Dealership buyback b.s.

[veeman]

Got a letter today from the dealership I bought my 2017 Crosstrek from.  I financed it over 4 years and have 1 yr 8 months still to pay it off.  I still owe $10,500 on it.  The letter, in fake "handwriting", says they want to offer me a very aggressive price to buy back my Crosstrek.  And there's a fake check for $16,500.  There's some small print that price may vary dependent on miles and condition. So for kicks I check out the kelley blue book value for my car as a dealership trade in and it's around $11,500.  Every car I remember buying has these letters come from the dealership that sold me the car two or three years after the purchase date.  Why do they do this b.s.?  I know dealerships make a lot of money on selling used cars (more than new cars) but let's say I go to the dealership, with this fake check in hand, and they offer me, guess what, $11,500.  Is it worth pissing off your customers who have already purchased cars from you?  It seems to be a total scam. 

[giant_mtb]

Of course it's a scam. Buy Tacomas from people on the side of the road. You'll never have to deal with dealership BS again.

[2o6]

They want to buy your car so they can finance you a new one. Because I've bought and sold several fairly late model vehicles, I get "offers" from several dealerships to buy my car. I've even had a few actually text me asking if I wanted to trade in my car instead of sell it.


It's just a way to drum up leads and interest. It's not really a "scam". That 16k price is likely contingent on a number of things, namely you getting another car from them.

[veeman]

They sold me the car and I service it there so they know exactly what model I have and how many miles I have on it.  There is no way they would give me anywhere near $16 grand for it even if I bought a new car from them.  On kbb the private party value is around $15,500.  It's also a 5 speed manual so they wouldn't be able to find a buyer for it anyways    They "should" just give me a fake check with a more reasonable amount they would really buy it back from me for.   

[AutobahnSHO]

They sold me the car and I service it there so they know exactly what model I have and how many miles I have on it.  There is no way they would give me anywhere near $16 grand for it even if I bought a new car from them.  On kbb the private party value is around $15,500.  It's also a 5 speed manual so they wouldn't be able to find a buyer for it anyways    They "should" just give me a fake check with a more reasonable amount they would really buy it back from me for.   

Dealer price is always a couple grand over private party.

If they gave you a realistic price, you wouldn't go straight to the dealer and get a new car. Like Kevin said, they want your payments for longer on a newer car. If they offer you "more than it's worth", you might get hooked.

[veeman]

Yeah that's true.  Feeding the perpetual car payment life.

[Lebowski]

Yep.  They're fishing to get people to "upgrade" to a new car.

[veeman]

Anything in the mail with fake handwriting is usually garbage.  I'm assuming it's fake.  It's annoying. 

[Eye of the Tiger]

Cash it