Mockenrue

I've never really had a big problem with dealer ads on the license plate holder. I know I can always remove it if I want. However, my new TSX has a cursive chrome "Spitzer" right above the "Acura" on the back. On one hand, it's pretty classy looking, but I don't like the idea of a dealer ad right there. I'm wondering how easy it would be to remove on my own, or if I'd have to have the dealership do it.

Chris

LuvMyTSX

I hate that they just go and put that stuff on your car without asking. Luckily mine just had a license plate thingy...easy to remove.

Spy

You could probably do it yourself, although I've never tried it myself, this thread seems to have good info. Try a search for debadging. I personally don't like doing the free advertising for the dealer unless I'm getting something for it. Some dealers let you have use of an automatic car wash if THEIR name is on YOUR car.

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ight=debadging

lilballa

Did you get it from the spitzer in Pittsburgh..I know they do that to their cars. Thats why i didnt get it from them Instead i drove down to Baierl Acura with no dealer ads but the license plate which i took off.

Mockenrue

Yep... in Pittsburgh. If I'd have known, I'd have asked them to keep it off in the first place.

waTSX

I think they suck, and I'd never accept delivery of a car so equipped. The plate frame, maybe, but the stickers, never. The plate frame comes off as soon as I get home.

IlliNorge

No ads for me either. They were going to put a plate bracket on my car and I told them no thanks. I said no stickers either and they seemed just as apalled as I was that any dealer would slap on a sticker.

VegaTSX

It's just a sticker guys, easily removed not like it's etched there permanently.

JediMindTricks

yea i don't think i'd want the sticker or the plate frame on my new car. luckily, i didn't have either..and i didn't even have to request it.

Mockenrue

What I'm talking about is not a sticker. It's a chrome raised lettering badge (just like the "Acura" and "TSX").

waTSX

Right, but more than likely it is attached via adhesive, just like the Acura and TSX badges are, and can be removed in the same way (heat gun/hair dryer, then careful removal using dental floss, etc).

Now, if they drilled holes to install this thing, I'd really be pissed, and there'd be hell to pay

VegaTSX

some pics would be nice i've only seen the ads on plates and stickers above the acura symbol.

bradykp

i specifically requested no dealer decals on my car. the license plate holder doesn't bother me, because i'll advertise the dealer for a year or so, since i am happy overall with the experience.

bradykp

plenty of dealers do the chrome lettering. plenty do the stickers. of the two, i'd prefer the chrome. but i'll never have either on my cars!

VroomVroom

This - like pinstriping - seems to be really common everywhere except out west...at least in my experience. Even the loaner car I had a couple of weeks ago had a dealer emblem on it, and was originally purchased in Kansas.

Other than license plate frames and inserts, I don't see much advertising out here. For us, the insert will stay until the license plates arrive, and that'll be it. No discrimination of just dealers, I don't like any advertising on my vehicles - heck, if I had an elegant (and cheap) way to remove the 'A' badge on the center of the decklid, it'd be gone too.

captainjack

It's not just the look of the dealer ads, it's the ARROGANCE. Not only did you give them the second largest purchase of your life (house = 1st) but you're gonna give them free promotion too?

There's no other retail purchase where the store would put their NAME on what you just bought. Does BestBuy put their sticker on your XBox?

EuRTSX

Easy answer.
Don't like it?
Take it off.

BananaFusion

My girlfriend HATES that on cars, (I never really notice) but I specifically told them I didn't want it on there when I ordered it, and they were fine with that.

Dan Martin

I make it perfectly clear at the time of purchase that if there are any ads on my car when I pick it up, I will refuse delivery. Otherwise, they can pay me $100/mo for advertising.

juicygirljen

Yep, Clair Acura does the same, but their badges have color too. Thank goodness the dealer forgot to put theirs on mine because i woulda freaked out.

Good Luck on removing yours, I'm sure it won't be too tough of a job.
I think you would do the same steps as if you were removing the Acura logos, I was told you should use a hairdryer and credit card.

TacoBellSauce

i refuse delivery on my cars if they come with any dealer marking
i ask them to remove the plate frames when installing the plates

when i got the CRV, it came with a sticke on the bumper, i did not pay until they removed it, which they did a shitty job of and scratched the paint on the bumper
i made them replace the bumper before i took deliverey and paid

LoveMyTL-S

My dealership stickers just peeled right off with my fingers. Then I cleaned the adhesive off. The license plate frame was nice (chrome and thick), but I returned it when I went in for the 1st oil change. Lady at the desk was

t_in_maine

I, too, instructed my dealership NOT to apply any advertising whatsoever. I chose them as a dealership based on their good reputation; that's their reward from me is giving them my business. I'm not going to reward them after the sale by advertising for free.

Ronin317

Was that the main reason you shopped elsewhere? I mean really...if that's the case, that is the single most obscure reason for not going to a dealership...not that Spitzer is great (I didn't even shop there...I know their Mazda dealership and service blew goats back when I had my Navajo).

Smail Acura in Greensburg gladly obliged not badging or providing a frame for me. I bought the car literally hours after it got off the truck, and when I looked at it, I said to the sales guy "I trust that there will be no other graphics added to this..." and he nodded. They did, however, keychain the hell out of me. One for each set of keys, one for the valet key, one for my house keys and one for my work keys.

juicygirljen

haha speaking of keychains, I got two different kinds of keychains, three pens with their logos on it, and a stack of business cards stuffed into the pouch that holds on my user's manual, and then he (salesman) handed me one to put one in my purse.

LoveMyTL-S

My Salesman will give me $100 referral fee........

ATsxMan8305

I have the chrome dealership name above "Acura" on the back of my TSX. Not sure if I like that - has anybody tried to remove it using the methods (hair dryer + cc/floss) mentioned here?

pnoi521

I heard it's illegal for dealers to put their tags on cars in Cali.
Wonder why Carmax still does it.

Deity711

Strangely enough TX has a law against plate frames. You can have one, but it cannot obscure the state name or any of the graphics on the plate - which pretty much eliminates all but the thinnest frames. So I've seen dealers get real inventive with the frames - dealer names sticking out the side, super thin type, etc.

PittIsIt

It's MY CAR - why should i give you a $600 "document fee" and then let you get "FREE" Advertising. That's crap. That's the like the "experimental" sections of standardized tests. I'm paying for something, I want it MY way. You should have the privelege to do the same. demand an "advertising" discount if he demands to advertise his dealership on the car you are paying him tens of thousands of dollars for.

nj2pa2nc

since the dealer I bought my tsx and have it serviced has been excellant I do not mind having their license plate frame on my car. they do not use stickers. If you do not want it tell them to take it off. I get alot of goodies for free (oil changes, tire rotation, touch-up paint, etc).

bill9902

If you don't like it, go back to the dealership and demand that they remove it from your vehicle. Do not let them charge you for it. And if they insist on charging you for it, tell them that you are going to complain about it to Acura. And if they don't cave, DO complain.

The dealership needs to respect the fact that some of their customers aren't going to want the painted surfaces of their vehicle defaced with a dealer logo.

TommySalami

If you get the car with a sticker, the dealer will take it off. We've always done that with our cars, and my tsx was no exception with the chrome Criswell sticker above the Acura badge.

ATsxMan8305

Yah, that seems to be the consensus response. Thing is - my dealer isn't around the corner. I like to do things myself before having anybody else do it for me...maybe b/c I'm a Virgo? lol Does anybody know how they take their chrome dealership emblem off?

russ_777

There's a very good way to make a dealer feel like a moron if they've put a decal or chrome lettering on your car without your permission: Just say, "I'll have my guys over here 1st thing in the morning to install my company's logo up on your Acura sign out by the freeway". Unfortunately, I've never gotten the opportunity to deliver that one.

siakol

simple, you don't like it, tell them or remove it yourself. problem solved.

poweredByHonda

I always insist on NO stickers, no license plates.. nothing of the sort... and of course, they ALWAYS put on their stickers...

SO, I tell them,

'So ok, ..you put your stickers on, especially after I insisted that you don't and you even wrote down on the preparation paperwork for the car... which is not a good sign for you, since it is indicative of how you listen to your customers. As well, if you want to leave that sticker on, you OWE me $ 50.00 per year, for the advertising space on the car'.

alucardx

this was one of my demands among a few other things when i was closing the deal. no dealer stickers or decals. they removed it for me.

still had the dealer plate holder but that was for a temp tag anyways, once i got my real plate that holder went in the trash

ATsxMan8305

I plan on taking a drive to the dealership this Friday to get it removed. Hopefully I can get out of work in time b4 they close @ 6pm. They're not around the corner, but I wouldn't mind a nice drive in the TSX anyway