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Dealership VIP program - 1% below invoice

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8K views 38 replies 25 participants last post by  GoPlzGo 
#1 ·
Stopped in for an oil change and tire rotation at my nearby Jeep dealership. It is a new dealership in a former other brand dealership building so am glad one opened about 1.5 years ago nearby me. Good for service.

Went over to look at the new cars while I was waiting. Spoke to a salesperson which I try to avoid. She was pretty much straight forward after giving me the initial "oh, do you lease or own...I bet you lease".....which I know I am younger and look young (but not THAT young anymore).....I have never leased and am a cash buyer. I told her I was just waiting for my oil change and this was my fifth Grand Cherokee and it is a Summit. She readily admitted that I probably know more about Jeep Grand Cherokees then she does because she has to keep track of all the models. She used to be a school teacher she said. Certainly not a higher trained VIP sales person ... oh well, the dealerships are still a work in progress. Better to have great vehicles first...but at some point the dealerships need to step up.

The one helpful thing she did was to take me back to her office to give me a card (like I cared) but then proceeded to staple it to a brochure. She said it was the VIP program.... didn't explain what that was. I was gonna toss it later but took a glance at it. Basically, it gives you a no hassle 1% below invoice price. Nice to know.

I know better prices can still be gotten, but thought I would pass along that at least this dealership is offering it (once they figure out you're not a newbie car buyer that can be rolled over).
 
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#2 · (Edited)
I have never heard of that program…it must be new…If you are a Chrysler affiliate you can get it for 1% below invoice...I have on a couple of Grand Cherokee's my 2011 and my 2014. I joined Tread lightly (at treadlightly.org) for a $75 membership for 3 years. Then went to the Chrysler affiliates page and login and received my Chrysler control # which was good for the 1% below invoice. It saved me about $3,500 without any negotiating at all. :thumbsup:
 
#3 ·
^^^^^^^

Yep. I had done the treadlightly when I ordered my 2011.

Now if they offered 3% below invoice I may have a hard time passing on the 2014....Just saw a white Summit with the dark brown interior.....sweet...
 
#5 ·
^^^ treadlightly is an organization with an affiliate program where members are supposed to get 1% below invoice on almost any new car - on the lot or ordered. Hassle-free.
 
#7 ·
Actually you dont have to be a member for a month. You can get the control number etc for the 1% below invoice before the 30 days are up. At least you could back in 2012. Membership costs for Tread Lightly is not going up with inflation. They are taking folks to the cleaners for 3 years.
 
#10 ·
The DC and Texas deals are much better. 5.5% off invoice in Texas with no added fees, the DC deal has extra fees, and winds up around 6% off invoice.
 
#12 ·
In Wisconsin, we had it at 6% for awhile and now the dealer has it at 4% without the affiliate program. Some dealers will use the affiliate but still give you a better deal, they just get 2% back from it if you use it or they are smart enough.
 
#16 ·
I've negotiated a local deal of 5% under invoice without mentioning the Tread Lightly program. What do you think he is going to say when i tell him that i am also a Tread Lightly member and that i get an additional 1% off of the already negotiated 5% deal?

Doubt very much that you will receive an additional 1% off since you are already getting 5% below invoice.
 
#19 ·
Does Tread Lightly actually help the dealer in some way? I called Mark in Houston yesterday to confirm the 5.5% below invoice, and he told me I had to be a Chrysler affiliate or Tread Lightly member to get it... without one of those it was only 4.5% below invoice. I was surprised, I didn't think it would matter.
 
#21 ·
Can you clarify what you are saying???
 
#23 ·
??? A check comes from Tread Lightly??? Huh?

I am going to be picking my new 2014 within the next 10 days....so let me know if an affiliate control number will further reduce my price....if it does, that would be great!
 
#28 ·
Well, I just signed up for Tread Lightly, so that's taken care of. By the time my Jeep comes in, I will have a valid control number.

It just took me by surprise when Mark said that, because I've read a lot of stuff here about the Texas group buy but I don't recall reading that T.L. was part of the way they got the price that low.
 
#29 · (Edited)
I hear ya, surprised me too. He told me he assumes all forum members are TL members. :confused:

Here's the math on my '14 Summit 4x4 Hemi thru him:

$54,890 (MSRP excl $995 dest)
- 2,519 (Friends/fam disc to get to FFP of 52,371 as starting point)
- 518 (1% TL disc on 51,829 Invoice)
- 2,879 (Mystery/Dealer disc)
----------
$48,974 (5.5% below 51,829 invoice)
+ 995 (destination)
----------
$49,969
- 1,000 (Conquest rebate for simply having an Infiniti on lease)
----------
$48,969 Total cost before other deal costs
+ 125 (Dealer doc fee...I consider this a junk fee and part of price)
+ 108 (TX dealer inventory tax...I consider this a junk fee and part of price)
+ 600 (Semi transport from TX to my front door in OH)
----------
$49,802 (Actual price paid excl tax, title/license)

So I paid (in my mind) 5.7% below Invoice all in or 10.9% off MSRP all in. Best deal by far for my situation. I tried a local dealer on lot unit but it had a fatal hood paint flaw and some body plastic gouges so I rejected it and once I was in an order situation this deal saved me $1,600 net using above math over my best Cleveland dealer option. I had intended to make the pickup a mini vacation with my 18 yr old son since he is going to UofT Austin but I mangled my leg in a motocross crash so I had to ship it.

I LOVE my summit:thumbsup:
 
#35 ·
That's accurate. This program-fee is charged to the customer but in return, the dealer mustn't charge you any additional "dealer fees" besides tax, registration and title/doc.-fee under the program.
 
#38 ·
I got my 2015 Overland (V6 4wd and no options) for $44,000 before taxes/tags with no special programs/discounts/rebates etc.... Did I get a good deal? I never bothered to look up the invoice prices, but it seemed like a decent deal at the time. I didn't have a lease and I don't have any military service, both of which the salesman told me would save me money.
 
#39 ·
Invoice w/ $995 destination on that is $44,940 so if it included destination that's about 2% below invoice which is on par for the NY/NJ market, in general.

You'll soon have snow to enjoy it :cool:
 
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