Jeep Wrangler Forum banner

Allowable fees for tread lightly

8K views 49 replies 18 participants last post by  JK Rock 
#1 ·
So I've ordered with Tread Lightly.

There are two fees on the order sheet currently.

Destination Fee: $900
Documentation Fee: $150

When I brought up the fees supposed to be capped at $75 ... Salesman responded that that is an admin fee which they weren't charging, and the doc is one they charge on all vehicles blah blah blah.

So, what are the allowable fees in the build? I'm assuming the destination is reasonable, given that I'm in Seattle on the West Coast, and that's essentially the shipping / delivery, but I wanted to be sure before I push further.

And yes, I've searched and run through but haven't found any exactly clarification.

Thanks,

Ron
 
#2 ·
Destination should be $800. The MSRP should already include this fee. So if your MRSP is $28,000 the window sticker should say, $27,200 + $800 destination charge = $28,000 MRSP.
Chrysler Affiliate fee is $75. The dealer can choose to eat this cost out of their profit, but unlikely that they would.

Documentation fees are complete shit. Do not pay them if you can manage not to. This is a fee that is a deal breaker for me to walk to another dealership.
 
#5 ·
Dealer is being square with you.... You will pay no more than:

1. (Factory Invoice x .99) + $75 (wave-able Chrysler Affiliate Rewards fee) ($900 destination is part of invoice price, not added on!)
2. Documentation fee - but only if the dealer charges all customers the same fee, or it is set by state law.
3. State license and registration fees
4. State sales tax

Nothing else can be charged, and you can't be required to purchase anything else with the Jeep...

If you have any doubts, call the Affiliate Rewards Hot Line at 888-444-4321 between the hours of 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. EST.
 
#11 ·
Wait, my dealer is saying they have to charge me a Dealer Pre-delivery fee to the tune of $589. Are you telling me they are not supposed to charge that fee? I won't say who the dealer is, but they are well known here....Hum. I need to take a second look at some of this stuff before I decide to pick this thing up.

EDIT: Although now that I think about it, I was told he had to charge it because they were offering 2% bellow factory invoice and it was either 2% bellow and the charge or 1% bellow and no charge. I guess that makes sense. I think that it is a little more complicated than what is listed above. Each dealer may be a little different.
 
#6 ·
This is the build sheet as listed ... Are they double charging the destination charge? Thanks for all the help ... If I could save another 900 that would cover the aftermarket headunit that's going in right away :)

Vehicle: 2012 WRANGLER UNLIMITED SAHARA 4X4 (JKJP74)
Sales Code Description MSRP(USD)
Model: JKJP74 WRANGLER UNLIMITED SAHARA 4X4 30,745
Package: 23G Customer Preferred Package 23G 0
ERB 3.6L V6 24V VVT Engine 0
DEH 6-Speed Manual NSG370 Transmission 0
Paint/Seat/Trim: PRP Deep Cherry Red Crystal Pearl Coat 0
APA Monotone Paint 0
*A7 Cloth Seats w/Adj. Head Restraints 0
-X9 Black 0
Options: NHK Engine Block Heater 35
MX3 Black 3-Piece Hard Top 0
HAB Air Conditioning w/Auto Temp Control 155
DSA Anti-Spin Differential Rear Axle 295
CJ1 Supplemental Frt Seat Side Air Bags 490
AJC Katzkin Black Leather Seats 1,500
AHQ Max Tow Package 320
AEM Dual Top Group 1,625
AAJ Connectivity Group 385
YEP Manuf Statement of Origin 0
4EA Sold Vehicle 0
Destination Fees: 900
Total Price: 36,450
 
#8 ·
If the doc fee is less than $75, should be ok. i paid $55 for doc, but no affiliate fee. Also, askthem if they can do 2%below invoice if you are ordering. I told them I can get 1% below from any dealer. They said ok pretty quickly, so if I asked for.... I was satisfied with the price, less than what I had expected.
 
#9 ·
Thanks for the responses folks, looks like they are being pretty square on it. I asked them for the 2% but didn't push on it too hard, they spun back some "allocation" comments etc. I did a fair bit of test driving with them and a few other things, so I didn't push back too hard on it, however, I will push super hard if they try to pull something on me they shouldn't (like extra fees)
 
#10 ·
I got 2% below and refused to pay any fees, including destination. Dealer said they have to charge everyone including his mother. I talked him into taking the amount of destination fee off after 2% off, then add the destination back. I didnt pay it even though it looks like I did on paper.
 
#16 ·
Up Hill Bill said:
I'm a trouble maker. I'd take that 2% deal, take delivery, then shove that phony fee you know where! Chrysler will make him pay you back that fee....

That is, if you've got somewhere else to go for service and warranty work....
Haha. Yeah I do. I am coming in from well out of town to get this Jeep. I may have to talk to my dealer a bit more here.
 
#21 ·
So one more questions for those who may have done this before. On the Order Confirmation page, there are several different prices listed. There is a FWP (which I know stands for fleet wholesale price). There is also a FFP, which I know is Friends and Family Price. In general the FFP is about 500-600$ less than the FWP. I called Chrysler Affiliate Program this AM and the guy I spoke with told me that with their program, you are supposed to get the Preferred Pricing which is based off the FFP price not the FWP price. Does this sound correct?
 
#24 ·
If the Destination Fee is being charged in addition to the price on the sticker, you're getting ripped off. Also, dealers have a set price doc fee. They have to charge the same to everyone. So you can't get rid of that, but you can get rid of the destination fee (because it was already included in the sticker price).
 
#25 ·
I don't think the OP was saying they were charging him another destination fee, although maybe they were trying to.

I guess if the dealership has to charge everyone the same document fee, than it is what it is. So in Florida for example where there is no cap on this, they can charge you as much as they want as long as it is the same to everyone? Seems kind of crazy. In my case the dealer has a "Dealer Pre-Delivery Service Fee" which underneath that in tiny letters on the form, it says that it includes doc fees as well as prepping the vehicle for sale. This fee is awfully high though in my opinion.
 
#27 ·
I refuse to pay destination fees, for the simple fact that if they want to sell the Jeep, they need to bring it to the customer.
I don't think I've seen a "Documentation Fee" before. Sounds like they want money for doing their jobs in the clerical capacity. I wouldn't pay that one, either.
Taxes and tags, that's it. But I also live in an area where I can easily take my business elsewhere should they refuse to play ball.
 
#29 ·
Ok, so here's where the confusion starts and it my mind ends.

My dealership in IL has a $161 doc fee. Our FL store has a doc fee of $589 which is at least $400 less then the surrounding dealers.

Because the dealer can either charge their doc fee or the chrysler doc fee of $75 our FL store found it to be cheaper overall to allow the 1% under and then charge $75 chrysler fee and not their doc fee.


Your jeep has an invoice of 34205. This includes the destination from the factory to the FL store.

Your price is 33,520 plus doc fee of $589 and any other taxes, license and title fees. Total before taxes, license and title fees is 34109.

If you take the 1% under and pay chryslers doc fee of 75, 33862 + 75 = 33937.

That's where the confusion is. Also if you are having the wrangler shipped somewhere else you do have to pay any transport fee from FL to where you want it.

Hope this helps
 
#33 ·
Up front and less than competitors, or not, a $589 Doc fee is just plan a rip off, even if it is Fields charging it.

I paid Affiliate pricing with just a $55 Doc fee from the only Chrysler/Jeep dealer within 200 miles (= no competition to worry about).

Ya' think they have 10 times the state paperwork to do in Florida than in California? I doubt it.
 
#34 ·
^^^^^:surrender::surrender::surrender:^^^^

2% below invoice plus the $75 your instructions tell you about, period.
 
#35 · (Edited)
When I purchased at Fields in Sanford I was the first person to buy from there under the Chrysler Affiliate Rewards program. There was a large learning curve for the staff there but they bent over backward to make sure everything Pat set up was honored. They intend to have the same programs that Pat has set up in Illinois, but being in Florida they have different requirements from the State to meet so they are working on ways to creatively make everyone happy.

When I was doing the paperwork with them I was given the option of 2% below invoice + the standard $589 doc fee that is charged to everyone (this is literally Pat's deal, 2% plus allowed fees), or 1% below invoice + $75 Chrysler doc fee. On my roughly $30,000 vehicle 1% = $300 so I chose 1% + $75 because that worked better for me. Since they have to charge EVERYONE the same doc fee because the State of Florida says that if you charge one customer a doc fee, you have to charge EVERY customer the same fee, they adjusted the purchase price -$514 and the paperwork showed the $589 doc fee that everyone pays. They also made similar adjustments due to the price of the lifetime warranty because he State of Florida also sets that price. (Big brother protecting you I guess.)

One other comment regarding the $589 fee. When I signed up for USAA to get the $1000 incentive I began getting bombarded with dealers calling and sending me offers. The doc fees were listed on the offers were $600, $689, and $800. I didn't shop around and check other doc fees but those were what was volunteered.

Overall, I am thoroughly and completely happy with the way that Fields has treated me, before, during, and even after the purchase. I highly recommend them!
 
#38 ·
stroh said:
When I purchased at Fields in Sanford I was the first person to buy from there under the Chrysler Affiliate Rewards program. There was a large learning curve for the staff there but they bent over backward to make sure everything Pat set up was honored. They intend to have the same programs that Pat has set up in Illinois, but being in Florida they have different requirements from the State to meet so they are working on ways to creatively make everyone happy.

When I was doing the paperwork with them I was given the option of 2% below invoice + the standard $589 doc fee that is charged to everyone (this is literally Pat's deal, 2% plus allowed fees), or 1% below invoice + $75 Chrysler doc fee. On my roughly $30,000 vehicle 1% = $300 so I chose 1% + $75 because that worked better for me. Since they have to charge EVERYONE the same doc fee because the State of Florida says that if you charge one customer a doc fee, you have to charge EVERY customer the same fee, they adjusted the purchase price -$514 and the paperwork showed the $589 doc fee that everyone pays. They also made similar adjustments due to the price of the lifetime warranty because he State of Florida also sets that price. (Big brother protecting you I guess.)

One other comment regarding the $589 fee. When I signed up for USAA to get the $1000 incentive I began getting bombarded with dealers calling and sending me offers. The doc fees were listed on the offers were $600, $689, and $800. I didn't shop around and check other doc fees but those were what was volunteered.

Overall, I am thoroughly and completely happy with the way that Fields has treated me, before, during, and even after the purchase. I highly recommend them!
Yeah, that makes total sense to me. I just don't think I really thought it all through the right way when I was initially working through the deal. It definitely is better to get the 1% bellow and pay the 75$ fee, but I don't think I initially realized this. 2% just sounds better. :).

Pat is looking into it though guys. No worries. :)
 
#40 · (Edited)
Yeah, that makes total sense to me. I just don't think I really thought it all through the right way when I was initially working through the deal. It definitely is better to get the 1% bellow and pay the 75$ fee, but I don't think I initially realized this. 2% just sounds better. :).
And no one pointed that out to you, I would bet. Caveat Emptor, I guess. :whistling:

Glad that you caught it and it was made right :)
 
#42 ·
Pat, I don't want to make you regret posting the AR Rules but in the "Preferred Price" section it states that

"The participant may not be charged for any preparation fees, delivery and handling charges, service or overhead fees, or any other such delivery fees under this program."

Is this referring to the normal $900 destination charge or is that still included in the preferred price as part of the Factory invoice?
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top