I personally think that deposit is way out of line for a Scat Pak. I ordered my SRT with only a $500.00 deposit. My dealership told me that if I didn't accept the car, more then likely I'd get my deposit back as they can't keep these cars on the lot very long.

How-ever, if you have no intentions on 'not' accepting the Scat, then the deposit is of no concern. The price of the car seems good.

 

Also, they require a $2,000 non refundable deposit. They said this is required and they will keep it if I choose not to take the car once delivered. Does this seem normal?

Nope, not normal so tell dealer no dice or take a hike. Check with your state's attorney general office, might be illegal for him to keep the deposit anyway. Sounds like a scumbag dealer imho, what kind of service will you get after the sale?

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From a fellow KY resident, I wouldn't do business with them if that was the stipulation. That is shady. As mentioned, the industry standard is about $500 and always refundable.

If you wouldn't mind, could you private message me what dealer this is so I have a heads up the next time I car shop the region? Thanks:thumbsup:

 

That is shady.

I'm having a hard time understanding how a dealership having a higher deposit requirement from the norm is "shady". Now, you might not like it but that doesn't make it an underhanded policy. If you don't plan on bailing on them, it could be 5K and it wouldn't change a damn thing. Whatever the case, it's an up front and communicated requirement.

IMHO, angling for a refundable deposit is more "shady" than them asking a higher than norm amount. I mean, what's the purpose of a deposit anyway? It says, "I want a car that you don't have and if you go through the process of ordering it for me I WILL buy it from you." Having a refundable deposit (in any industry) is retarded and I wouldn't agree to that if I was a sales manager. That might mean you wouldn't buy from me but if you insist on a refundable deposit chances are you'd bail on me anyway and I'd have a car in a configuration that I don't normally order for stock. Maybe I'd sell easy of maybe I wouldn't, but that's beside the point.

Just my .02, of course. Doesn't make me right.

 

I ordered mine with a 500 dollar deposit,and the price you have seems about right

 

if you plan on buying the car whats the difference.its a down payment.now if you could go online and find what you want and dont mind traveling youre better off buying one thats on a dealers lot.then you could work on dropping the price,,,the 2016 models are right around the corner..and by the way thats a good price

 

$500 deposit for me to order my 392 Shaker


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Very shady! Run from this dealer and buy somewhere else.

 

$500 is the norm (NOT $2000). It looks like they need some cash on hand to pay salaries or something while you wait the 4-6 weeks for your car.

But if only $500, then what's so bad about non-refundable? You don't want them selling your ordered car on arrival day to someone else who is willing to pay $300 more, so why should you be allowed to just walk away from the deal.

 

For those who said to tell the dealership to "take a hike". BRAVO!


Been buying cars (of all makes) for 45yrs and I have never heard of a NON-REFUNDABLE deposit. The deposit always went towards the vehicle as part of the down payment on that vehicle.


$2000.00 NON-REFUNDABLE deposit, should never be asked by any dealership on any car in my opinion. RUN as fast as you can and do your buying at another dealership.

 

Thanks for the input fellas, yeah I felt 2k was a bit much. I definitely understand their position in wanting a deposit but I find it odd how everyone in here mentions a $500 refundable. I do fully plan on accepting the car but I know life happens. His main reasoning was so they wouldn't be stuck with it..I'm sure he wouldn't have trouble selling it. I will counter and if they don't accept go elsewhere.

They were my preferred dealer since it's the only Dodge dealer in my town but I surely don't mind to drive a few hundred miles if I can get a dealer to put in an order for me. I will call around today and Monday to see. Thanks for the input guys, my first new car purchase! I don't think I cant wait for the 2016s..and is it even confirmed the Scat will be available on next year ?

 

My NJ dealer took a refundable $200 dep , price $40,400.

 

Stuck with the car? A Scat Pack? One of the hottest selling cars out there right now? Yeah I'm sure he'd have a hard time unloading it. I just don't like this kind of dealer bs and yes, the Scat Pack will be back in 2016.

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Who are we to critique someone's stocking philosophy. But, like I said, that part is beside the point.

 

I agree with both perspectives. I work at the dealership and handle all SRT requests. We have customers put 500-1000 refundable deposits on cars that we know we can easily resell. I have however ordered Trucks that were so one off that we took a 5k NON-Refundable deposit because as much as we like to say there is an ass for every seat.... Sometimes their just isnt.

Scat Packs, SRT, and Hellcats all get the same 500 dollar Refundable because we know if/when we get the car in, and the person who ordered backed out, Ill sell it within a week.

As for asking for it to be refundable, I personally dont find an issue with it being shady. I have had 2 customers back out of Hellcat orders because something financially happened to them since they placed their orders last September.

 

I ordered my SP with $500 deposit. I picked it up Friday in a hurry and 30 miles down the road I looked at window sticker and saw they didn't order summer only tires like i asked verified on the build sheet they sent me for approval. Dealer called me back sat morning and told me it was there mistake 100%, but they would not buy me the F1's it should have came with. I told them no way am I buying tires on your screw up, nor am I driving a Performance car on all seasons. He told me I could bring the car back and get a full refund, which was $500 deposit + $1277 for downpayment and plates. I said car will be there Sunday with the keys in it. Hr later I got a call asking to please not to burn off the all seasons, as F1s were being ordered and they want to resell the RS-As.

But if anyone wants it, let me know. I will order another. Mine is black, A8, wrt, sg2, black leather.

 

I've been ordering new cars for about 25 years and have yet to put down any kind of deposit. My dealer didn't even mention a deposit on my SP. I'd never consider a non-refundable deposit on any car.


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My dealer had the salesman write the following on the bottom of the order sheet that I needed to sign or he "couldn't" order the car: "This vehicle is equipped exactly the way I want it. Nothing more or nothing less. $500 deposit non refundable."
I received the same story about it being hard to sell if I back out of the deal. TorRed, black/ruby red interior, A8, NAV, roof, Tech, Driver, Sound II, WRT. What's going to make it "unsellable"?

 

We put a refundable 500 deposit on a SPS. Sales manager recommend it so it could be considered a "sold" order. He said it would be put in front on dealer orders then.

 

I think my dealer's a little skiddish because I want to lease the car, but he says he can't give me a payment amount until it arrives. I told him that if a lease is no longer available (or it's $600), I don't want it.

 

It is illegal to not refund a deposit unless it is in their contract. Look it up. :wink3:

This is a typical dealership ploy.

 

My dealer let me order my SPS without any deposit at all. They said with what I ordered they could sell it easily if I backed out.

 

I put down a $500 deposit as "good faith." The deposit was 100% refundable.

 

No deposit should be non-fundable from a reputable dealer, they will be able to sell it quickly for msrp.

 

If its not in a contract, you would get your money back, thats just a ploy to make sure your serious.

My dealer wanted $1000 non refundable, and I said try again. he came down to $500 non refundable, and I finally got it down to a$500 deposit with half being refundable. But I knew if push came to shove Id get it all back, nothing was on paper.

 

Update on this. I couldn't come to terms with the dealer so I walked away and will look elsewhere. A8 scat packs are now restricted so I will most likely have to wait for a 16' model. I guess I will just wait it out, anyone think I can maybe find a used one for around $37k?

 

I put a $500 deposit on the first scat pack i saw coming in. I couldn't wait for it to come in then found one in California so got my deposit back from the dealership and went to Cali to buy my scat pack. So i dont see why it would be non-refundable its your choice if you dont want it when it comes in.

 

Just ordered mine this morning...while negotiating they kept talking about how hard they are to get, how little inventory there is, and how they just fly off the lot (of course). Then they asked for $1000 deposit...which is a totally arbitrary request but I can understand why they would ask. I just smiled and said nope I'm paying $500. For me it's not about the money but the rapport/relationship. I want to be trust and be trusted. :wink3: