[John Bruno]

Hi folks!

We have MDX's available. No, not in stock, but available on a first come, first serve basis.
My name is JOHN D. BRUNO, and I am one of the Internet
Representatives at Oakland Acura. We do not pre-sell our MDX vehicles, and we do not take deposits. It truly is first come, first serve.
Yes, it is true that we mark up our vehicles $2,000 above the factory MSRP, and we do accessorize our MDX's (roughly another$1500-2000), but if the car is not yet in stock, you do have the option of selecting what accessories go on the car (so long as it equates to the above mentioned price range).
If you are willing to pay to have the car now, than I am the person to call. I will always be honest and straightforward with you, and if I don't have the answer for you, I will find out. I think playing games with people stinks and, if you can handle the harsh reality of the current MDX market, I'll gladly work with you.

JOHN D. BRUNO
Oakland Acura
(510)-444-8383 ext.108
(510)-798-1120- voicemail
(510)-273-6843-facsimile
[email protected]

 

[Jun Castro]

What!!!! $2000 over MSRP?? What a rip off!!!! Is this for real?

 

[Acura4Life]

IMPORTANT !!!

I want the members of this site to know that you CAN get an MDX for MSRP. Yes, you will have to wait.

Other members have also posted that they have purchased an MDX on the spot for MSRP as well.

Don't give in to thousands more !

 

[John Bruno]

Well,

I won't deny the possibility of finding an MDX
at MSRP, possibly even on the spot, but you remember that old quote in the Bible when Jesus said it was easier to fit through the eye of a needle than to enter the Gates Of Heaven? This is kind of a similar effect.

I don't have control over the fact that my dealer wants above MSRP for the car, but if you want the car and you want it now, some things are worth paying for.

By the way, what's wrong with a dealer or a salesman making money? Is it a crime that the dealer has a family and wishes to support them? Is it a terrible sin for a salesman to make a comission? Did you ever bother to realize that the shirt you bought at Macy's or the shoes you bought at Nordstrom's are marked up, sometimes up to 3000 percent? Oh yes, it's true. Before I was selling cars I was selling clothing. Suits. Canali sportsjackets and Brioni suits that retailed in our store for $1500.00 only cost us $150.00 to purchase from the manufacturer.

And even these MDX's that have an MSRP of let's say $39,450 (touring/navi)and an invoice price of about $4,000 less, only costs the manufacturer about $25,000 to produce. that's why they build cars on production lines Remember that vision Henry Ford had years ago? To minimize expenses/maximize profits?
Well, it works.

So occasionally, a dealer has the opportunity to maximize his profits, and, as a smart businessman, he takes advantage of that opportunity, as I'm sure a lot of you would do if you were in his shoes. I'm sure you do now as well. If your boss told you tomorrow morning that he was going to give you a raise, would you argue with him and tell him you don't deserve it?

Besides, most of you spend more than $2,000 of your time searching for the right deal anyway. Not just on MDX's but on cars in general. Some people spend weeks, or even months doing research and shopping different dealers just to save a few dollars. It's a concept I've come to call "tripping over dollars to save a few pennies"

Don't get me wrong, I'm budget conscious too, and I don't believe people should get ripped off. But it's as simple as this: If you want it, you can have . For a premium. If you don't want it, you don't have to take it. Nobody, especially me, is going to force it on you.

JOHN D. BRUNO
Oakland Acura
(510)-444-8383 ext. 108
(510)-798-1120-cell phone/voice mail

 

[Me]

I can't believe this guy is quoting the Bible.

 

[MaD-X]

Required accessories

Ok... I agree.. dealers do have to make money. Even if above MSRP under certain circumstances. Like when there are more buyers than cars available. But what's with the required accessory purchase in the $1500-2000 range? You probably have a markup for those items too (correct?).

I never understood dealers who required their customers to purchase something regardless of whether the customer wanted it or not. My friend recently purchased a Nissan at a dealer who had a thing called "Northwest weather protection package" and charged $650 on every car that they sold. All they really did for this package was apply some fancy wax on paint (which I know does not cost $650) and stain repellant on the carpet. Salesman claimed it'll protect against acid rain (like we ever get that here in the NW, hahaha). Don't get me wrong, some people do want to buy these things, but what about the people who doesn't want to. Sure, if my boss gives me a raise I'll take it anytime. But I would not tell my boss that a free lunch is required with my raise too.

IMHO, I would wait and pay MSRP. And find a dealer who's willing to sell you what YOU want to buy, not what they want to sell you. John, I hope you understand what I've said here is not meant to be directed to you personally.

 

[TheWorm]

Well, at least you're honest

While as a matter of principle I won't pay more than MSRP for this car, and find the $2k markup *AND* forced accessories aggressive, at least you're being up front about it. Sadly, that's actually better than some other places in the Bay Area. Equally sad is the fact that you're better than, say, Pleasanton or Lasher or Serramonte, by "allowing" people to choose the accessories.

Of course, your colleague in the internet department isn't so forthcoming. Not only does he fail to mention the $2k ove in his CARPOINT "fairness and no haggle email", but check this:

[snip]
Options can be added at very reasonable price at your preference, not at forced take-them over inflated prices like other dealers do.
[snip]

Questions: 1) check the poll on the homepage -- most of us are in our 30's. How many more cars will we be buying in our lifetimes? 2) do you believe that the "over MSRP" and "forced accessories" pricing strategy will have an effect on our willingness to purchase from you (or use your service dept) in the future? 3) how many people race to OakAc for the first-come first-served after your phone call, only to find out it's too late? 4) as the internet implosion in the Bay Area continues unabated, what will you do when folks don't have an extra $4k to burn for instant gratification?

For those who can keep their shorts on, I would highly recommend Prestige Acura or Solano Acura -- both @ MSRP without forced options. A 2-3 month wait and you save a ton; is it really worth an extra $500 a week to drive this thing? I even found a dealer in Florida who gave me specific dates 3-6 weeks out (depending on color/trim) and would ship for < $1500; still would be less than most of these Bay Area guys.

 

[s2k000L]

Well, I won't deny the possibility of finding an MDX at MSRP, possibly even on the spot, but you remember that old quote in the Bible when Jesus said it was easier to fit through the eye of a needle than to enter the Gates Of Heaven? This is kind of a similar effect. I don't have control over the fact that my dealer wants above MSRP for the car, but if you want the car and you want it now, some things are worth paying for. By the way, what's wrong with a dealer or a salesman making money? Is it a crime that the dealer has a family and wishes to support them? Is it a terrible sin for a salesman to make a comission?

to john bruno:

if this is your idea of trying to spark interest in perspective buyers, i think you need a different approach. i've dabbled in sales before, and this simply turns me off as an educated consumer. capitalism is indeed in full force here in america, and greedy dealerships have taken that fact to the bank! dealerships have the autonomy to markup the prices as high as they would like. we, the consumer, also have the same autonomous power to reject such ludicrous business practices.

remember, one bad buying experience & negative publicity can ruin a reputation more than 100 good buying experiences.

 

[wolverine993]

Thank you JOHN BRUNO

Thanks to your post. I have decided to boycott Oakland Acura.

I live in the Bay Area and am in the market for an MDX. You and your dealership have the right to make a profit and a commission, but this also occurs if you sell it at MSRP. You do NOT have the right to rip people off.

Thanks to you, I will never do business with Oakland Acura. I hope other will do the same.

 

[John Bruno's boss]

quote:
<b>Thank you JOHN BRUNO
Thanks to your post. I have decided to boycott Oakland Acura.

I live in the Bay Area and am in the market for an MDX. You and your dealership have the right to make a profit and a commission, but this also occurs if you sell it at MSRP. You do NOT have the right to rip people off.

Thanks to you, I will never do business with Oakland Acura. I hope other will do the same. </b>



John Bruno you are a dead man!!!

 

[larryk]

And we will not be attending the funeral !!

 

[Acura4Life]

Well,

I won't deny the possibility of finding an MDX
at MSRP, possibly even on the spot, but you remember that old quote in the Bible when Jesus said it was easier to fit through the eye of a needle than to enter the Gates Of Heaven? This is kind of a similar effect.

I don't have control over the fact that my dealer wants above MSRP for the car, but if you want the car and you want it now, some things are worth paying for.

By the way, what's wrong with a dealer or a salesman making money? Is it a crime that the dealer has a family and wishes to support them? Is it a terrible sin for a salesman to make a comission? Did you ever bother to realize that the shirt you bought at Macy's or the shoes you bought at Nordstrom's are marked up, sometimes up to 3000 percent? Oh yes, it's true. Before I was selling cars I was selling clothing. Suits. Canali sportsjackets and Brioni suits that retailed in our store for $1500.00 only cost us $150.00 to purchase from the manufacturer.

And even these MDX's that have an MSRP of let's say $39,450 (touring/navi)and an invoice price of about $4,000 less, only costs the manufacturer about $25,000 to produce. that's why they build cars on production lines Remember that vision Henry Ford had years ago? To minimize expenses/maximize profits?
Well, it works.

So occasionally, a dealer has the opportunity to maximize his profits, and, as a smart businessman, he takes advantage of that opportunity, as I'm sure a lot of you would do if you were in his shoes. I'm sure you do now as well. If your boss told you tomorrow morning that he was going to give you a raise, would you argue with him and tell him you don't deserve it?

Besides, most of you spend more than $2,000 of your time searching for the right deal anyway. Not just on MDX's but on cars in general. Some people spend weeks, or even months doing research and shopping different dealers just to save a few dollars. It's a concept I've come to call "tripping over dollars to save a few pennies"

Don't get me wrong, I'm budget conscious too, and I don't believe people should get ripped off. But it's as simple as this: If you want it, you can have . For a premium. If you don't want it, you don't have to take it. Nobody, especially me, is going to force it on you.

JOHN D. BRUNO
Oakland Acura
(510)-444-8383 ext. 108
(510)-798-1120-cell phone/voice mail

ARE YOU FRIGGIN' KIDDING ME ?!?!?!?!?

John Bruno: I can't imagine the number of sales you JUST lost and WILL lose for posting such a comment. Your dealership is finished as far as internet sales on http://www.acuramdx.org are concerned.

I will not be attending your funeral as well.

 

[MDX inVA]

Don't Delete

A4L...I would recommend that you do not delete the posting from Brono...and especially not the follow-on discussion, because I believe that it serves a useful purpose to help educate both potential buyers (and I imagine Acura North America management). I would expect that someone from Acura corporate monitors this site for background information at least. Mr. Brono's comments, and his dealer's attitude are not unique in the auto industry. Whenever there is a "hot" vehicle or product, you will always have some shortsighted businesses attempt to take advantage of the moment. This fourm can be a great tool to expose this kind of activitiy and help to educate the buyers. Knowledge is a buyer's greatest weapon. I am sure that dealers all over the country dreaded the explosion of buying services and publishing of invoice pricing. Let's keep the spotlight shining brigtly on Mr. Brono...

 

[Acura4Life]

Bring it on !

MDX inVA: Agreed.

 

[jfp252]

JB,
You are aware that this is ACURAMDX.org not DOWELOOKSTUPID.org. I can see why you left clothing sales, you're obviuously not a very sophisticated salesman. A pox on you, a pox on your dealership, a pox on your car ...

 

[mdxxx]

By the way Bruno, your quote about the bible, it pertains to 'SALVATION' and not 'PROFIT MARGIN' as you wrongly assume. Don't use the bible for your unrighteous deed.

 

[Acura4Life]

Offended !

You know what MDxxx...I was thinking about that too....that really did offend me.

Unbelieveable !

 

[John Bruno]

I agree with a lot of you folks one hundred percent as far as some of your comments are. But put yourself in my shoes for just one second.
The owner of my store (oakland Acura) wants a $2,000 markup on all MDX's. It's not a negotable thing. then he tells us that we have to accessorize each one that comes in. No choice. Yes, we have lost a lot of business because of it.
However, we have also gained business because people can get the car on a first come first serve basis. I never said that I agree with what is being done in the marketplace. I still believe that customer service is the emphasis, which is why my CSI level (Customer Satisfaction Index) is above district and National standards. That's God's honest truth. But, as a salesman, it is my responsibilty is to mediate a deal between "YOU" the client and Management, which is appointed by the owner.

Now, when he first started this $2,000 over MSRP bit, I was telling people, "Hey, if you come in for this MDX, I'll work the desk to get them to waive it." which I did, except I wasn't getting anywhere. The desk was locked at $2,000 over. People would get pissed off and leave. which, would piss me off.
Do I blame anyone for being a smart shopper? Definetely not!!! If you can get a better deal, then more power to you. My point is simply to just let the public know that we do not pre-sell our MDX's and if you want one, you can get one. For a premium. Whether you or I like it or not, the premium is there.

John D. Bruno
Oakland Acura

 

[Acura4Life]

Not a chance here !!!

You will not get any buyers from this site, that's more than obvious. You have accomplished only 2 things here and they are: slandering your name & Dealership from any future sales from 279 registered members.

 

[NYC_KID]

I like the bible, Too!!

I'm a big studier of the bible and I must admit that it did offend me.....

But it would also be offensive to gain pleasure in someone else's demise. If Mr. Bruno really is in trouble, it is not good to feel good about it, IMHO.

The only thing I have to say to Mr. Bruno is that if you are looking at percentage mark-up, of course things like mattresses, clothing, etc. are going to have higher mark-up percentages..... your dealing with a base price that is much smaller. 10% of $1,000,000 is still MUCH more than 90% of $1,000.

Also, if you, as a salesperson, think that making people feel cheated is a way to feed your family.... you must be looking to be a salesperson for about a month...... over the long term, you will make much more money from repeat customers who felt like they were treated fairly. Supply and demand forces people to pay MSRP (which puts a pretty penny in your pocket), but the choice to go above that shows consumers that they are not people, but commission numbers.
Go to http://www.Edmunds.com and read the article about the guy who went undercover as a car salesman. You may see that we don't want you to stop making money, we just like to know that we are paying you commensurate to the service you give us. You, as a salesman, are dealing in a service industry. We want to pay someone what we think their product is worth. As a car salesman... your product is not the car..... it's the service you give to the people. Do you give the waiter or waitress a big tip who treats you like dirt? No, you tip them according to their service level. There are obvious lower limits which one would not go under in terms of tipping or paying, but there is also a high limit tolerance. What would you do if a waiter gouged a bill with a mandatory gratuity of 50%? Would you be glad to pay it?

I'm rambling on a bit, but I just wanted to express to you that we realize that you need to make a living...... we just want you to understand that we would also like to spend the money we make from our living wisely.

I hope there is no offense taken in this.