My new '15 is sitting at the European port waiting for a boat to the US. In addition to insurance, financing, and selling my '07, I'm trying to get my ducks in a row for when I pick up the new one. I've heard some people say that it's ok to ask the dealership not to put any nameplates or custom badging on the car (The Vanilla Collection or Vanilla Motors). My thought has always been that advertising costs money, and I'm basically giving them free advertising on my bumper.

At the same time, they've been super helpful through the whole buying process, and I'd rather not be a jerk about it. I guess I'm wondering if anyone has done this, and if it's an odd request, or if they hear it a lot and don't really care. I suspect the salesman probably doesn't care much, but the dealer management might.

Have you done this?

 

If it's a license plate frame, let them put it on and take it off later. If it's a decal or badge, you can ask them to not put it on.

 

Right, that was my thought too. If it takes a heat gun or chemical to get it off, I'd prefer not to have it.

 

If you really feel bad about asking them to not put them on the car just ask them to put the decals on the back window. That way it's real easy to take off later on.

 

I work for a dealer, and have no problem if someone asks me not to put the badging on their car. I should do a good enough job that you promote my business through word of mouth. If I haven't done that, I haven't earned the right to you advertising for me.

 

And have the dealership put holes in your bumper? I'd decline the license plate frame.

Sent from cellular device.

 

Since when does a license plate frame put holes in the bumper? I can only assume you've never seen one, but they go around the license plate and use the same mounting points as the plate. They go on the BACK of the car where there are ALREADY holes from the factory.

 

Sorry, I was speaking about the FRONT bumper.

Sent from cellular device.

 

I've always had a great relationship with the dealership that I've purchased vehicles. I agree with you, carrying a badge for the dealership is free advertising for them. I usually wait until the closing of the purchase to present my fee for advertising their dealership if a sticker is present. That fee is $5000 and that I would allow them to take the amount off the final sale price. That usually works.

 

I don't have a problem with it. I don't like any badge of any type on my car.

In 1967 I ordered a new '67 Mustang fastback. This was in the days when this particular dealer drilled two holes in the deck lid to stick on his 'badge'. I specifically indicated no dealer badge and it was written boldly on the agreement. Time goes by I get a call my car is there and ready to go. I get to the dealership and there's the dealers tag on my deck lid. I refused delivery and I also refused to have my deck lid leaded and repainted. It was only a few days and they had another car of my color (yellow) and switched out the deck lids.

 

Badges?! We don need no steenkin' badges!

 

Exactly what I would have done, whaap.

 

Back in the 90s when I lived in the UK, the dealers used to make the plates themselves. I bought a car at one dealer then moved house and took it for service at another. They took off and replaced all the dealer badging, and even changed out the plates!