I've never found that they have used the deposit to try and screw me. The deal is all negotiated at the point I would place a deposit.

 

You put a deposit down at the McDonald window before they bag up your order, right? Kind of commits you
to not just driving off...If the food doesn't come out right you get new stuff or your money back.

The very response that Patnik517 related about his first dealer presenting a proposal he didn't take
illustrates this perfectly. What if this second dealer spent the time and money (gas, tolls, payroll, insurance)
to fetch the car based on the "if come, maybe" he would take it and low and behold, he visits a 3rd store.
Seeing how far he traveled from home this 3rd group is going to guess that good ole' Patnik is not going
to cost anything in carwashes, snacks and drinks, complimentary anything...quick pen takes off $250.

Now our heroes at store number two have a car with no buyer, gave up a car and are looking out the window.
Earnest deposits are an acceptable mechanism in Real Estate and Auto purchases and have been forever.

 

Deposits are SUPER normal. You want the dealer to either buy a car out of another dealer's inventory or trade one of their stock units for a car that YOU want. Yes, some financial commitment is going to be expected. The dealer will apply your deposit to the purchase. If the car arrives with some sort of damage or something, the dealer will work to find you a different car that meets your criteria.

 

Extremely normal. If you've come to an agreement, you need to have some sort of skin in the game too.

 

I think deposits are normal, but not always necessary. I have had a couple of cars over the years where my dealer transferred it in from another location and did not ask for a deposit. "If you don't want it someone else will" has been their logic, and I always bought the car. Anyway, while I think deposits are normal, it shifts the leverage to the dealer. So, make darn sure you have all the specifics regarding the price of the car, your trade in value, lease arrangements, finance rates, ALL APPLICABLE FEES, etc. etc. negotiated and firm in hand/writing BEFORE you give him your deposit. Then, if the dealer tries to change the deal in any way you can get your money back and walk. NOW the leverage is back with you.

 

I'm kind of surprised they wanted a deposit. I special ordered my ES 300h which meant it was made in Japan and had to be shipped. They never asked for a deposit.

 

Last October, the car I wanted was at another dealer, so I put $5000 on my credit card and it was fully refundable. Three days later, the car was ready and it was just fine. JM Lexus allows you to make full payment on AmEx, so that's what I did. Lots of points.

 

Thats very unusual.

 

First dealer we went to was going to custom order it with no deposit required. The F isn't made in Japan, but in Kentucky.

The other dealer that asked for a refundable deposit, (which I upped to $5K on the credit card for points) must have had to pay to transport a car from TX to FL. I can understand if they're paying to hunt a car down, they've got a right to make sure the buyer isn't wasting their time.

 

I paid a 3k deposit for my IS and it was in the back lot. The deposit is to make sure you are committing to purchasing the car as some folks customize a new car then back out of the purchase thus leaving the dealer hanging with a car that will be hard to sell or they have to wave the costs of those added options. Someone did this to the dealer I got my car from but I used it to my advantage to get another IS with F sport 2 at the same discounted price they were intending to give me for the Luxury trim. If it's a Lexus dealer you are fine and you can pay the deposit with a CC for added peace of mind.