Shadow Mark charge $449 - Legit or dealer scam?

Still waiting on my limited, but had the dealer give me a breakdown of all the fees/taxes. There was a $449 fee for Shadow Mark. Asked him what it was and said i was a theft deterrent. I said i didn't want it and he said that he could not remove it (even though I'm not convinced my truck has even been built yet).

I've asked a couple times for a build date and a real VIN. He insists its been built and on the way, but about a month out...??

If its not been Shadow Marked yet, I would assume I can opt out of that?

 

Call up your insurance and ask them if they offer a discount for shadow mark, and if so, how much. If it make sense, do it. Sounds like you're paying for it either way though, lol. I never would.

I assume you're stuck with it because you didn't order a truck - you got in line for allocation? If so, sounds like you'll take what you get. If you truly built & ordered a truck, the ball is in your court.

 

Yeah, its an allocated vehicle. I'm assuming this option would be put on at distribution facility? I was thinking if it was not built yet, I may be able to opt out of the Shadow Mark option.

 

It's probably an extra charge for having Wu-Tang Clan help with the build. Obviously it's gonna be a little extra Cream, so give the money dolla dolla bill ya'll!

Seriously....never heard of it.

 

They installed it. They can remove it. You tell you won't be paying for it so you don't care if it comes with the truck or if it is removed before you drive off the lot. They will remove it or remove it from your bill

 

If it's what I think it is - they do some engraving on the glass. It'll never come off, but then, their cost to apply it is more like $4.69 rather than $469. When I saw a similar thing, basically what you were paying for was a tracing service in the event the vehicle was ever stolen, rather than the marking itself.

Most trucks don't get stolen. If they do, that's why you have insurance.

 

The creative ways dealers think of to charge folks extra money never cease to amaze me. You have to give them props for their creativity and resourcefulness, if not their integrity.

 

Agreed. I think it's some sort of etching service either on the glass or in various locations on the vehicle.

That's always a dealer installed option. Not installed by Toyota.

 

I had a Dealership try and charge me $60.00 for locking wheel nuts I did not ask for, I told them to take them off and that I would not be paying for them. They left them on and took them off of the invoice.

 

JUst tell them you won't pay it. I did this with my wife's CRV. Honda Dealers are far worse because Honda only comes four ways from the port. So dealers have to add a ton of Mop and glo and etching, pin strips, Moonroof air deflectors ding protection on and on to make extra cash. I told them I would not be paying the $1700 in addition and infact told them I would pay my standard $500 above invoice including their Doc fee what ever it is,They balked and I had to travel 125 mikes to get the CRV EXL w NAV Deal I wanted. But we ended up getting over $2500 cap reduction so we leased for $300 a month because in a year and a half we would be in an equity position which is where we are now. I have no doubt my local dealer will step up next time we lease for her.

I did the same with my 2016 Taco. Made sure there were no Port or dealer adds. I will pay the dealer to tint the truck and maybe put on a set of mud flaps. My deal is good enough to pay for those additions.

I will be looking closely at leasing the 2016 as the residual is very high. Preserve cash if Its low enough.

 

"Most trucks don't get stolen. If they do, that's why you have insurance."............. they also have a VIN.

Frank