Dealer Badge/Sticker

[ragingfish]

Random question. Does anyone know the manufacturer's policy as to dealer badges? I have to say, nothing angers me more than dealers sticking huge, and i mean HUGE, badges on the back of cars. I was behind a VW bug the other day, and the dealer badge was BIGGER than the VW badge on the back of the car!!!! IT WAS MASSIVE!So what is the policy? Does a buyer have the right to demand the dealer badge remain off the car, and if not, does the manufactuer have a policy as to how large a dealer badge can be?Just curious. Thanks all.

[Vibe]

That is something the dealers have been doing for decades. But I always firmly state to the dealer that if a badge is on my car . I will not accept delivery. Never had a problem. James

[Triton]

When I ordered my Vibe, I requested that they not put the dealer decal/badge on my car. I went to take a look at my car the day after they recieved it and my dealer told the detailer not to put the sticker on again. It is your right to request that they not put anything extra on your car.

[ragingfish]

So if you're buying a car off the lot, let's say, do they have a way to remove one they stuck on already, or is it only possible to get a dealer-free car with an order?

[Keely]

I was also adamant about no dealer decals on my Vibe. The GT that I eventually bought (after I refused the AWD I ordered at another dealership because they were jerks) had just been dropped off at the lot and hadn't been DPI'ed yet (or whatever the acronym is). When my offer was accepted I told my sales guy that under no circumstances would I hand over a cheque if they put a decal on the car, and it wasn't a problem.I will not advertise for a dealership without them paying dearly for the privilege.

[Sub-Vibe-R]

When I bought mine, the sticker was already on. I just removed it.

[Frosty]

quote:When I bought mine, the sticker was already on. I just removed it.It is not hard to do. Get out your hair dryer and it will pull clean off. The glue residue may take a little washing and elbow grease. Worth the effort. I de-badged my whole car. Looks nice and clean, other than the salt, grime and grunge.

[ragingfish]

Now if only a hairdryer would work in the outlet...

[ragingfish]

When I bought my vibe, my dealer got very agressive -- aside from the standard badge on the iftgate, he also put frames on both front and rear plates...cause if someone doesn't get the message after 3 separate ads, there's something wrong with them.I find it outright obnoxious. I don't pick dealers cause I see their name on more cars than others. I pick them cause of the way the treat me. And that reputation is not something that can, or is, conveyed in a simple ad on my car.

[KSNeptune]

My dealer insisted on putting his badges on both the new cars I bought recently. The first one I simply peeled off myself. But when I bought the Vibe, I warned the salesman that it had better not have any dealer badges on it when I picked it up, or I'd refuse to buy it. There HAD been a badge on it when I test drove it. When I arrived 20 minutes later it was spotless. The salesman said he'd never seen his crew work so fast (to debadge a car) as they did to get mine ready.Tell your dealer that if they insist on using your car for advertising, they can:- Pay you, $1 per hour, for as long as your car is parked where other people might see it.- Pay you to remove it. Charge him his own service center rate, and spend an hour taking it off.- Leave it off, or take it off at his expense.KSNeptune.

[drb22]

I still have my dealer sticker on my vibe. It was something I meant to bring up in the negotiating, but thought it wasn't that big of a deal that I forgot. It is a small black sticker on the hatch, it is not too noticable against the shadow color. I will probably remove it this spring when it warms up. I don't see it being a problem to remove.

[ragingfish]

I'll definitely have to keep that in mind next time I buy a car...which I pray isn't any time soon...In the interim, I'll try the hairdryer trick when the weather turns nicer...

[TheSlave]

I simply told my salesman that I didn't want any dealer badges on my new Vibe the week before delivery, and it was no problem (2fatty did the same). I did tell them they could put the plate frame in the back since I could easily remove it if I didn't want/like it. I don't mind people knowing where I bought my Vibe since the dealer has been really good to me over the 7 months I waited for my Vibe. The salesman continues to keep in touch even though I picked up my car 3 weeks ago. I even still have the dealer key chains he gave me with the car keys. I guess it really depends on the experience you had with your dealer. Like I said, I don't mind advertising on the rear plate if the dealer has been really good to me, but I would never want dealer badges on my car (especially when I bought it).

[biggdogg173]

I have an Abyss and I just pulled the sticker off after work one summer day no problem. It had been on about 2 weeks and I decided it was time to go.

[Zamboni Guy]

I picked up my Vibe on 3/8/03. I asked the dealer about a week before pickup not to place any dealership decals on the car, and he said no problem. I think if you just ask, they will comply.

[c17il3]

I did the same with same with my dealer. At first the salesman was unsure if they could. They could and did. A word to the wise, if you use a hairdryer or heat gun be patient and use low heat at good distance. If not you could damage the paint, Not good.

[Zamboni Guy]

quote:I did the same with same with my dealer. At first the salesman was unsure if they could. They could and did. A word to the wise, if you use a hairdryer or heat gun be patient and use low heat at good distance. If not you could damage the paint, Not good.I was afraid of damaging the paint with removing it. I am glad the dealer was okay with not putting it on in the first place.

[marbevibe]

On my sales contract I had the dealer write that I did not want any dealer stickers on my Vibe. He accepted, but told me that when he evaluates a car for trade-in, he will lower the value of the car if he does not see any dealership stickers. He assumes that NO stickers means paint job. I still did not want one, they would have to pay me for it!

[millster]

quote: He assumes that NO stickers means paint job. Now that's not fair! The dealership that I purchased mine from does't use stickers, just the license plate trim. So that means that I'd get screwed on my trade because my dealer believes in leaving cars untouched? I hope not all dealerships think this way.

[canadavibegt]

My dealer uses a fairly unobtrusive decal,,, (just a vinyl decal) with the name on it. it is black lettering on clear.... with the color of my Vibe you realy do not notice it.......... so no intentions of removing it. plus the guy I deal with has been realy good to me so why not advertise. i get cash for every person i refer to him......

[CrazyJ-GT]

I'm not sure if many of you are in California....but it is against the law (in Cali) for dealerships to add their dealership decals on your vehicle. The frame plate are fine...since they can be replaced by the owner

[coratz]

i like my dealer badge. i feel i get treated better when i bring the car back to the dealer for service. vibes always gets a nice wash inside and out.

[esjones]

quote:I am glad the dealer was okay with not putting it on in the first place. I made the dealer agree not to put a sticker on before I agreed to place the order.....

[ragingfish]

quote:vibes always gets a nice wash inside and out.really? i've NEVER heard of that! the only thing my dealer ever does for me is top off the washer fluid when i get the oil changed. that's it!

[Triton]

There aren't many dealerships that would wash your cars exterior every time you bring it in, let alone the interior. That must be nice!

[ragingfish]

Tried the 'ol hair dryer trick today. It worked! Turns out the dealer just used vinyl stick-on letters. Not nearly as daunting a task as I thought it would be. Yay, my hatch looks better without that ugly badge!

[ragingfish]

I actually didn't need the hair dryer much. It seemed to come off pretty easy on it's own. The heat did help though.

[NUMMI Guy]

Not be a Fuddy-Duddy, but technically the dealers do own the cars before they are sold. This allows the dealers to modify them how they want prior to retail sale. However, the buyer has every right to negotiate the removal or addition of any accessory. So in the end, if the buyer does not want the label the dealer would be best to have it removed. Most dealers will remove it (or leave it off to begin with) if the customer asks.

[NUMMI Guy]

Original message:On my sales contract I had the dealer write that I did not want any dealer stickers on my Vibe. He accepted, but told me that when he evaluates a car for trade-in, he will lower the value of the car if he does not see any dealership stickers. He assumes that NO stickers means paint job. I still did not want one, they would have to pay me for it!_______________________________________________________________That dealer was yanking your chain. When dealers appraise a vehicle they don't really consider paint (even if it is custom). They generally look at the options and mileage, then figure a price using the Kelley Blue Book trade-in price at fair condition (and often times they will lower that value to allow for greater profit on the resale).

[ragingfish]

Plus, wouldn't a new paint job raise the value of a car, since it would be in far better shape repainted than it would originally?

[Flip-Side]

quote:I picked up my Vibe on 3/8/03. I asked the dealer about a week before pickup not to place any dealership decals on the car, and he said no problem. I think if you just ask, they will comply.Asked my dealer the day my car came off the truck. They put it on anyway, and they refused to remove it that day and said I would have to take the car and return at a later date. I just took the car, since I had already been waiting 2 months, and took it off when I got home.

[Triton]

quote:Asked my dealer the day my car came off the truck. They put it on anyway, and they refused to remove it that day and said I would have to take the car and return at a later date.Sounds like the dealer doesn't know what customer service is. I can't believe that they wouldn't remove it after you had asked them not to put it on in the first place. And then told you that you would have to bring the car back to do that. What a bunch of bull! The day my car was getting the bumper protector added and the tip put on, I was in the detail shop with my dealer checking out the car and that's when he told the detailer not to put it on. Very cool. That should have never happened at your dealer.

[Vibegrrrl]

quote:Now if only a hairdryer would work in the outlet... I didn't use a hair dryer. I waited until the afternoon sun(in the summer) warmed up the car and then used tooth floss in behind the badge. There will be some glue left, but it is safe to use a touch of Goof Off on a soft rag to take it off. It was some time in August 2002 on a thread that I learned this method. If the baged is a thin sticker...can't help sorry.