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Free_Range_Huma's avatar
Free_Range_Huma
Explorer
Jan 09, 2014

Charging for a PDI??

We completely missed this in our negotiations, but our customer quote worksheet lists these "options"

Clean for delivery $0
PDI $1300
New owner school $0

I expect expect them to clean for delivery.
"New owner school" is the part where they take hours to make sure you know how everything works and you can even stay over night if you wish. Sounds great to the uninitiated, but we all know EVERYBODY does this.

$1300 for a walk-through inspection? Really??

Has anybody seen this before?

They're actually doing a few things for us that they really shouldn't have to, which we negotiated up front as part of the overall sales price.

But we're prepared to walk over this $1300 charge (haven't finished the financing--which was approved--taken delivery, or signed anything yet except this "customer quote"), unless anyone can tell us they think it's reasonable.

Karen
Seeking Advice

37 Replies

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  • BurbMan's avatar
    BurbMan
    Explorer II
    Jan 09, 2014
    There was an article in the recent Car & Driver about negotiating with the FI (finance and insurance) manager at car dealerships. One guy reported seeing a "$129 ADP" on his qquote. When questioned, the FI manager immediately removed it. Later, the salesman let it slip that ADP stood for "Additional Dealer Profit".

    Tell 'em it's a BS fee and it will go away pretty quick. The old saying "We beat everybody's prices" usually means "we ad extra fees that other guys don't, hey we gotta make it up somewhere..."
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Jan 09, 2014
    Doesn't mfg. pay dealer for the PDI?
    Mfg. sure doesn't send units out complete, intact, error free cause they don't have much in the way of QC and expect dealers to deal with the problems.

    I had a dealer slip that charge in until I questioned them on the charge ($350)
    It was removed and when I did my PDI it took 3 hrs. before I was done.

    Charge the customer to complete a 'pre-delivery inspection'........NO!
  • 2500_Grunt's avatar
    2500_Grunt
    Explorer
    Jan 09, 2014
    Ask them to fully describe to you what the purpose or definition of a PDI is. Then tell them you don't need a "walk thru or orientation" because you know how everything (should) work or you are familiar with how everything operates. Do your own punch list before signing while it's still on the lot and before financing and give them you punch list and have them document it. This way you are saving them their labor for the walk thru/PDI.
  • dkreuzen's avatar
    dkreuzen
    Explorer
    Jan 09, 2014
    It's one of those things that they all seem to do, you just have to catch them and refuse to pay it even if it kills the deal.

    I was charged $1600 but it included full tanks of fuel (diesel and propane). Since I didn't get anything other than the fuel for the $1600 I made them give me back $1100. It wasn't easy and it took a few months but they finally paid up.

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