Rant: why dealers are so greedy and... stupid?

[NervoS]

This is kinda a rant. I am in process of acquiring a brand new BMW from my local dealer in Seattle. It is almost 100K purchase with all taxes and fees. The dealer also offered ceramic and PPF. Ceramic was ~1500, PPF full front 2500, or if I want rocker panels and rear trunk area - 3650 ! Ok, fine that was easy - I just called my local shop and got prices lower by 40%. I talked to the dealer about that - and they don't want to budge on the price. So, I just rejected both - ceramic and ppf, they don't get these money from me, whatever.

And another thing: I want to install the Advanced Eye Pro 3.0 dashcam. Online I see that MSRP on that part is $606 (p/n 66-21-5-A44-493). And I can get it for $477 online. Moreover, I already have such kit installed in my X5 (when I also bought the part online, but brought it to the very same dealer to install). It was $720 for labor that time, 4.85 hours. My thoughts were: ok, I am buying the car from them, I can install that dashcam kit with them for a good price, since the car is already there, they can get some additional money, etc... Ha! $2166 installed was the quote, 606 for the part and 6 hours at 260 / hour! And again - didn't even want to negotiate, the response was 'ok, get it installed somewhere else then'. Jeez. How are they still in business, I wonder? Instead of working with me, give me a discount, but still make some money they just decide not to get anything from me. I don't get it.

Once my car is out of warranty / complementary 3 y. service - I am not showing at the dealer anymore. It is just wrong and broken business model. Thanks god, I can work on my cars myself.

[aliiin]

The stealership always marks up their prices 200%+ and people that aren't car people or don't know any better will pay them.

They are borderline scamming people IMO, screw dealerships.

[BlkGS]

Because you're in Seattle where their techs probably make $100 an hour and so they bill accordingly. High cost of living means high cost of services and goods. You can't expect a dealer with a shitload of overhead in an overly expensive city to be able to sell stuff for the same price as a dealer in a low cost area that has spent the time and money to build out a parts sales channel.

As far as the ceramic and PPF goes, they're gonna make some money on it (at least 15% to cover their time and effort I'd bet), then who knows if you're going to the same guy or a shop that's new and cheaper. Who knows about the materials quality, tech experience, etc. And at the end of the day if your PPF fails in 2 years because of a product issue, you're gonna go back to them screaming so they have to price in their potential costs on it because a lot of PPF and detail shops are not long lived businesses.

[wizardofOz]

If you have had previous work done by them such as the dashcam installed on your X5, did you try to ask them why they were not able to price match or do the work at your price?? It may answer your 'I wonder?'

The dealership that I bought my car from, I told them what I wanted installed, asked them how much they were going to charge and I gave them a web address or link with information from another place that were going to sell the same part and how much they would charge to install and if they could price match....they were honest with me and said sorry they couldn't and the reason why, so in the end I went to another place and had it installed much cheaper, but did appreciate their explanation as to why.

That's my specific situation only.

[NervoS]

Originally Posted by wizardofOz

If you have had previous work done by them such as the dashcam installed on your X5, did you try to ask them why they were not able to price match or do the work at your price?? It may answer your 'I wonder?'

Yup, I did, of course. I sent them my previous invoice they charged me for dashcam installation in my wife's X5. My SA told me: "get the dash cam online and I'll try to figure out the labor price for you." Will see how it goes, but they already refused to price match the part cost.

Originally Posted by wizardofOz

The dealership that I bought my car from, I told them what I wanted installed, asked them how much they were going to charge and I gave them a web address or link with information from another place that were going to sell the same part and how much they would charge to install and if they could price match....they were honest with me and said sorry they couldn't and the reason why, so in the end I went to another place and had it installed much cheaper, but did appreciate their explanation as to why.

That's my specific situation only.

Well, seems like here is similar situation, but w/o any explanation: we just can't, don't want or whatever to price match. Well, loss for them, I guess.

[Burrcold]

I would never get tint, ppf, or ceramic coating done from the dealer even if it was cheaper vs going market rates. They typically use sh!tty shops or the shops they do use, they have agreements with them to use cheaper materials (I've spoken to a number of shops who confirm that they use X material for their regular customers and Y material for the dealer requests).

[DrVenture]

It wouldn't bother me to say, "I can get it done elsewhere with top quality materials at a much cheaper price" and have them not try to change my mind. I'd call that win/win. Heck you might've found a dealer outside Seattle to buy from and saved another $5K, even with shipping.

My response to anything that a dealer offers me is to respond, "I have a guy, but sure, give me your best price".

Also, if you can work on cars, you can surely install a dash cam.

[wizardofOz]

Originally Posted by NervoS

Yup, I did, of course. I sent them my previous invoice they charged me for dashcam installation in my wife's X5. My SA told me: "get the dash cam online and I'll try to figure out the labor price for you." Will see how it goes, but they already refused to price match the part cost.



Well, seems like here is similar situation, but w/o any explanation: we just can't, don't want or whatever to price match. Well, loss for them, I guess.

Hopefully there's better news on your dashcam for the labor price.

If they are mumbling their explanation then potentially it may be better to go to a well reputed detailer/recommended in this forum to have the other jobs done??

Will be interested to see how this progresses OP and good luck.

[John H.]

Shop around. Yelp. Good start by posting here. I'm certain someone from your area will chime in.

Get the details of all quotes. Warranty? Brand/product material used? Coverage area? Last thing you want to hear, "That is/was extra..."

[DanG]

Have BIMTECH PNW install your dashcam. They are in Lynnwood. By the way which of the three dealers are you dealing with?

[Westside Guy]

Rule #1 - never have a dealer install PPF and/ or ceramic coating!

They outsource the work and add a 20-25% markup.

[NervoS]

Originally Posted by DrVenture

Also, if you can work on cars, you can surely install a dash cam.

With the dash cam I'm a bit hesitant to do it myself, since this requires interior disassembly, like A pillar and ceiling removal. But yeah, that is the hardest part, other than that - it is just plugging and playing.

[NervoS]

Originally Posted by DanG

Have BIMTECH PNW install your dashcam. They are in Lynnwood. By the way which of the three dealers are you dealing with?

Seattle bmw

[DrVenture]

Originally Posted by NervoS

With the dash cam I'm a bit hesitant to do it myself, since this requires interior disassembly, like A pillar and ceiling removal. But yeah, that is the hardest part, other than that - it is just plugging and playing.

This I understand. When faced with jobs that are a total PITA, I am also inclined to pay someone to do what they do best. And agree that their price seems extreme. I am assuming that the headliner needs to come out to route the cabling for a rearview camera.

[NervoS]

Originally Posted by DrVenture

This I understand. When faced with jobs that are a total PITA, I am also inclined to pay someone to do what they do best. And agree that their price seems extreme. I am assuming that the headliner needs to come out to route the cabling for a rearview camera.

Yup, that what I called ''ceiling" It has to come out for sure.

[heavyD^2]

A dealership would be the last place I would ask to install a dash cam. Why would you want to pay dealership mechanic rates to install an interior accessory?

[unluky]

Because every year less and less people even know your motor needs oil and they just take it to the dealer and say "fix it" and pay whatever they bill them. It never enters someone's mind that they could buy their OWN air filter, wipers, etc and install them themselves in 15 minutes and save themselves $300.

It's only going to get worse. My GF son could not change his own oil to save his life. By his age I had helped pull motors and changed my own clutch in my driveway with a flashlight.

Can't blame them - if you can charge whatever you want and still have a line of people waiting to get in - there is no need to argue prices with the likes of us. I'd do the same.

[tdott]

Originally Posted by NervoS

Ha! $2166 installed was the quote, 606 for the part and 6 hours at 260 / hour! And again - didn't even want to negotiate, the response was 'ok, get it installed somewhere else then'. Jeez. How are they still in business, I wonder? Instead of working with me, give me a discount, but still make some money they just decide not to get anything from me. I don't get it.

I think you need to get the hint they are giving you.

They don't want to install dash cams. They don't like installing parts they don't sell esp. aftermarket stuff.

Do it yourself, or go to somewhere that specialises in that sort of stuff like an audio shop.

[Littlecoupe]

Dealers have gotten especially greedy since covid. The ADM, short supply thus dictating prices, and charging extra to make up the margins that are lost on volume sales became the norm. One of the dealers I worked with when looking at my '23 told me they hoped BMW would take a "make to order" approach and they not bother stocking any inventory. It was a different time during the pandemic and some dealers have not clued into the fact there is now inventory and people will look at shopping around. Even look at incentives, there were next to none, now they are plentiful.

Furthermore, the fact the dealers think they can charge as much as they do for additional services and installs only stems from the fact that some people are willing to pay it. It's dishonest, but they're in the business of making money, so I can't totally fault them for trying, even though I strongly dislike it.

[Mason Hatcher]

Originally Posted by NervoS

Yup, I did, of course. I sent them my previous invoice they charged me for dashcam installation in my wife's X5. My SA told me: "get the dash cam online and I'll try to figure out the labor price for you." Will see how it goes, but they already refused to price match the part cost.



Well, seems like here is similar situation, but w/o any explanation: we just can't, don't want or whatever to price match. Well, loss for them, I guess.

If they could do it and make money they would. Since they are telling you no, clearly their cost makes it prohibitive to do it for less than they quoted. It's only a loss for them if they lose money by doing it for you.

[Mason Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Littlecoupe

Furthermore, the fact the dealers think they can charge as much as they do for additional services and installs only stems from the fact that some people are willing to pay it. It's dishonest, but they're in the business of making money, so I can't totally fault them for trying, even though I strongly dislike it.

How is it "dishonest?"

[Littlecoupe]

Originally Posted by Mason Hatcher

How is it "dishonest?"

You're right, it's not dishonest, it's just leveraging the fact the average consumer is not well informed of their alternatives. I suppose the onus is on the buyer to be informed of their options (third party part installs, coatings, PPF, supplementary warranty).

To that point, some people simply don't care enough. I had a former colleague ask about having ceramic and PPF installed by the dealer. I told him to use a local company that does good work, with guarantees, and for less money. He still chose the dealer because it was "easier." To each their own.