Customer asked to pay in full before taking delivery

[Steebu]

Back in the day we had this concept where we would just walk away.

According to the article, this particular customer ended up not having to pay in full because the dealer magnanimously said they would make an exception for him, probably after the news channel approached the dealer.

But I’ve heard of dealers requiring “non-refundable” deposits, so in a case like this, what would’ve happened if the guy wanted to walk away but they dealer said, “fine, but we’re holding on to your $500 non-refundable deposit. And before you complain, the paperwork says that the refund is non-refundable and you signed it.”

It’s just gross.

 

[slade45]

I (regrettably) paid in full for my 2021 Tahoe LT in Sept'20. I took delivery 4 weeks later. We needed the car since our family car died on us and they gave us a loaner until it came in... regret the decision in hindsight.

 

[Ketzer]

I (regrettably) paid in full for my 2021 Tahoe LT in Sept'20. I took delivery 4 weeks later. We needed the car since our family car died on us and they gave us a loaner until it came in... regret the decision in hindsight.

You did what you needed to so you could get your family in a vehicle... no reason to regret that.

 

[Banks22]

They have chevy and gmc dealerships and I actually called both last April on a Tahoe and Yukon and they were kind of shady. So I walked away...

 

[Quark]

Yup. But when the law of supply and demand, which in normal circumstances raises prices and establishes market practices based on increases in material and production costs due to increased consumer demand, morph's into prices and practices being driven on the demand side by fevered consumer product envy and by greed on the supply side we wind up with car dealers who add surcharges to MSRP and want full payment before they will deliver product. And, since greed is insatiable, the demands by manufacturers and dealers will continue to escalate until enough consumers are forced to stop buying which will cause the ratio of demand to balance with the manufacturers and dealers ability to supply.

Here's a novel idea for responding to this mess: Perhaps we consumers should take a lesson from the Cubans who for decades during the Cold War responded to lack of available new cars by maintaining and repairing their old models!

Pretty much all we can do for now unless we choose to disrespect ourselves by groveling.

 

[slade45]

You did what you needed to so you could get your family in a vehicle... no reason to regret that.

Thanks, I do appreciate that. Felt like we needed to, plus the dealer was doing $5k off sticker, so can't complain. Interesting now as I am looking to trade it for a Yukon XL Denali (need the extra space) - not one dealer I have spoken to asked me to pay in full on an in-transit vehicle. Must be a rare thing.