I am not from the state of Ohio but I have heard a rumor.
Allegedly the State Attorney General is investigating the dealers of your state for collusion and price fixing.
For what it's worth.

 

The "Marketing Assesment" is a fee that is charged to the dealer by Nissan North America for the national print and television ads. This fee is included on the invoice pricing of all cars. There is (to the best of my knowledge) no way around the fee.

 

The dealers are getting a big buck for just charging MSRP, then you have the greedy bastards who would rob the "pennies " from the eyes of a dead man. Some might feel that they could absorb the cost of this fee. There is always a way around fees if someone other than the consumer has to pick it up.
These are probably the same people lobbying Congress to eliminate corporate taxes because it is unfair to business. In the meantime we pick up their share of the burden too!!!!
Sorry about the divergence from the purpose of the forum, just needed to vent.
One man's opinion!

 

Well, where as I agree it is a BS charge, I don't think when you are buying a $30K + car, a $500 charge shouldn't be a really big deal. Now if the assesment was $1000 or $2000, then I would make a stink about it.

Again, this fee is charged on every car you purchase whether it is a Ford or Nissan or whatever. When the dealer shows you the invoice on any car, the assesment charge will be there. It is the most difficult charge to explain to a customer, but it is included in the invoice.

How come no one complains about a can of corn that cost $1 on a shelf, but only cost the grocery store about $.15. In terms of profit, they are charging a ridiculous markup and on top of that, the store charges the manufacturer a premium to store the product on certain shelves. You may ask, what the F is he talking about? But the point is a new car is the only product you can purchase and actually negotiate a price. But in rare instances, when a new car is released, there is no negotiaion. If you are unhappy with the marketing assesment, then don't buy the car and make you salesman very happy because it will be another car they can charge a ridiculous markup on.


I'm not trying to start a flame war here, just trying to put things in prospective.

 

Are you saying that it is part of the MSRP pricing? My car on my sales invoice is for MSRP + taxes and document fees. No mention of any other fees. I'm assuming that if it isn't indicated on the sales sheet, I'm not obligated to pay any add'l fees.

 

ccns23,
I can understand where you are coming from, you sell cars. The issue is clear to me as a consumer. MSRP is a a price that gives the dealer a hefty profit margin. I would guess in a range of $2000-3000/car, perhaps more.
Take the $500 out of that profit margin.
If I'm wrong about the mark up you can give us the correct figures.
As far as not taking the car so I make a salesman happy, I kind of expect that thinking from an individual who wants every penny he/she can get. I'm not saying that you are that person.
We do live in a Capitalist society and supply and demand does come in to play at times like these. These will not always be the times and the "shoe will be on the other foot" at some future date.
Afterall, it's not the dealers that have produced these cars. They are the middle men who add to the price the consumer ultimately pays. We can work together and remember there will be other days and cars to buy and sell. On the other hand we can gouge each other for whatever we can get.
Personally, if Devon Nissan (that is the dealer you work for right?)were to take advantage of the situation I would blacklist them and tell everyone I could reach not to deal with them.
That is the other side of the coin in these situations.
One Man's Opinion!!

 

Again, I am not trying to start a flame war here. What I am saying is that every, and I mean every car, you have ever purchased has a "Marketing Assesment" attached to the invoice price of the car. When you ask for invoice pricing, that charge will be included.

As for being a dealer, I am actually the exception, not the rule. I could car less if I make $100 or $1000 per car. My customers satisfaction is my first priority. That's part of my problem with my sales managers is that I will take the customers side before theirs. It may sound like a bunch of bull, but that is just the way I prefer to do business. I butt heads with my management every day. Ask my customers why they bought the car from me and the answer is not price, but treatment.

I was just trying to give an explaination to the issue of the marketing assesment.

Ask your own dealers what the Marketing Assesment is and they will tell you the same thing.

 

And believe me, I wish I could sell the cars or under MSRP (I mean really, I had to pay it too!!!)

I just have a love for the Z. Ever since I owned my 1990 and got rid of it after 105,000 miles I have been waiting for the new one to come out. If I wasn't selling the cars, I would still have bought one.

I can't wait to get together with other owners in the area.

If there are any questions I can answer, please let me know.

Thanks!!!!

 

I think this is where the communication problem is. The Marketing Assesment is not charged above and beyond the MSRP. It is included in the price. If you went to a dealer and they told you otherwise and tried to charge the fee in addition to MSRP, then they are lying and you should by from somewhere else.

Sorry for any confusion!!!!

 

CCNS23,

Thanks for your very clear explanation for the "Marketing Fee."

What kind of order confirmation and shipping date information do you get as a dealer that we should be able to ask our dealers for? I don't want to be an absolute pest to my dealer, but I am hungry for any information on when my new ride will show up!

The sooner I know it will be in june or September or October the more time I will have to prepare myself for the wait

 

Unfortunately, I have received nothing in the way of confirmation orders for my car or any other cars that are coming in. I bug the crap out of my general sales manager on a regular (hourly) basis for any information that I can pass onto the board.

As soon as I hear anything, you guys will be the first to know. But with the knowlegdge and connections some of the people on this board have, I doubt I'll have any info before anyone here!!!!

 

It's good for us to know that we aren't missing out on information. Not knowing what information our dealers have makes us a bit paranoid. That can put us into attack mode for no reason.

 

You didn't miss the point Ohioz was making. There may be some dealers that are trying to get the $500 fee twice and will suceed if we are not vigilant. It isn't a matter of what is our fair share it has become when is enough enough????
It's no longer a matter of what what Nissan charges the dealer, because it appears some dealers are just more interested in what they can get in the present situation.
I am happy that I have had the opportunity to be a part of the pre-order experience.
I am not happy to hear that some of us may be victims of gouging by unscroupulous dealers.
One Man's Opinion!!

 

I'd be out front of that dealer with placards telling the whole worlld what a bunch of A..holes this dealership is. Maybe even a call to NNA to shake up their skivvies.

I'm up here in the Cleveland area and, truly, I bleed Z blood for your situation. Sorry to hear that they are trying to fu&k you like this.

 

Ohio_z_man, what dealership added that fee? I'm in the Columbus area also. Plus, where did you preorder your car from?