I paid a $400 dealer prep fee. Never felt that good about it. I was actualy negotiating with MOH to have a car delivered since I was unable to get my order in locally in the timeframe I needed. When I called to tell the local dealership I would be going elsewhere, they remembered that a order slot had just opened up that morning.
I honestly don't beleave I would have ever gotten a call informing me of that, if I hadn't called to cancel my order.
I asked and was told twice by my salesman that I was buying the car at MSRP. While signing for the car I noticed the dealer prep of $400 and was informed it was non negotable. In the interest of maintaining a good relationship with the salesman, for service and support reasons, and after waiting months for the car, I went and paid it. Still don't feel good about it. I wanted to buy the car locally so I would get good service localy. The $400 was not alot more than the delivery fee to have it transported from MOH and I really wanted to drive the car.
Probably should have refused to pay it, got up and walked out. It's likely I wouldn't have made it out of the dealership, or not regretted it if I had.

If your dealer has a excellent service rating, and the local market supports a "fee" being added to MSRP, it might be ok to pay up to $400, for whatever they want to call it, to keep the relationship and prefered customer status.
If your dealer has a low service rating, I would tell them you can get it at MSRP elsewhere and unless they are willing to sell the car at MSRP, you won't be doing buisness with them.

 

this is true i know of several east coast dealers shipping cars to west coast to get ahold on some of that market, and it is working for them i am told....