Hi all. Appreciate being a part of this community. My family has owned Acuras all the way since the Vigor, and I'm now on my 3rd (MDX, TSX and now RDX). I bought the 2016 RDX Tech in June and LOVE it. My A1 service reminder came up recently and I figured when it was in the shop I'd have a remote start put in. I was quoted $617 plus sales tax, which is 8% in my area. The A1 service was free as I had the coupon they send everyone. Anyway, the bill came to $693.01, so something was off. I inquired and they told me that a percentage of every invoice goes to a "shop supplies fee" which pays for printer paper, soap for the complimentary car wash, etc. This is a 4% charge. Needless to say, I'm not pleased and am wondering if any of you have experienced this at other Acura dealers. Is this normal? I'm inclined to just go to a Honda dealership from now on for standard maintenance, frankly. I don't know why they don't just bury this in the labor rate and hide it. Any input anyone has would certainly be appreciated. Many thanks for your time and expertise.

 

Yes, "shop supplies fee" have been around since the early 70's. They like to hide the fee right near the sales tax line. We first came around them at a Volvo dealer here in Massachusetts. When questioned about it, my friend said "isn't that part of your dealer overhead"? Dealers try to pass on expenses at every opportunity. Notice "hazardous waste disposal fee" on your oil change bill? How about tire "disposal fee" when you get new tires? The best and most abused is the "doc preparation fee". Granted there is a cost in obtaining a title, but really........several hundred++ dollars? So the next time you buy a car, don't feel bad about nickel and dining the dealer on the price.

 

Argue it. If nothing happens, Escalate it. Not sure what an A1 service Is, but here dealers charge the same bullshit, up to a maximum of $50. Ask them to tell you what exactly they used to total up to that amount they're charging you. I BET you'll get a blank Stare. Ask them to then refund the money. Make sure you say you are NOT satisfied!!

As said above, dealerships are greasy as fuck. They already make millions every year in sales, service and parts. They're just gouging you more for nothing. They likely used $3 worth of shop supplies, and are gouging you for the rest.

 

My coworker was just hit with the same thing. He is a super cheap bastard, and he was looking to buy tires. He shopped around and then confirmed the final price three times. Sure enough, there was an extra $50 charge. He spoke to the service manager and told him how he enquirer for the bottom price, this fee was never mentioned, he feels he was getting ripped off, he could have gone else where, etc, etc. eventually they gave him his money back.

There's NO reason you should be paying for a COMPLIMENTARY car wash.

 

A1 is just an oil change and rotation of tires isn't it?! stupid stealership...

 

I work at a dealership once a week as my side job and I believe there is a lot of misinformation being thrown around here...

First of all, as far as I know, ALL dealerships have the shop supplies fee. All of the ones in my area that I know do. The only people we ever have complain about paying it are those are who do not routinely service their cars at the dealer, or Guptas. In a nutshell...... get over it. Search online for coupons, wait for service specials that come up, etc. to save money. You won't be able to get them to take the shop supplies fee out unless you're taco bell or one of his home boys clearly.

When you get your car serviced at the dealership you're paying for that warranty that comes with all the work that is performed that day on the car, the quiet waiting rooms, the "complimentary" car wash, the free Starbucks coffee, etc.

If you want to get the work done for cheap and don't give two shits about the things I listed above, then get to know one of their mechanics, and ask him to work on your car under the table.

Also, too often people get caught up in the hype that a (insert manufacturer name) certified mechanic is going to work on their car. If you think they're going to dispatch a A1 service to a master tech (unless its an EXTREMELY slow day) you are pretty clueless about how service departments work. Your A1 service is going to done by an express lane mechanic who just got out of high school.

 

Just got my A1 service done, complimentary being the first and never paid a dime. They also did a full vehicle inspection and replaced front brake pads and rotors due to a posted bulletin. Still not a dime. You were charged the service supplies fee for the remote start installation, not the A1 service.

 

You are missing the point. Just because "all dealers do it" does not make it right. When you give a price for a service, make it all inclusive. Don't play games with the "add-ons" at the bottom of the invoice. When you go for your annual physical, does the doctor have a special line for tongue depressors or latex gloves??? When you go to a supermarket, is there a special charge for "spoiled food recovery fee"? No.........it is built into their prices to begin with.

 

It is considered a standard thing in the industry. My point was I don't get how people are just realizing this. Look at how long it has been around. I 100% agree that it makes no sense why they wouldn't just incorporate it in the price of the service, but this may have to do with some laws/regulations requiring them to list it on a separate line. I'll need to research that more. I am not certain, but I do believe that it is a certain percentage of the bill just like taxes are.

 

And just because it's "not right" doesn't mean they'll stop doing it.

They're called stealerships for a reason. You should be avoiding them like the plague once you buy the car and find an honest independent mechanic to do all your work for you. Or even better, DIY!

 

Very well said. I'm sure there are exceptions, but in all my dealings with dealerships (and there are many - often looking out for enlisted people under me while in the military in addition to my own dealings) I have found them to basically be dishonest, ingenuine, deceitful an conniving. I've learned to believe nothing they say and to watch the wording and figures (and my wallet) anytime I get near them. They aren't called crooks because there isn't another name for them, but they came by it honestly over and over again.

 

some dealers charge a fee to prepare docs when buying a car. Atlanta acura dealers are charging $600 for this, when dealers in my area of NY charge $0.

 

Typically they charge whatever the state allows. Fees can be looked up, by state, online. A dealer I was talking to in KC (Missouri caps at $199.99) made a lot of noise about having "the lowest doc fees in the area" --- their fee was $199.97.

 

Yep. The DC are is interesting too. MD, VA, DC and WV have different caps ranging from $199 to $699. Depending on which state you BUY the car in - regardless of where you live - you can save $500 off the top.


Dealers will not remove the processing fee, but you can get them to lower the cost of the car by that amount - which for you comes out to the same thing. That way they can say "we always charge the processing fee"

 

As has been pointed out elsewhere they have to always charge the fee once started to avoid lawsuits. The smart shopper asks about all fees upfront and figures them in. Many folks reporting great deals fail to point out that they also paid hundreds in these bogus fees.