Don't visit this dealership to purchase, lease, or sell your vehicle. Dealer exhibits aggressive selling techniques, tries to upsell with additional warranties, gap insurance, paint protection, and overstated and illegal fees on purchase agreements.
You may have a legal claim against this dealership If you were charged a document fee that exceeds $85, or if the dealer disguised their fees as taxable aftermarket parts. Both are illegal practices in violation of Ca Vehicle Code (CVC) and Ca Code of Regulations (CCR). Furthermore, you may be due a refund of sales taxes paid from the State for services that were misrepresented as taxable goods.
I came in to purchase my leased Tacoma on June 11th, 2024. The purchase price is predetermined based on the original lease agreement signed in 2021. That's called a residual value and It is a fixed price that is not negotiable. The purchase is subject to 7.5% CA sales and use tax, $85 document fee, and some minor DMV fees for title transfer. My registration is current, so I don't have to pay for the tags at the time of purchase.
My sales manager was Eric Salgado, who stated that the dealership doesn't make money when consumers purchase their leased cars at term end. That's a true statement. Eric also said that it's their policy to charge a $795 document processing fee to each customer who is buying their Toyota lease.
In California, the document processing fee is capped at $85. Meaning the dealer software will not allow for a doc fee to exceed $85. So what is a dealer to do??
They disguise the document processing fee as aftermarket add-on parts. In my case, they were "selling" me door cup guards for $795. That's a protective sticker with clear film that goes under your door handles to prevent scratches. Part costs about $50 from dealer and $20 on Amazon. I didn't ask for these parts, and the dealer has refused to remove the $795 fee.
This review is not about an insane markup on parts, rather a deceptive and illegal practice for charging a document processing fee of $795. Eric said numerous times, that this is the only way the dealership can present these additional charges. If the purchase price is fixed, and all other fees are set by the DMV, the dealer can only modify the aftermarket parts section on my contract.
Now, the document fee is a service, and not a tangible item that is subject to CA sales and use tax. When this fee is disguised as a physical auto part(s), the full amount is subject to sales tax. If you are financing your purchase, you will pay unnecessary interest on all of these overstated fees.
I had asked over 10 times to remove the $795 fee that shouldn't be there. I asked to present the $795 charge as a document fee and not as aftermarket parts which sales manager wasn't going to install on my car anyway.
After I told Eric that my vehicle was already equipped with door guards, he pulled the purchase agreement and refused to sell the vehicle. He promised to reach out to his General Manager within next two days to request a fee waiver. After 3.5 hours at the dealer, we were politely asked to leave. I've not heard back from the dealer since then.
The CDTFA (CA Department of Tax and Fee Administration) has been collecting additional sales tax on doc fees fraudulently charged by this dealership. As a consumer, you have a claim against the State and this dealership for a refund of sales tax.
Save your time, your money and simply go to a different dealership. read more