Jan 1st price increase

[coquetteRn]

Hey, I ordered my BMW Nov 17th for 38495. Car didn't hit port until Jan 9th. When I arrived at the dealership, they were insisting that I pay the 400 price increase. At no time during the 2 mo's since I had ordered the car did they say anything regarding a price increase. I had a written ordered sheet signed by me for the price of 38495. The sheet does not say anything regarding "subject to bmw price increase". Has anyone else had this problem? My whole deal has hit the rocks and they service manager has a big red bullseye on him from my stand point. I feel like they are dealing dirty. Any suggestions? I feel like blowing off the entire deal and starting over.

[lsedels]

Hey, I ordered my BMW Nov 17th for 38495. Car didn't hit port until Jan 9th. When I arrived at the dealership, they were insisting that I pay the 400 price increase. At no time during the 2 mo's since I had ordered the car did they say anything regarding a price increase. I had a written ordered sheet signed by me for the price of 38495. The sheet does not say anything regarding "subject to bmw price increase". Has anyone else had this problem? My whole deal has hit the rocks and they service manager has a big red bullseye on him from my stand point. I feel like they are dealing dirty. Any suggestions? I feel like blowing off the entire deal and starting over.

My order form did have language on it that allowed the dealer to reflect price increases. Frankly, this is the way BMW does business. Price Increase are effective based on the delivery date, not the order date. Check your order form and see if there is any language that would support your claim. If not, unless you can get the dealer to make a different agreement, you'll probably have to pay it.

It's always a good idea to negotiate something like this up front and ask the salesman to add words onto the order form to reflect any agreements you make with him/her.

[woohoo]

A friend of mine had something similar happen to her, but she received a car with options priced at a higher amount. Somehow the salesperson put the incorrect, lower option prices. She demanded that they honor the original "agreed upon" price (order sheet). The difference was about $800.

She told the salesperson, "look, I signed this sheet of paper and so did you, so are you keep your word?" In the end the dealership ate the difference and the sales manager had to smooth things over. She got lots of mugs, flashlights, and keychains. :)

The $800 wasn't a deal-breaker but it was a matter of principle. :angel:

[coquetteRn]

The sales manager kept saying that the paper I signed said that I had to allow for BMW price increases. When the sales guy and I looked at the paper, it did not say that. I told them that we had negotiated a set amount and that was what I was paying. The sales manager then proceeded to whine and act as if my deal was sneaky and that this all started because I refused to pay the 400 increase. Bottom line. I have my deposit back, they have the car, and they refuse to do the deal because they know that I will blast them on the BMW survey. After all that, the sales manager started calling me names, and telling me and my friend that I wasn't a good person and that he didn't like me. Of course when I spoke to the GSM regarding the SM behavior, they decided to drop the deal all together. So, here I am with cash in hand, looking for my specific car combo which will have to be reordered. What a pain. Maybe there is a reason behind all this.

[ak330i]

At no point should sales managers get personal by calling customers names. That's just plain wrong. They are professionals and should act like ones. They can yell at you all they want AFTER you left, but never in front of you. Let everyone know who is this dealer.

[swchang]

Well, according to Ted, et al., it is reasonable that you pay the extra $400. (Actually, assuming it's a 330i, I think the real increase in invoice is $360.) They shouldn't call you names, but if they're going to insist upon the price increase, it's a reasonable request.

I was almost in the same boat as you. I ordered my car before the price increase, and my CA never told me about the upcoming change. When I went to pick up my car after Jan 1, even though I was expecting to fight the price increase, they never mentioned it.

(As an aside, is the invoice markup based on date of delivery to the dealership or to the customer? So if the car comes in on Dec 30 and ones goes to pick up the car on Jan 2, would the price increase?)

Anyway, I'm sorry to hear about your troubles with this dealer. As I was saying, it's reasonable for them to expect you to pay the money, but they should probably have handled themselves better, and perhaps even eaten the cost to keep you as a loyal and happy customer...

[mickey513]

If I were you, I will contact BMWNA and complain about this dealership.

[MysticBlue]

Sorry, I cannot agree; that is not a reasonable expectation. A price increase based on an arbitrary calander date to a car that is the same model year is not reasonable if a price was already agreed upon. The dealer was fully aware of how long it would be before the car would be delivered and so should have taken that into consideration when they made the deal. If they were not aware of how much or when there would be a price increase, that is between the dealers and BMW and should not affect a customer in this way. If there is something in writing on the offer sheet, this should be in large print and should be pointed out by the SA because this in not a normal way of doing business. To say "this is how BMW has always done it" doesn't justify it. It's just wrong.

[lsedels]

If I were you, I will contact BMWNA and complain about this dealership.

BMWNA is useless. Mark my words ... they will redirect you back to the dealership.

[lsedels]

Sorry, I cannot agree; that is not a reasonable expectation. A price increase based on an arbitrary calander date to a car that is the same model year is not reasonable if a price was already agreed upon. The dealer was fully aware of how long it would be before the car would be delivered and so should have taken that into consideration when they made the deal. If they were not aware of how much or when there would be a price increase, that is between the dealers and BMW and should not affect a customer in this way. If there is something in writing on the offer sheet, this should be in large print and should be pointed out by the SA because this in not a normal way of doing business. To say "this is how BMW has always done it" doesn't justify it. It's just wrong.

Sorry ... perhaps the words "this is how BMW has always done it" aren't appropriate. But that is the way it is done. Price increases are effective based on the delivery date ... not the order date. And unless there is some fine print on the contract/order form stating otherwise, one should negotiate these things and have them added up front.

[Technic]

Sorry, I cannot agree; that is not a reasonable expectation. A price increase based on an arbitrary calander date to a car that is the same model year is not reasonable if a price was already agreed upon. The dealer was fully aware of how long it would be before the car would be delivered and so should have taken that into consideration when they made the deal. If they were not aware of how much or when there would be a price increase, that is between the dealers and BMW and should not affect a customer in this way. If there is something in writing on the offer sheet, this should be in large print and should be pointed out by the SA because this in not a normal way of doing business. To say "this is how BMW has always done it" doesn't justify it. It's just wrong.

Absolutely agree... go get the car somewhere else and tell this dealership to screw themselves.

Buying a car should not be a surprise, a trick, an ambush, or a hold up. :thumbdwn:

[SARAFIL]

(As an aside, is the invoice markup based on date of delivery to the dealership or to the customer? So if the car comes in on Dec 30 and ones goes to pick up the car on Jan 2, would the price increase?)

Based on the date that BMW invoices the car to the dealer. If the dealer received the car before the 1st, they almost definately paid the lower price, so you are safe.

[HW]

in my view, it should be the price that's negotiated and signed. unless the dealer/salesman informed that the price could increase and that the price may need to be adjusted. a potential price increase may even would have killed that salesman's deal. i'm sure the dealer/salesman has been in the business long enough to know approx when they bmwna would adjust prices. if the customer knew ahead of time, they could have made the option to pick one off the lot at lower price, one that is better optioned at the same price as the next year's, or from another dealership with a car of similar features. :thumbdwn: perhaps $400 is not a lot in the overall price of a 330 but for reasons that i included and the principles of it, i think the saleman/manager/dealership is in the wrong. perhaps they could have asked but not pushed on it. the deal has been signed on that price. anyways, if the price adjustment went the other direction, would the saleman/dealership adjusted the price? i doubt it. :rolleyes: and on top of that they resorted to name calling! how unprofessional can you get! :tsk:

[coquetteRn]

Based on the date that BMW invoices the car to the dealer. If the dealer received the car before the 1st, they almost definately paid the lower price, so you are safe.

The car was delayed in port. It didn't reach US ground until Jan 9th. 400 is minimal, but I negotiate for the best price I could get, and I feel that they were unprofessional and disrespectful to me and my friend. The salesman was going to go with the original ageed upon price. It was his sales manager that made the whole process problematic. They felt that there were too many loose ends because my bank sent them a letter asking them to release the MSO to me so I could title my car in my original state and to allow me to take possession in another state.The bottom line is they backed out of the deal because I agreed to pay the increase as long as their SM received reprimand. I called it a 400 reprimand. Now I have to find another dealer, negotiate the price and get them to trade for the car. Wish I could charge someone for my time!

this is what it would have looked like...

[HW]

this is what it would have looked like...
well then if you had order the car in some nasty shade of green and w/o a moonroof you would not have had any problems.

[Scotes]

If the signed deal doesn't reflect that the price may be subject to an increase then it can not be subject to an increase regardless of how BMW dealers like to do things. It may be a reasonable request for the dealer to ask the customer to pony up the additional money if a price increase was not accomodated for in the original deal but it is not reasonable for the dealer to demand it or cancel the deal.

IMO this is just one more reason BMWNA needs to go get a clue and rein in their dealers. Eventually they will piss off enough people. I would file a complaint with your local BBB - www.bbb.com

[vern]

A friend of mine had the exact same thing happen to him when he went to pick up his Boxter.He waited 4 months between the order date and the delivery date when they tried to charge him the price increase he told them no way and showed them the paper work with the signatures on it and they told him that they were sorry but thats the way they do business.He got a little loud in the show room and started to walk out telling that he would turn it over to his lawyer.They called him back and gave him the car for original price on his paper work. Good luck to you.
vern

[GeoMystic]

BMWNA is useless. Mark my words ... they will redirect you back to the dealership.


I TOTALLY DISAGREE!!

I have used BMWNA MANY times and they have almost always helped me out. They will call the dealer for you and straighten things out. If that is policy then there is nothing you can do, but either way BMWNA can be a great help. You will most likely be responsible for the price increase, unless u work somehting out with sales, but they should never talk bad about you or call you names. Report this ASAP to BMWNA and the dealership will know about it, trust me! I have had Service Advisors talk to me like I was a 10 year old and even damage my car and blame me, then when I let NA know about it, I would get an appology call from the advisor.
Be calm and adult about it and explain everything to them. :thumbup:

[lsedels]

I TOTALLY DISAGREE!!

I have used BMWNA MANY times and they have almost always helped me out. They will call the dealer for you and straighten things out. If that is policy then there is nothing you can do, but either way BMWNA can be a great help. You will most likely be responsible for the price increase, unless u work somehting out with sales, but they should never talk bad about you or call you names. Report this ASAP to BMWNA and the dealership will know about it, trust me! I have had Service Advisors talk to me like I was a 10 year old and even damage my car and blame me, then when I let NA know about it, I would get an appology call from the advisor.
Be calm and adult about it and explain everything to them. :thumbup:

You have clearly had a different experience with BMWNA than I. I have never called them and found them willing to do anything but refer me back to the dealership.

Take a look at this and you will see that BMWNA effectiveness is mixed at best:

http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e46/forum.php?postid=4497715&page=5

[325SMG]

Well, according to Ted, et al., it is reasonable that you pay the extra $400. (Actually, assuming it's a 330i, I think the real increase in invoice is $360.) They shouldn't call you names, but if they're going to insist upon the price increase, it's a reasonable request.

I was almost in the same boat as you. I ordered my car before the price increase, and my CA never told me about the upcoming change. When I went to pick up my car after Jan 1, even though I was expecting to fight the price increase, they never mentioned it.

(As an aside, is the invoice markup based on date of delivery to the dealership or to the customer? So if the car comes in on Dec 30 and ones goes to pick up the car on Jan 2, would the price increase?)

Anyway, I'm sorry to hear about your troubles with this dealer. As I was saying, it's reasonable for them to expect you to pay the money, but they should probably have handled themselves better, and perhaps even eaten the cost to keep you as a loyal and happy customer...
At Global Imports BMW in Atlanta, they told me that as long as the car arrived at the dealership before Jan 1, you did not have to pay the price increase. So, if you order a car that arrives after Jan 1, yes you have to pay. If there is already a car in the lot that has been there before Jan 1, then you do not have to pay. So you could potentially still buy a new BMW without the price increase as long as the dealer had it in the lot before Jan 1.

[philippek]

A customer ordered a 545i from me in November. The car did not arrive until January 9th. He did negotiate a good deal for himself, which at the time was $700 off of MSRP. He was happy, I was happy.

In December, his son and daugter-in-law came to see me, glowing from their father's description of how I do business. The son took a 330, his wife an X5 3.0.

Just after the New Year, two of his business partners came to me, both looking for 745s. Neither has bought yet, but I've kept in touch with one who is now seriously considering a 760 (perhaps SARAFIL's Kalahari Beige Beauty).

When it came time to do the deal, he paid exactly what we agreed upon. I didn't even bring up the price increase. In fact, he was the one who brought up the fact that the window sticker didn't match the order sheet we worked on together. I winked, smiled and said, "We had a deal."

I'm not saying this to pat myself on the back, but to point out that it was perfectly within your salesman's power to waive the price increase. Yes, my manager yelled at me for giving away a 545. I'll get over it. The fact of the matter is, I've won a customer (and his whole family, and many of his friends) for life.

The sales manager who called you names should be fired. The salesman is pretty edgy in my view as well.

But...were you one of those PITA customers who would have fried him on CSI anyway? Is it possible he really didn't want to sell you the car and used the price increase as a convenient excuse?

[numbersguy]

The sales manager kept saying that the paper I signed said that I had to allow for BMW price increases. When the sales guy and I looked at the paper, it did not say that. I told them that we had negotiated a set amount and that was what I was paying. The sales manager then proceeded to whine and act as if my deal was sneaky and that this all started because I refused to pay the 400 increase. Bottom line. I have my deposit back, they have the car, and they refuse to do the deal because they know that I will blast them on the BMW survey. After all that, the sales manager started calling me names, and telling me and my friend that I wasn't a good person and that he didn't like me. Of course when I spoke to the GSM regarding the SM behavior, they decided to drop the deal all together. So, here I am with cash in hand, looking for my specific car combo which will have to be reordered. What a pain. Maybe there is a reason behind all this.

I think you blew it by taking the deposit back. Had you told them politely to keep the deposit and discuss the matter with your attorney I'll bet they would have sold you the car for the agreed upon price.

Now that you have taken your money back you have zero leverage. If they thought you were mad enough to ream them on the survey then they made a smart move by conning you into taking the deposit back. You aren't a customer now so you can't hurt them by putting 1s on a survey. Also, from the looks of that car they won't have any trouble selling it to somebody else.

Bottom line, you let these slimeballs off the hook.

[SARAFIL]

but I've kept in touch with one who is now seriously considering a 760 (perhaps SARAFIL's Kalahari Beige Beauty).


:thumbup:

She sure is a beauty, but it definately takes a special eye to appreciate just how beautiful she is!

[coquetteRn]

But...were you one of those PITA customers who would have fried him on CSI anyway? Is it possible he really didn't want to sell you the car and used the price increase as a convenient excuse?[/QUOTE]

No, I was not a PITA customer that would have reamed him on CSI. The sales guy was willing to waive the 400 because we had a deal. It was the SM that started all of the garbage. I told the salesguy that I wouldn't ream them, would pay the 400 increase, but I wanted the SM reprimanded. They opted to back out of the deal. Then back in the deal, then out of the deal, then in, then told me they would trade it to another dealer so I could deal with them. They had a 6 person powwow to decide this. So, this is what happened today. I went to a different BMW dealership, told them exactly what happened with the first, and told him what I needed, where it was, etc. The second dealership did some investigation, bought the car on dealer trade, and gave me the deal that the first dealership refused to honor. Actually they did better than Nick Alexander ever would have. They treated me with respect despite the fact that Nick Alexander's dealership told them that I was difficult to work with. Apparently, they had quite the opinion of me, and that didn't even come from someone I dealt with. Crazy! Slandered by a dealer. However, the parts guy, called an apologized to me for their behavior. Gotta love it. Pacific made this deal easy. Had the car brought over tonight, installing the alarm, and shipping it tomorrow. The Salesman was supposed to leave at 2, and he stayed to make sure everything was done correct. I couldn't ask for more, and will give them the highest praise. As for Nick Alexander, well.... lets say my computer and printer will be getting a good work out. In the end, I feel great about my deal with Pacific.

[swchang]

No, I was not a PITA customer that would have reamed him on CSI. The sales guy was willing to waive the 400 because we had a deal. It was the SM that started all of the garbage. I told the salesguy that I wouldn't ream them, would pay the 400 increase, but I wanted the SM reprimanded. They opted to back out of the deal. Then back in the deal, then out of the deal, then in, then told me they would trade it to another dealer so I could deal with them. They had a 6 person powwow to decide this. So, this is what happened today. I went to a different BMW dealership, told them exactly what happened with the first, and told him what I needed, where it was, etc. The second dealership did some investigation, bought the car on dealer trade, and gave me the deal that the first dealership refused to honor. Actually they did better than Nick Alexander ever would have. They treated me with respect despite the fact that Nick Alexander's dealership told them that I was difficult to work with. Apparently, they had quite the opinion of me, and that didn't even come from someone I dealt with. Crazy! Slandered by a dealer. However, the parts guy, called an apologized to me for their behavior. Gotta love it. Pacific made this deal easy. Had the car brought over tonight, installing the alarm, and shipping it tomorrow. The Salesman was supposed to leave at 2, and he stayed to make sure everything was done correct. I couldn't ask for more, and will give them the highest praise. As for Nick Alexander, well.... lets say my computer and printer will be getting a good work out. In the end, I feel great about my deal with Pacific.

Glad everything worked out for you in the end. :thumbup:

Didn't Nick Alexander screw someone else over? The person wanted no sunroof or something but they refused to order it for him. Or maybe it was Nick Alexander that gave him a good deal, but someone else that gave him the runaround? I forget...

[swchang]

Never mind. It was Hester that had problems, but not with Nick Alexander. Someone else in the thread had a problem with them, though.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42233

[Bob325]

You kept your eye on the prize and did not let slander or misrepresentation divert you. Good for you!


..."If you can keep your head, when all of those about you are losing theirs,
and blaming it on you....
R. Kipling 'IF'

[vern]

But...were you one of those PITA customers who would have fried him on CSI anyway? Is it possible he really didn't want to sell you the car and used the price increase as a convenient excuse?

No, I was not a PITA customer that would have reamed him on CSI. The sales guy was willing to waive the 400 because we had a deal. It was the SM that started all of the garbage. I told the salesguy that I wouldn't ream them, would pay the 400 increase, but I wanted the SM reprimanded. They opted to back out of the deal. Then back in the deal, then out of the deal, then in, then told me they would trade it to another dealer so I could deal with them. They had a 6 person powwow to decide this. So, this is what happened today. I went to a different BMW dealership, told them exactly what happened with the first, and told him what I needed, where it was, etc. The second dealership did some investigation, bought the car on dealer trade, and gave me the deal that the first dealership refused to honor. Actually they did better than Nick Alexander ever would have. They treated me with respect despite the fact that Nick Alexander's dealership told them that I was difficult to work with. Apparently, they had quite the opinion of me, and that didn't even come from someone I dealt with. Crazy! Slandered by a dealer. However, the parts guy, called an apologized to me for their behavior. Gotta love it. Pacific made this deal easy. Had the car brought over tonight, installing the alarm, and shipping it tomorrow. The Salesman was supposed to leave at 2, and he stayed to make sure everything was done correct. I couldn't ask for more, and will give them the highest praise. As for Nick Alexander, well.... lets say my computer and printer will be getting a good work out. In the end, I feel great about my deal with Pacific.[/QUOTE)
Put your comments good or bad on www.dealerrater.com so everyone can benefit from them.
Good luck
vern

[coquetteRn]

:thumbup:

She sure is a beauty, but it definately takes a special eye to appreciate just how beautiful she is!


Ok... it looks green, but it ISN'T! It was the lighting at night. Its really silver gray metallic. I will take better pictures next week when I actually pick it up.