Consequences of backing out of an order?
 

So I don't plan on backing out. I'm about 95% sure that I will take the BRZ home after I test drive it-- but what if I take it for a drive and find I really dislike it?

When I placed my order, the dealer kinda dodged the question and mentioned some kind of fee and said something along the lines of, "when you put in the order, you buy the car."

But I have seen people backing out and stuff so I doubt they have much of a penalty...maybe just being forced to pay the deposit? (for me, $500).

So are all dealers different? Can they legally force me to buy it because of the order form I filled out?

Again, I plan on getting it, I just want to know if I even have an option at this point haha. (it comes Aug 5! ...or 6 since the 5th is a sunday!)

Sorry if this has been asked before.

Did you sign anything that says non-refundable deposit?

Exactly. I ended up going with the dealer I put my deposit down with, but the only time I heard "non-refundable" was over the phone. Not even an email with it. If I had wanted my money back, I would have gotten my money back.

Cancelled my order the other day because I bought a different one that was actually in America. No consequences.

I backed out of one order to go with another dealership that had one already in stock. I made certain that the first order was refundable before I gave them my money.

No real consequences. Getting my deposit back on both. I do feel bad for the dealers, because this is out of their control, but ultimately I found what I wanted right away somewhere else. I say getting the car at MSRP in July vs getting the car at MSRP in October is a better deal.

I cancelled my order after I got an eta of January 2013. I was able to get my money back no problem, and I bought a BRZ from a neighboring state. The dealer will be able to sell the car to someone else; if you decide that the car really isn't for you and it isn't due to something you could have reasonably foreseen I think you have every right to get your money back. Outside of that I expect most dealers to be accommodating and give you your deposit back but I wouldn't strictly hold them to it.

Why do people continually engage in contracts(signed or otherwise) without asking such simple and incredibly important questions like: "is the deposit refundable?".

Demand your deposit back if they give you any shit. Small claims court is your next step, if you lose, it's only a matter of cheap court costs plus what you were about to give up on anyway(the deposit).

In my experience with cancelled BRZ orders, I don't understand why dealers would be so strict on deposits refunds since that car would be sold within a week to someone else. They're going to get their money after all set and done, why create bad blood with potential future customers.

The ones who actually lose out the most are the guys that were next on the order list for that cancelled order who probably are dying to get their hands on it, but now have to wait until the next shipment.