Would you pay $20K more than sticker price for the Chevrolet Volt? Edmunds' AutoObserver.com is reporting in the story Chevrolet Dealer: Want a Volt? That'll be an Extra 20Kthat one California dealer responded back to an Edmunds' staff member looking to lease the Volt for personal usage asking for that large of a markup for a vehicle that hasn't even hit the dealership lot.
"This type of price gouging happens all the time in the automotive industry," said Michelle Krebs, Senior Analyst at Edmunds.com. "It's interesting that a car of the 21st century is still using 18th century horse-trading techniques."
"It's important to understand that these markups are just asking prices. In many cases they can be greatly reduced with through intelligent negotiations. It's also good to shop around and find a dealership that is holding the line against price gouging," said Philip Reed, Senior Consumer Advice Editor at Edmunds.com.
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Edmunds.com Inc. publishes four Web sites that empower, engage and educate automotive consumers, enthusiasts and insiders. Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information, launched in 1995 as the first automotive information Web site. Its mobile site, accessible from any smartphone at www.edmunds.com, makes car pricing and other research tools available for car shoppers at dealerships and otherwise on the go. InsideLine.com is the most-read automotive enthusiast Web site. Its mobile site, accessible from any smartphone at www.insideline.com, features the wireless Web's highest quality car photos and videos. CarSpace is the most established automotive social networking Web site. AutoObserver.com provides insightful automotive industry commentary and analysis. Edmunds.com Inc. is headquartered in Santa Monica, California, and maintains a satellite office in suburban Detroit. Follow Edmunds.com on Twitter@edmunds and fan Edmunds.com on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/edmunds. Subscribe to Edmunds.com's newsletter and enter to win a $500 gas gift card at http://www.edmunds.com/newsletter-sweepstakes.html?mktcat=nl-external_promotional&kw=july2010+release&mktid=np57812108&msite=w&affiliateId=external_promotional.
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