On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 01:41:22 GMT, Julia Altshuler
> wrote:

>Boron Elgar wrote:
>
>> That is a pretty common charge on new car sales here in northern NJ
>> and encompasses registering the vehicle and getting new plates, if
>> required.
>
>
>It is common here in New England too. The safety inspection costs
>around $30. We can put the plates from the old car on the new one so
>that costs nothing. I'm sure there is a lot of paperwork and hassle
>involved with transferring the title, but look at it another way. Say
>you were buying several largish shrubs to plant in your garden and had
>brought your own truck to haul them home in. They're heavy, but you can
>lift them yourself if you take them one at a time. They're labeled as
>costing $30 each. You get to the register to pay, but there's an extra
>$5 charge for each one. You question it. The salesperson explains "we
>had to water the shrubs while they were here in the store, and they need
>special storage where they can get sun. Also, the staff who takes care
>of shrubbery before it is sold has to get special training, and there's
>a truck that delivers the plants to us. All that costs money. Five
>dollars is a bargain." Well maybe it is, but why aren't they labeled as
>costing $35 in the first place?
>
>
>--Lia


The paperwork fee is pre-printed on the invoices around here...you
negotiate around it, not about it. You get your savings elsewhere,
knowing about the fees ahead of time. I know there are fixed charges,
such as "dealer prep" and the like and so I base my negotiating price
knowing those things are in there. I consider them part of the "asking
price" and negotiate down from there.

You seemed to have mastered the one thing to know about buying a car -
be prepared to walk if you do not like the deal. Again, anything is
negotiable...they bottom line is the bottom line...whether they reduce
or eliminate the paperwork fee or charge for filling the tank or lower
the offering for your trade-in, it doesn't matter...you want to get to
the final costs.

It is no more nor no less a legitimate fee than the itemization
billing that hospitals do, so that a dose of Tylenol runs 4-6 dollars
on the invoice. As a patient, you have less chance of negotiating
that...it is their way of getting around the insurance companies and
unless you are paying cash, you can be SOL with hospital charges.

I went through the same sort of BS trying to get a new cell phone the
other day. Same sort of post purchases fees that got tacked on and a
hideous attempt to "up-sell" with accessories, too. It was the same
high pressure tactics as buying a car. Having purchased 2 new cars in
15 months, the similarities were quite striking to me.

Just to bring the topic back to food...always go car shopping on a
full stomach, as you may be there awhile. Besides, car sale techniques
are liable to make you lose your appetite.

Boron