Chevy Dealers Demanding C8 Markups AFTER Taking Reservations at MSRP?!?

C8 Corvette buyers who didn’t agree to a price upon ordering could end up paying $10,000 extra.

When a hot, new car like the C8 Corvette arrives, it is inevitable that some dealerships will include the dreaded additional dealer markup to the bottom line. In most cases, the people who order one of the first cars know that they will pay an additional dealer markup. That is usually discussed at the time when the customer orders the car. However, it seems as though at least one Chevrolet dealership is accepting deposits for C8 Stingrays without mentioning an additional markup. Then, when the customer has waited for months, the dealership notifies them that they will be paying $10,000 on top of the MSRP of the new Corvette.

This happened to “EloyGarcia”, who put $5,000 down on a C8 at Payne Chevrolet in Weslasco, Texas. When he made his deposit, there was no mention of an additional dealer markup. As the time grew near for his Corvette to arrive, he learned that he is expected to pay $10,000 for the right to be in the second group of C8 buyers from this dealership.

Dealerships have a terrible reputation in general, and this story is a fine example as to why.

C8 Corvette Markup Introduction

When the OP first shared his disappointing news with the community, he provided the following details.

I just found out today my dealer is adding +$10K over sticker price once my car gets delivered. I was not told that when I put my $5k deposit down. They also told me I could have my $5K back when the car arrives since I had a trade in I wanted to use.
Did y’all get charged over sticker price even though you made an order?
I thought I heard GM told dealers not to do that for the C8. I feel like I should contact someone at GM. Any opinions?

A short time later, when another member asked if the OP had custom ordered the car and received paperwork with pricing, this was his response.

I believe the Dealer made the order. I just walked in one day, asked if they had any available, they brought me 8 papers with the all the options, prices and even status of the cars and they said I could pick which ever one I liked. Picked one and it showed the MSRP price, then I gave them $5K to claim it and that was about it. No where did it say +$10K anywhere and it was never mentioned. Kinda disappointed.
The sales manager told me they charged the “first batch of customers” +$15K and the second batch was $10k and that’s the lowest it would go.
“Non-negotiable”

In other words, this Chevy dealership ordered a bunch of cars for stock. When the OP came in, asking about reserving a new C8, they offered him one of the cars that they had ordered for stock. According to the OP, the MSRP was listed in the paperwork that he signed, but there was no mention of dealer markup.

The first member to reply with information on how to address this issue was “thill444”, who has experienced a similar issue with a Ford dealership.

Your only option is to complain to the GM of the dealership and try to negotiate the $10K down. GM has no control over this. It sucks. Ford did the same thing to me with Focus RS even with a signed contract showing MSRP plus TTL and standard dealer fees. I had a lawyer get involved but in the end the dealer has language in the contract that allowed them to change the price

It sucks.

To which the OP replied with the following.

Yeah I was really disappointed. There has been no contract and I have not signed anything. I was only given a receipt of my deposit and a copy of the order details.

Unfortunately, dealerships are able to set the price and the automaker can’t do anything about it. That is why the price is called the “manufacturer’s suggested retail price”. All the manufacturer can legally do is suggest a price. It is against the law for a manufacturer to mandate a certain price in any business segment, not just automobiles. This is why Walmart can charge whatever they want for a Hot Wheels car or a bike. It is also why dealerships can add their “market adjustment” to popular or limited vehicles.

“C8broughtmeback” mentioned that this isn’t the first story like this that he has heard with the C8.

These stories keep coming in and I feel horrible for all these people waiting for many months only to find the dealer changes the rules in the middle of the game…because they can! I feel SO fortunate to have dealt with MacMulkin. I would go berserk if I waited a year only to find the price was raised thousands of dollars because the dealer saw they could make lots of extra money. That being said, I have a feeling many buyers here never really confirmed definitively how much they would pay when the car arrived.

Many other members commented to point out of two things: that dealerships are shady or that the OP was foolish for not getting a set price in writing. In any case, that wasn’t the end of the story.

Canceled Order

A few hours after starting this thread, the OP posted to explain that he had canceled his order.

Hey all. I thought about it and I just went to the dealer to get my deposit back.
I am not and will not pay over sticker. Especially not $10K over. And the only reason I found out was because another dealer told me. What a shame.
Payne Chevrolet Weslaco, Texas are the scammers.

“Lax854” replied, suggesting that the OP get on a waiting list at MacMulkin, one of the most reputable Corvette dealerships in the country.

eloy if you want a 2021, Macmulkin is in 400s w their wait list. You will get a car next year w those numbers

Those two discussed the logistics of the OP ordering a car and having it shipped to his home in Texas. Meanwhile, others continued to share their input and concerns about facing a similar issue with their own C8 Corvette.

If you have input on this type of dealership action, or if you just want to read through the many unsavory comments about the dealership world, click here for a closer look.

Photos: GM

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