Dealer trade cost

[Birddog]

I'm in Idaho, and my dealer is doing a trade with a dealer in Utah. Two questions.

What have you all found to be a fair extra $ amount to cover profit to the selling dealer plus additional destination?

If I do Invoice minus $4500 rebate for an RTX it's $21,950. This seems to be close to the going price so they appear to be selling at about cost. What's typical dealer profit above invoice on a Ridgeline in a normal pricing environment? Thanks!

[shortykrn]

There is no additional cost when doing a dealer trade unless they are shipping the car. The dealer just swaps the cars at the cost and pays the other dealer if the car giving them costs less.

[shovelhd]

Some dealers have added a small swap fee to cover their fuel and labor costs. I've seen $75, $100.

[Birddog]

Thanks for the help folks! Here's what I've found out. Got a $22.6 quote from a dealer today but he added an additional $600 to that to have the RTX transported from Las Vegas to Idaho. He said they contract with a transport company and that is their cost. I was skeptical to say the least. But then he offered to sell me one they had in another color at the $22.6 price without the fee, making the fee appear legit.

Later I went to the Toyota dealer to see if they could compete on a Tacoma. Salesman said they couldn't even get close to the Honda incentives and I should jump on the Ridgeline price if that is primary consideration. Since he seemed to be shooting straght I asked him what they typically charged on a swap. He said if long distance and they have to use a transport it's $600-800. Both said the dealers simply exchange vehicles.

So maybe if the swap is local there is no charge, but I now have the sense that there is a real cost to a long distance move that the customer has to pay. Looking at the big picture the prices are so low right now I'm not too concerned, and hoping to close a deal tomorrow after an appointment with another dealer. Btw I've searched and no RTXs in my color within 300 miles.

[shortykrn]

The $600 does sound reasonable for having the car shipped.

[jimf]

By all means, email 10-20 dealers last week of the month for bids on an RTS. (with hitch installed) provided the color situation is better with them. You may find a couple tearing your ears off to get you in one for 23500 or less. Don't assume anything as the sales on these things are flat and the RTS has a higher (true) markup than the RTX. If you're in the stix things may be against you a bit. Try to concentrate around the biggest cities around. Takes about an hour or so on hondas website, the top 5 or 6 email offers get your cell# and your off to the races.

Bids on an RT may turn up something in the 20k range with hitch. You may have to do this if the color is rare. Hell, people with frequent flyers and otherwise have flown 500 miles to save 1500, so depending on airfare....

Good luck
--jjf

Originally Posted by Birddog

Thanks for the help folks! Here's what I've found out. Got a $22.6 quote from a dealer today but he added an additional $600 to that to have the RTX transported from Las Vegas to Idaho. He said they contract with a transport company and that is their cost. I was skeptical to say the least. But then he offered to sell me one they had in another color at the $22.6 price without the fee, making the fee appear legit.

Later I went to the Toyota dealer to see if they could compete on a Tacoma. Salesman said they couldn't even get close to the Honda incentives and I should jump on the Ridgeline price if that is primary consideration. Since he seemed to be shooting straght I asked him what they typically charged on a swap. He said if long distance and they have to use a transport it's $600-800. Both said the dealers simply exchange vehicles.

So maybe if the swap is local there is no charge, but I now have the sense that there is a real cost to a long distance move that the customer has to pay. Looking at the big picture the prices are so low right now I'm not too concerned, and hoping to close a deal tomorrow after an appointment with another dealer. Btw I've searched and no RTXs in my color within 300 miles.