A co-worker of mine is in the market for a new/used car. She's looking at a few options and starting to narrow the choices. A couple weeks ago, she showed up to work with a new ride and I thought she'd made her decision. Nope, not yet. Turns out the dealership allowed her to keep the car overnight to try it out. I didn't know that dealerships did this. But I guess with the economy and the state of the car industry what they are, they're willing to do about anything to make a sale.
That evening my wife and I were shopping for beds (among the worst things to shop for IMO) and had decided on a place to get a twin set for our daughter. Delivery was $40, which was an additional 15% on the purchase price, so we decided we'd just pick it up ourselves. Problem was that my Forester was too small to get the set inside -- even with the back seats down. I could have strapped the set on the top, but 1) I wasn't sure I could get it to stay on and 2) it seemed like a TON of hassle and potentially disastrous (ever seen someone lose something off the top of a car?). So, we were left wondering what we should do.
While driving to Costco to pick up a bed frame, we drove by a car dealership. They had a particular vehicle that I've been thinking could be our next car in a year or so, maybe sooner since the government is willing to save me sales tax if I buy soon. I thought about stopping in and checking out the car for fun, but we were in a hurry, so we kept going. Then it hit me...
Car dealers are allowing people to take home vehicles overnight. We needed a bigger vehicle just for a short trip (a few miles) to haul the bed home. Why couldn't we stop by a dealership, take a bigger SUV home for the evening, drive it by the bed shop, pick up the bed, and take it home? It would save us $40 and no one would be the wiser, right?
My wife, who is way more frugal than I am (I know, it's hard to believe, but trust me), put the kibosh on the idea immediately (probably because she thought I'd end up buying the SUV) which surprised me.
I'm not sure I would have gone through with it anyway, but it was an interesting concept. Anyone ever done this? Is this even ethical? Or maybe it is ethical but would be classified as "bad form". What's your take on the idea?
BTW, we ended up paying the $40. We got a bed for my son too and since the charge didn't go up for delivery, we had them both delivered for $40.
I love the idea though I too would have to question the ethics of doing something like that, especially when there was really no intent on purchasing the item. Of course, I will go and gather information from "experts" at stores; anything from running shoes to computers and then go home and purchase the item on-line (usually ebay) for a lot less then the retail store.
Posted by: Bob | March 10, 2009 at 10:30 AM
Yup - we've done this. We "test drove" a minivan for the day to move some furniture. Worked great. We were in the market for a minivan (eventually), so it was a real test drive opportunity, but mainly we just needed to move the furniture.
Posted by: Evan | March 10, 2009 at 10:39 AM
For me it wouldn't be worth all of dealing with the salesmen both before the "test drive" and after you bring it back. I doubt they will just let you leave the keys and walk away.
Posted by: Michael @ The Life Insurance Insider | March 10, 2009 at 11:04 AM
If anything got damaged in this move, I would imagine that what the dealership would charge you would far exceed the cost of delivery.
Posted by: Sarah | March 10, 2009 at 11:18 AM
The hassle of dealing with the salesman and the potential for damaging the vehicle makes this a less than enticing idea.
How about asking a friend with an SUV or pickup to borrow their vehicle for an hour?
Posted by: Mark B. | March 10, 2009 at 11:33 AM
I agree that aggressive salesmen are the biggest problem with the idea. I've calculated that a U-Haul rental is often cheaper than paying the store to deliver it. Still, making friends with someone who owns a truck is a more worthwhile investment. Then you also get someone to help you with the heavy lifting.
Posted by: Andy | March 10, 2009 at 11:45 AM
Yeah, I'd be afraid that I'd inadvertently damage the test vehicle in the process. I know it was only a mattress, but what if it got caught on something inside the car and ripped the upholstery or somethign like that?
This is the same reason that I won't "test" a car from a dealership overnight, either. I have had that option offered to me several times, but I just don't want to take the chance on a car that doesn't belong to me. I wonder if personal car insurance would even cover you in that situation?
The better option would be to actually rent the car you are interested in. Then, you could ethically use it to move whatever you want and you would have definite insurance coverage in the event something happens to the car. Some dealerships even will let you rent new cars just like a car rental agency. I know that Toyota does that and I imagine that other dealers probably do too.
Posted by: justatron | March 10, 2009 at 12:05 PM
I'd say it's a bit unethical. If you were thinking about buying an SUV however, it would be a great way to test out its hauling capabilities, which wouldn't be that unethical. I have to agree with the other commentors, talking to car salesmen is generally not a pleasant experience. I would have chocked up the 40 for delivery too if I were in your shoes.
Posted by: RB @ recessionsblow | March 10, 2009 at 12:05 PM
Car dealerships have always allowed you to take home cars. I've never purchased a car without doing it. I even had a dealership let me take the car for the entire weekend (Sat-Mon). Its not unethical, you're testing the capabilities of the cars. Not to mention, that car dealer would screw you over a nickel.
Posted by: Eric | March 10, 2009 at 12:32 PM
That's a great idea! I once had a similar problem with a queen bed frame from Ikea. We managed to attach it to the top of my dad's Outback and drove very carefully back to my apartment. It was terrifying! Now I just make sure I find a furniture store with free delivery…although I’m sure I pay for that in one form or another.
Posted by: CentsInTheCity | March 10, 2009 at 12:40 PM
If you use the words "no one would be the wiser" about your scheme then I'd say that is a sure sign that its less than perfectly ethical.
Now if you were legitimately wanting to test drive the car with actual intention of making a decision to buy it and you also had the oppportunity to move some items with the car then it would be a happy coincidence that you can do both at the same time. But if your only reason for the test drive is to use their car as a free U-haul then thats not exactly straight.
Posted by: Jim | March 10, 2009 at 01:04 PM
Ethical but very bad form. Plus if for whatever reason something ended up happening to the car (i.e., scratched from the mattress, or whatever) you'd end up being liable. To me, that's not worth the $40.
Posted by: Dave | March 10, 2009 at 01:06 PM
To me, it is not ethical. You're using it for something for more than what it was intended. And the fact that you most likely will not disclose your plan to the dealer would be proof that it is not ethical.
Now, how unethical is it? Let's just say that you'd be lucky if you end up on America's Top 10 Least Wanted show anytime.
The situation is also compounded by the fact that the damage being done (assuming you don't scratch up the vehicle) would be minimal at best.
HOWEVER, the level of "harm" an action produces does not equate to whether something is considered ethical or not.
Just my $0.02
Posted by: Eugene Krabs | March 10, 2009 at 02:34 PM
My time is too valuable to waste it on finagling an overnight test drive. Does anyone think they'd be able to get in and out of the dealership with a brand new vehicle in just a few minutes? Sure, they want to make a sale, but I highly doubt they'd let a brand new car off the lot without spending some time with you. They'd also take your contact information, copy of your driver's license and run a credit check. And, after you brought the vehicle back, I'm sure there would be follow up phone calls from the sales people. That's what sales people do, you know.
No, thank you - not for me. I'd mentally add the $40 to the purchase price and if it was still worth it, I'd buy the mattress and have it delivered. I'd spend the time at home playing with my kids or reading a book instead of at the dealership.
As for the ethics of the situation, if you have no intention of buying the car and you lie to the dealership, then IMHO, it's unethical.
Posted by: Sherri | March 10, 2009 at 02:49 PM
I'm not sure what the difference between being unethical and having bad form is. However, I do think that borrowing the car for this puspose is unethical. Just like "borrowing" a winter jacket from Walmart for your ski trip, and then returning it after you're done skiing. That's just as unethical.
I agree with the suggestion on just making friends with someone that has a truck. Someone like yourself seems like you would have lots and lots of friends. Surely one of them would let you borrow it for a couple of hours.
Posted by: Rick | March 10, 2009 at 03:08 PM
Unethical. Integrity is not worth $40.
Posted by: Walden | March 10, 2009 at 04:17 PM
Very bad form. And the delivery guy needs his job too.
Posted by: rwh | March 10, 2009 at 04:30 PM
I was more surprised and intrigued by the purchase of a second mattress set to mitigate the costs of delivery. Was there a discount on the second set? Was it actually cost conscious to buy the second set or is that considered spending money to achieve some perceived savings on the delivery cost? If delivery had been free, would you have purchased the second mattress set?
Interesting...
Posted by: cynner | March 10, 2009 at 04:40 PM
Cynner --
It's a loooooong story, but no, we didn't buy the second one simply to get delivery to $20 per bed.
Posted by: FMF | March 10, 2009 at 04:43 PM
@Walden
You said it best.
Posted by: Otis | March 10, 2009 at 04:47 PM
It's really surprising to me what some people don't see as unethical. I just had a cousin tell me how she takes the towels from hotels. Another relative bought a baby bed to use when her grandson visited then returned it when he went home. When I hear these things I don't even know what to say as I'm so shocked.
Posted by: Laura S. | March 10, 2009 at 05:12 PM
Wouldn't even get to the ethics question, no way a car dealership is gonna give you less than $40 worth of hassle to do this unless your time is worth nothing to you (car shopping is much worse than bed shopping), and I definitely don't like the liability/insurance purgatory of the situation.
Posted by: Strick | March 10, 2009 at 06:03 PM
I'm in the lean-on-a-friend camp for these types of things. Not mooch off of the guy who owns a truck, but be up front..."The store wants to charge me $40, I'd rather give you $20, and make us a fine dinner.." kind of a thing. A lot of guys love owning trucks & SUV's for just this kind of stuff. Perhaps I'm lame & a little dull, but I've had some great times with friends helping them move and the barbeque & beer afterwards.
As for the all-nite test drive, it worked on us. We took a vehicle home and then didn't want to give it back. No, it wasn't to move a sofa. It was a legit test drive & purchase.
Posted by: Catherine | March 10, 2009 at 07:01 PM
Lot of risk and hassle for the $40. Good on you for getting a 2 for 1 delivery.
Posted by: thomas | March 10, 2009 at 07:59 PM
I just want to say thank you for not strapping the mattress on top of your car. As a cyclist and wife of a cyclist and friend to many many people who commute by bike, I hate to see their lives put at risk because people haul large items on and hanging out of their vehicles which were never built for to save a few bucks in delivery fees.
If I am ever injured by such foolishness, and still alive after, I will be suing Mr. or Ms. Frugalpants' pants off. That'll cost a whole lot more than a delivery fee, I guarantee. ;)
Posted by: Julia | March 10, 2009 at 08:19 PM
maybe not unethical, but crossing the border of weird. this is the equivalent of showering at the YMCA to save money... okay if you're barely scraping by, very strange if you have the amount of money you do. saving a few bucks (i'm sure it adds up) isn't always worth it.
Posted by: fiddlefaddled | March 10, 2009 at 11:02 PM
Never done that, and I don't think "test driving" a car just for an errand is a good idea (for many reasons stated above).
My dad has done a few creative things similar to that, though. Once several years ago, we were getting ready for a trip to fly cross-country and then spend a week road-tripping in a rental car. My dad got all our luggage and took it to a local dealership, where he proceeded to test-fit it to see how big a car we needed. Once we got out there, it fit exactly - but no one else was able to pack it all in! Of course, he only got away with this because one of the salesmen at this dealership is a family friend and between us and my grandparents we've bought at least 4 cars from him over the years.
My parents also like to rent a car they might be interested in, as suggested above. They've done this a few times to take long trips. My dad's found that most rental companies are cooperative if there's a particular model you want to rent, assuming they have one available. Not all cars are available this way, but a lot are. It's a good way to decide if a car you like driving is livable long-term.
Finally, when he's test-driving a potential new car, my dad almost always drives it home briefly. Besides showing my mom, he usually takes a minute to test fit things like golf clubs. My parents won't buy a car if it can't fit two sets of clubs and their folding carts!
Posted by: Eric | March 11, 2009 at 08:24 AM
The question of ethics really does play a big role in this... Car dealerships have been allowing people to test drive of "overnight" for a long time. I know that when I was younger my uncle and a friend test drove a car for the weekend, they drove the car to the coast and returned it promptly Monday morning. They put a lot of mileage on this car, I know that what they did was highly unethical and something that I could / would never do.
Posted by: Nora | March 11, 2009 at 09:44 AM
Unethical? I say yes.
At the dealership where I used to work they had a name for it...puppy-dog. The idea is you take it home and show it off to all your friends and neighbors like a new puppy. Friends and neighbors are all jealous of your new ride, and you get accustomed to driving a "nice" car for the night (or weekend). The idea is:
A) You won't return it and admit to your friends you're too broke to buy it.
B) You won't be willing to go back to your 1991 P.O.S. rust-bucket after driving a brand new (insert car here).
One idea I'm surprised nobody has mentioned is this: Go to the local home improvement store, buy something big, rent their truck for $10/90 minutes. Return large item with truck.
A second idea (was mentioned) is to call local car rental companies and ask about renting a truck/van/etc. The rental company my brother worked for only charged like $25/day and would deliver the car to your home or work for that price! Check several rental companies in the phone book, you'll likely find a local outfit (not Avis/Budget/Enterprise etc. that rents slightly older (2-5 year old) cars for significantly less than the national chains.
Posted by: Linksep | March 12, 2009 at 05:53 PM
A friend of mine did something similar a year ago (when the economy was still good): his car was being repaired over the weekend, but rather than renting a replacement, he went to a dealership and they let him 'test drive' a nice sports car during that weekend :-)
It's not something I'd do though. I'd feel bad about it. The only case where I'd do it is if I can do something back for the dealership.
Posted by: F | March 13, 2009 at 06:42 AM
I'm cheap but I couldn't bring myself to do this. It's unethical.
Posted by: Matt | March 14, 2009 at 11:37 AM
Just say NO to new car dealers (and new furniture for that matter)
That's why I have a pick-up, suv and a car. The car's for cruising around with. Suv for fun 4x4 and smaller enclosed hauling. The pick-up, well hauls everything else. Each vehicle I got for free from friends. The costs are low, since they are all old, the car is even a classic car. So when yall want to move something, yall going to call me. :)
Furniture, unless it's an antique, will be next to worthless when ya sell it. I got a bunch of good, non-antique oak furniture from my parents estate, its been appraised by a few people to not be worth much. It's just that furniture from a furniture store is something that won't hold its value, antiques do better. Funny thing is I hate antique furniture.
To answer the hybrid owners that will scoff at my V8 gas 'guzzlers':
Free car + $20K in gasoline vs $20K semi new hybrid. Your $20K is gone already, mine's in the bank. 200K miles latter I've spent my gas allotment and your still catching up with the 'better' mileage hybrid. Oh and I've also saved the earth by not having more cars built. And my emissions are actually very low. At $30k in gas, the hybrid gets $10k in gas for 200k miles, but the old V8 has gone 300k miles and is 100k miles ahead. So when ya see a guy smiling in his classic car, and feel sorry for him that he doesn't know better, think again.
Posted by: Classico | March 14, 2009 at 09:57 PM