"admin/etching fees"

[hungtru]

What's up with these fees? I was just at two different Mazda dealers, and one of them was completely adamant that it *is* not negotiable, while the other one didn't really give me a definite answer.

Anyone know?

[TheMAN]

etching glass is a joke, you don't need it
it INCREASES the security risk of your car unlike what most people want you to believe

[aris]

i had no chioce but to pay for it cause my car was already done..but if i had a choice i would have NOT done it

[cwp_sedan]

Talk to Jeff-TheBiz He will set you straight.


etching glass is a joke, you don't need it
it INCREASES the security risk of your car unlike what most people want you to believe

I don't have it but how could it possibly "increase" the security risk of your vehicle?

People aren't going to look at it and say "I should definitely steal/break into that car because there is security etching on the glass".

[b.rabbit]

etching is optional.

[ElegantGremlin]

I don't have it but how could it possibly "increase" the security risk of your vehicle?

People aren't going to look at it and say "I should definitely steal/break into that car because there is security etching on the glass".

I have it on my car and it's just a set of numbers etched into all the windows of your car. It's just a way to identify the vehicle that cannot be easily removed (like a license plate). So if your car is stolen, you call the company and than the cops can run the numbers and find out it's yours and stolen.

[Go_Habs_Go]

etching glass is a joke, you don't need it
it INCREASES the security risk of your car unlike what most people want you to believe

In Quebec, a company called Sherlock (it's got a picture of a crab if they put a sticker on your window) offers a security etching service for vehicles. It's basically a unique identifier for your car that starts with your city code. For example, I live in Montreal so the identifier on my car starts with YUL, the airport code for Montreal.

That unique identifier is then registered with local and national police departments (and possible interpol as well?). The idea is to make it less appealing for thieves that want to steal cars and strip them down for parts. It's a lot harder to sell pieces that have the security etching sand-blasted into them.

It cost me 200$ to have it done (that's the standard rate that the company forces all authorized installers to charge, no more, no less) and it reduced my insurance by almost 70$ a year so it will have paid for itself in 3 years.

I don't regret getting it done but check with your insurance if there is any cost savings for you if you decided to get it done.

Mind you any dealership that "forces" you to get it done sounds pretty sketchy to me.

Good luck!

[aris]

etching is optional.

only if you order your car...if it's all ready on the lot then it's probaly all ready been etched

[TheMAN]

In Quebec, a company called Sherlock (it's got a picture of a crab if they put a sticker on your window) offers a security etching service for vehicles. It's basically a unique identifier for your car that starts with your city code. For example, I live in Montreal so the identifier on my car starts with YUL, the airport code for Montreal.

That unique identifier is then registered with local and national police departments (and possible interpol as well?). The idea is to make it less appealing for thieves that want to steal cars and strip them down for parts. It's a lot harder to sell pieces that have the security etching sand-blasted into them.

It cost me 200$ to have it done (that's the standard rate that the company forces all authorized installers to charge, no more, no less) and it reduced my insurance by almost 70$ a year so it will have paid for itself in 3 years.

I don't regret getting it done but check with your insurance if there is any cost savings for you if you decided to get it done.

Mind you any dealership that "forces" you to get it done sounds pretty sketchy to me.

Good luck!
that's the most secure version of etching numbers

but the cheaper way a lot of dealers do also is just simple VIN etching (which is what I was refering to)
why is it a big risk? anyone can just walk by and copy down the VIN... if they got a friend on the "inside" at the dealer who's getting a kickback for being a crook, he can make a key for the actual car thief then just go unlock your car and tow it without much drama (or they can just drive off with the car doesn't have an immobilizer system, like an older car)

the system you just refer to isn't bulletproof either... all it takes is some ******* from the inside to ruin everything

in either version, it is very easy to track down the address of the owner the car was registered to... either through DMV records or with information from time of purchase (or if updated with mazda when you move... you have to actually call mazda canada to do this, dealers can't do that)... finding stuff about your car with a VIN is much easier than a license plate number due to obvious accessibility issues

this is why I cut a black piece of cardboard and stuck it on the dashboard over the VIN plate on my protege :D

the whole irony of this? the 17 digit "WMI" format VIN number system was an american idea as a theft prevention measure, and the real good part of this... NHTSA stated that the VIN number on dashboard requirement was ALSO an anti-theft measure back in the early 80s... now stop and think, based on what I said, that is very not true!

dashboard VIN plates aren't required outside of the US/Canada, so many cars overseas do not have dashboard VIN plates... some do though, such as german cars (still on the left side, regardless of LHD or RHD because on some of those cars, they have a "window" for the VIN plate just like the 3... cheaper to make 1 windshield glass instead of 2 ;))

[Mazda3X2]

i had no chioce but to pay for it cause my car was already done..but if i had a choice i would have NOT done it

You must have gotten yours at Bay Mazda. I think they do all their cars without asking and add the cost to every sale.

When I bought my MS3 from Jeff he didn't push that stuff at all.

[cwp_sedan]

I have it on my car and it's just a set of numbers etched into all the windows of your car. It's just a way to identify the vehicle that cannot be easily removed (like a license plate). So if your car is stolen, you call the company and than the cops can run the numbers and find out it's yours and stolen.

I know what it is, but how would it make the car more of a risk to be stolen or broken in to like TheMAN is suggesting?

[SonicBoy]

For my 07 I was insistent on not having this. I was told it was mandatory and it had already been done. I told them deal was off.

They made me sign a waiver stating that I declined it. Tried to make it real difficult and mentioned legalities.

Bottom line, I did not pay for it nor should you. It is part of those items where the dealership has incentives to do x number of vechicles per contract.

[ElegantGremlin]

I know what it is, but how would it make the car more of a risk to be stolen or broken in to like TheMAN is suggesting?

It won't. Even the examples TheMAN posted requires the perfect set up and sounds like something that will only happen in the movies. Besides, even if they did steal your car using that method, once you report it stolen it will still be easier to find than one without it.

And when is the etching done? I had my car ordered but it came with the etching. Than again, Jeff nabbed it mid-transit.

[aris]

You must have gotten yours at Bay Mazda. I think they do all their cars without asking and add the cost to every sale.

When I bought my MS3 from Jeff he didn't push that stuff at all.

Yep..and it kinda pissed me off...but nothing i could do:whoa

I don't see the point of it...i don't realy care if someone stlles my car cause this is why i pay so much money on car insurance..plus i don't think it's going to stop anyone from steeling your car if you got the windows etched...all they would have to do is steal your car and take all the parts and ditch the windows!

[Nabster]

kingston Mazda etches all the body panels, I've never heard of window etching!

[aris]

kingston Mazda etches all the body panels, I've never heard of window etching!

My glass only has been etched

[Aitch]

that's the most secure version of etching numbers

but the cheaper way a lot of dealers do also is just simple VIN etching (which is what I was refering to)
why is it a big risk? anyone can just walk by and copy down the VIN... if they got a friend on the "inside" at the dealer who's getting a kickback for being a crook, he can make a key for the actual car thief then just go unlock your car and tow it without much drama (or they can just drive off with the car doesn't have an immobilizer system, like an older car)

the system you just refer to isn't bulletproof either... all it takes is some ******* from the inside to ruin everything

in either version, it is very easy to track down the address of the owner the car was registered to... either through DMV records or with information from time of purchase (or if updated with mazda when you move... you have to actually call mazda canada to do this, dealers can't do that)... finding stuff about your car with a VIN is much easier than a license plate number due to obvious accessibility issues

this is why I cut a black piece of cardboard and stuck it on the dashboard over the VIN plate on my protege :D

the whole irony of this? the 17 digit "WMI" format VIN number system was an american idea as a theft prevention measure, and the real good part of this... NHTSA stated that the VIN number on dashboard requirement was ALSO an anti-theft measure back in the early 80s... now stop and think, based on what I said, that is very not true!

dashboard VIN plates aren't required outside of the US/Canada, so many cars overseas do not have dashboard VIN plates... some do though, such as german cars (still on the left side, regardless of LHD or RHD because on some of those cars, they have a "window" for the VIN plate just like the 3... cheaper to make 1 windshield glass instead of 2 ;))

I understand what you're saying... but you're talking about how a thief can use the VIN# to gain access to your car. In both instances (the car having a VIN, and it being etched on the windows) the idea was that once the car is stolen, it can be easily identified by police, and conversely, it is harder for the thief to mask the identity of the car.

The more things on the car that have the VIN on them, the easier it is for the police to identify the car if it is found. That's the value of having a VIN and etching it (as an identifier) on the windows.

Etching another number (such as Sherlock does) adds another layer of complexity for the thief to cover up, but doesn't inherently make the car harder to steal in the first place, since the VIN number is still out there by the windshield.

[TheMAN]

this is based on the assumption that the entire car gets sold by the thieves... it is more common for the car to be chopped up... in this case, plastering VINs everywhere isn't going to help much except for tracing the "seller"... but what does that do to help you? NOTHING
car is in pieces, and GONE

[Go_Habs_Go]

this is based on the assumption that the entire car gets sold by the thieves... it is more common for the car to be chopped up... in this case, plastering VINs everywhere isn't going to help much except for tracing the "seller"... but what does that do to help you? NOTHING
car is in pieces, and GONE

In my case, financial motivation was also part of the reason. It cost me 200$ + tax but it reduced my insurance by 70$ a year (I called for before and after quotes and I was surprised by the difference!). Since I'm planning on keeping my car more than 3 years it made sense to me. But perhaps the 70$ reduction on my insurance will also reduce over time? Hard to tell but from what my broker told me, the discount will be applied every year and it will not reduce that much over time as the value of my car decreases.

Also, I figure it makes my car somewhat less of a target for thieves since I would assume it's harder for people who strip down cars for parts to sell them afterwards? I don't know about this underground business but I would assume that if the pieces are marked it makes it a bit harder for them to flow back into the "legitimate" market. A scrap yard that sells stolen parts but markets them as "legally obtained parts" would probably be less likely to sell the same pieces if they've been marked, no? If the cops trace stolen pieces back to the scrap yard there would be a lot of questions to answer, as in 'where did you get these parts' and 'let's see your books so we can trace where these came from' and 'ok, you're coming downtown with us' lol.

Anyway, what do I know about this, I only watched The Soprano's!!

[mit-gee-mui]

More/Same stuff

http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=31828&highlight=etch%2A

http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=25477&highlight=etch%2A

http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=17693&highlight=etch%2A

[ElegantGremlin]

Go_Habs_Go: what insurance company are you with? I just called mine (Belair) and they have no discounts for it.

[BoostieMonster]

I have to agree with THEMAN on this one.....Gremlin its funny how you say it has to be something right out of the movies. How do you think these crimes happen? There are TONS of chop shops all over the GTA, they ALL have someone on the inside at the DMV, and them having the VIN number in plain site makes their lives MUCH easier. And then these cars are stripped and parts sold within days, the police having all these "numbers" doesn't help unless the entire car is sold again, and then the criminals are smart enough to change VIN numbers, etching too, and have it match with the DMV records so that when the new person has their insurance company run a check it actually checks out. Trust me, if an amateur wants to steal your car, they will jimmy the car open, strip the electronics out and leave the car on the side of the road....a professional will steal and strip, either method etching doesn't help.

[Jeff-TheBiz]

So let me shed what light I have on the topic.

First off Mazda does not allow any admin fee on the purchase of a new car.


In Quebec, a company called Sherlock (it's got a picture of a crab if they put a sticker on your window)


In my case, financial motivation was also part of the reason. It cost me 200$ + tax but it reduced my insurance by 70$ a year (I called for before and after quotes and I was surprised by the difference!).

Quebec has a huge problem with auto theft.. infact Boomerang originated there in Canada, as low jack.

That being the case, I am pretty sure all of the insurance companies there give a discount if you have this in place. Also remember to mention to your insurance company that the car has an engine immobilizer (some of the smaller companies don't have this listed in their systems.



And when is the etching done? I had my car ordered but it came with the etching.

Dealerships that etch their cars do so to lower their insurance on their inventory. If the car is to be on their lot for more than a few days, it is etched to recieve that discount. It is normally done when the car arrives.


plus i don't think it's going to stop anyone from steeling your car if you got the windows etched...all they would have to do is steal your car and take all the parts and ditch the windows!


VINs everywhere isn't going to help much except for tracing the "seller"... but what does that do to help you? NOTHING
car is in pieces, and GONE

I think you guys are missing the key point.. it isn't just a deterrant. If there are 2 identical cars being considered and one of them has etch I doubt it will be a thief's first choice..

but that being the case, if the etched car is stolen, it comes with a policy from the company. Each company carries a different amount. F.C.P.P. will give you $5000 towards your new car if your present etched car is stolen and not recovered, this is over and above whatever settlement your insurance provides.

[ElegantGremlin]

And the FCPP one isn't the VIN. It's a serial assigned by the company.

[Go_Habs_Go]

Go_Habs_Go: what insurance company are you with? I just called mine (Belair) and they have no discounts for it.

I'm with ING Insurance but I believe they just changed their name to Intact Insurance or something like that? Anyway, I get it through my broker that I've been with for years so I never deal with the insurance company directly.

Also, I live in Montreal so insurance standards are probably different in Quebec, as Jeff mentions below.



Quebec has a huge problem with auto theft.. infact Boomerang originated there in Canada, as low jack.

That being the case, I am pretty sure all of the insurance companies there give a discount if you have this in place. Also remember to mention to your insurance company that the car has an engine immobilizer (some of the smaller companies don't have this listed in their systems.


Thanks for pointing that out Jeff! :) But thankfully my broker knew about the engine immobilizer when I got the car insured and I'm getting the additional discount for that too.

[Krazy]

I'm with ING Insurance but I believe they just changed their name to Intact Insurance or something like that? Anyway, I get it through my broker that I've been with for years so I never deal with the insurance company directly.

Also, I live in Montreal so insurance standards are probably different in Quebec, as Jeff mentions below.



Thanks for pointing that out Jeff! :) But thankfully my broker knew about the engine immobilizer when I got the car insured and I'm getting the additional discount for that too.

Hey Go_Habs_Go

you are with belair right? Did you really geta discont for engine immobiliser? Does that count as second type of security for ur car? (other than ur alarm)
I should call in for this discount!!!

[ElegantGremlin]

Hey Go_Habs_Go

you are with belair right? Did you really geta discont for engine immobiliser? Does that count as second type of security for ur car? (other than ur alarm)
I should call in for this discount!!!

He said ING in the first line of the post you quoted. I already called Belair, they don't offer discount for the etching, and they only offer discounts for security systems you install yourself. Anything that's standard in the car is already accounted for.

[Aitch]

this is based on the assumption that the entire car gets sold by the thieves... it is more common for the car to be chopped up... in this case, plastering VINs everywhere isn't going to help much except for tracing the "seller"... but what does that do to help you? NOTHING
car is in pieces, and GONE

That's what I was saying, etching another non-VIN number doesn't really make the car any more secure or act as a better deterrent to thieves. As Jeff said, any etching helps lower your premiums (and the dealerships). Any etching doesn't really lower your risk of theft.

[ciscokid]

Hi there,
Im dealing with Oakville Mazda and they are trying to charge me the $299 Theft package/admin fee. I told the Sales manager to remove it as it is not mandatory and this was his reply:

The Theft Protection Package is a mandatory dealer charge, every car sold from Oakville Mazda does come with this and it includes Theft Etching with insurance, wheel locks and lexan license plate covers. This package was included in all numbers you were quoted and on the Bill of Sale. We never add charges after the fact unless you request to purchase something extra.

Told him if he doesnt remove it i would cancel the deal or go elswhere.
Stay tunned

[cwp_sedan]

Hi there,
Im dealing with Oakville Mazda and they are trying to charge me the $299 Theft package/admin fee. I told the Sales manager to remove it as it is not mandatory and this was his reply:

The Theft Protection Package is a mandatory dealer charge, every car sold from Oakville Mazda does come with this and it includes Theft Etching with insurance, wheel locks and lexan license plate covers. This package was included in all numbers you were quoted and on the Bill of Sale. We never add charges after the fact unless you request to purchase something extra.

Told him if he doesnt remove it i would cancel the deal or go elswhere.
Stay tunned

Tell him you want to talk to Jason Guttman, the President of Oakville Mazda. Tell Jason you are a member of Torontomazda3 and explain the situation and see what he can do.

If you don't want the etching, then you don't have to pay for it. It's not a required item.

[ciscokid]

Thanks for your help cwp_sedan,
I might have to take it to that level if he is adamant about the charge.

[ElegantGremlin]

Hi there,
Im dealing with Oakville Mazda and they are trying to charge me the $299 Theft package/admin fee. I told the Sales manager to remove it as it is not mandatory and this was his reply:

The Theft Protection Package is a mandatory dealer charge, every car sold from Oakville Mazda does come with this and it includes Theft Etching with insurance, wheel locks and lexan license plate covers. This package was included in all numbers you were quoted and on the Bill of Sale. We never add charges after the fact unless you request to purchase something extra.

Told him if he doesnt remove it i would cancel the deal or go elswhere.
Stay tunned

I have a question.. did you haggle down to a price you were happy to pay and than see this on the Purchase Agreement or was it shown to you during the negotiation?

[ciscokid]

When he was breaking it down in the negociation phase. He sales rep mentioned briefly. At that time he made it seem like it was mandatory. The car is not in their lot and have yet to locate one so its not like it has been etched already and waiting to driven out. It wasn't till after the fact that i looked over the contract and wasn't totally sold on that fee since it never appeared on their website as part of the mandatory fees & taxes. So right now im still awaiting for them to get back to me. If i dont hear back by the end of the day I'll just go to a different dealership

[ciscokid]

Woo hoo!!! I got it waived :bana2. Thank you guys for all your input and sites like these that keep the consumer aware of whats out there and watch out for one another.
This is the reply i got from the Sales Manager at Oakville Mazda

Hi Francisco,

You are correct that is not a mandatory charge by Mazda Canada this is a dealer charge that most dealers have.
I spoke to the owner and he is going to waive the package for you, so the vehicle will not have wheel locks, etch or lexan plate covers but also the 299 fee will not be charged.

[mazda lover]

Go_Habs_Go: what insurance company are you with? I just called mine (Belair) and they have no discounts for it.


mine doesn't either

[Go_Habs_Go]

Hey Go_Habs_Go

you are with belair right? Did you really geta discont for engine immobiliser? Does that count as second type of security for ur car? (other than ur alarm)
I should call in for this discount!!!

I'm actually with ING Insurance, but like I mentioned I think they recently changed their name to Intact Insurance. I think ING (like lots of other financial/insurance institutions) had some issues lately with the whole credit crisis meltdown and perhaps they are changing their name to re-brand and re-image themselves.

In any case, I don't deal with the company directly, I go through an independent Insurance Broker.

Interesting point to add, I believe that Belair Direct is actually owned by ING, it's their way of competing with other "direct" insurance companies. Anyway, it's what I heard, don't know this for a fact and I think ING runs Belair as a completely seperare entity.

As for the discounts, my broker said that the Sherlock Etching reduced my premium by about 70$ a year and they also took into account the factory installed engine immobilizer that came with the car.

Again, being in Quebec, insurance standards are probably quite different than Ontario for security discounts, etc.

[MajesticBlueNTO]

Woo hoo!!! I got it waived :bana2. Thank you guys for all your input and sites like these that keep the consumer aware of whats out there and watch out for one another.
This is the reply i got from the Sales Manager at Oakville Mazda

Hi Francisco,

You are correct that is not a mandatory charge by Mazda Canada this is a dealer charge that most dealers have.
I spoke to the owner and he is going to waive the package for you, so the vehicle will not have wheel locks, etch or lexan plate covers but also the 299 fee will not be charged.

that's ok...

wheel locks are $30-50
vin etching can be ordered online for $20-30
plate covers are about $20 at CT

...most you pay on your own is $100, so the least you save is $200

i'm surprised about the wheel locks though, because most dealers throw that in for free, figuring they'll make it back from you when you come in for service.

plate covers as well....some dealers give these away for free as it is free advertisement for them (if the plate covers are branded with the dealership name). here's the ironic part, if you were to pay for those plate covers, you're paying the dealer to advertise for them!

[ElegantGremlin]

that's ok...

wheel locks are $30-50
vin etching can be ordered online for $20-30
plate covers are about $20 at CT

...most you pay on your own is $100, so the least you save is $200

i'm surprised about the wheel locks though, because most dealers throw that in for free, figuring they'll make it back from you when you come in for service.

plate covers as well....some dealers give these away for free as it is free advertisement for them (if the plate covers are branded with the dealership name). here's the ironic part, if you were to pay for those plate covers, you're paying the dealer to advertise for them!

He can get TM3 plate covers at $20 which offer more than the ones at CT.

[MajesticBlueNTO]

He can get TM3 plate covers at $20 which offer more than the ones at CT.

TM3 saved him $300, so $20 towards TM3 should be a drop in the bucket :chuckle

[ciscokid]

Thanks again for the advice. Sorry new to the forums. Does anyone know the link where you can order the TM3 plate covers?

[ElegantGremlin]

Thanks again for the advice. Sorry new to the forums. Does anyone know the link where you can order the TM3 plate covers?

Voila.

http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?p=458431

[mazda lover]

i had no chioce but to pay for it cause my car was already done..but if i had a choice i would have NOT done it

you had a choice and that was to say NO. if they still refuse to waive the charge tell them you will contact OMVIC that will make them crap into their diapers. If its a security protection for the cars that are not sold why should we pay for it, do they pay for your insurance so you can drive the car you bought from them?
Their security is their issue not ours. A lot of their cars are in a fenced in compound. A lot of dealers have no room for a large number of cars they have in their inventory. I was told the etching is in effect for 3 years, I asked the salesperson if I sell the car within the 3 years is it transferable to the new owner, I was told no. So how can they transfer the etching to me, I am now the new owner. What I don't know when the car is delivered is the ownership of the vehicle in the name of the dealer. If so hows is the etching transferable to me. FTW.
Dealers will tell you the vehicle is already etched so pay up. How do they know what name to put on the registration when the car is not sold yet. So I assume they leave the name blank so when its sold they just add the name. So don't fall for the car is etched already. What do dealers do if they do a swap with another dealer where one car is etched, so they say and one that isn't? does the etching follow the car?
Negotiate your best price, just before you sign cross of the etching, security protection what ever they call it off the contract and remind them if they peruse it you will contact OMVIC, and APA ...they will back off in a hurry. I wonder how many new Canadians, women, 1st time buyers, the young and old and the uniformed are taken..
Why can't dealers just be up front give us a list of after sales options that can be purchased and by doing this the consumer can make their decision what they want not what they are told they have to buy.
OK rant is over...carry on

[cwp_sedan]

you had a choice and that was to say NO. if they still refuse to waive the charge tell them you will contact OMVIC that will make them crap into their diapers. If its a security protection for the cars that are not sold why should we pay for it, do they pay for your insurance so you can drive the car you bought from them?
Their security is their issue not ours. A lot of their cars are in a fenced in compound. A lot of dealers have no room for a large number of cars they have in their inventory. I was told the etching is in effect for 3 years, I asked the salesperson if I sell the car within the 3 years is it transferable to the new owner, I was told no. So how can they transfer the etching to me, I am now the new owner. What I don't know when the car is delivered is the ownership of the vehicle in the name of the dealer. If so hows is the etching transferable to me. FTW.
Dealers will tell you the vehicle is already etched so pay up. How do they know what name to put on the registration when the car is not sold yet. So I assume they leave the name blank so when its sold they just add the name. So don't fall for the car is etched already. What do dealers do if they do a swap with another dealer where one car is etched, so they say and one that isn't? does the etching follow the car?
Negotiate your best price, just before you sign cross of the etching, security protection what ever they call it off the contract and remind them if they peruse it you will contact OMVIC, and APA ...they will back off in a hurry. I wonder how many new Canadians, women, 1st time buyers, the young and old and the uniformed are taken..
Why can't dealers just be up front give us a list of after sales options that can be purchased and by doing this the consumer can make their decision what they want not what they are told they have to buy.
OK rant is over...carry on

Why are you ranting on a thread 7 months old?!!!

OK my rant is over...carry on :chuckle

[aris]

you had a choice and that was to say NO. if they still refuse to waive the charge tell them you will contact OMVIC that will make them crap into their diapers. If its a security protection for the cars that are not sold why should we pay for it, do they pay for your insurance so you can drive the car you bought from them?
Their security is their issue not ours. A lot of their cars are in a fenced in compound. A lot of dealers have no room for a large number of cars they have in their inventory. I was told the etching is in effect for 3 years, I asked the salesperson if I sell the car within the 3 years is it transferable to the new owner, I was told no. So how can they transfer the etching to me, I am now the new owner. What I don't know when the car is delivered is the ownership of the vehicle in the name of the dealer. If so hows is the etching transferable to me. FTW.
Dealers will tell you the vehicle is already etched so pay up. How do they know what name to put on the registration when the car is not sold yet. So I assume they leave the name blank so when its sold they just add the name. So don't fall for the car is etched already. What do dealers do if they do a swap with another dealer where one car is etched, so they say and one that isn't? does the etching follow the car?
Negotiate your best price, just before you sign cross of the etching, security protection what ever they call it off the contract and remind them if they peruse it you will contact OMVIC, and APA ...they will back off in a hurry. I wonder how many new Canadians, women, 1st time buyers, the young and old and the uniformed are taken..
Why can't dealers just be up front give us a list of after sales options that can be purchased and by doing this the consumer can make their decision what they want not what they are told they have to buy.
OK rant is over...carry on

To late now..but at least now i know next car or truck i buy next i am NOT going to pay the etching fees...you learn from your mistakes..lol

This was not my first time buying brand new..i bought my truck brand new in dec 99 and their was no etching done back them

[m_bisson]

I have to agree with THEMAN on this one.....Gremlin its funny how you say it has to be something right out of the movies. How do you think these crimes happen? There are TONS of chop shops all over the GTA, they ALL have someone on the inside at the DMV, and them having the VIN number in plain site makes their lives MUCH easier. And then these cars are stripped and parts sold within days, the police having all these "numbers" doesn't help unless the entire car is sold again, and then the criminals are smart enough to change VIN numbers, etching too, and have it match with the DMV records so that when the new person has their insurance company run a check it actually checks out. Trust me, if an amateur wants to steal your car, they will jimmy the car open, strip the electronics out and leave the car on the side of the road....a professional will steal and strip, either method etching doesn't help.

HEY! here's an idea! Go look at the bottom right corner of your windshield! VIN!!!!!! WOW!!!! doesn't matter if you get it etched or not, it's ALWAYS going to be visible in plain sight.

[mazda lover]

Here is a link to OMVIC regarding etching and any other unsolicited add ons.
If you payed for etching go back to the dealer and ask for your money back, print out the link and show it to them. But of course they will say you asked for it. Report them to OMVIC. if it wasn't for Zoom Zoom Girl we would not be getting our rust fixed. She kept up the fight and never quit, so a lesson well learned.
So don't be a wimp.
To the moderators I think the link should be a sticky.

http://www.omvic.on.ca/pdf/OMVIC%20bulletin%20-%20November%202005-2.pdf

[aris]

If someone all ready paid for it why bother going back to get $300 back??

My dealer did not hide the $300 eitching fee..I didn't want to pay it but i agreed to pay so what would be the point to try to get the money back

[prinsesa]

I was told I had to pay for this =O I was never informed of the etching fees, but when I signed the papers, I asked the guy about it and he says its mandatory or something.

[mazda lover]

why would you agree to pay? if you agreed than yes you can't ask for your money back, I am sure they pressured you making you think you had to pay, look at every charge on the contract and ask what it is for, just beware next time if you don't want it. I rather use the $300 for something for the car that has value/

[n00bMeiSter]

First off Mazda does not allow any admin fee on the purchase of a new car.

I'm not sure I follow you on that one. Every time I've been in a Mazda dealership they have shown me a breakdown of the pricing, and included is the admin fees of like $199-$299.
If I still have my papers from the dealerships I've been to, I'll try to post them.

[Speedy2008]

Hi there,
Im dealing with Oakville Mazda and they are trying to charge me the $299 Theft package/admin fee. I told the Sales manager to remove it as it is not mandatory and this was his reply:

The Theft Protection Package is a mandatory dealer charge, every car sold from Oakville Mazda does come with this and it includes Theft Etching with insurance, wheel locks and lexan license plate covers. This package was included in all numbers you were quoted and on the Bill of Sale. We never add charges after the fact unless you request to purchase something extra.

Told him if he doesnt remove it i would cancel the deal or go elswhere.
Stay tunned

Oakville Mazda is still charging this admin. fee but disguising it with a safer term known as "theft protection." Before I signed, the President of Oakville Mazda informed me that all cars they sell come with the pkg. as an add-on. I asked to have this fee waived but they ignored my request; stating that I was already getting a really good deal on the sale. I was not made aware that this funny fee was $299.00 extra until I saw it embedded in the bill of sale. They made it seem that all their cars come with it without charge to their customers. In fairness, I did get a good deal but these types of fees leave customers feeling bitter.

I understand dealers need to make money and as The Biz pointed out, it lowers the dealer's insurance premiums. They are also making me pay for my plates on the day of delivery. When I bought my Mazdaspeed 3, the dealer included the plate fees within my contract but after I signed the contract this past Saturday, the words 'paid separately' was hand-written on the contract after the fact. Sneaky stuff.

[Jeff-TheBiz]

They are also making me pay for my plates on the day of delivery. When I bought my Mazdaspeed 3, the dealer included the plate fees within my contract but after I signed the contract this past Saturday, the words 'paid separately' was hand-written on the contract after the fact. Sneaky stuff.

Everyone pays for their plates seperately, not sneaky at all..

If they were 'included' on your Speed3, then you obviously paid a little more than you should have for the car.

[Speedy2008]

Ok cool. I take back what I said then. Can't wait to get my new ride! Advice to all: get your ride from Jeff.

[mazda lover]

Oakville Mazda is still charging this admin. fee but disguising it with a safer term known as "theft protection." Before I signed, the President of Oakville Mazda informed me that all cars they sell come with the pkg. as an add-on. I asked to have this fee waived but they ignored my request; stating that I was already getting a really good deal on the sale. I was not made aware that this funny fee was $299.00 extra until I saw it embedded in the bill of sale. They made it seem that all their cars come with it without charge to their customers. In fairness, I did get a good deal but these types of fees leave customers feeling bitter.

I understand dealers need to make money and as The Biz pointed out, it lowers the dealer's insurance premiums. They are also making me pay for my plates on the day of delivery. When I bought my Mazdaspeed 3, the dealer included the plate fees within my contract but after I signed the contract this past Saturday, the words 'paid separately' was hand-written on the contract after the fact. Sneaky stuff.

Tell the dealer you will contact OMVIC as forcing you to buy something you don't want is illegal.
They will change their mind,

[mazda lover]

Oakville Mazda is still charging this admin. fee but disguising it with a safer term known as "theft protection." Before I signed, the President of Oakville Mazda informed me that all cars they sell come with the pkg. as an add-on. I asked to have this fee waived but they ignored my request; stating that I was already getting a really good deal on the sale. I was not made aware that this funny fee was $299.00 extra until I saw it embedded in the bill of sale. They made it seem that all their cars come with it without charge to their customers. In fairness, I did get a good deal but these types of fees leave customers feeling bitter.

I understand dealers need to make money and as The Biz pointed out, it lowers the dealer's insurance premiums. They are also making me pay for my plates on the day of delivery. When I bought my Mazdaspeed 3, the dealer included the plate fees within my contract but after I signed the contract this past Saturday, the words 'paid separately' was hand-written on the contract after the fact. Sneaky stuff.

question for the Biz, how does the etching lower the dealers insurance? if I had my car etched my insurance company said no to a lower premium. So what you are saying the cars are all etched while on your lot? I heard etching is not transferable to the next owner when the car is sold so how can the dealer do it?

[Speedy2008]

I will ask about having this funny fee waived since I'm ordering my car direct from the manufacturer and it will not be sitting on the lot as inventory. I'll pickup my car as soon as it arrives. I felt really disappointed after realizing they snuck it into my contract even though we agreed on a specific markup with no additional fees.

[distr0]

I will ask about having this funny fee waived since I'm ordering my car direct from the manufacturer and it will not be sitting on the lot as inventory. I'll pickup my car as soon as it arrives. I felt really disappointed after realizing they snuck it into my contract even though we agreed on a specific markup with no additional fees.

bought my car at oakville as well. although not related but what i did when negotiating the deal was agree on a final price (through ccc) and that price would show up as final on the "pre" bill of sale. I did notice that fee as well, but it still totalled up to what i wanted to pay in total, so i was happy (my car was apparantly found on the boat making its journey into port [so already built]). for your situation if it hasn't even been built yet, you can argue that fee i guess, since you'll be waiting ~6-8 weeks for your new ride.

[trademark83]

You have no choice but to pay for it.
The feature is useless as it does not lower your insurance premiums.
It's just profit for the dealership, probably what they pay the sales rep.

[Speedy2008]

I was able to get the funny fee removed from my bill of sale. All I had to do was ask and it was immediately waived. They say there will be no wheel locks; will not be etched; and will not be registered in their 'theft protection' database. I also have it in writing because I made a very respectful request by email.

I hope my experience with magically appearing fees will help others avoid the traps and tricks of the trade. The correspondence between you and the dealer should always remain well-mannered and reasonable. Throughout the entire buying experience, I remained cool as a cucumber. This is the best way to handle inconveniences.

[wikdslo]

You have no choice but to pay for it.
The feature is useless as it does not lower your insurance premiums.
It's just profit for the dealership, probably what they pay the sales rep.

Did you bother to read anything in this thread before you posted this uesless information?

It's been stated many times.

1. It's a deterrant, like a car alarm. Anyone who wants your car can get it.
2. It costs the dealerships money, and it's done to lower THEIR insurance premiums while cars sit on the lot.
3. It CAN lower your insurance, but that's dependant on the insurance company you are with.
4. You always have a choice. If the dealership wants to charge you for it, go somewhere else or order a car that hasn't already been etched.

[Speedy2008]

You had it removed because you're having your car built. You're not buying a pre-existing car on the lot. Had the car been on the lot that you're purchasing, and if it were etched, I doubt you could of had the fee removed. It's not a "trick" or "trap." If the car has the anti-theft deterrent option, just like a optional accessory, you have to pay for it unless it is removed from the vehicle.

In my case, it was an underhanded addition to my bill of sale because of the deal we worked out prior to the drafting of the contract. I also specifically asked to have it waived before I signed the contract. It was my fault for not looking over the agreement with greater precision. Nobody is required to pay admin. fees disguised as added benefits.