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Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Don't Let Rebates Fool You


Last month I went out and bought a new 2008 Toyota Pickup Truck. I made every attempt to do so right here in the Salisbury area but no one was willing to budge lower than the Factory Rebate, swearing there's no real profit and they're in huge demand.

My Son told me about a friend of his who worked at a dealership, Car Max in Jessup Maryland who would be willing to give me a great deal on one. This Dealership is set up to make a one time offer with a discount and there's no haggling past that price. Considering this was thousands of dollars less than what our area could offer, I made the trip over the Bridge to see if this was for real or not?

When I arrived, we looked over a fantastic selection and I asked, do you have one in black? They did not but they were happy to look at another Dealer close by to see if they had one. The Salesman said he had located one, why don't we go to lunch and he'd have it there at their Dealership in an hour.

By the time we returned from lunch, there it was. It was exactly what we wanted and the price was more than reasonable. On Monday I went to the Delaware Motor Vehicle to pay the taxes and get the tags and to my surprise, they charged taxes on the rebate.

Considering the taxes were only around 3%, who cares. However, when you're purchasing a vehicle and you get a rebate, know they will charge you taxes on that rebate. That was my experience anyway.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

When my mother bought a toyota at pohanka in Salisbury, they actually matched the carmax price (she had printed it out and brought it with her). They wouldn't give her that price through the tradtional "haggling", but when she showed them the price she could get just by driving, they agreed to match it. So remember to print out competative dealer offers and bring it with you!

Anonymous said...

NO SPRAY-IN BEDLINER?

joe albero said...

It has the Factory plastic bedliner that came with it.

Anonymous said...

DELAWARE HAS ALWAYS CHARGED TAX ON REBATES....THIS ISN'T SOMETHING NEW.

Anonymous said...

Buy American...Buy Local.

And I'll bet you'll take your new truck to the local dealer for warranty work. They should make you tow it over the bridge when it breaks down and then tell me how much money you saved.

And we know the people at the local dealership; and who give a flying leap if the guys on the other side get laid off. Not me.

BUY LOCAL AND SAVE JOBS HERE!

Anonymous said...

What state was it built in? Texas?

Ddubb said...

so what was the final price? just wondering how much difference we're talking because i've been in the market for the exact same truck

Anonymous said...

anon 6:37 he originally did buy American at Sherwood. Guess you missed that one huh?

Anonymous said...

GOOD POINT. WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THAT DODGE? DID YOU SHOOT IT AND PUT IT OUT OF YOUR MISSERY?

Anonymous said...

Why use local dealers? They are all lying thieves. I paid cash for a 2007 Mazda CX9. Pohanka Mazda over-charged me $100 and when I called them on it, I got no response from the General sales manager Mike Culver, the sales manager J.R., or the salesman Ms. Gardner. The FINANCE manager did the math, just goes to show double check any numbers they give you. She should get a job working for Salisbury huh? Then to boot, they delivered me a car with paint issues and never took any time to check it when I returned it to them 3 times to be repaired. I would leavethe car all day and return to find it not fixed. The spare keys was "missing" per sales department and they told me everything was ordered. After 2 months I called the parts department to find out why my stuff wasn't in and to my surprise I found out sales never placed an order. Now Pohanka service department kicks behind. Never deal with sales, they just lie and steal. They weren't even going to give me the price I asked for until I told them about Fitzgeralds in Frederick having the same vehicle for $1000 less then they matched the price. Maybe if the sales people weren't so slimey they would do a little better around here. Hell even the general sales manager was bashing a co-worker of mine openly abotu being a deadbeat and not paying for his car. Its not my business or anyone elses in their but the manager and the car purchaser. Take it up with him or repo it. Why was I told about it? Just because you work with someone doesn't make it your business. Pohanka has lost business. The sad part was this was a cash sale so all money went to the dealer and none to a bank and they were even told treat us right and we'll be back to purhcase another vehicle within a year or so for my wife. Eastern shore dealers got one chance and blew it. They got the money and could give a crap less about what they did to us. Good bye Pohanka. No wonder they go through sales and general managers like crazy.

Anonymous said...

I vowed to never go to Pohanaka for anything. A friend of mine went in to Pohanka Nissan back when the old building was still there. She was looking at a pick-up and when we went for a drive the salesman was cursing like it was cool to curse and asked if we wanted to hit church st to pick up some weed. I tried not to laugh as I told him I was a police officer. He about swallowed his tongue. I thought it was very unprofessional to curse to customers, none of us wanted to hear it. Then back inside my friend told him what she wanted topay and NO MORE. She asked if it was possible and the guy says it should be leaves comes back with a number $150 more per month. She tells him its not in her budget. The salesman continues to tell her it is (because he knows her budget and monthly expenses right) and puts a blank piece of paper on the desk and writes, "I will buy a car today if so and so meets my price". The salesman proceeds to tell her to sign the form and maske it a contract between them that if he matches her monthly payments she will buy a car. Comeon now. I told her to walk away and fast. This kid followed us out the door and proceeded to say its just business. Sorry but making crap statements like that is B.S. and it could be smelled from miles away. Nice people working at Pohanaka. Don't think much has changed besides exterior appearance.

WatchfulEye said...

Did you know at Pohanka, a couple of their sales people got fired for taking a brand new Prius out without authorization and totaling it in an accident. This was about a year or so ago.

Tax Guy said...

I ONLY buy cars at Carmax, since they are completely up front with their pricing. You might get it cheaper from a local dealer, but highly doubtful. Pohanka flat out told me that they can't price match Carmax. Besides, they are criminals. It is their job to screw you to the wall, and make as much money as possible. I find the whole car buying experience degrading. Why do I have to beg or work to get a fair price? Now some people here, and a buddy of mine will tell you to print out the carmax price and take it to the local dealer to match it. Well, if Carmax is willing to give you the right price the first time, they deserve the sale.

I recently just bought a Camry and drove in the last snow we got on the shore to Carmax, got there at 8:30pm and was driving home in the car I picked out by 9:30pm.

The saddest thing is, the people who can afford a car the least, being the uneducated or low wage earners with less than perfect credit, pay the most for a car, both in sales price and interest rates. Dealerships prey on these people, and Pohanka and Sherwood are as slimy as they come.

Just one geek's opinion.

Anonymous said...

yea joe good choice in buying at carfax. as pohanka goes bought a mazda there. car was good but the parts and service dept really sucked had some snotty ass female in the parts dept named crystal who was a nightmare to deal with! thats why i sold the car shortly afterward never to deal with pohanka again.

Anonymous said...

POHANKA SUCKS. Bought a truck just like you Joe one year ago from them.. could go on about my terrible experience but in the end I got the price I wanted so I was fine...

Went to trade it in on a more fuel efficient vehicle a few weeks ago and had an ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE experience. Walked out and got the trade in value I wanted and the price on a new vehicle at a dealership in EASTON. Was so comfortable I felt like I was buying a car from my Uncle.

WILL NEVER BUY from POHANKA again and my advice to anyone in the market for a car is to head on down to the next friendly town where they are more than happy to take business away from the slimeballs at Pohanka.