Kia Dealer Smacked With Big Fine For Deceptive Pricing

A few years ago, buying a car at MSRP was viewed as a bad deal. Nobody felt they should be paying "full price" for any vehicle, even more desirable models. But times have changed. Many cars aresold at a markup, and those with a price tag even close to MSRP are viewed as a steal. More problems come when dealers try to confuse the process with undisclosed fees and add-ons. As it turns out, the lawfrowns on such practices马里兰,起亚经销商发现困难的way.

The judge ruled that Koons Kia in Owings Mills, Maryland, must refund fees and shipping charges it levied on customers above and beyond the advertised purchase price of the vehicles. Though the dealer gets off without having to admit guilt in the matter, the financial implications of the judgment will likely sting.

Beyond the refunds, which the state estimates could easily surpass $1 million, Koons must reimburse the Maryland Consumer Protection Division up to $200,000 for its investigation. The state will waive half of that charge if Koons can stay out of trouble for a year.

Koons' defense in the matter centered on the difference between sticker price and sales price. The dealer's spokeswoman, Beth Kerr, told Automotive News that "MSRP is a well-understood term with its own definition and was clearly disclosed. Koons Kia fully disclosed the pricing properly on the window of the vehicle as well as all purchase documents."

So, customers saw one number online or in an ad and a different number on the car when they went to the dealership.

Kerr said the dealer "agreed to the settlement to avoid the costs and disruption of litigation and because it requires us to make clearer in our advertising that the MSRP is not the sales price."