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181962
A word about doc fees. Some states have legislated low caps--NY is $75, CA is $80. Who's going to quibble about that? FL is at the other end of the spectrum with no cap. Consequently, the recent average in FL is $670 per a recent report. That means some dealers are slapping on more than that. [Democratic Socialist states are not all bad ]
$670 is nearly pure profit and should certainly be negotiable. If you know what it is up front and negotiate to a satisfactory all-in, does it matter if they knocked more bucks off the MSRP or reduced the doc fee to something rational? No. But if you go in to sign the papers and that $670 is a surprise, there's something to talk about ink goes to paper.
Then there's Dealer Prep, which is something entirely separate. Doc is for doing the paperwork, Prep is for preparing the car. What do you think they do in prep--take off protective plastics, install floor mats, wash it. If you're lucky they'll check some of the things they would check for free with an oil change--fluid levels, tire pressure. Some buyers report those basic checks were not performed discovering the tires were underinflated and the trans fluid underfilled at the factory. If they toss on $25 I'm sure not going to muddy up the big picture. $200? $300? NFW If it's sprung at the last minute, charge it if you must, but a like amount will have to come off MSRP. Reprint the contract.
$670 is nearly pure profit and should certainly be negotiable. If you know what it is up front and negotiate to a satisfactory all-in, does it matter if they knocked more bucks off the MSRP or reduced the doc fee to something rational? No. But if you go in to sign the papers and that $670 is a surprise, there's something to talk about ink goes to paper.
Then there's Dealer Prep, which is something entirely separate. Doc is for doing the paperwork, Prep is for preparing the car. What do you think they do in prep--take off protective plastics, install floor mats, wash it. If you're lucky they'll check some of the things they would check for free with an oil change--fluid levels, tire pressure. Some buyers report those basic checks were not performed discovering the tires were underinflated and the trans fluid underfilled at the factory. If they toss on $25 I'm sure not going to muddy up the big picture. $200? $300? NFW If it's sprung at the last minute, charge it if you must, but a like amount will have to come off MSRP. Reprint the contract.
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