Hidden camera investigation finds most Calgary car dealerships breach consumer rules

[taco.vidal]

http://www.ctvnews.ca/w5/hidden-came...ok&_gsc=QGjTrx

Full article and video worth checking out.

Jon Woodward and Stephen Grant, W5

Published Saturday, March 18, 2017 7:00AM EDT
Last Updated Sunday, March 19, 2017 2:19PM EDT

Calgary consumers are still more likely than not to be exposed to questionable sales tactics and advertising practices when they’re trying to buy a new car – even after a government push to clean up the industry.

Those are the results of an undercover operation by the Automobile Protection Association, an industry watchdog group whose secret shoppers watched salespeople try to wring out thousands of dollars from people they thought were unsuspecting consumers.

In all, 17 out of 20 dealerships failed the APA’s tests. And on each failure, W5’s hidden cameras were rolling. The footage became the basis for a documentary that questions why it seems like most dealers in the province don’t respect the rules.

Alberta's minister who oversees AMVIC called the situation a "gong show" and vowed that it would get better.

[Northendzone]

Meh, in other news water is wet.

My personal favourite now when buying a rig is the documentation fee that in my case added up to close to a $1000

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

Meh, in other news water is wet.

My personal favourite now when buying a rig is the documentation fee that in my case added up to close to a $1000

Which is illegal if there is an advertised price...

[Swarly]

I was able to find the 3 that passed (T&T Honda, Brasso Nissan, and Crowfoot Chevrolet) but failed to see a list of the 17 that failed. I'd kinda like to know which ones and why

[btimbit]

AMVIC is a joke

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by Swarly

I was able to find the 3 that passed (T&T Honda, Brasso Nissan, and Crowfoot Chevrolet) but failed to see a list of the 17 that failed. I'd kinda like to know which ones and why

http://www.apa.ca/2017-apa-w5-investigation-calgary.asp

[MoneyGuy]

In other news banks are corrupt.

[Peanut]

Stampede Toyota did this to me this weekend ($888 documentation fee and a nitrogen tire-fill fee). So annoying. They weren't on the list of dealers visited by the survey but you could add them to the list.

[Kjesse]

Not sure how that happened.

[Kjesse]

Not sure how that happened again.

[OMG!WTF!]

I've bought two new cars in my life. My first one barfed fluids all over the Royal Oak Nissan parking lot so I had to buy something from them cause it's a long damn walk from up there. I got a great price on a car even with the stupid added fees. So I was wondering if the fees, like document fees, air fees etc are just different, maybe more tax friendly, ways of categorizing income. They lost money on the car but made money on the fees. Maybe it saves money they have to send ti Nissan. Whatever. My next car sure isn't going to be a BMW.

[Kjesse]

As a young professional I found myself in position to buy a new car, the first time ever, and I settled on a 2012 Xterra.

I did not want to waste some sales' guy's time, so once I knew I wanted an Xterra, I found out all I needed to, test drove one once, then phoned to make an offer.

My offer included some perhaps vanity/useless accessories, such as the bush bar (which was more for looks than protection) and a few other items. We agreed over the phone as to all options, extras and all in price and he made calls to make sure he could get the model into his dealership.

The sales guy was agreeable and numbers were confirmed via fax. I gave a deposit via credit card over the phone, $500. There was no dealer financing, although I was using other pre-approved financing (my bank).

I get to the dealership to pick it up, excited to take possession.

In the sales' guy's office, I was presented with different prices and some new fees such as a document fee. I said, that was not the deal, and then he flipped over to a second page which showed the numbers we actually agreed upon, in his own handwriting. So he says he'll go talk to his manager.

The "manager" who I never saw, I could hear him talking loudly enough so that I would hear, "Oh, what would you expect from a lawyer", in a very condescending manner.

They completed the deal as agreed, and made me feel like a piece of #### in the process.

After that I never bought Nissan again. I bought BMW instead. But in all the joke is still on me, I only started to deal with bigger sharks.

[Fire]

Heard you the first two times.

[SportsJunky]

Must be a 3Xterra

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by Delgar

After that I never bought Nissan again. I bought BMW instead.

So what I'm gathering is that you were the problem all along.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Which is illegal if there is an advertised price...

Ilast bought a vehicle about 5 yrs ago, so I am not sure what the rules were then; however, I asked the salesman about the price of the vehicle and he said $18,000 - so when they called me and told me they needed a cheque for $19,000 plus, I did the math and then called them back - after some back and fourth which included me saying I just wanted the vehicle and I would pass on the documentation I finally said either the price is $18,000 plus tax or the deal does not happen, they called me back two days later.

I just said next time, your sales guy should be more upfront about the price.

I have to say it felt good to win the tug of war.

[puffnstuff]

20 some years ago there was no such thing as the 'documentation fee'. There was always a spot for it on the generic bill of sale though. Dealers started adding it in, the first one I saw was a hand written fee of 200. The last time I purchased a new vehicle it was preprinted on the form at 800. The first thing I do is tell them I am not paying it. If they dont stroke that off, I leave. Havent ever paid a doc fee but I have bought the vehicles.

[Mr.Coffee]

For the uninformed, what exactly is the doc fee for?

[puffnstuff]

Profit

[curves2000]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

For the uninformed, what exactly is the doc fee for?

It's 100% margin and an F/U fee for consumers. I still don't understand why the vast majority of consumers don't fight or argue these type of things.

Why would it be up to the client to pay for the "costs" of filing out forms and handling deposits/final payment.

Most sales individuals get about 30%-40% of the gross profit on the sale of a car so something like a $500 document fee could be a nice little $150 top off directly to them on top of everything.