tmajor

So, I bought this used 2012 STX. On the paperwork, it has a charge of $299 for security. I'm told, that this is for "body panel etching, in case of theft". OK. I was thinking about this, plus I noticed the same sticker on one of their pictures of my trade-in, on their lot.

I had a look at the truck this morning, to see what we are talking about. I was able to find "stickers" on the windows, warning of the system, as well as, stickers on the doors, front fenders, hood and tail gate.

Is the system any more than some "peel off" stickers? Is it really etched somewhere? Has anybody also seen this or is it, mostly, a money maker for this dealer?

It did get $23 knocked off my annual insurance premium, because of it's presence! It will pay for itself in 13 years!

kidastra

iTrader: (1)

Pretty much stickers, I work at a dealer and we offer 3 different types of theft markings 1 is just stickers, 1 is window acid etching combine with "dots" on all parts under the hood and around vehicle and 1 is sand blasted windows combined with engraving of major parts under the hood

tmajor

"Offering" is one thing, but doing it and then advising the customer, after the fact, is another. If I had been "offered", I would have declined. "Money Maker!" Pretty much, to the advantage of the insurance company and the dealer.

kidastra

iTrader: (1)

Well to be fair, not my dealer but a few around are required to mark every single unit they have on there lot for insurance purposes. They save on insurance and charge the customer for the "marking" my ford also came with markings and I insisted that I would not pay extra for them for the simple fact that I could have it done cheaper at work. They removed the cost from my invoice

scap99

I got that VIN DNA crap for free on mine.

They tried to bundle it in after we agreed to the price, and I pitched a fit.

tmajor

So, basically, the "window alert sticker" is to advise the chop-shop, to "remove the body component stickers" before sale. ?? That should help.

kidastra

iTrader: (1)

http://secure.zurichna.com/uug/autod...8!opendocument

I had a chuckle reading the last part about profit

Wanted33

jmxp69

I had the same issue buying my wife's Fusion Hybrid a couple of years ago. No mention of it during negotiations. I told the F&I woman I was walking out if they didn't remove it.

I think the idea is that by the time you've picked a car, negotiated your trade and the dealer's price most consumers will just shrug it off. After all, what's another $299 on a $70k net deal?

I call bull**** on this practice and since then I ask to see a complete list of dealer adds before I even test drive. $200 nitrogen kits are another of my pet peeves. I refuse to pay for those either. IMHO these are nothing more than margin stacking opportunities for dealers.

1968dave

Complete ripoff.