Matt RX8

So I bought an RX-8 a few months ago and the car did not have the original window sticker when I took delivery.

I've been harassing the dealer ever since but they haven't made any progress.

I wanted to keep the original sticker and then pass it along to the next owner if I sell it in a few years.

Am I wrong to be upset?

Anyone know how to get a replacement windown sticker?

Isn't there a law that says they have to show you the window sticker when you buy a new car or something?

Detrich

I had a similar experience back in 1998 when I bought my 1999 323i BMW... There was a sticker, but the dealer claims they don't know what they did with it when I asked for it at the close of the sale that evening. I called the sales manager back the next day. But, he made up some bullshit and blew me off.

I think there is definitely something fishy going on- but nothing illegal. They should be able to reprint the factory invoice, black out the parts they don't want u to see- and that's essentially a window sticker.

I eventually gave up, but it's up to you how far you want to pursue it.

G-ReX

That's too bad. My dealer made of point of giving me the sticker even though I forgot to ask. It's up on a cork board by my desk. I don't think there are any issues when the car is conveyed, just when it's on display on the lot.

beachdog

Was the sticker on the car when you looked at it on the lot? Window stickers are like mattress tags. Law says that they have to be there for you to see. I always add to my sales orders a couple of stipulations like, no dealer's advertising on my car and I the window sticker has to be on the car when I pick the car up.

Matt RX8

I never saw this car on the dealer's lot. They picked it up from another dealership and transferred it to their dealership for me (I had to have a black one :D ).

It's not a huge deal for me, just a minor annoyance. I printed out a 2005 model window sticker for a car with similar options to put in my scrapbook.

There was also a scratch on the bumper which they fixed and a small hole in the headliner (on the A pillar) (which they didn't fix). I conveniently covered the hole with a small circle of white tape so I don't even think about it. I could have been more forceful but I was getting a great deal on the car and there were no black ones left near Chicago with the options I wanted.

Next time, I'll add some stipulations to the paperwork and make sure I never take delivery at night. I'll also bring some friends to doublecheck everything on the car and bring a camera as well.

midlifer

Was the car new? I beleave beachdog is right about it being law on new vehicles. Even if the dealer had to get it from another dealership, the original has to be on. The sticker also tells you when the car was shipped and what dealership it is going to. This can be helpful is a salesman tells you he just got the car and the sticker says it was delivered to them last December.

Bob

Aseras

sometimes especially on cars that are demoed/test drove some idiot rolls the window down and rips it off. Dealers can reprint them. Have you tried looking inside your door?

SantozRx8

i never got one either

Aseras

I've got digital snaps of about every rx8 within 100 miles of me from when I bought mine. Want to peruse them and see if any are close to your.. just switch the vin number and print it out.

Matt RX8

No, that's Ok. I printed out an 05 one that is close.

I also sent an email to Mazda and suppossedly the dealer is still working on it.

army_rx8

mine had one..but i have no idea where it is now...but i don't ever plan on selling my car (well maybe when it blows up..but i'll probable just tincker with it) :D

Matt RX8

I might not sell mine either. I guess it depends on what replacements are out there but so far I've never owned a car for more than 3 years. I'm kinda young though (about 35) so I've mostly leased cars in the past and I used to work for an automotive company and had some company cars that I'd swapped out every year or so.

I think I might be addicted to rotaries :o so if Mazda isn't making any rotaries in 4 years, I might have to keep this one.

Nubo

Yep - just like a mattress tag. Not only do they have to show it to you, by law only the purchaser can remove it. You can ask the dealer to do the removal, of course but they can't do it on their own. You shouldn't have to hassle them too much to get a copy -- just remind them they're in violation of Federal law (Monroney Act of 1958).

zoom44

you could actually print a window sticker from teh mazdausa site for awhile. i dont know if you still can. why didnt they jsut print you another?

Matt RX8

it seems that you can only do it for a car in inventory. and only 2005s are in inventory now.

You know it might be in my door as someone mentioned. It's not worth going after if it is.

Not sure why my dealership isn't more on top of this.



Maybe I should read them the riot part of the Monroney Act.

more on the history of window stickers here:
http://www.autopedia.com/html/monroneysticker.html

Matt RX8

A quick update. It looks like Mazda NA is sending me a new sticker. I emailed them a couple of days ago, they asked for the VIN and now it is in the mail. Big props to Mazda for this.

They said it is hard for a dealer to get a duplicate sticker so they were not surprised that the dealer was unable to help me in this regard.

Rotary Nut

Same thinh happened to me when I bought my "04. No sticker. I went to the dealer and complained about is as there was a dispute over the HP rating and MPG.

They sent me a sticker but with the revised ratings. Dammit!

Like Nubo stated it is a federal crime to remove the sticker from the car befor point of sale. If it is not on the widow it must be within view of the interior or placed in the glovebox.


Monronery act of 1958



AUTOMOBILE INFORMATION DISCLOSURE ACT

The Automobile Information Disclosure Act (AIDA), 15 U.S.C. §§ 1231-1233, is more commonly known as the Monroney Act (Senator Mike Monroney was the chief sponsor of the Act) or Price Sticker Act. The Act requires the affixing of a retail price sticker to the windshield or side window of new automobiles indicating the Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), that is, the "sticker price." Additional information, such as a list of any optional equipment offered or transportation charges, is also required.

Automobiles, by definition, include passenger vehicles and station wagons, and by extension passenger vans and recreational vehicles. Not included, as explained in the legislative history, are pick-up trucks.

The Act prohibits the sticker from being removed or altered prior to sale to a consumer. Criminal prosecution is possible under 15 U.S.C. § 1233, for the willful removal of a label and is punishable as a Class A misdemeanor permitting a fine ($100,000 per violation for an individual and $200,000 per violation for an organization under 18 U.S.C. § 3571) as well as imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.

Under a related statute, 49 U.S.C. § 32908, manufacturers and importers of new automobiles, including each category of vehicle identified above and pick-up trucks, are required to affix a label to such vehicles with an EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) label containing fuel economy information. Normally, the price sticker label and EPA label are combined as one large label. Failure to maintain the EPA label on the vehicle is considered a violation of AIDA. There are no private remedies under either Act.

OCL enforces AIDA, most commonly, by sending warning letters to dealerships alleged to have violated the Act. OCL also advises consumers of alternative avenues of redress where allegations have been made that a price sticker or EPA label is missing or altered.