Downside of Buying From a Remote Dealer?

[Shutterbug57]

What, if any, are the downsides of buying from a remote dealer? I’m considering a truck at a dealer 250 miles from home and I’m just curious for y’all‘s input.

 

[mikeru]

Theoretically there is no disadvantage to doing that. You don't have to take your vehicle back to the dealership you bought from for warranty work or maintenance. But I've read claims that some dealerships treat customers who buy from them better than those who don't, but I haven't experienced that.

 

[British Bulldog]

I purchased two states away in 2021. Pictures of my trade, full Ram history available etc etc. price agreed on phone calls, etc. Got there, they tried to gyp me $1500 lower on inspection. I walked. Phone call an hour later, “we can go $1000 and come down $1000 on new vehicle.” All games!

 

[jejb]

I ordered my '22 Ram through a dealer 2 states and 400+ miles away. I've never experienced any drawbacks. Local dealer has never balked or mentioned it, and they get me in and out with good service (recalls mostly). I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[tjfdesmo]

If your dealer is honest and forthright, there is no downside. I have done it multiple times.

 

[British Bulldog]

If your dealer is honest and forthright, there is no downside. I have done it multiple times.

This is true. I never had an issue with local dealer once I did purchase out of state. This was the 2021 that needed paintwork and the Ashland WI dealer worked with me and got it accomplished, even tho they never sold it to me.
We did, however, buy my wife’s jeep renegade from them later!

 

[tidefan1967]

To each his own but for me I want to thoroughly inspect and drive the vehicle before I take possession of it. Bought way too many cars and trucks over the years that had issues that were damn near impossible to fix or impossible (here’s looking at you General Motors) that nowadays I would pass on completely.

 

[Hanover Fiste]

I'm in Florida, and bought my 2012 Challenger SRT8 from Baxter Dodge in Omaha, Nebraska. Pictures were sent, and negotiations were done via email. All official paperwork was done by overnight mail. They even shipped the car to me in an enclosed carrier. I'd do it again if necessary.

 

[sentrek]

I am in WNC and bought mine from a dealer in Maryland remotely, it was pretty painless, they had a ton of high res photos and a nice walk around video, price couldnt be beat, and the notary came right to the house to do the paperwork. It was pretty painless. The only negative was the added cost to have it shipped but it was worth it since the selection in my area sucks and the prices are too high. better than sitting face to face with a pushy salesman trying to upsell you, IMO. I will probably do it again on the next one.

 

[Bigskyroadglide]

I've purchased my last 2 vehicles new from a dealer 2,000 miles away from my home. Both have been a better experience than buying locally. Cheaper as well. Local dealer on jeep wrangler would not under any circumstances order a 6 speed manual. I wanted a manual so purchased at Mark Dodge. They ordered the unit, it was build and arrived, I flew in and picked up and drove home. Unit was $20k Cheaper at Mark Dodge than local. Unbelievable deal.

Same with my 24, Classic, order unit at Mark Dodge, it was built, flew in, picked up, entire process was 2 hours. Drove home saved about $7k over local.

Will NEVER be geographically limited ever again on a new vehicle purchase.

 

[orange]

I'm in MA, found my truck in FL in dealer's website. I have family near the location, so I had them go to the dealer to inspect the truck and do a test drive first, but since it was brand new, I would have purchased just the same as you can take it to any dealer.

If the dealer is honest and of trust it should be fine. Check reviews online, but do remember that most people will only write reviews when they have bad experiences, so keep that in mind, but you can at least see what kind of bad experiences people had.

From my own experience with my truck, things were minor:

1. truck had the OEM rubber mats when my sister drove it. The truck arrived without them and no matter how much I complained and emailed them, I never got them shipped to me or even a credit to by it locally. My sister picked it up for me, didn't notice they were missing.
2. Was delivered with just one FOB. I had to complain A LOT because they kept insisting the extra FOB was in the truck. I had my sister drive the truck back there so they could find the FOB and they didn't so they made a new one for no charge.
3. My sister is not a car person, did not know what to look for, so never noticed the paint cracked on the hood by the latch. I just took it to the local dealer and they fixed it.

4. I have a friend who works at the DMV so he deals with this very often and people get stuck without being able to register the car, sometimes for months, go to your local DMV and get a list of all the documents required to register your new car in your state. Yes you can find that online, I just prefer hearing it from the horse's mouth. The before making the deal, make sure you put it in writting that the deal includes your ability to have the truck shipped back to the dealer, at the dealer's cost, in case they fail to, or cannot provide the correct paperwork for you to be able to register the vehicle due to missing/incorrect paperwork after within 30 days. A honest and trustworthy dealer should have no issue with this.

In addtion to number 4, several states have arrangements with other states so they do have all of this in order. For example, I had to pay MA sales tax. I was skeptical when they said they'd collect it for MA because FL and MA have some such arrangement. My buddy at the DMV never heard of it and MA will not register you car without you paying the sales tax first, but that worked out fine for me.

FL provided 30 day temporary plates, I required 2, the dealer had no issue fedexing me the second one for free. They used a 3rd party to handle the registration of the truck in MA (along with the sales tax thing). I did not need to use the second one as my plates arrived in the mail the same day as the 2nd temp FL plate. This is another thing my buddy at the DMV never heard of, registration and plates by 3rd party sent in the mail. But it worked out fine too.

5. Make sure the dealer takes very careful video in good lighting of the entire body of the vehicle and send it to you. When you receive the vehicle inspect the vehicle as soon as it comes off the transport carrier with the driver and do not sign anything until that inspection is done. This way you have documentation of how the vehicle was placed on the transport carrier and how it was deliverd should it have any issies. This is not 100%, as you read above about the hood paint cracked as I mentione above, but I think it's good to have just the same.

Good luck.

 

[Hootbro]

Really going to depend on your local dealer. Some are great and some are not about such things. My nearest one has given me no problems on warranty work even though I did not buy from them. The next closest one will treat you like a leaper and put you third priority with paying customers and bought local from them ahead of you.

Lastly, there is going to be those decisions that are going to hinge on corporate approving something based on the dealers input. Your local dealer may not stick their neck out to come to your aid if you have not bought from them.

One thing that can help is establish any out of pocket servicing with your local dealership and maybe buy accessories from their parts department. If they see you actually spending some money with them and not just showing up when you have issues, they may give you better consideration.

 

[diymirage]

I bought my truck 2 states over and had a deal in place, over the phone (a man a man, a word a word, right?)
Which included them taking my old superdookie in on trade

We get there, go through the obligatory test drives and they hit me with a "I can't take that ford in on trade"

Well, I sure as heck ain't gonna drive two trucks back home

They gave me some line about not being able to take deleted diesels and bla bla bla

I said fine, you offered me 5 k in trade in, drop the ram 5k and I'll take care of it, grabbed my phone and called a buddy of mine, hey man, you know that ford I got? It's gonna be parked behind the dealer here in Indiana, keys are in it, if you want it it's yours


The guys mouth dropped and he's like, let me talk to my manager

5 minutes later I got to call my buddy back, I'm sorry, they took the truck anyway

 

[06 Dodge]

I bought my current truck 500 miles away as the local dealers wanted to add $5K to MSRP of the trucks they had in stock, I drove the 500 with the wife spent 2 night out of town and it cost me less than $500 so I save $4500 by driving 500 miles and sales person also bought us lunch $75.00 due to the fact predelivery dept forgot to install fender flairs before I arrived...

 

[KalboKalbs]

Purchased from Dave Smith, while living in Northern NV.

Knew exactly what I was going to buy AND the exact price, before I left home.

Inspected the truck when I got there. exactly what I wanted, signed papers.

Had anything been out of line, I was prepared to walk.

"Local dealer" Northern NV was never an issue.

Hope to not buy another new vehicle. But if I do, there are a couple dealers spoken highly of here on ram Forum. I'll easily drive a few or several states for a great deal, AND if possible great deal on extended warranty.

 

[ppine]

I went to Dave Smith in Idaho. I live in Nevada. Got a one way plane ticket. They picked me up with their shuttle. No problems. Local dealer in Carson City has done recalls.

 

[06 Dodge]

I went to Dave Smith in Idaho. I live in Nevada. Got a one way plane ticket. They picked me up with their shuttle. No problems. Local dealer in Carson City has done recalls.

Bought mine from Dave Smith an I live in Oregon they were $5k cheaper then local dealership an the trip to cost me under $500 that includes motel, gas, food for me an wife and fuel for the drive home...

 

[miketx]

I've done it many times, with many different vehicles. Never had any issues or warranty claim problems. My latest 24 2500 Rebel Cummins was bought local, but only because they had exactly what I wanted and it was on sale (they actually had two identical Rebel Cummins, so I had my pick).....otherwise I would have ordered from Mark Dodge.

 

[turkeybird56]

I bought my truck 2 states over and had a deal in place, over the phone (a man a man, a word a word, right?)
Which included them taking my old superdookie in on trade

We get there, go through the obligatory test drives and they hit me with a "I can't take that ford in on trade"

Well, I sure as heck ain't gonna drive two trucks back home

They gave me some line about not being able to take deleted diesels and bla bla bla

I said fine, you offered me 5 k in trade in, drop the ram 5k and I'll take care of it, grabbed my phone and called a buddy of mine, hey man, you know that ford I got? It's gonna be parked behind the dealer here in Indiana, keys are in it, if you want it it's yours


The guys mouth dropped and he's like, let me talk to my manager

5 minutes later I got to call my buddy back, I'm sorry, they took the truck anyway

NEVA have driven that far. I did drive 1 1/2 hours away to another county to buy my current HEMI in Aug 2018. The price was about the same, but day/night as far as dealership, upfront sincerity and not trying to bamboozle me. They even low balled my ED, but when I said ah, no, they went 5K higher. SO I did all P/W, and drove outta dealership owning my 2019. The dealership even called me about 2 weeks later and related they found another $1,500 rebate I qualified for, did I want to come in and redo P/W. Ahhhh no, so they just sent me a check for $1,500 from the rebate. THAT NEVA happen in this town, LOL.

There are good dealers out there, but You really got to do your research and homework to find them, and once U do, hold onto them.