Is a dealer prep fee usual?

[ecotourist]

I'm planning to buy a Honda FG110 mini-tiller (a small rototiller). The local Honda dealer (who doesn't have any in stock yet anyway) wants to charge the full retail price ($579 Cdn) plus a $79 dealer prep fee to make sure that all the nuts are tight, to add oil and make sure it runs properly.

That sounds a bit hokey to me, and I could easily do all of that myself anyway. Is this a usual charge?

 

[Trav]

Run don't walk away from that crook. Full retail in the middle of winter for a tiller and a prep fee to boot, tell him to go scratch his backside with his tiller.

 

[Ed_Flecko]

I think it sounds like additional, pure profit (a.k.a., B.S.) to the dealer. I'd tell them to pound sand.

Ed

 

[Danno]

Sounds like a dealer markup because market is in short supply.
A call to Honda HQ might clear things up.

 

[Pelican]

I'm planning to buy a Honda FG110 mini-tiller (a small rototiller). The local Honda dealer (who doesn't have any in stock yet anyway) wants to charge the full retail price ($579 Cdn) plus a $79 dealer prep fee to make sure that all the nuts are tight, to add oil and make sure it runs properly.

That sounds a bit hokey to me, and I could easily do all of that myself anyway. Is this a usual charge?

As others have said run away from this dealer! I've NEVER known a honda product not to be up to specs and running straight out of the box (so to speak)

 

[ecotourist]

I talked to another dealer (in the city where we used to live). They have 1 in stock (and will be getting more). They charge $579 plus $60 "for shipping", meaning $639 at their shop. So it seems the "extra profit charge" is at least variable. And tax is 7% less at this location as well so it might make sense to pick one up there when we're able to travel. It's a pretty small unit.

 

[stangguy]

Wow, must be nice to be able to charge those extra fees. (for the dealer, not the consumer). I sold Outdoor power equipment for nearly 50 years, and never charged a "set up" fee, or a "shipping"fee for anything. And rarely was able to get full retail price either. I had to much competition. But then maybe if there is a shortage now, that is a totally different situation.

 

[redhat]

Wow, for that price you could pick up a John Deere 112 with a 10hp Kohler and a tiller!

 

[USask2000]

The local Honda OPE dealer in Regina charged me a “prep” fee as well on a Honda lawnmower. What you’ve been quoted sounds about what I paid. Added 600mls of garbage 10W40 and made sure the nuts were tight. Pushed this on me at the last minute and didn’t fight it. Should have walked away in retrospect.

 

[Wolf359]

Why not just buy it online? In the US, Lowes and Home Depot seems to carry it for $369.

 

[USask2000]

Why not just buy it online? In the US, Lowes and Home Depot seems to carry it for $369.

Not everyone on this forum lives in the U.S.

 

[demarpaint]

They try, some people pay it. Nothing ventured nothing gained I guess.

 

[Propflux01]

Not everyone on this forum lives in the U.S.

They don't have anything like that (Big Box) in your area, or you just stuck with the Honda dealer?

 

[Pelican]

Wow, for that price you could pick up a John Deere 112 with a 10hp Kohler and a tiller!

Can't compare a JD to a Honda, also that JD is not built by JD.

 

[Pelican]

Why not just buy it online? In the US, Lowes and Home Depot seems to carry it for $369.

Not the same machine, don't ask how I know.
Those are batch built for big box stores.

 

[Wolf359]

Not the same machine, don't ask how I know.
Those are batch built for big box stores.

Yeah, how do you know? Is there two separate parts manual depending if you bought it at the dealer or the big box store? You might get better service at the dealer, but they usually don't set up two manufacturing lines for the same model. For some items they can make minor modifications, like on some water heater models they use plastic parts instead of metal/brass. What you're saying is basically what the dealers say to justify their high prices. It basically boils down to volume, the large volume retailers can sell for less because they sell more, offer less services and can make do on a smaller mark up. That's the real reason.

 

[ecotourist]

They don't have anything like that (Big Box) in your area, or you just stuck with the Honda dealer?

I checked the local big box stores and they don't sell Honda products.

I live in an area where there is only one dealer. There are bound to be a few dealers in Vancouver which is a ferry ride away (and at least $100 for return ferry tickets if we take a vehicle). So I'd have to make that purchase in conjunction with some other reason for taking the ferry. In normal times we often travel into Alberta once or twice a year where there would be more competition and lower taxes too.

I could also take a ferry to Washington State and buy one there - at some point in the future.

 

[JohnnyG]

What? $100.00 for a ferry ride? Talk about getting ripped off!

 

[ecotourist]

What? $100.00 for a ferry ride? Talk about getting ripped off!

BC Seniors ride for free (on weekdays) but your vehicle doesn't. The return ferry trip for the vehicle is at least $100 (90 minutes each way).

 

[AutoMechanic]

Yep run away fast.