Dealer add-ons in California, are they legal?

AcesandEights

Just say "no". Dealers have done that forever. I had a dealer installed alarm they wouldn't uninstall. I bought the vehicle and wouldn't pay for it. They kept lowering the price, from like $1,200 to 1k, to $700, to $300. I finally said, I wouldn't accept it if it was a nickel and they were having a half-off sale, remove it. They did and they didn't like it. They ate the cost of installation and the cost of uninstalling it. Say no, nope, no-way, nada.

NT AUTOMOTIVE

They are preloaded F&I products. They do hold value but you are not obligated to pay for any add on's. If you get window etch, verify if its code or vin etch. Then either way make sure if you get it, it also includes a partial loss benefit (theft coverage) for no less than 5yr and don't pay more than $299 retail for the package (etch + warranty). If the car is already etched it was likely done using chemical. If you dont buy etch but its already installed and you want it removed...DM me and I'll tell you/dealer how to remove it. Decades ago my late father invented the method and application for etching vins into glass using both chemical and lasers. Which I still sell to car dealers today along with theft coverage, which among other perks pays your comprehensive deductible if your bronco is stolen and not recovered after 30 days. If you get LoJack, make sure it comes with their early warning text message system too so you know when your car moves if it is stolen. I know how this game works better than most. Keep us posted.

415frd

I could see these as built in F&I products on vehicles the dealer purchases for their lot. As this point in time, they are able to do what they want. I don't understand why they are trying to pull this BS on an ordered vehicle. I don't want any of the add-ons. Now, it's a matter of principal. The money is not the issue. So you say I can refuse to pay for said add-ons, which most of us normally do. However, I don't know how easily the dealer will back down. Do you know of any law or consumers right that I can take into the dealer to defend myself? My salesman told me any customer who wants to order any model, will be told about the additional add-ons. If they refuse to pay for them, the dealer will not order their vehicle and they will be sent to another Ford dealer. Totally F@#&Ed up

dover157

That sucks. My dealer adds extended limited warranty, window tint and 1 year road hazard on factory tires to every vehicle for around $2k. They informed me of this when I place the order so I’m ok with it simply because they were open and honest about it from the beginning.
When you mention the change of ownership do you mean someone else bought the dealership? If so I would argue that they purchased the verbal contract you had with the previous owner and you did not authorize any changes to that agreement.

Isfly

Just a heads up. Our local dealer, Sunrise Ford in North Hollywood is really playing hardball with add ones because they can right now. Our uncle preordered a Mach-e through the Ford website. When his car was built he was sent to Sunrise to pick it up. They added almost $3,000 in add ones and, since this car is now selling way over MSRP, they told him take it or they‘d sell the car to someone else. He took it. Our neighbor who preordered a Lightening for over $100,000 told them to remove the add ones. They refused and he stood his ground and they refused to sell the car to her and now the dealer has listed the car for sale on their website. Again, I ask, is there no consumer protection law? Especially since I ordered my car through the website, not the dealer, and have a specific order for every feature of the car as well as a price.

415frd

Good afternoon all,
My salesman (not the original one that placed my order) texted me the other day and said he wasn't sure if my previous salesman told me, but there are dealer add-ons that they add to all vehicles. I told him that I was never advised of this since first speaking with the dealer in February 2021. Mind you, I have spoken to 2 managers and 3 salesmen and no one has ever mentioned this until they emailed me my window sticker. I said that I do not want any add-ons. These include lojack, window etching, vinyl door molding, etc. I never asked the price because I don't plan on paying for them. I am trying to figure out what my rights are in California. Is there a specific consumer law that protects me? The CA DMV website has a Car Buyers Bill of Rights. This says any dealer add-ons have to be disclosed on a separate page and not incorporated into the selling price of the vehicle. It also says that the customer has to consent to the said add-ons. It doesn't tell me what to do if they attempt to force me to pay for them. They already told me that I can no longer use my Z-plan since they was a change of ownership. This has been the worst Ford purchase I've dealt with, all from the dealer. The wait sucked, but that was inevitable. What's not, is the lack of customer service provided by the dealer. They must realize that I will never buy a car from them again. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Frank

JAE

Star Ford in Glendale CA just did the same thing to me. Never mentioned a word about it when I ordered the car. They went so far as to explain the advantage of ordering the car, from Star Ford directly included only paying MSRP, no dealer markup, customized what you want etc.. When I arrived to make payment this week, pick up the car, etc.. still not a word about it. Only when I was at the end of signing my final docs was I given a sep sheet of paper outlining the $1200 in add ons I had purchased from Star Ford. When I mentioned I didn't want the add ons, I was told no problem, we will gladly sell the car to someone else at a much larger markup. I contacted Ford to file a formal complaint the next morning. I was told someone would reach out to me. (I have no idea if they can actually do anything but I thought it was worth the time to call) I called the dealership to speak with the sales manager as well. I was told he would call me right back. Still waiting for the phone call back....