Look it's really very simple. I've imported cars to Hawaii from OR and into AK from WA. In all cases I stated up front that I don't want temp plates from out of state but my MSO with my payment.

I had asked for the total cost of car plus options several times. I even sent a spreadsheet outlining the options etc. for review and acceptance. All was well. When payment was due, all of a sudden: lemon law, CT tax on this or that, MSO etc. As I mentioned Elon Musk's no dealer approach has got me convinced. It's not this dealer it's dealers in general.

If dealers want to provide a "service" at near $400 bucks because you don't want to deal with DMV? Excellent. I do and I don't expect to wait months (as it is in a week I will no longer be able to drive the car because the temp plates expire - dealer says they're aware...). This is just another tax added to the cost if it's not optional. The dealer offers it, you refuse, the dealer FedEx or UPS the MSO, I take it to DMV and I do the necessary paperwork in a couple of days.

In the unlikely event I buy another car if the MSO is not delivered with my payment I'll look for a 71 Cuda; no way I'm putting up with this. If it's a service, I'll opt out, if it isn't it's an added fee and unnecessary delay. Caveat emptor

siberian

 

Or you could just leave Alaska. Humans were never meant to colonize that place anyway...

 

Not quite sure how that answers the MSO issues but...

siberian

 

As to the fees issue, I agree it's mostly profit add on. Fees in buying a car a far from new. I learned early on to inform the sales folks that my acceptance of the deal required up front disclosure of the the figure I would write on the check, and if something they "forgot " showed up later, we would be back to square one. I always negotiate on that number. Never had an issue since.

 

As I mentioned I had asked several times and forwarded a spreadsheet with the figure I was going to put on the check. When final payment was due, the add-ons appeared. It's not, as I stated, this dealer, it's ALL dealers and why Elon Musk's approach is the right one.

Whether it's fees for this or MSO or other it is what it is and this thread is to make folks wiser buyers. As to COVID, it's the new "diabetes". You can blame anything and everything on it, but it sure doesn't solve the problem.

So for the MSO, if it's not important to you or you don't want to spend hours at DMV (not unusual when even in Hawaii you now need to make an apointment weeks if not months in advance) then that's great. But it should be an option and disclosed with all fees/taxes/convenience levies etc up front and in writing.

With cars being hard to come by and folks looking far and wide and outside their home state this is a must and something to ask and look for. Again like I mentioned, there's a lot more than the discount that's important.

siberian

 

Yes it should be/is optional. It's a service that some are willing to pay for. The NY plate service companies have always fedex'ed the plates to me, not back to the dealer. Can't comment on Alaska, but for NY - COVID or no COVID - DMV is a very unpleasant experience, its worth it to me to not go, especially since the reason I got my cars from out of state was to save money over a NY dealer.

 

Alas in this case:

1) It's NOT optional

2) The plate service sends it back to the dealer who then...

THAT is the problem. It's NOT optional at the Greenwich Porsche dealer and I still don't have the tags or title and no idea when I will.

Lastly as you said, and it's not a question of NY or LA or ATL or COVID or not, it's forced on you at handing over the cash. If it's important to you and you don't live in a big city then give dealers who insist on this a miss. Unless i get my tags in a week or a (once again) temp paper plate I won't be able to drive the car.

siberian

 

Did they give you the name of the plate service company they used, did they even have an Alaska based plate service company on file, or did they have to seek one out? Maybe you could call the plate service company directly if the dealer provides their name. The idea here is that a plate service company in your home state, does the transaction in person. In NY, all the plate service companies have an office within walking distance from a DMV - they literally walk a person in there with your paperwork, file, collect the plates, mail them.

 

It's Beacon something they never said. Do they have one on file? No idea they said "we know what we're doing". I called AK DMV and they had no record either via my VIN or name or dealer of ANYONE doing anything on my behalf and they told me they're two weeks out for this process. If I do it myself, I have an appointment within 24 to 48 hours and it's done in 30 minutes tops.

Thanks for the push to call them. I think it's Beacon Auto Tag. I'll call tomorrow and keep folks posted. Again there's much more to buying a 6 figure car than the discount.

siberian

 

I had a dealer take my old 992 that was in for service on a 1hr joy ride. My app told me my car left a 5 mile radius at the dealers. And my stealth Garmin mini dash cam later showed me a 18yr old kid using my car to deliver warranty paperwork to some remote office 20 miles away in some ghetto area. He cussed a lady out while in my car. He blasted my burm stereo full blast to the point the dash cam microphone just went white noise sound. Like full blast mexican bom chee chee music. He DIDNT however drive it like an *******. But the dealer straight up let him use my car to make dealer paperwork deliveries and tried to say the 18yr porter was helping test drive the car for the mechanic. I lite the general manager up for that. I was so upset. He owned and apologized for. But yeah pretty ****ty of them.

 

that is a terrible frustrating story. I don’t know how I could ever use that company again.

 

Again name the dealer, name the items you felt were unethical and let folks know so they can not only be aware of these but also promote dealers who are above and beyond and who earn a "10"; not those who expect one for ***tty tactics and behavior and then act peeved that they didn't.

siberian

 

I think my Cayenne E-Hybrid also just got joyridden although it was only for about 10 minutes. I'll be having a discussion with the GM today. I had asked for assistance with a PCM setting and before I know it the kid takes off in it to "test it". This when I was picking up my car. Perhaps he didn't remember telling me at drop off he hadn't driven an E-Hybrid and really wanted to but they don't get many in UT. He hasn't exactly lifted the brand of people who've died their hair cherry red. If there isn't a real reason for the spin in my car I'll be going after his job. And if this isn't properly resolved I'll gladly mention the dealer's name.

 

Folks please name the dealer. I would hope/like this thread to help or steer folks to the right dealerships who will provide the sales and service people expect buying this level of vehicle. But also, and if need be, start a new thread listing the dealers you felt went above and beyond the call. I'm certainly interested.

And before folks chime in with "well those are only x cases out of how many P's sold...". It points to the type of employees and management a dealer has. Reporting it to the GM you will see if it is taken seriously. My dealer in Anchorage, Kendall, due to a total f*ck up over several incidents and being given the lowest rating possible, ignores and no longer deals with me. I simply document (breach of contract, refusal to perform courtesy service (did it myself)) and copy everything to PNA. If it becomes necessary, time for a good attorney. I don't "bend over" and I certainly don't when these sums of money are involved.

And incredibly after spending 4 hours breaking up the hardpack with Olga, changing tires etc., it's snowing again... welcome to AK and have a nice day

siberian

 

Seems title and tags were mailed back from Beacon to the dealer (!?!) and received today by them. I sent an email to the relevant players asking them to expedite asap. Beacon did say there's an option for them to mail directly to the customer, but was not done in this case. Took just over a month to get to this point.

siberian