Hey everyone... I'm a nOOb with RX-8s and hopefully I'll be buying one in a month or so. My question is... My local dealer wants to charge $600 for "Window Etching" (a security measure offered on all cars) I've heard rumors that dealers are not supposed to charge you for that feature. I guess I'm asking did anybody/everybody else have to pay this? or is there a way to get this taken off the sticker price?

Any help would be great, and I'm looking forward to getting to know ya'll! :D

 

ACCEPT 0 EXTRA FEES. TELL THEM YOU WANT ONLY WHATS ON THE INVOICE NO EXCEPTIONS!!

 

Hmm... what about the 600 bucks for chrome wheels. Looking at the Mazda site, thats not a factory option (or not listed). Should that be counted toward the final cost?

And thanx for the reply!

 

They had it on mine and wanted $199 I said "see ya!" and they took the charge off. The question I have is how is the etching suppose to help you if your car gets stolen?

 

chrome wheels is extra just like nav or apperance package

 

Window etching = Dealer markup scam, click here

Also check out this site on how to get a good deal when buying a car
http://www.carbuyingtips.com/

 

Yeah avoid this extra fee. They might as well charge you extra for the dealers plastic plate cover for all the good that will do ya. This is to replace the clear coat they used to sell people at closing.

 

How is window etching a Scam? My insurance company(USAA) gives a decent discount on my premiums for having it done.

 

What they charge is the scam. To quote carbuyingtips.com

 

That's what I was thinking... Thanks everybody!

 

I had mine done, but it was included in the dealer's admin fee's of only $200cad and it helped w/lowering my insurance premuim. But I wouldn't pay $600 for it.

 

Got mine thrown in for free.
Sticker also says "Tinted windshield with sunshade".
Not sure what the sunshade is unless it's the black dots at the middle of the top of the windshield or the sunvisors.

 

JD32, nice car. Love the color...

how the heck do all of you guys get away with tinting the front windows so dark?

I heard it's legal in some states, but here in CA I'm certain you'd get pulled over in a sec if they were as dark as yours.

Also, can you see outside at night? Isn't that a safety hazard?

 

The law in Texas for automobiles is 35% (ie it lets 35% of the light through) on the front windows. The rear windows and back glass can go as dark as limo-class tint.

I guess they recognize how bright the sun is here.

 

Guys

Really this is what makes the difference between a good dealership and a bad one

We charge a standard fee of $299 for MVID for 5 year warranty coverage. This fee is not for the Window Etching, this fee is for the registrating of your vehicle to MVID database, along with a certificate for your insurance and a 5 year $5,000 warranty.

Some customers think they are paying for the etch, but truth is.. the Etching is alread there. But understand something, a window with etched numbers does no good if its not registered. When you pay the fee , you get a distinctive label with an 800 number showing that your car is registered.

As much as you guys think its a scam or wuteva, that is your opinion as a result from dealers trying to use it as a scam or trying to use it as a way to get money from you

Here at my dealership, its a one time charge and is shown listed. Everyone gets the same price, it is not negotiable and about 75% of our customers get it because of the huge incentive it gives .

I also wanted to tell you there is a huge difference between a window etch professionally done by MVID compared to outside such as your local police , or your $29 dollar home kit. The difference can be seen right away, and honestly I dont even know how someone can tell me a home kit is going to produce the same quality as a sand blasted window etch.

And guys, no im not trying to sell you this but explaining the difference and the misconception of "window etching" . Window etch is nothing but a antitheft detterent system. Does it work 100% ? No but statistics have shown that it more productive than a regular alarm system or even lojack.

Z

 

"We charge a standard fee of $299 for MVID" sorry that's the scam. my dealership didn't charge anything for it. and i have the labels except of course the one that peeled off after about 10 days.

you include it on the invoice. many dealerships, not saying yours does, will do that hoping that most consumers wont notice it or question what it is. especially once you've been there for hours and its dark and you need to get home to the kids and you are finally in with the finance guy doing all of the paperwork. they bank on a good portion of their customers not ever noticing it. you say a window etched with numbers does no good unless it is registered. registered with whom? as long as i have the numbers i have no need to register them with anyone other than my insurance company if they want them. besides random numbers aren't that efective. getting the vin etched on more places is better. it's easier for the cops to pull back together the parts when they are hidden around the chop shop.

 

I agree, it's completely worthless and nothing more than dealer B.S. for profit. Frankly, if my car is stolen the last thing I want is it back. I want it totaled or completely chopped so I can get a new one!

 

Guys,

As I stated before, Window Etching itself is not a scam. Some dealers are using it to "scam". please understand the difference

Some of you guys think just because your windows come etched, you are fully protected. You are not, and if you think so, you are either fooling yourself and uneducated on how it works

Its like your VIN number. What good is a VIN # without a name? So lets say, your car is found in the middle of nowhere, and they got the VIN # but no registered owner. You honestly expect somehow it links back to you

Same with the window etch numbers. If those numbers are not registered, it does you no good with them on or off. Because if the cops find the parts with the etched numbers, but not registered, it can not be traced back to you at all

I know you guys, have your guards up and all, which is fine. but I can show you several checks of my customers who received $5000 on top of what their insurance paid for their cars, that were stolen. If this customer didnt pay the 299 fee, they wouldnt have gotten 5k extra.

Yes its a price you gotta pay, but you know what. I see people spending 299 easily on car alarms that DEI comes out with yet, of course.. thats not seen as a scam

You are entitled to your opinion, I am just trying to explain the difference to you and please understand, I am only representing the state of NJ and MVID which is the largest nationwide database and warranty for window etching prevention.

Also Zoom, please contact your insurance for you mustve got the wrong information .Window registration numbers do not get "registered" with them. yes they know what the numbers are, but how many times have you look at a part and knew what insurance company to call ? Its one thing if your insurance company was the only company in the world, but unfortunately its not. Second, registered window etchs numbers are put in a main national database, and link back to the owner, not the insurance company. If you register with MVID, you will receive a certificate to send to the insurance for confirmation. So lets say you purchase a car, with windows etch, but you didnt pay the registration fee, you will not be entitled to an insurance discount nor be protected by MVID warranty. Just an FYI for you.



Z

 

RX8Z:

I appreciate your perspective. I have always etched the VIN on my glass with a fine electric engraver and surgical loupes (magnifiers). While not registered anywhere, the VIN can be traced back to the car and to me. I had never thought about a central registry -- do all law enforcement agencies know about it?

 

RX8Z, if the etching is already there and all they really do is register it, why would the "home kit" provide any difference in quality of etch versus the "professional" etch job?

 

It is almost as bad as the wax and fabric/leather protectant they try to sell. I can get my car waxed many times for what they charge for that cr@p..