Ordering an EX35
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williammoses
- Posts: 66
- Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2008 2:24 pm
- Car: 2011 Infiniti EX35 Journey AWD
- Location: Alexandria VA
Ordering an EX35
I am attempting to buy a 2011 EX35 equipped the way I want it. My local dealer is having some difficulty locating one. Infiniti dealers in this area (Washington Metropolitan Area) discourage any attempt to place an order from the factory, and I don't understand why.
Re: Ordering an EX35
It's VERY simple. They want to sell you a car they have on hand, both for your convenience but really mostly for theirs.
The cars they have sitting at the dealer are inventory-literally, right? And there is a cost to inventory, called floorplanning in the car biz jargon. Every month a car sits there costs the dealer money. So they would MUCH rather sell you a car that's right there-it saves them money.
Plus you might change your mind about an order. (Which if it was for a German brand factory delivery, the dealer doesn't make as much profit on by the way).
Plus for cars built in Japan, it takes forever to get your order. I'm not even sure if there is really an order process for Japanese brands, the way I ordered 2 Mustangs custom for me.
STICK TO YOUR GUNS!!
You're spending a LOT of money and hopefully will keep the vehicle a long time. Don't settle for not quite what you want and having that bug you for years! Get it the way you want it and to heck with the dealer. Tell them very forcefully "If I cannot get this car with exactly the options I want, then I don't want it at all and I'll buy something else. I'm willing to wait, but it must be exactly as I want." Send a similar email to other dealers' internet deparments, explaining what you want to do. Be sure to be VERY blunt; I would include a line
"Please DO NOT quote me something you have on hand unless it is EXACTLY what I want."
Even if another dealer is quite far, who cares, it's just one trip to pick up the car anyway.
Good luck! Let us know what happens.
The cars they have sitting at the dealer are inventory-literally, right? And there is a cost to inventory, called floorplanning in the car biz jargon. Every month a car sits there costs the dealer money. So they would MUCH rather sell you a car that's right there-it saves them money.
Plus you might change your mind about an order. (Which if it was for a German brand factory delivery, the dealer doesn't make as much profit on by the way).
Plus for cars built in Japan, it takes forever to get your order. I'm not even sure if there is really an order process for Japanese brands, the way I ordered 2 Mustangs custom for me.
STICK TO YOUR GUNS!!
You're spending a LOT of money and hopefully will keep the vehicle a long time. Don't settle for not quite what you want and having that bug you for years! Get it the way you want it and to heck with the dealer. Tell them very forcefully "If I cannot get this car with exactly the options I want, then I don't want it at all and I'll buy something else. I'm willing to wait, but it must be exactly as I want." Send a similar email to other dealers' internet deparments, explaining what you want to do. Be sure to be VERY blunt; I would include a line
"Please DO NOT quote me something you have on hand unless it is EXACTLY what I want."
Even if another dealer is quite far, who cares, it's just one trip to pick up the car anyway.
Good luck! Let us know what happens.
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EXceptional
- Posts: 1222
- Joined: Sun Apr 06, 2008 7:54 pm
- Car: 2008 Aspen Pearl EX35 Freakin Loaded!
Re: Ordering an EX35
I agree with Head.
They may also find your Car from another Dealer, that meets your specs... instead of it being a Factory-order from Japan.
You guys in the States seem to have more choices of options than we do.
Us, we wanted it fully loaded... and we liked the Roof-rails.
They may also find your Car from another Dealer, that meets your specs... instead of it being a Factory-order from Japan.
You guys in the States seem to have more choices of options than we do.
Us, we wanted it fully loaded... and we liked the Roof-rails.
Re: Ordering an EX35
I know the experience the OP speaks of. I stuck to my guns and walked away without a car. Went in literally with cash in hand with expectations of leaving with an EX, only to drive away with a level bewilderment.
The associate dealer program is on a territory basis, meaning only dealerships by region must make their inventory available to associate dealerships. You cannot get a car from any dealership. Furthermore, most dealerships require the transfer of those vehicle by a professional carrier which adds $500 to the cost. They refuse to gamble with potential damage by having the car driven “in”. My salesperson reveled that bit of info (I think) to discourage me from even requesting a car from another dealership. But I assured him that I would be one of the few customers (aka suckers) that was not interested in getting the rock bottom price and had no qualms about paying the $500. Once we got past that hurdle we sat down and began a search for available cars on his terminal. Unfortunately, I was interested only in a loaded EX and quickly found out that most dealerships were required to accept only one loaded EX from the factory, so there were few loaded Ex’s to choose from within our region. And, of course, none of them met my needs. At that point I asked if there was any way he could find the car I wanted, and he simply responded “NO”. There was no offer or encouragement to order one. I am sure they do, that is obviously the only way to get them, but I doubt they are allowed to order just “one at a time”. I simply got a hand shake, and a “Sorry” and a “let me know how I can help you”, and I was out the door. Not that the salesperson was arrogant in any way. Actually very helpful, and personable and willing to make some surprisingly good deals for the cars he had on the lot. He simply was out of suggestions. I mentioned that I would appreciate a call if he could find the car I had requested. That was almost 3 weeks ago, and I am quite sure I will never hear from him again. I stuck to my guns. For those that think you can play hardball, or hold out and somehow expect the dealership to find a way to put you into the Infiniti of your dreams, you may be somewhat surprised as I was. Actually my dealings with Infinity have been a learning experience, mostly of disappointment. No criticism of the automobile, I still would like to have one. But what you see in the sales literature is simply not always available. What appears to always be available are cars by compromise. If your dream car is a loaded Platinum Silver Ex with a stone interior and 18” wheels – not available! If you are willing to accept one with a graphite interior – available, but only if you can live with 19” wheels.
The associate dealer program is on a territory basis, meaning only dealerships by region must make their inventory available to associate dealerships. You cannot get a car from any dealership. Furthermore, most dealerships require the transfer of those vehicle by a professional carrier which adds $500 to the cost. They refuse to gamble with potential damage by having the car driven “in”. My salesperson reveled that bit of info (I think) to discourage me from even requesting a car from another dealership. But I assured him that I would be one of the few customers (aka suckers) that was not interested in getting the rock bottom price and had no qualms about paying the $500. Once we got past that hurdle we sat down and began a search for available cars on his terminal. Unfortunately, I was interested only in a loaded EX and quickly found out that most dealerships were required to accept only one loaded EX from the factory, so there were few loaded Ex’s to choose from within our region. And, of course, none of them met my needs. At that point I asked if there was any way he could find the car I wanted, and he simply responded “NO”. There was no offer or encouragement to order one. I am sure they do, that is obviously the only way to get them, but I doubt they are allowed to order just “one at a time”. I simply got a hand shake, and a “Sorry” and a “let me know how I can help you”, and I was out the door. Not that the salesperson was arrogant in any way. Actually very helpful, and personable and willing to make some surprisingly good deals for the cars he had on the lot. He simply was out of suggestions. I mentioned that I would appreciate a call if he could find the car I had requested. That was almost 3 weeks ago, and I am quite sure I will never hear from him again. I stuck to my guns. For those that think you can play hardball, or hold out and somehow expect the dealership to find a way to put you into the Infiniti of your dreams, you may be somewhat surprised as I was. Actually my dealings with Infinity have been a learning experience, mostly of disappointment. No criticism of the automobile, I still would like to have one. But what you see in the sales literature is simply not always available. What appears to always be available are cars by compromise. If your dream car is a loaded Platinum Silver Ex with a stone interior and 18” wheels – not available! If you are willing to accept one with a graphite interior – available, but only if you can live with 19” wheels.
Re: Ordering an EX35
The new X3 looks interesting and BMW claims to be welcoming custom orders. I have a problem with the run flat/crap tires though and 1st model year BMWs aren't usually a good vintage.
Re: Ordering an EX35
I can believe it's hard to get the "right" Infiniti, though I would have tried a number of dealers. If I REALLY wanted the car, I'd contact dealers in other regions via internet, and fly out if necessary.
The X3, yeah, fly on down to South Carolina. But understand that while BMW Corporate welcomes orders, the dealer probably does NOT. Certainly for German delivery they traditionally haven't because floorplanning aside, they don't make as much profit. I guess the discount comes out of their hide, basically.
I would also stay away from first year BMWs. Then again, I've driven tens of thousands of miles in many BMWs without any problems at all...
The X3, yeah, fly on down to South Carolina. But understand that while BMW Corporate welcomes orders, the dealer probably does NOT. Certainly for German delivery they traditionally haven't because floorplanning aside, they don't make as much profit. I guess the discount comes out of their hide, basically.
I would also stay away from first year BMWs. Then again, I've driven tens of thousands of miles in many BMWs without any problems at all...
Re: Ordering an EX35
Wow, this is surprising. I started looking in earnest in late late March. We wanted a specific color and options. My sales guy looked all over, found one, then found it got sold. It was when a VIP program was expiring so we had like 2 days to find it.
So we struck out.
So then we said, let's just get what we want. He ordered it- found out that it was just in process of being built.
We weren't in any hurry. He said expect it in June.
We get a call in late May while at Indy. The car is in. If we can buy it that weekend, we save another $500 due to a Mem day Dealer incentive. We work it out over the phone and pick it up when we get back to the area.
Maybe we just have a great sales guy (second one I bought from him.)
Moral of the story- one should be able to get what they want in a reasonable period of time.
So we struck out.
So then we said, let's just get what we want. He ordered it- found out that it was just in process of being built.
We weren't in any hurry. He said expect it in June.
We get a call in late May while at Indy. The car is in. If we can buy it that weekend, we save another $500 due to a Mem day Dealer incentive. We work it out over the phone and pick it up when we get back to the area.
Maybe we just have a great sales guy (second one I bought from him.)
Moral of the story- one should be able to get what they want in a reasonable period of time.