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The question playbook

Ask these at any dealership.

These are the questions Jennifer teaches every buyer to ask, at any store. Under each one is the answer an honest dealer gives, and the standing answer at Mark Miller Subaru. Take them with you. Watch who passes.

Ask Jennifer about any of these

01 Price transparency

Q1 Is the price the same for everyone, or does it change based on how well I negotiate?
The honest answer

Negotiating does not change our price, and not negotiating does not cost you anything. The Promise Price comes from market data, not from how hard you push or what you are willing to walk on. The first-time buyer and the toughest negotiator start from the same posted number.

Q2 Can I get the full out-the-door price in writing before I come in?
The honest answer

Yes. We will put the full out-the-door price in writing up front, including every fee, before you drive in. You can build the entire deal online through our Promise Path.

Q3 Are there any add-ons already installed on this car that I have to pay for?
The honest answer

There are no surprises, and nothing required to buy is unwanted or unnecessary. There may be instances where an item has been added to the car, but it will be clearly reflected in the car's price. Sometimes these items come with dealer trades, and sometimes we add accessories to vehicles to show them off for marketing. If the items can be removed, we will gladly remove them. They will never be hidden or used to inflate margins.

Q4 Is there a market adjustment or dealer markup over MSRP on this car?
The honest answer

No. We do not add market adjustments or dealer markups over MSRP.

Q5 What fees will be on the contract, and which ones are required versus optional?
The honest answer

We do not add any unnecessary fees. We do have a documentation fee that allows us to pay for the administration of the paperwork and the processing of the deal through registration and titling, for example. No unnecessary fees are added to vehicles here.

Q6 What is your documentation fee, and is it the same for every customer?
The honest answer

Our documentation fee is $445 and it is the same for every customer. It is not negotiable up or down, which is the point.

02 Financing

Q7 Do you sell at buy rate, or do you mark up the interest rate I qualify for?
The honest answer

We sell at buy rate. The rate the bank approves is the rate you get. We do not mark up your interest rate to make money on the back of the loan.

Q8 How does the dealership make money on my financing?
The honest answer

Finance companies pay dealerships a flat fee for the business. That is how we make any income from the financing of a vehicle from a lender. Almost every other dealer marks up the rate, and that is how they make their money when dealing with lenders. We do not do that.

Q9 If I bring my own financing from my bank or credit union, do I still get the same car price?
The honest answer

Yes. The Promise Price on the car is the same whether you finance with us, pay cash, or bring your own loan.

Q10 Would two people with the same credit get the same rate from you on the same day?
The honest answer

Yes. Same credit, same lender, same day means the same rate, because we pass through buy rate rather than negotiating markup.

03 Warranties and protection products

Q11 Do different customers pay different prices for the same warranty or protection product?
The honest answer

Our F&I products are sold at a fixed posted menu rate, and they are the same price for everyone. We use set pricing, which is a major differentiator for us compared to other dealers who adjust prices based on who is sitting in front of them.

Q12 Are these products priced from a fixed menu, or is the price up to the finance manager?
The honest answer

We price from a fixed menu across the board.

Q13 Can you show me what the dealership actually pays for these products?
The honest answer

We are willing to share the cost of our F&I products if requested. We are radically transparent and only mark up products based on their market value. Even then, we make sure we are not at the top of the market in any of our pricing.

Q14 Is anything being added into my monthly payment that I did not specifically agree to?
The honest answer

Every product on your contract is one you chose and saw itemized. We do not pack products into a payment. You will see each item and its price before you sign.

Q15 Are any of these products required to get this price or this interest rate?
The honest answer

No. Every F&I product is optional. None of them are required to get the Promise Price or your rate. Also, the price of the car does not depend on how you finance the vehicle or whether you pay cash. All of our prices are set before you ever walk in and will stay that way. The only exceptions that might occur are defined and explained. The price will never go up, only down, for situations we are unable to overcome that are defined in our price promise policy.

Q16 If I buy one of these products and change my mind later, can I cancel it, and how much do I get back?
The honest answer

You are free to cancel any products you choose. You will be refunded the full amount you were due based on the products' cancelable policies and the life of the current policy.

04 Your trade-in

Q17 How do you decide what my trade is worth, and can you show me the source?
The honest answer

We appraise once, using a valuation source we trust plus a market sanity check, then apply our standardized reconditioning estimate. We will show you the basis for the number rather than ask you to take it on faith.

Q18 Is my trade value connected to the price of the car I am buying?
The honest answer

Your trade is valued on its own. We do not move money between your trade and the car price to disguise the real total. Each number stands alone.

Q19 Will you put my trade offer in writing before we talk about the new car?
The honest answer

Yes. We set the trade number once and give it to you in writing on its own, before and independent of the new car discussion. We will only reconsider it with a written competing offer or if the car's condition differs from what we appraised.

05 The people and the process

Q20 Do your salespeople work on commission, and does that change what they recommend to me?
The honest answer

Our salespeople are not paid on commission. They do not make more if you spend more, so there is no reason to steer you. They are paid to help you, not to close you.

Q22 Will I have to negotiate to get a fair price, or is the price the price?
The honest answer

You do not have to negotiate, and you do not lose by not negotiating. The price is the posted Promise Price, set from market data. Haggling is not the path to a better number here, because the posted number already is the number.

Q23 How long does the process take from agreement to driving away?
The honest answer

A typical deal done through the Promise Path Online would be about 45 minutes. If everything is flowing perfectly, a conventional deal should take no longer than necessary and can be completed in an hour or less after you select your vehicle. That said, it also depends on whether anyone is waiting for a finance manager. Your time is extremely important to us, so we will try to expedite the process as best we can.

06 After the sale

Q24 What is your return policy if I change my mind after I buy?
The honest answer

We offer a 48-hour return guarantee. If you change your mind, you can bring the car back within that window.

Q26 Can I get everything we agreed to in writing before I sign anything?
The honest answer

Yes. Every number we discuss is in writing before you sign. Nothing changes between the agreement and the contract.

07 The questions that reveal everything

Q27 Is there anything about this deal you would only tell me if I asked?
The honest answer

No. We would rather over-explain than have you find a surprise later. Ask us anything and we will answer it the same way every time.

Q28 Would you be comfortable if I recorded this conversation?
The honest answer

Yes, that is completely fine. We say the same things on the record that we say off it.

Q29 Can I take all of these numbers home and think about it without losing the deal?
The honest answer

Yes. Take the numbers home. The Promise Price is set from market data, not from a clock, so there is no today-only pressure and stepping away to think does not cost you the number you were quoted.

Not sure what an answer means?

Bring it back to Jennifer. Tell her what the dealer said and she will tell you, in plain English, whether it holds up.

Ask Jennifer