Fitzgerald Dodge Shakes Down SRT-10 Buyer

[George Murray]

This is a pretty disappointing tale, especially since we haven't heard anything very negative about Fitzgerald Dodge in a while.

Fitzgerald Dodge demanded (and received) payment in full for my friend's SRT-10, not only before it is shipped, but before it is even in "final inspection" for five days! According to Dodge policy, the dealer does not pay for the car until it is loaded on the Reliable trailer. Thus, Fitzgerald sits on the full amount for x number of days/weeks. In this case, it could be as much as 60 days.

I called Auburn Hills on my friend's behalf and checked the car's status. I called a Dodge dealer friend to find out when they have to pay for cars from the manufacturer (Oyster Pt Dodge in VA, which has delivered five SRT-10s thus far). The info they provided makes Fitzgerald look pretty shady.

Mike Buker (SP?), the salesman, appears to possess a cavalier and arrogant attitude in this matter. "Whattya wanna do," Mr. Buyer? He hung up the phone on my friend. Mr. Buker gave the buyer the impression that the arrival of the car was imminent, perhaps in a few days' time. A check with the folks at Auburn Hills indicated that the car probably won't be shipped (and thus Fitzgerald not have to pay for...) for several weeks, as it only entered final inspection status last week, a process that can take up to 60 days.

So Fitzgerald...what are your plans for my buddy's $78,008 for the next few weeks? Money he's paying interest on. Will it go into your snow removal budget, or simply into your "snowjob" budget?

I bought my first R/T-10 from Fitzgerald in 1997. Pretty good buying experience...no complaints. Based on that good experience, I attempted to purchase another one in January, 1999, but was subject to pressure selling: "this car is yellow...it'll just sell to the next guy who wants one." All of that BS over $1000. They wouldn't budge. I knew they had paid $42K for the car to a guy from Florida, and they wanted $53.5K from me when my offer was $52.5K. I took my business to SW in Austin and bought a Venom 600 instead.

I'm a dealer, and I can't imagine sitting on a customer's "payment in full" money for up to two months while the buyer is paying interest on the loan. Hell, in 60 days, I could flip a lot of sales around and make some pretty decent profit at someone else's expense. The difference between me and the folks at Fitzgerald, is that I would never consider doing that to a customer.

Why am I posting this? As a service to a good friend and fellow Viper Nation bud, who also happens to be 100% non-internet savvy. And as a warning to those who are required to pay in full for a vehicle that hasn't even been scheduled for shipping. Nor required to be paid for by the selling dealer.

Bill P. - I promise you'll get ALL of my referrals from this point on (well, except for the local guys who want great service from Oyster Point Dodge!).

George Murray

 

[VOI9 ASP]

..

 

[Jerry Dobson]

Didn't we have a post with Fitzgerald Dodge on an extended warranty issue later to be denied?

Woodhouse gets my vote also.

Jerry Dobson

 

[99 R/T 10]

Sounds like Fitzgerald is going to take the Jonh H E N E SS E Y route, too bad. I would suggest Tator's Dodge

 

[George Murray]

By the way, the car will eventually be drop shipped to Greenbrier Dodge, in Chesapeake, VA. Those arrangements were made several weeks ago. At least we won't have to visit Fitzgerald, although it would have been interesting to put faces with names.

Or would that be "two faces" with "one name?"

 

[Black SRT]

George,

I don't think it at all unreasonable to ask for payment upfront for a car drop-shipped elsewhere. Is this person another dealer?

Would you sell and ship your car to someone across country prior to having the money in hand? I wouldn't!

Regards,

 

[pauls]

Add the Michigan dealer to the list

 

[wiseasp]

My SRT/10 was the FIRST one Oyster Point Dodge delivered and the transaction could not have gone any smoother. They kept it locked away until I could bring down my enclosed trailer and haul it back to the house. NO BS, they sold it for $100 over invoice. Some dealers need to take a lesson on customer service .

ROB

 

[pauls]

Be careful of those your have grown to trust. My deal has soured me on the whole experience of owning a new SRT 10.
It's discusting how these businessmen can ignore a contract.
I've been jacked around for a week by the Dealer moral police. Now I'm pissed!!!!

 

[Daffy Duck Viper]

Sounds to me like Greedy Basturd Syndrome!

You must be registered for see images

You must be registered for see images

 

[George Murray]

Rick Martino - it is unreasonable to ask for payment in full considering the car won't be shipped for a while.

Again, the dealer does not pay Dodge for the car until it is loaded in the Reliable trailer and the trailer doors are closed. If Fitzgerald asked for payment when the vehicle is actually SCHEDULED to be shipped, then they still get their money before they pay for it, but only 2 - 3 days prior, instead of several weeks. That would be considered reasonable.

Rob from MD - I really wish we had heard about the deals David Julien of Oyster Point Dodge offered before my bud went to Fitzgerald. Especially considering we're only 30 miles from Oyster Point, which also happems to be the ONLY Viper-friendly dealer in our area (the guys at Greenbrier Dodge are great folks, but they have almost zero Viper experience). Will you be at the VA-MD club lunch Saturday? I plan to attend, weather permitting.

Best regards to all, George

 

[NOMERCY]

My business goes to Bill P at Woodhouse!!

 

[wiseasp]

Rob from MD - I really wish we had heard about the deals David Julien of Oyster Point Dodge offered before my bud went to Fitzgerald. Especially considering we're only 30 miles from Oyster Point, which also happems to be the ONLY Viper-friendly dealer in our area (the guys at Greenbrier Dodge are great folks, but they have almost zero Viper experience). Will you be at the VA-MD club lunch Saturday? I plan to attend, weather permitting.

Best regards to all, George

George,

I can not make it Saturday, but I am having a lunch at my house for the club on April 26th with a rain date the 27th. Ron is going to post the info soon. Hope you can make it.

ROB

 

[jimandela]

i could have saved a pretty penny on shipping if i would have used Fitz
seeing that i live in the northeast.
but they would not answer my emails.
Bill P answered every darn one.
so he got the sale and i got great service!!
yes shipping was more but worth having no headaches.

 

[Vic]

This is going to go a bit off topic, but I want to let you know that when you buy any car that has a rebate, the dealer may not tell you about it. If you don't know, they can forge your signature on the rebate check and cash it themselves. This happened to me at a Lincoln Mercury Dealer in Orange County, Ca. The only way I found out about it was when the notifcation of a class action lawsuit arrived in my mail. I called the dealer, signed a non-disclosure form, and got my rebate back directly from the dealer. The nerve of some people!

This is all to show you that the "game afoot" is this- Steal money from the unknowing, if you can get away with it. Thankfully, the VCA has this website, where we can all learn how not to get taken!

Great post, George!

 

[George Murray]

Dan Fitzgerald called my friend today to tell him that demanding payment in full for the car prior to the shipping date is Fitzgerald's "Company Policy."

So, there you have it.

Do you suppose they used the $78,008 to load up on French wine & cheese products?

 

[viperweb]

Dan Fitzgerald called my friend today to tell him that demanding payment in full for the car prior to the shipping date is Fitzgerald's "Company Policy."

So, there you have it.

Do you suppose they used the $78,008 to load up on French wine & cheese products?

Or should you call it freedom wine?

 

[Fred(DrivingSchool)Kinder]

Once the car is completed inspection is a big unknown couple days or months. So if the dealer is on the hook when the car is shipped he needs to be paid before it get shipped. The dealer has no control over the inspection period so It seems reasonable to ask for payment once the car is finished. If the car goes quickly through inspection, the dealer could be stuck with a bill and no car and left to the mercy of the receiving dealer and buyer.

Their customer service skills may be lacking but it seems reasonable to get paid before the car ships.

 

[Janni]

How does it seem reasonable to be paid before the car ships? That's what floorplan is for - the extension of credit for dealers while a car remains on it's lot to be sold. Yes, a Viper is an expensive car, but crap, it's 2 Dodge 3500 dually's and Fitzs ought to be able to float that for a few days.

To demand payment in full from a customer for a car that he has not seen, and that has still to be shipped (and a VARIETY of things could happen during that process...) is very poor business to ask anyone to pay for anything in full before it ships and it's usually followed by an unhappy customer.... A lot of us have bought our cars form dealers a heck of a lot smaller than Fitzgerald and no one else has had to pay for the car before it has shipped. It's not how things work and we ought to remember this in the future.

And one last thing - I think there have been cars that sat in I status for weeks, and then for more weeks in storage as they wait for a truck to fill up with cars going to similar destinations. NH ain't Cali - so it could be a while.

The whole thing is crap.

 

[Steve 00RT/10]

We too, were a victim of the Fitzgerald 'full pay' plan before delivery 3 years ago. Ours may have been a little worse as we did a factory pick up and I believe they had basically no cost(or very minimal) involved at all. They had all of our money for a full 45 days before we picked the car up. In addition, if it wasn't for me checking with the Michigan Secretary of State prior to us flying down to Detroit, We wouldn't have been able to take the car from CAAP. According to Michigan, a temporary plate had to be issued from New Hampshire in order to take the car. Nobody from Fitzgerald appeared to be up to speed on that. You'd think for the minimal effort and cost incurred on their part, they could have at least had their ducks in a row on this, given they move the most Vipers in the country yearly(or did then). I called Fitzgerald on Wednesday(3-29-00)and they hastily got a plate over nighted to us. It arrived at 6PM on a Thursday(3-30-00). We flew out at 5:30 AM the next morning. We also burned an extra 20K frequent flyer miles for a one way trip after Fitzgerald gave us a pick up date and then changed it. Granted, this wasn't their fault, but it certainly added to the frustration.

Had Woodhouse been able to get a Steel Gray for us then, it would have been a no brainer, but at the time Bill couldn't find one. Fitzgerald basically assigned my name to a VIN number of a car being made for them. If I remember right, I also paid $2500 right off the bat. After complaining 'vigorously' about this payment plan to Dan Fitzgerald by phone and letter, he did send me a check for a few hundered dollars of lost interest a month or so after we got the car.

And one last thing - I think there have been cars that sat in I status for weeks, and then for more weeks in storage as they wait for a truck to fill up with cars going to similar destinations. NH ain't Cali - so it could be a while.

I status--Janni hit the nail on the head. As soon as our car hit I status, Mike B. wanted the entire amount saying, "it would be ready any day now" It was ready 45 days later.

I was extremely disappointed with the entire transaction and have had absolutely no contact with them since 3-30-00. I have kept quiet about this, thinking that maybe I was the exception to the rule....I see I'm not.

.....As a note of comparison: We took delivery of a fully loaded/Ultra Luxury Package Lexus LS430 last summer. The dollar amount was about 10% less than the Viper. The local dealer had to have it trucked from Texas to Wisconsin as there were only a few of that type in the country at the time. It was then delivered to our door(200 miles) at no extra delivery charge. Not one dime changed hands until 24 hours before the car was delivered to our house. The mark up over invoice was about identical to our Viper deal.

Steve

 

[GR8_ASP]

After reading this pretty thoroughly I have to conclude that having a vehicle paid for prior to that car getting shipped to a 3rd party location just makes sense. I think many people read this as a normal delivery to the purchasing dealership.

For the record I had to pre-pay my SRT so that I could do a plant pick up. I certainly would not have expected them to put me on the honor system. For the time between forking over the money and going to the plant you have only the signed purchase order, registration info, etc. Thank goodness I live close by so the time delay was minimal.

 

[JonB]

"Hence,new policy,pay for car when it gets to "I" status if it's not coming to our dealership." Is a REASONABLE POLICY if it is/was explained in advance. I bet it WAS.

1) Fitzgerald Dodge has been in the top-3 since 1992, so they cannot be as terrible as this thread implies. Right? Dan Fitzgerald is a reasonable man...did the buyer ask for a different plan? But most 'salesmen' stink. I bet Dan will send his $$ back if he changes the delivery plan. SRT/10s have INSTANTLY gone from I to J to KZ in 24 hours! Mine Did. This could blindside a dealer, so lets be fair. (But see #7 below)

2) East-Coast culture may be at play here. The accent back east just SOUNDS cold. VA Southern Gentlemen vs Yanks.....

3) Since this car -cannot- supposedly be sold to a non-certificate holder, the buyer certainly has more clout here than he apparently exercised. If he'd sent 25%-50%, I doubt it would have been refused. If he refuses to take delivery the deal STILL unwinds!

4) Maybe the buyer got a super-great deal? Was he even a prior customer? He must have known the terms? Did he save THOU$ANDS? Were terms not in writing? If not, who is at fault here? A biblical parable comes to mind here......"Workers In The Field"

5) I find myself in agreement with Martino....I must have hit my head somewhere. Very hard.

6) I don't frankly believe that an attentive dealer like Dan/Chris have NOT SEEN I-status last longer than a week. Some SRTS were in I for several M O N T H S.....2-3 weeks is very common and has been since 1996.

7) This particular I status has been, and will be llllengthy. Have the buyer ask Dan/Chris for some compromise IF-IF-IF the buyer is really concerned about the cash-float. ie 50% back til J Status. It began rather innocently and now looks fishy...... If I can mediate, I will. I trust Dan Fitzgerald.

But Woodhouse's "Greatness" Clouds Fitzgerald's "goodness." Calling this a "Shakedown" or "Hennyssey-like" shames the writers. I should have stayed out of this, but Website-Vendor-Bashing-As-Passtime is basically unfair. "The Evil That Men Do Lives After Them....the Good Is Often Buried With Their Bones."

 

[gtsviper]

My SRT was in I status for weeks and has been in J status for 2 weeks now. It is going to Woodhouse so waiting to fill a truck is not likely the problem. That's 5 weeks...How can Dan say he never saw a car sit in I status for more than a week?

While I understand the concern about drop shipping there are ways to compromise so the dealer doesn't take an unreasonable risk. A deposit that would cover shipping costs...a credit card authorization for the shipping amount...you get the idea.
I just bought a $52k Lincoln and drove it off the lot with just a promise to pay for it. I did 2 weeks later and the dealer said thank you.
I bought an E55 the same way. 90 grand and the dealer didn't bat an eye.

It's bad enough Pemberton has had my deposit on the 03 for almost 2 years and has bought an island with Woodhouse with the money. Imagine what he would do if I had to pay for the car up front!!

 

[Tony Estes]

Andy remember your car is SPECIAL. I wouldn't be surprised to see your car in J status for eight or nine months.

 

[Black SRT]

JonB wrote:

I find myself in agreement with Martino....I must have hit my head somewhere. Very hard

Maybe we should team up for awhile and kick some Iraqi a$$.

 

[gtsviper]

Tony...after saving your RT/10 from the ravages of the mob at Luke AFB could you find it in your heart to persuade Dodge to ship my car while I'm still young enough to drive it?

 

[jwwiii]

Hello;

"Balance due in full when Viper hits "I" status."

This makes complete sense to me. Why? Because so many big Viper dealers (like Fitzgerald) are giving great prices to Viper customers they never even see; and they DO get alot of Vipers (I bought my new 98' RT-10 from Fitz) when other dealers don't.

It just makes sense to get the balance paid ASAP at "I" because factory status CAN change in a day. Without everything being paid and required release papers in hand, you can't be ready for a factory pick-up if you get the call! You really cannot plan on a date for the factory to be ready; it is just part of buying a Viper!

I know about this well after ordering and buying 3 Vipers. You can't take advantage of advance airline reservations if you want the Viper as soon as it is ready: that is an additional expense we didn't want. Yes, you CAN be notified that your Viper is ready, and you CAN wait two week for the best airfare. I was so excited, I didn't care. We even cancelled a family summer trip because we didn't know when I would "get the call". I wanted to be ready, as plant pick-up was only offered on FRIDAY's.

Bottom line; You CAN wait to pay if you pick up the Viper at the dealer. If the selling dealer never sees the Viper as it will be drop-shipped to YOUR receiving dealer, it only makes sense to guarantee he is covered financially.

After all, it IS a Viper. A Viper is a luxury FUN machine! If the interest for 30 days is a big deal, then maybe owning a Viper is going to be a real stretch financially (no insult intended at all here). If the Viper sits in "I" for several months, you SHOULD get some refund from the dealer I agree, as you are making payments/with interest and have no Viper. Fortunately, this rarely happens, and most get the Viper within 2 weeks.

I've determined that "the uncertainty" and the anxiety of "The Long Wait" is what REALLY makes these vehicles extra special to us! Do a factory pick-up with your spouse and you will REALLY be proud of it!

This is my $.75cents worth of comment. Vipers are expensive to buy, but so inexpensive to own. Remember; think of the expense and hassles of maintaining a Lambo or Ferarri! After the initial expenses, you are driving a BARGAIN. Enjoy the Viper, and don't sweat the interest; you WILL get the Beast SOON!

Sincerely,

Jim

 

[slaughterj]

How is it that Fitzgerald is one of the top sellers of Vipers, but appears to not represent itself on this board? Just wondering...

Also wondering, how do you get the info on the sales rankings for Vipers by dealerships? I'd like to know, since I have heard various claims by a local dealership as to their sales position, and would like to refute it (Esp. since the claim changes from person to person there, and I doubt it's just because they're ignorant.)

 

[Y2K5SRT]

Also wondering, how do you get the info on the sales rankings for Vipers by dealerships? I'd like to know, since I have heard various claims by a local dealership as to their sales position, and would like to refute it (Esp. since the claim changes from person to person there, and I doubt it's just because they're ignorant.)

I can tell you that Woodhouse and Roanoke are the top two. Never purchased a car from Fitzgerald, but was treated very poorly when I tried back in 1999. Resorted to posting a "Where Do I Buy My Viper?" post and got this Pemberton guy from somewhere in Nebraska. Oh, and I paid for my SRT approximately ten minutes before it was in the Woodhouse trailer on the way to my house, less my very reasonable deposit.

Personally, I think it is ridiculous to require full payment on these cars before they are released from the plant. There is simply no telling how long they could be in inspection, as there is no way to know what that inspection might turn up. Furthermore, there is NO DOUBT that the car will be paid for very soon after delivery to the dealership. If not by the guy that ordered it, then by somebody else eager to purchase an SRT. It's not like it was an $80,000 Edsel. I don't know how the dealership is invoiced for the car (up front or after delivery), but I do know what good customer relations represents. That is why I will no longer look anywhere but Woodhouse.

Chris

 

[George Murray]

I won't be dismissed as a "third party judge." As I mentioned, I am posting because my friend is basically internet-illiterate. I trust what he says.

But, to give the folks at Fitzgerald the benefit of the doubt, I'll interview my friend (again) regarding what he was told about the pre-payment policy.

I am not by nature one who beats up on dealers, as I know how tough it can be to sell vehicles day in/day out. There is an old axiom "buyers are liars" that applies to a certain percentage of automobile buyers. I see them daily, and it's especially prevalent when people represent their potential trade-ins.

Selling 1200 Vipers over the years, Fitzgerald has obviously done something right. They did right by me in 1997 (but not in 1999).

If the policy was explained to my friend, and made clear, then I'll owe Fitzgerald an apology. And I'll apologize. If it wasn't explained, then what I've stated on this board stands.

I'll post again after I've chatted with my friend.

Best regards to all, George