paying freight on a new car already on the lot

[00project]

is it normal practice?

[Vladimir]

yes

[mr_raider]

Freight + PDI has nothing to do with transport or preparation. It's an artificial device to allow companies to advertise a "sale" price lower than it is. It's like Rogers' "system access fee".

[ES_Revenge]

Yep, doesn't matter if it's on the lot or on its way to you, you still gotta pay it. Only exceptions on "new" cars are demonstrator cars where the dealer is supposed to bear the cost of the freight since they used the car.

[gfong]

Car either came by rail or car hauler to the dealer and that is what the frieght is for. PDI is the inspection and prep work the dealer does to your car as they do not come fully preparred from the factory.
ie: stickers, car hauler stickers, wash, full tank gas, cargo net in package, floor mats in trunk, antena, any nicks or dents etc... they have to pay someone to do all this before you pick the car up.

[pitz]

PDI is the hugest scam in the car industry. Automatically deduct it. Cars come completely roadworthy from the manufacturer, and it takes all of an hour to 'install' the floormats and peel off the protective stickers.

As for 'freight', it is a legitimate cost, but ultimately, you're buying a car from a dealer, *not* from the manufacturer. So you can negotiate on that too. Wal-Mart doesn't charge 'freight' on the TV set you bought from them last week. Its built into the price, and ultimately, their cost of doing business.

"Everything" is negotiable.

[00project]

thanx for the quick responses guys. all cleared up now

[thephenom]

PDI is the hugest scam in the car industry. Automatically deduct it. Cars come completely roadworthy from the manufacturer, and it takes all of an hour to 'install' the floormats and peel off the protective stickers.

After peeling off the stickers, they have to connect the electrical wires that are disconnected during transit. Bump stops on the suspension. Remove plastic covers on your seats. Wash/shine the car if it's dirty. Make sure everything runs.

A little more than you think, and probably a bit more than an hour.

[Vladimir]

PDI is the hugest scam in the car industry. Automatically deduct it. Cars come completely roadworthy from the manufacturer, and it takes all of an hour to 'install' the floormats and peel off the protective stickers.

As for 'freight', it is a legitimate cost, but ultimately, you're buying a car from a dealer, *not* from the manufacturer. So you can negotiate on that too. Wal-Mart doesn't charge 'freight' on the TV set you bought from them last week. Its built into the price, and ultimately, their cost of doing business.

"Everything" is negotiable.

Im pretty sure the manufacturer charges the dealership for PDI and freight, which then passes it on to you.

[notanexpert]

Im pretty sure the manufacturer charges the dealership for PDI and freight, which then passes it on to you.

I'm sure the manufacturer does NOT charge anything for PDI, it all goes to the dealer. And the freight is being charged seperate from the vehicle invoice price by the manufacturer, but dealers often have a mark up on it too!

[RSX-S]

Im pretty sure the manufacturer charges the dealership for PDI and freight, which then passes it on to you.

Yep, they are charged by the manufacturer. However, some dealership will mark up Freight/PDI to rip off the buyers. Check the manufacturer's website and write down the freighe/PDI cost before going to dealership so you can compare the two.

[VivienM]

Freight + PDI has nothing to do with transport or preparation. It's an artificial device to allow companies to advertise a "sale" price lower than it is. It's like Rogers' "system access fee".

Yup. Or "dealer administration fees".

Many industries, including telecom and car sales, are simply incapable of giving an honest price and selling their product for that price + GST/PST/HST. So they add fees, MORE FEES, and EVEN MORE FEES!

And since in this country, consumer protection is not a huge priority, they get away with it...

[ratface]

Freight + PDI has nothing to do with transport or preparation. It's an artificial device to allow companies to advertise a "sale" price lower than it is. It's like Rogers' "system access fee".

+1 It's even worse than that - they tack this fee on after you've finished negotiating the price, just to squeeze a little more out of you.

[bunga]

Come on now, freight/pdi is hardly a hidden fee. You do any pricing calculator on the manufacturers website and it will add it in as well as all of the other taxes. Would it be more honest just to include it in the advertised price of the car? Yup, but this is sales and most consumers aren't the brightest bulbs. If one company advertises x car including freight/pdi, and another company advertises y car plus freight and pdi, even if the end price is the exact same, y car will sell more because Joe Shmoe consumer perceives it to be cheaper.

What is a scam, is the admin fee charged by dealers. This a straight into their pocket fee for doing the registration process/paperwork for you, something that takes all of ten minutes. This should be the first thing knocked out when going through the negotiating process.

[subie2008]

If the freight pdi is not a straight rip off in canada then explain the new toyota venzaès pdi in the us is 720$ in the great white north 1,440$.

Now the last time I checked the us$ is not worth 2 times the cdn$.