ADM Additional Dealer Markup

[Tall Steve]

I've said this several times before, and I'll say it again, if you want MSRP and don't want to pay adjusted dealer markups or market adjustments, get a signed P&S agreement. It takes a few minutes for a dealer to write one up and sign it. They're going to re-do the paperwork with all of the final details once the car is built and you're ready to take delivery, but until then, at least you have documentation in writing and a signature, and most dealerships have a notary on site, get it notarized

WOW, so you don't trust any of them then?

 

[Rob]

WOW, so you don't trust any of them then?

It's business. And in business, there's contracts. Imagine a world, where business contracts were not allowed protecting both the business and consumer. Who do you think would make out in the end? Certainly not the consumer. If a business isn't willing to extend a business contract to you, you're leaving yourself wide open. Why would you do that? When you buy a house, both parties sign a P&S prior to lender approval and official closing. Imagine if you didn't, and you showed up to your closing only to find out that your final sales price is now $35k due to "market adjustment". Why should a car purchase be any different? If a dealership isn't willing to extend a sign P&S showing final price to be MSRP with the exception of tax, title and registration fees, why waste your time with emails and phone calls? This isn't the age where two people come together, spit in their hands and shake on it. We live in an age, unfortunately, where dignity and respect have taken a back seat to getting bent over and raped. That may sound harsh, or that I'm jaded, but that's business, and that's reality.

 

[Tall Steve]

It's business. And in business, there's contracts. Imagine a world, where business contracts were not allowed protecting both the business and consumer. Who do you think would make out in the end? Certainly not the consumer. If a business isn't willing to extend a business contract to you, you're leaving yourself wide open. Why would you do that? When you buy a house, both parties sign a P&S prior to lender approval and official closing. Imagine if you didn't, and you showed up to your closing only to find out that your final sales price is now $35k due to "market adjustment". Why should a car purchase be any different? If a dealership isn't willing to extend a sign P&S showing final price to be MSRP with the exception of tax, title and registration fees, why waste your time with emails and phone calls? This isn't the age where two people come together, spit in their hands and shake on it. We live in an age, unfortunately, where dignity and respect have taken a back seat to getting bent over and raped. That may sound harsh, or that I'm jaded, but that's business, and that's reality.

Well said, fair enough, sound logic...

 

[SVTnSTi]

I really hope that we have good financing deal when our cars arrive. This is going to be the most expensive car that I've ever bought so any help would be good. Hopefully, by then BTC and stocks will have made some profit as well

Fingers crossed!

 

[Ungwei]

It's crazy dealers would do this, if someone comes in expecting a certain deal per communication with the dealer, and then finds out when they're coming to take delivery that there will be a markup, I'd imagine many would straight up refuse and ask for their deposit back. I guess for them it's worth the risk of some poor person agreeing to it. Either way they can sell the car to someone else if the original buyer steps out after they pull that shit.

 

[arod221]

Well, it is just a Camaro.

really Jeff? hahahahahaha

 

[RDATLTE]

It's crazy dealers would do this, if someone comes in expecting a certain deal per communication with the dealer, and then finds out when they're coming to take delivery that there will be a markup, I'd imagine many would straight up refuse and ask for their deposit back. I guess for them it's worth the risk of some poor person agreeing to it. Either way they can sell the car to someone else if the original buyer steps out after they pull that shit.

At that point, I don’t think you would get your deposit back.

 

[Ungwei]

At that point, I don’t think you would get your deposit back.

I'm not so sure, the terms and conditions of the reservation seem to imply that as long as you cancel before any sale is made, you can get your deposit refunded. Although it seems more specific for some select states, so who knows.

 

[arod221]

I thought the deposit was refundable up to the point of delivery

 

[Ungwei]

I thought the deposit was refundable up to the point of delivery

That's what I thought, I hope it is the case, though as Rob suggested, getting a P&S prevents the scenario of the dealer deciding to mark up at the final sale, regardless of the deposit refund policy.

 

[arod221]

That's what I thought, I hope it is the case, though as Rob suggested, getting a P&S prevents the scenario of the dealer deciding to mark up at the final sale, regardless of the deposit refund policy.

true statement

 

[jwolf99]

If a dealership isn't willing to extend a sign P&S showing final price to be MSRP with the exception of tax, title and registration fees, why waste your time with emails and phone calls? This isn't the age where two people come together, spit in their hands and shake on it.

The unfortunate thing is we did shake on it. We left out the the spit though... you know... pandemic and all. Kidding aside, I went to the dealership on Saturday Jan 30, two days before the release, to talk to sales manager. At the time, it was really more to get in his good graces so in the event that I didn't snag one of the first 250, he would at least have me high up on his waiting list as well as to ask if they would charge ADM. He said ADM was owner's decision but there had been no discussions about it yet since release was still 2 days away.

We talked for about 30 minutes about the new Blackwings, the new M3s/M4s, our past cars, and our current cars including our F-bodies (his 68 Camaro, my 94 Trans Am). It wasn't a bromance mind you. But he seemed very genuine (note I didn't I use the word honest) and in the end he said he would "go to bat for me" if I managed to get in an order or do his best to get me an allocation in the event I didn't snag one of the 250. And I left with a handshake. I know, that means nothing these days per Rob's point. Of course I did the hand sanitizer thing immediately when I got back in my car. You know... pandemic and all.

So after my order was in (Feb 20 or so), he said he would speak with the owner. Obviously the owner would not commit to MSRP, but at least the sales manager could have been straight up with me about that. All my questions about it went by with either radio silence or tap dancing. So it pretty much confirmed he was stringing me along until the cutoff date.

In the end it worked out and I am really glad to have been able to get my order switched to a dealer who literally went into the night to get this done. Now that's what I call "going to bat for me." I really shouldn't have waited until the last minute, but work and other commitments these past few weeks left me with little time to focus on anything else.

For those wondering, I sent my original sale manager a breakup email last night. I was very polite and matter of fact. He really didn't burn me or anything. He just turned out to be a bit of a$$h0le. But then, this is NY where a fair portion of the population is made up of a$$h0les.

 

[RDATLTE]

The unfortunate thing is we did shake on it. We left out the the spit though... you know... pandemic and all. Kidding aside, I went to the dealership on Saturday Jan 30, two days before the release, to talk to sales manager. At the time, it was really more to get in his good graces so in the event that I didn't snag one of the first 250, he would at least have me high up on his waiting list as well as to ask if they would charge ADM. He said ADM was owner's decision but there had been no discussions about it yet since release was still 2 days away.

We talked for about 30 minutes about the new Blackwings, the new M3s/M4s, our past cars, and our current cars including our F-bodies (his 68 Camaro, my 94 Trans Am). It wasn't a bromance mind you. But he seemed very genuine (note I didn't I use the word honest) and in the end he said he would "go to bat for me" if I managed to get in an order or do his best to get me an allocation in the event I didn't snag one of the 250. And I left with a handshake. I know, that means nothing these days per Rob's point. Of course I did the hand sanitizer thing immediately when I got back in my car. You know... pandemic and all.

So after my order was in (Feb 20 or so), he said he would speak with the owner. Obviously the owner would not commit to MSRP, but at least the sales manager could have been straight up with me about that. All my questions about it went by with either radio silence or tap dancing. So it pretty much confirmed he was stringing me along until the cutoff date.

In the end it worked out and I am really glad to have been able to get my order switched to a dealer who literally went into the night to get this done. Now that's what I call "going to bat for me." I really shouldn't have waited until the last minute, but work and other commitments these past few weeks left me with little time to focus on anything else.

For those wondering, I sent my original sale manager a breakup email last night. I was very polite and matter of fact. He really didn't burn me or anything. He just turned out to be a bit of a$$h0le. But then, this is NY where a fair portion of the population is made up of a$$h0les.

My original dealer tried something similar. Instead of saying that they were going to charge ADM, they were noncommittal regarding price until the car was delivered in an attempt to bullshit me into placing my order and waiting until it arrives. Then, they’re in a win / win situation. Either I pay their ransom or, they get my car in order to sell it to someone else marked up. This ploy was an insult to my intelligence. Something that you don’t want to do. They lost.

 

[arod221]

crisis averted!

 

[RDATLTE]

crisis averted!

 

[SVTnSTi]

So I have spent the past 2 weeks pestering the sales manager who handled my CT5-V BW order. I was really pushing him for an agreement on MSRP. This was all by email as I can never seem to get him on the phone and no response my texts. But here are responses I got back from him to my successive emails about MSRP (usually after a couple of days going):

"Looks like you have everything covered. I will keep you posted on the progress."

"Got your back. We are good!"

"I'll be in touch."

And this past Monday morning, I emailed that I wanted a signed purchase agreement indicating MSRP as the price. No response at all. So I was done. In looking thru the MSRP thread, I saw someone post another dealer about 30 miles from me, Paul Conte, also on Long Island. So figured I go with them but just wanted to confirm with Cadillac that I could still switch dealers. I tried calling Cadillac Concierge on Wed and yesterday and got bounced around both times with no one knowing what to do.

So then a huge shoutout to @SVTnSTi who posted about Paul Conte and connected me with their sales manager, Tim, who handled his order. I emailed Tim yesterday afternoon and had a response within 90 mins (and on his day off, no less). I told him about getting no where with Concierge and my concern with switching dealers so as to not lose my reservation if we had to cancel and re-create the order. He immediately pulled in his regional sales rep who handled the whole move.

Now most of this occurred between 4pm and 10pm last night through emails back and forth on the whole thing. Tim got in at 11am today and I had a new order number and signed purchase agreement for MSRP before noon. Everything done by email and with absolutely no hassle. And they didn't charge me another $1000 deposit. The regional rep also said they would do that once I get a credit for initial $1000 deposit from my original dealer.

Now I know it's really the dealer and not the sales person who adds the ADM. But I am pissed about the sales manager stringing me along. Too bad! His loss!

But the real cherry on this was the email response that finally came from my original sales manager about my ask on Monday for a purchase agreement specifying MSRP:

"I will be back to you soon. Enjoy the weekend."

It came in exactly 5 minutes after I received my new order and purchase agreement from Paul Conte.

I haven't responded. Deciding whether I send a "break-up email" or let him find out on his own?

Glad it worked out for you! Now we play the waiting game..

 

[arod221]

Glad it worked out for you! Now we play the waiting game..

and the waiting game will suck...my ZL1 is being sold at the end of the month but the CTS-V3 will hold me over until the 5 gets here. my wait will undoubtedly be longer than most as mine is not the initial 250 unfortunately

 

[ajamils]

and the waiting game will suck...my ZL1 is being sold at the end of the month but the CTS-V3 will hold me over until the 5 gets here. my wait will undoubtedly be longer than most as mine is not the initial 250 unfortunately

Could be even worse like people waiting for their C8 for over 18 months.

 

[arod221]

Could be even worse like people waiting for their C8 for over 18 months.

agreed, I initially put $2000 down on a 2020 but the salesman never contacted me in time to build the car...I had a few "not-so-kind" words for him before they gave me my money back. they tried to sell me on a 2021 with a 15 month waitlist....Oh Hell No!

 

[RupertH]

So, can I now go down to a dealer and place an order for a non-250 car?!? Not that it's guaranteed to be built or whatever, of course.