@Anonymous wrote:
@I think I just had the rare dealership case of seeing both sides of it. I asked the dealership to run my credit when I came in for maintenance, because I was already rate shopping to refinance my 2007 vehicle that was @ 11%. Since I knew about the Fico exception for the 14 day period I didn't think it would hurt.
They offered me 3% and I was ecstatic but as soon as I asked about the USAA auto circle price they said they couldn't offer that price at that rate. I was confused and asked why, but couldn't get an explanation. I ended up taking the lower price and higher rate, knowing I could prepay principal.
I've never cared to know the markup on a bagel, or Starbucks' profit margins. I would most definitely question a sign stating my normal $2 coffee is now $1.50, only to find that when it's rung up there's now a 33% cup convenience fee. I wish the dealer no Ill will. They are a business and I am (now) an informed consumer. Dealerships need to make money, and I respect that. My first solo car purchase was a 2003 Mitsubishi I bought in 2005. I paid ~16k at 16%. A single bad experience put me on the defensive a little, but I'm by no means an aggressive or disrespectful.
When using the USAA Autocircle price my understanding is that you are supposed to make them aware of that at the beginning of the transaction, not as a "afterthought" later in the sales process.
That way they can structure the numbers through the entire experience and show you that evolution. It also stops them from showing you two or more sets of working numbers, and then showing you the numbers of the discount and you feeling cheated, or baited and switched.
I was not there and do not know what happened but can say this, assuming its a reputable dealership:
There is a high chance that the Autocircle price may have been configured with a different set of rebates and/or incentives available. Its that simple.
Ford has the A/Z Plan for active employees and retires and the X Plan For friends and family. In many cases if you are using those discounts you cannot stack certain public rebates (ie- military or college student rebates) with them as you are already getting a strongly discounted price. many times I had to explain to people that the rebates did not stack. (there is no extreme couponing where you are able to get two cars for the price of one) It was not my policy, the rebates were not designed that way. In many cases I could give them the rebate or give them the plan price, and there would be a price/payment difference and let them choose which direction they went.
I have had customers come in and say adamantly they were getting Z plan (A/Z are the greatest discount you can get) then when it came time for them to give us the pin its a X plan and the price is suddenly $2,000 more and they blame us. Now they still want to get that price and payment because its cheaper but they do not qualify.
As I have already said: many times you can get a huge rebate or a cheaper then possible interest rate- but not both. (the rebate serves the people who are great credit paying in cash or near cash, the interest rate serves the people financing)
If the dealership honored the Autocircle price they fulfilled their obligation. A dealership has a right to make a profit. if you felt that horrified by their actions why did you complete the deal?
A car dealership has to sell cars. its their job. But they do not make any deal unless it makes them money somehow. they sure as hades do not make money losing deals.
Based on what you have said in this thread, had you expressed Autocircle pricing at the beginning you would have had the price you wanted at a very reasonable interest rate and been extremely happy with your transaction and never known the difference.
To go back to our bagel store analogy:
You decide to go buy a party platter with add ons. Its a slow day at the store and the manager decides to deal with you and help you out, and in the process you say you are paying cash. Essentially he decides to throw in for free- beverages and some side dishes. As you are finishing the plans you then pull out a 20% off coupon and a credit card on that total. You want the maximum discount and rewards points, but the owner cannot honor that and make a profit on the $100+ transaction, to do so would basically give you the entire order at 60% off. is he re-nigging? Nope. You were offered a set of discounts and such on one set of parameters, you wanted another set and Bam the first offer went away or had to be modified.
You can call a Pizza chain right now and express to them over the phone "Hi can I talk to a manager: Hi I will be paying cash, and want to have a pizza party with 20 or so one topping pizzas size medium or large, what kind of price can you give me, oh and its for a Monday day around 5:00PM. " you would be surprised what price they will give you. Try it and then try to use coupons or credit cards, or do it when it is a peak day and you will be unhappy you cannot get the same prices.
