we have a Gen 2 owner in Scotland. I’ve ridden there and yeah, I can totally see the Rap taking up 1.1x actual road width in some places.