I finally picked up my new RX8 from Bay Mazda in Belleville last week. I literally had the keys in my hand when the salesman mentioned that the glass has security etching on the windows to deter theft, just sign here to get the number register and you're ready to go. I'd never heard of window etching before and I ask a number of questions and he assures me that all Mazdas come with this. Eager to get my new ride I sign the form.

I had an uneasy feeling about this. After getting home, a few mouse clicks confirm that this is essentially a scam. Window etching is a legitimate theft deterrent. Usually the glass is etched with the VIN number. You can get do-it-yourself kits or auto glass places will do it and it's quite inexpensive. I'm not sure how effective it would really be though. I suspect if a pro got my car, it would either be on it's way out of the country or in a chop shop, in which case the etching would not be of much use.

What the dealer does, though, is charge a much higher fee (in my case $349 plus tax) to etch the glass and to"register" the number. Then apparently, if my car is stolen and not recovered, this company will give me $3500. Big fat hairy deal, that's why I have insurance! Anyway, what really ticks me off here is I knew nothing about this until I picked up the car. When I ordered the car, the salesman gave me the cost of the car, the taxes and the "mandatory on the road costs" of $1554. This included the freight, air conditioner tax, tax for fuel consumption, etc but hidden in here was the cost of the etching, not mandatory at all. When the Purchase Agreement was drawn up there was a box containing the extended warranty, vehicle protection that I declined of course. In the box with the true mandatory costs was an entry for "Tricor Registration Fee". This was the window etching but it was never discussed with me or presented as an option. I should have picked it up of course, I'm usually a bit sharper than that, stupid me.

Anyway, I spoke with the manager and demanded a refund as I got an optional service that I didn't want which he refused. Apparently all the Mazda dealers in this area automatically add window etching as a policy without informing the customer and I think that's wrong. He tells me the profit margin on these cars is so slim that they have to do this to boost their profits (WTF, I paid MSRP)

If you are buying a new RX8, I would specifically ask that window etching not be done and get it in writing (along with no dealer decals, no test drives,etc) and scrutinize every line of the Purchase Agreement.

Anyone else fallen prey to this scam?

 

They tried to sell me the etching at a "special discount price" - (only for you -today only) of $150.00. I turned it down.
I would report them to the BBB and talk to Mazda about it.

 

Sounds like a scam. Post the e-mail address for the manager of that dealership and we can all give him a hard time about these slimey tatics.

 

Thanks, I plan to do exactly that. Wanted to spread the word so hopefully others won't get taken like I was. You're lucky they gave you the option.

 

That sounds like a great idea. Unfortunately, I don't have their E mail address. After the conversation we had today, if I called him back and asked for it, I kind of doubt that he'd give it to me....

 

My "guys" tried throwing it in for free and I refused. I hate how it looks!!!!

 

It's a typical dealership item on cars... Like the "protection package", or the "anti-theft" device. In the early 90's it was things like pinstripes, or graphics on the rocker panels... All little items they'd put on cars that sat on the lot before someone had a chance to buy it. This way they could mark up the price (usually unreasonably) and you could haggle with them a bit and think you were getting a deal.

Take the ProLock or ElectroLoc anti-theft devices for example. Dealerships would have them installed on all cars after they were PDIed. They would then mark the cars up anywhere from $300- $500. If the buyer didn't want it a "bypass chip" was installed and the buyer didn't have to deal with it. However, if the buyer wanted it, they could haggle the price, or pay whatever the dealership charged. Either way, the cost per unit for the dealership was generally about $15/unit. Nice markup, eh?

I stay away from all those things. Including LoJack (not that it should really be grouped with these other things. At least it has a real purpose). If I had a really high dollar car, I'd probably get LoJack... Not for a $30K car though.

 

do dealers still do that dealer decal nonsense?? That would **** me off to high heaven after droping 50Gs and seeing that **** on it.

Heres another thing to watch for. If you choose a certain model/colour/interior combination...make sure it is actually sitting in the dealer lot. Why? If you request something a dealer doesn't have, they will buy it from another dealer and DRIVE the car to their location. A buddy of mine bought a BMW years ago and found out that they drove his brand new Bimmer from London to Toronto.... He was livid.

Heres another example.... I just came back from visiting my girl in Maryland. When I was down there I test drove an 8 ( I loved it but thats beside the point).... I was talking with the salesperson who was a hell of a guy and he told me that they would go as far as contacting dealers in neighboring states like PA and VA and then driving the car back if they didn't have it ( they try not to exceed 80 mi... lol thats an hour and a half drive)..... I was floored when i heard that.

 

You should take the dealer to small claims court. When you signed for the car, you have a price on your invoice. This is all he can legally charge you for the car. Anything else you don't have to pay.

My dealer tried the same kind of stuff by slipping the extended warranty on my bill. Like I wouldn't notice an extra $3000!

 

You shouldn't have accepted the car...
When you sign the sheet you are accepting all the terms on that sheet.

Yes my "8" had the etching done and was included in a minimal admin fee. I knew before hand that this admin fee was BS, but I didn't pay MSRP for my car either. I got about $1200 off the MSRP, so the even with the admin charge I was still getting the car for $1000 under MSRP and getting the glass done too.

The only thing I would suggest to new car buyers is to specify in the contact that this isn't done to the car, or if it is done on the car already, don't pay "Extra" for it.

 

The window etching was not on my car, so I guess it's not a "standard" policy.

Unfortunately, some sellers take advantage of buyers. Let's just exercise the fact that buyers can shop around. If the Belleville dealer loses one deal from your post, then he's losing out in the long run.

Give him a link to this post, I say!

 

MyRxBad..... which dealer did you buy your 8 from?

 

That is against the law contact your state attorneys office and call a lawyer...

 

If you live in Los Angeles, Lojack/Onstar isn't a bad idea. Tons of cars get stolen here left and right.

Even though 30k car isn't all that... I still wouldn't want to deal with it being stripped, mangled, and returned to me in pieces.

 

www.carbuyingtips.com

 

Yep, that's a good site. I visited it right after picking up my 8. Wish I'd found it a little earlier.

I have filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and will be sending a letter of complaint to Mazda Canada tomorrow. I'll post the responses to these when I get them.

 

Whitby Mazda provides it gratis ( as it did om my '99 MX5 and my '04 Mazda6 GT).

 

Thank you

 

Dude, you revived a 9 year old thread, not to mention this is in the Canada forum.

 

It's also an RX8 forum,no Honda's here