1. Forums
  2. Mystery Shopping Discussion

KIA SHOP MSRP

November 13, 2023 12:43PM
Weird....I've done 18 Kia Shops, with an average score of 10 out of 10.

Just got on email on my recent one, it says "your MSRP sticker provided is a computer image".....ummm, yeah? In 17 out my 18 Kia shops, I've gone to the Dealer's Website, screens hotted the MSRP which has MSRP, VIN#, all identifiable stuff and used it in my reports. It's always passed without question.

This is the first time they brought this up.

So I replied stating that the last 18 or so shops this was fine. I attached the same MSRP picture I had, AND I attached the "Dealer Price Sheet" that they present at the Dealership which also clearly states MSRP. I told the editor I'm happy to use either one of those and I'll put hit in ASAP.

But honestly nowhere on the guidelines. does it say anything close to "dont use the Website MSRP sticker".

Not to mention they never said anything before .
Reply
Log In
x

Create an Account or Log In

Membership is free. Simply choose your username, type in your email address, and choose a password. You immediately get full access to the forum.

Already a member? Log In.

November 13, 2023 07:37PM
Are you talking about the MSRP window sticker image? That has to be an actual photograph of the window sticker on the vehicle window. I've not done one of these shops in a few months and I don't have the guidelines anymore, but I don't recall anything in the guidelines that indicated a screenshot of the MSRP from the dealer's website is acceptable. In fact, I think the guidelines affirmed that you have to take the photo of the MSRP window sticker at the dealership.
Reply
November 13, 2023 08:20PM
I have always used the one from the computer as well. I try to take a pic of the actual one but most of the time there is sun glare or something. Nothing in the guidelines state you have to take a pic of the actual one. I just did one on Saturday but haven't submitted it yet. Hope that doesn't get flagged. Was always accepted in the past
Reply
November 13, 2023 10:56PM
I've always understood it to be the window sticker that lists all the features of the vehicle, the optional features and prices for each, the average miles per gallon, taxes and fees etc.

I just ask the sales person to e-mail me or print off a copy of it. It's much easier than trying to take a picture through the window which causes glare all the time.
Reply
November 14, 2023 12:15AM
I found my guidelines from earlier this year. Page 5 specifically says the MSRP photo must be taken on-site. It does not have to be the window sticker, but something on-site that shows the MSRP. This may have changed in recent months, and may be why there is confusion now. With all the KIA shops I've done, I've always taken and submitted the window sticker. I've not found the glare to be an issue.

Edit: I wanted to add that the company has been flexible on some things. For instance, I forgot to wait a full 24-hours before going to the dealership. They happily accepted it since I had received a response from the online lead before going to the dealership. It is possible that the MSRP picture is something they have been flexible on as well, and it could also depend upon the editor. I think they will take the dealer price sheet since you obtained that from the dealership (hence on-site).

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/14/2023 12:19AM by ServiceAward.
Reply
November 14, 2023 02:16AM
@ServiceAward wrote:

I found my guidelines from earlier this year. Page 5 specifically says the MSRP photo must be taken on-site. It does not have to be the window sticker, but something on-site that shows the MSRP. This may have changed in recent months, and may be why there is confusion now. With all the KIA shops I've done, I've always taken and submitted the window sticker. I've not found the glare to be an issue.

Edit: I wanted to add that the company has been flexible on some things. For instance, I forgot to wait a full 24-hours before going to the dealership. They happily accepted it since I had received a response from the online lead before going to the dealership. It is possible that the MSRP picture is something they have been flexible on as well, and it could also depend upon the editor. I think they will take the dealer price sheet since you obtained that from the dealership (hence on-site).

And Baba Booey to y'all
Reply
November 20, 2023 01:21AM
Just reporting back...seriously in the past they've take Beth website MSRP sticker every time. Anyhow, this time no----BUT luckily I had the Dealer's Price Worksheet picture with MSRP . I sent that in, and they used it and gave me a 10. So that was reasonable.

I don't know if Kia is coming back next year and certainly when the fees go $125-145 I'm interested. BUT man....if the see a pic being taken of the sticker I think by now they'll know it's a mystery shop
Reply
November 20, 2023 01:31AM
@BabyBooey19 wrote:

Just reporting back...seriously in the past they've take Beth website MSRP sticker every time. Anyhow, this time no----BUT luckily I had the Dealer's Price Worksheet picture with MSRP . I sent that in, and they used it and gave me a 10. So that was reasonable.

I don't know if Kia is coming back next year and certainly when the fees go $125-145 I'm interested. BUT man....if the see a pic being taken of the sticker I think by now they'll know it's a mystery shop

I don't know think they will automatically think mystery shop. With everybody having a camera handy, it makes sense that one might snap a photo of the sticker in the window as it lists all the features. That said, I don't snap it in front of the sales rep. I either snap it as soon as I arrive at site, if nobody immediately comes to assist me, or I snap it when the sales rep goes to get the keys to the vehicle. If anyone says anything, I have a canned answer ready: "Oh, I'm bragging to my friend what I'm out doing today!"

Edit to add....I'm glad you got it approved and scored a 10 at that!

There are a bunch of shops near me, all over $100. I did them all about 7 or 8 months ago. I may do them again if the pay goes up more. I already scouted dealer websites to see if the people I shopped before are still working at those locations. Some of them only have 3 or 4 sales reps, so there is a real potential I will end up with the same person. If I knew for sure the shops are not coming back next year, I'd feel better about doing them because if they figured me out as a shopper, I wouldn't be going back anyway. But, if the shops are coming back, then I'd like to hold off until the year mark.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/20/2023 01:36AM by ServiceAward.
Reply
November 20, 2023 06:27PM
maybe. but as a car buyer I may consider taking a photo of that, especially if I'm comparing several vehicles. so maybe a lot of people do that anyway!
Reply
November 21, 2023 01:32AM
@nellybean212 wrote:

maybe. but as a car buyer I may consider taking a photo of that, especially if I'm comparing several vehicles. so maybe a lot of people do that anyway!

Yes, totally normal! I've done it the last few times. I've bought cars so I can compare pricing and trim options. It also helped me negotiate across a couple of dealerships for the model I wanted.
Reply
November 21, 2023 08:26PM
Having an issue while trying to do the online request where the confirmation screen disappears almost immediately before I can get a screenshot. Does anyone have the same issues? If so, how did you get around that?

Thanks!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/21/2023 08:57PM by olympia tennenbaum.
Reply
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

Click here to login