Saturn: No-haggle doesn't mean no-hike

[Itsme]

Saturn: No-haggle doesn't mean no-hike
Saturn dealers are charging more than the sticker price for hot Sky roadster, newspaper says.
March 20, 2006: 1:34 PM EST


NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - Saturn still has a "no-haggle" pricing policy, but that doesn't mean the dealer has to charge sticker price. And some dealers are charging over sticker price for the new Saturn Sky sports car, according to a California newspaper.

Charging a premium over the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for a popular car, especially one that's in short supply, is a common practice at car dealerships of all kinds. But many Saturn customers had assumed that the General Motors brand's policy of "no-haggle pricing" meant that customers would always be charged the vehicle's sticker price.

Car manufacturers cannot legally require a retailer to charge any set price for a vehicle, however.

"Retailers are free to set their own prices, but we always highly encourage our retailers not to sell above the MSRP," said Jill Lajdziak in a company statement quoted in the Orange County Register story.

Saturn's no-haggle policy simply means that every customer coming into a given dealership gets the same price, a GM spokesman said in the story. It does not necessarily mean that every customer pays the sticker price.

In order to prevent price competition, General Motors does not allow different Saturn dealers to operate dealerships in the same general area, GM spokesman Brian Brockman told CNNMoney.com.

The general manager for Orange County, Calif.'s three Saturn dealerships declined to discuss pricing policy with the newspaper.

The Sky is based on the same vehicle architecture as the popular Pontiac Solstice sports car. The Solstice, the Sky and the Opel GT, which is very similar to the Sky but is sold only in Europe, are all built in the same factory in Wilmington, Del.

In the past, Saturn dealers had charged prices lower than the MSRP for slow-selling models, according to the story.

[DarkFury]

That's when you go in and put the "A Plan" discount smack down on them.

[mcs328]

That's disappointing to hear. I thought it was an enforced policy that they charge MSRP and no haggle means no price hike either. I always liked Saturn in that regard.

[Jeffbx]

Supply & demand, baby, supply & demand.

It's pretty rare for GM to have such a popular vehicle, so not a surprise that they're doing this. They need every $ they can get these days.

[nhbilly]

thats sucks I was going to drop by and buy without haggling for price......

[mechmike0034]

That's when you go in and put the "A Plan" discount smack down on them.

GM employee purchase discounts typically are not available on hot-selling models. Corvettes, for example, are almost always exempt. The Solstice/Sky probably will be as well until supply begins to exceed demand.

[DarkFury]

GM employee purchase discounts typically are not available on hot-selling models. Corvettes, for example, are almost always exempt. The Solstice/Sky probably will be as well until supply begins to exceed demand.

True... but it's worth a shot.

[ufcrusher]

GM employee purchase discounts typically are not available on hot-selling models. Corvettes, for example, are almost always exempt. The Solstice/Sky probably will be as well until supply begins to exceed demand.

Thats odd...I know that we had no such restrictions when we went in with our special prices. Although, the dealership's manager did say that we were actually getting lower than the employee prices and a much better deal. Maybe this is another area where the plan exceeds the employee pricing. (Supplier prices)

[LegendKiller]

I really like the Sky, but it's still a GM, and I wouldn't pay over sticker.