Metallic Paint Scam

[Dryce]

Just came off the phone with an aging relative who got a new small car this week. Just before picking up the car she got a call saying it had metallic paint and that they wanted an extra £400.

She went along with another relative and settled at a lower price (they won't tell me how much after I blew my top - I'm guessing they split the difference).

This is not the first time I've come across this happening. A few years back a different aged relative (note the theme) got hit with a similar thing - different dealer and different make of car - but the car had metallic paint when it arrived at the dealer and they managed to get some more money.

10 years ago my aunt would have stood her ground. And I think that's what really gets me. On top of that there's an independence pride thing which means you don't get told about stuff until it's too late. I'm livid.

So beware. I think the dealers see somebody in their 70s as an easy target.

 

[wemorgan]

Is this a brand new car or second-hand?

I've seen brand new cars costing more with metallic paint. So are you saying that the dealer added £400 to the sticker price of a second-hand car after the deal was done?

 

[Dryce]

Is this a brand new car or second-hand?

I've seen brand new cars costing more with metallic paint. So are you saying that the dealer added £400 to the sticker price of a second-hand car after the deal was done?

New. I did say 'new small car'.

 

[wemorgan]

New. I did say 'new small car'.

Yes you did I just wasn't sure whether you meant new to them, or actually brand new.

So is metallic paint standard on new cars these days?

 

[Dryce]

So is metallic paint standard on new cars these days?

I think if you're asked to pay for it as an option when you didn't order it then you might reasonably assume that it is not.

 

[bennesspipers]

You ageing relative should have said,'Thats not what i ordered,please supply what i ordered !'

 

[ringway]

Surely the colour was established at the point of sale and an invoice/paperwork detailing such was issued.

Deal done.

If the charge was levied after the "deal done" date I'd be paying the dealer a vist, even if the car is now in the posession of your relative.

 

[Dryce]

Surely the colour was established at the point of sale and an invoice/paperwork detailing such was issued.

Deal done.

If the charge was levied after the "deal done" date I'd be paying the dealer a vist, even if the car is now in the posession of your relative.

The dealer is 4 hours drive away and I have a relative who isn't going to fully 'fess up because I made a mistake and blew my top too early in the conversation this afternoon. Then there's pride and independence which was why I was told after the event - and because she got a discount off the £400 extra charge she thought she'd done a good deal - and I've rather undiplomatically changed that picture to tell her she was done.

 

[bennesspipers]

Name & shame the dealer !

 

[Dryce]

Name & shame the dealer !

Much as I'm tempted to find out the exact details .....

I'm not the victim. The victim has now swept it under the carpet. Not my business apparently. Water under bridge. Relative concerned doesn't want to be upset further.

 

[flango]

Working for a company that supplies the paint to most prestige marques I'll tell you what is a bigger rip off. They all charge extra for black paint yet it is one of the cheapest to produce even in metallic, red is also dirt cheap as is yellow and white, metallics are often cheaper to produce depending on the type of pigment and metal flake used its only when you get into pearlescent that the costs start going up. Production costs of a litre of Obsidian black <£2, White solid on MB and Porsche <£1 litre

 

[C240Sport97]

Working for a company that supplies the paint to most prestige marques I'll tell you what is a bigger rip off. They all charge extra for black paint yet it is one of the cheapest to produce even in metallic, red is also dirt cheap as is yellow and white, metallics are often cheaper to produce depending on the type of pigment and metal flake used its only when you get into pearlescent that the costs start going up. Production costs of a litre of Obsidian black <£2, White solid on MB and Porsche <£1 litre

flat black no cost on MB and Porsche ...

 

[st13phil]

Working for a company that supplies the paint to most prestige marques I'll tell you what is a bigger rip off. They all charge extra for black paint yet it is one of the cheapest to produce even in metallic

Historically, the reason black paint was priced higher is that it's easier to see panel and paint defects in black than in lighter colours. That meant that the bodyshell needed more careful prep, and the painted shell would need more corrective work before it looked good. Not necessarily true today, but that's where the "charge more for black" practice started.

Ironic really, when one considers Henry Ford's famous quote about his cars: "You can have it in any colour you like, as long as it's black".