Is Fiat increasing the price of Punto?

Friends by now you are aware that last week I've booked my Punto 1.2 Active. I was told the delivery will be after 3 weeks. I happened to check with the dealer on Monday, and got a surprise - "Saab aapki car aa gayi hain." When I personaly went to the showroom, I learnt that actually its been shipped from the factory and will land in Mumbai(outside Octroi godown) within 3 days. I told them I want to thoroughly check the car and then only I'll give them go ahead with other formalities. He agreed for that and told me I can check the car most probably on Friday in their Nerul godown.

Today I got a call from him, saying that can I pay some more amount  them so that they can raise a invoice. I told him clearly since I've not seen the car yet, how can I pay them. Then he told that Fiat is likely to increase the price of Punto from 1st Oct. It was a bit shock. I told him I've not yet raised the fund and I can pay them only by end of this week and that too after PDI. I also told him that since the company has already raised the bill for the car how can you say the price will be increased (for me). He didn't have a proper answer for that. Then he said even if I pay PDC for the part amount, it is ok. I refused it clearly. Then he said ok he will manage somehow.

Guys, Is it a game the dealer is playing, What do you say.

Carmaker Fiat India Automobiles today said it will consider raising prices of its products as the margins are under pressure.

Hi Bhardwaj

Thanks for the quick reply. But can you throw some light as where do I stand, as I've booked one before any formal announcement of raising the price.

Hi

The vechile price is the price at the time of booking amount paid

Thanks B, appreciate it.

It is jus tthe game the dealer is playing to fulfil his targets for this month. Once you have booked the car at a particular price, he can not charge you more. These are just tricks to get the money sooner than expected.

Hi Himanshu and Bhardwaj,

The price that you pay for is the price as of invoicing date and not the date of booking.

My experience with Hyundai. Should be the same across all brands. I booked the car on Dec 1 2008. At that time the price was higher. Around Dec 4, govt announced some excise duty cuts. All manufacturers reduced car prices around Dec 6. If you are following the car market closely lot of people can recollect this. My Hyundai dealer purposefully delayed the invoicing by 2-3 days so that I get the benefit of the price cut. 

So, the price you pay is the price as of invoicing date and not booking date. I request the moderator to correct me if I am wrong.

Regards,

Venkat

Venkateswaran is right.

AFAIK, the customer needs to pay the price of the car applicable on the invoicing date and not the price on the booking date. Normally the dealers will mention this condition in the proforma invoice. My cousin had paid the difference in price for Swift VDI on the invoicing date as the price on the booked date was less.

I booked a Fiat Linea 1.4 petrol Emotion Pack FTA on 16.9.2009 by paying Rs 25 k as advance with Concorde Motors, Hosur Road, Bangalore.  Subsequently, they furnished the VIN bearing code JPZ [meaning manufactured in September 2009] and chassis number and informed that the vehicle is in transit.  Yesterday, the sales executive informed me that Fiat is increasing the price of Fiat Linea by more than Rs 6 k from 1 October 2009.  If I pay the balance amount by cheque, they will bill it as on 29.9.2009 at the old rates.  Otherwise, the new rate will apply.  I paid the balance amount by cheque and billing has been done at the old rate only.  The vehicle is expected by next week.  Going by Fiat CEO's statement issued a few weeks back regarding their dwindling margins, I believed the sales executive's information and acted accordingly.

Rajeev Kapoors statement was made in August and I remember reading it then. Now, I just hope they hold on the price increase drama till Diwali, till when I would have booked my car .

Cheers,
Naveen