Well it looks like my local dealer charges a $995 dealer fee. I am not going to pay that for a car I am buying at MSRP. Also, If the $400 deposit is not refundable, I will want an out the door price before I hand over the money. The VW website almost implies that you deal directly with them instead of the dealer. Am I reading that right? I did find one dealer in Indianapolis with no dealer fee, Falcone...long drive from Florida.
As people start to report out the door prices (OTD) later, we might find some paying a lower price, some folks are just better at this game. However, I suspect far less variation for this new EV model, especially since we are early adopters. The fine print says there will be dealer's fees. The $100/$400 is also listed as fully refundable (might be weeks, but you can get it back).
Here's the note from the reservation page (this is a very strange process, apparently a hybrid of Tesla online ordering with the VW dealers): "1 Starting MSRP (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price) excludes transportation, taxes, title, other options, and dealer charges. Dealer sets actual price. Specifications, equipment, options, and prices are subject to change without notice. Some items may be unavailable when vehicle is built. Ask your dealer about availability of options and verify that the vehicle includes the equipment you ordered."