Dealers Pocketing Tax Credit

[Will E Worm]

UPDATE: Dealers Pocketing $7,500 Chevy Volt Tax Credit?

UPDATE: Several sources have reported that the practice described below appears to be confined to a few isolated incidents, if at all, and a General Motors spokesman called the NLPC 'confused.' The NLPC meanwhile in a follow-up cried foul on GM's claim that there's "high demand" for the Volt and argued for greater transparency on the tax credit. While we couldn't reach GM for comment at the original post time, we've updated this piece to reflect later communication with the company.

Auto dealerships might not be as smoke-filled and full of tricks as they used to, but a few bad seeds continue to perpetuate the old slick stereotypes.

And they're at it again—this time with our hard-earned tax money. According to an ethics and corruption watchdog group, the National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC), GM's new-car dealers are participating in a new scheme: applying for the $7,500 federal tax credit on a new-stock Volt, then 'selling' it to another dealership to pass it off as used.

The alleged game: One dealership titles the vehicle, sells it to another dealership, and that second dealership (perhaps) splits the tax rebate with the first one.

The federal government's $7,500 tax credit on electric vehicles is a big deal. For one, it takes the sticker price of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt down to a much more accessible $33,500. And secondly, it helps kickstart a charging infrastructure and a fledgling sector of the auto industry.

And if there aren't enough actual Volt customers getting the federal rebate they're supposed to, it could be affecting the model's sales, as well as its resale value.

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Just don't buy one without getting the tax credit.

 

[Connor Macleod]

Most people talk about lawyers being the dregs of society, but I've always thought it was car dealers. I've had some dealers try and pull all kinds of crap on me.

 

[Rey C.]

I can, and usually do, get the better of car dealers. To me, buying a car is like a sport. And I love to negotiate... especially when I'm holding most of the cards. I have over $1000 worth of "free" crap on my daily driver just because the kid/salesman got nervous while he was filling out the paperwork. I have no idea why he got nervous. It's not like I was acting crazy or putting on a show or anything. :elaugh: Car dealers and lawyers are both fairly crooked by nature (sorry to any lawyers or car dealers on here... just what I've found to be true over the years). But a car dealer is a lawyer who wasn't smart enough to go to law school. So they can only "get you" if you really let your guard down and let them.

Something else I'll mention. I think if women knew how dealers actually go out of their way to try to screw you, you'd probably take a birth control pill before you'd even step inside a dealership. There was a Jag dealership in Tyson's Corner and (right in front of me) a salesman said he was afraid he'd be paying child support to a woman who just left the dealership. I thought he was serious, but then the other guys started laughing. He meant that he'd fucked her so bad, she ought to be pregnant. He allowed her less than half what she paid for a new Jag about a year earlier on a trade-in... plus he sold her the new one for sticker!

Use the internet to price your car choices, folks! Find out what rebates and credits are available and don't be afraid of making an enemy when you start the negotiations. Ask for the world! Act crazy if you need to. In other words, act like a TEA bagger! :rofl2:

 

[Bloodshot Scott]

I've seen some women in my life get screwed as well...bad. My little sis gave her trade in away for $1K when I could have easily flipped that car for $4K. I wasn't notified about her getting rid of that car (my parents' old car) until later in the day, and I threw a minor fit because that extra 3 stacks at that point could have really helped me in a couple things.

My older sis as well I've seen her get screwed a couple times whilst acting on feelings instead of rationale buying her last two cars.

As far as me, I could never get screwed. You can't hustle a hustler - much less a kid who grew up on the East Side.

My best advice is calm down; don't make irrational purchases, especially when it comes to automobiles.