My dealer is screwing me... Help!

ReallyFrustrated · 06-27-2004, 11:10 PM

I ordered my Prius on December 31, 2003. I started out as #85 on the list. On May 8 I was #23. Seven weeks later, i.e. this week, I was #16. You do the math. What's going on here?

I'll tell you. Yesterday I learned that my neighbor, who ordered her Prius from the same dealer FIVE WEEKS LATER, got her Prius a week ago! I was ahead of her on the list, told my sales rep that he should call me whenever my number came up with whatever he got (he said that's how they do it anyway), and have checked at least once a month to see where I stand.

What's my dealer doing? Well, I think it has something to do with the fact that they are now ordering all of the Priuses with "port option" (yeah, right), including a "Toyoguard" for $609, leather seat covers for $1499, and 17" inch wheels that reduce milage by 10% at least for $1399, plus a number of other things that Toyota knows nothing about. End result? About $5000 added on to the price. A #9 costs $30,500, a #7 more than $28,000.

I told my dealer I don't want this crap, and now I'm not going to get one apparently for forever.

Has anyone experienced this? It appears I wasted six months with these guys. I'm now on a list with a more reputable dealer, but I want to get these guys to sell me a Prius still without all this added on crap.

Love to hear your thoughts,

Really Frustrated in North Carolina

**Danny** · 06-27-2004, 11:13 PM

Perhaps it's time to call

eg239 · 06-27-2004, 11:17 PM

Frustrated,

It's possible that your dealer didn't bother calling you because it had all that "extra crap" you described and didn't want. It's also possible that your dealer thought you weren't interested in whatever package your neighbor has. Numbers on the list don't necessarily dictate who gets the car in whichever order; many are using the "first right of refusal" system. If you specifically state that you do not want certian options, of course they will skip you over on the list. To call you with a car you have clearly said you don't want would be a waste of their time, and for you to come down and look at the car and decide you don't want it after all would be an incredible waste of your time.

Dealers say things and do the complete opposite. That is the nature of their game and that is how they make the big bucks (and lose the customers).

betshsu · 06-27-2004, 11:21 PM

Indeed, many people from NC have been going to WV for the Prius because it's not in the domain of SE Toyota (or whatever the private company is called--I'm in Texas and have to deal with GST which is just as bad). I have the number of a dealer in WV that is very close to NC (3 hours from Durham) who is still allowed to sell out of state and is selling at MSRP, if you're interested (yes, I'm in Texas and have my name with a dealer in WV). Got it from somewhere on PriusChat, but the salesman has been very helpful via email and phone. Also, there's a thread somewhere that shows how you can figure out exactly what a dealer is getting in the SE region (unfortunately doesn't work for GST)... I noticed that the Durham dealership had added on pretty much every expensive option possible (leather, wheels, etc), to bring the MSRP up to almost $30k for every car they had listed. I can find the link for you if you're interested in knowing exactly how many cars your dealer is getting.

ReallyFrustrated · 06-27-2004, 11:24 PM

I told my dealer to call me whenever they had any car in any color when my number was up. I told them I didn't want those added options (and lets face it, they are a scam — a "carbon fiber dash appearance thingy for $200? Come on...), but said call me nonetheless. They called my neighbor, five weeks below me on the list, and not me.

No, I was skipped over because they are putting $5000 worth of high margin options on ALL Priuses regardless of what people ask for. Don't want 'em? We'll call the next guy — the list's 100+ strong. I'd take just about any option package in any color, but don't want to pay for $1400 wheels that will reduce my mileage and wear out my brakes more quickly, especially when I didn't ask for it.

ReallyFrustrated · 06-27-2004, 11:31 PM

Yes, please do send me his email address and dealer name.
Thanks!

ReallyFrustrated · 06-28-2004, 04:54 PM

Well, I dumped my lying dealer and called around and got a #7 (package I wanted) in Silver (color I wanted after red) for $1000 over sticker. I'm thrilled — I get in in two weeks, promised. It's been allocated, arrives in NYC on July 7, and gets into the dealer by July 14. $1000 is fine by me.

Anyway, thanks for the suggestion — the dealer is in West Virginia, and I think that there are a couple of others there that sounded hopeful they could place me in a car within 1-2 months.

No longer really frustrated!!!

Huck · 06-28-2004, 09:42 PM

I live in NC as well, and the outlook was bleak, so I bailed and went to WV. I swear I have no idea how they decide who to call on which cars, but I saw that it would take forever, and then I would probably be forced to buy overpriced port options, take it or leave it. It's a seller's market.

I actually liked my personal sales guy, but there wasn't much he could do to make sense of it for me, or help me get the car faster. He was always very honest and sympathetic. When I came to get my money back, he seemed genuinely happy for me and said he would have done the same thing. It must be tough trying to be a front line salesperson in the Southeast Toyota Region.

Anyway, glad the Mountain State worked out for you. You'll need to change your name, now, I suppose.

ReallyFrustrated · 06-28-2004, 11:07 PM

...was also mad that they do it that way. What did he care? He was a nice guy (Mark Keeler at Toyota of Durham, I recommend him, if not the dealership) who would have done fine with the MSRP sale.

They pretty much admitted to me their bait-and-switch tactics. Because I didn't want the port options, I just stopped climbing up the list. That's how they order all of their Prii now.

Oh well. Now I'm getting a 7 in the color I wanted (only a 5 would have been better more me), for $1000 surcharge in two weeks. I'm thrilled.

Where did you get yours in WV? How long did it take? Did you pay a surcharge?

Cheers,

No longer frustrated.

Huck · 06-29-2004, 09:25 AM

I went to Advantage Toyota, which is much discussed in the Dealers and Pricing thread (it's just this side of Huntington - the dealer, not the thread). My wait was less than two months and I paid MSRP. I liked them. However, partly because of people like me and aarons12 and half the other Prius owners I know, they are now doing market adjustments in WV too. They figure if people will drive as far as we did, they ought to be able to cash in, so they are. It seems to be boiling down to a choice between waiting forever or paying extra; lucky are the few who must do neither. At least until the shortage subsides.

06-27-2004, 11:17 PM	#3
eg239 Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Manchester, NH Posts: 73 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Frustrated, It's possible that your dealer didn't bother calling you because it had all that "extra crap" you described and didn't want. It's also possible that your dealer thought you weren't interested in whatever package your neighbor has. Numbers on the list don't necessarily dictate who gets the car in whichever order; many are using the "first right of refusal" system. If you specifically state that you do not want certian options, of course they will skip you over on the list. To call you with a car you have clearly said you don't want would be a waste of their time, and for you to come down and look at the car and decide you don't want it after all would be an incredible waste of your time. Dealers say things and do the complete opposite. That is the nature of their game and that is how they make the big bucks (and lose the customers). __________________ Cancelled Prius order, bought a 20-year-old Saab instead. Kicking myself in the butt ever since.

06-27-2004, 11:31 PM	#6
ReallyFrustrated Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 7 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	WV Dealer Yes, please do send me his email address and dealer name. Thanks!

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06-27-2004, 11:10 PM	#1
ReallyFrustrated Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 7 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	My dealer is screwing me... Help! I ordered my Prius on December 31, 2003. I started out as #85 on the list. On May 8 I was #23. Seven weeks later, i.e. this week, I was #16. You do the math. What's going on here? I'll tell you. Yesterday I learned that my neighbor, who ordered her Prius from the same dealer FIVE WEEKS LATER, got her Prius a week ago! I was ahead of her on the list, told my sales rep that he should call me whenever my number came up with whatever he got (he said that's how they do it anyway), and have checked at least once a month to see where I stand. What's my dealer doing? Well, I think it has something to do with the fact that they are now ordering all of the Priuses with "port option" (yeah, right), including a "Toyoguard" for $609, leather seat covers for $1499, and 17" inch wheels that reduce milage by 10% at least for $1399, plus a number of other things that Toyota knows nothing about. End result? About $5000 added on to the price. A #9 costs $30,500, a #7 more than $28,000. I told my dealer I don't want this crap, and now I'm not going to get one apparently for forever. Has anyone experienced this? It appears I wasted six months with these guys. I'm now on a list with a more reputable dealer, but I want to get these guys to sell me a Prius still without all this added on crap. Love to hear your thoughts, Really Frustrated in North Carolina

06-27-2004, 11:13 PM	#2
Danny Admin/Founder Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 5,289 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 38 Thanked 201 Times in 84 Posts Friends: 37	Perhaps it's time to call __________________ Follow PriusChat on and *Buy your discounted 2010 Prius Accessories* here and support PriusChat: PriusChat Shop PriusChat Also Offers Discounts on: Extended Warranty - $1055 : Pre-Paid Maintenance - $875**

06-27-2004, 11:21 PM	#4
betshsu Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 299 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Indeed, many people from NC have been going to WV for the Prius because it's not in the domain of SE Toyota (or whatever the private company is called--I'm in Texas and have to deal with GST which is just as bad). I have the number of a dealer in WV that is very close to NC (3 hours from Durham) who is still allowed to sell out of state and is selling at MSRP, if you're interested (yes, I'm in Texas and have my name with a dealer in WV). Got it from somewhere on PriusChat, but the salesman has been very helpful via email and phone. Also, there's a thread somewhere that shows how you can figure out exactly what a dealer is getting in the SE region (unfortunately doesn't work for GST)... I noticed that the Durham dealership had added on pretty much every expensive option possible (leather, wheels, etc), to bring the MSRP up to almost $30k for every car they had listed. I can find the link for you if you're interested in knowing exactly how many cars your dealer is getting.

06-27-2004, 11:24 PM	#5
ReallyFrustrated Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 7 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I told my dealer to call me whenever they had any car in any color when my number was up. I told them I didn't want those added options (and lets face it, they are a scam — a "carbon fiber dash appearance thingy for $200? Come on...), but said call me nonetheless. They called my neighbor, five weeks below me on the list, and not me. No, I was skipped over because they are putting $5000 worth of high margin options on ALL Priuses regardless of what people ask for. Don't want 'em? We'll call the next guy — the list's 100+ strong. I'd take just about any option package in any color, but don't want to pay for $1400 wheels that will reduce my mileage and wear out my brakes more quickly, especially when I didn't ask for it.

06-28-2004, 04:54 PM	#7
ReallyFrustrated Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 7 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I'm getting a Prius in 2-3 weeks! Well, I dumped my lying dealer and called around and got a #7 (package I wanted) in Silver (color I wanted after red) for $1000 over sticker. I'm thrilled — I get in in two weeks, promised. It's been allocated, arrives in NYC on July 7, and gets into the dealer by July 14. $1000 is fine by me. Anyway, thanks for the suggestion — the dealer is in West Virginia, and I think that there are a couple of others there that sounded hopeful they could place me in a car within 1-2 months. No longer really frustrated!!!

06-28-2004, 09:42 PM	#8
Huck Join Date: May 2004 Location: North Carolina, USA Posts: 31 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I live in NC as well, and the outlook was bleak, so I bailed and went to WV. I swear I have no idea how they decide who to call on which cars, but I saw that it would take forever, and then I would probably be forced to buy overpriced port options, take it or leave it. It's a seller's market. I actually liked my personal sales guy, but there wasn't much he could do to make sense of it for me, or help me get the car faster. He was always very honest and sympathetic. When I came to get my money back, he seemed genuinely happy for me and said he would have done the same thing. It must be tough trying to be a front line salesperson in the Southeast Toyota Region. Anyway, glad the Mountain State worked out for you. You'll need to change your name, now, I suppose. __________________ Enjoying my Salsa Red #9 since May 2004.

06-28-2004, 11:07 PM	#9
ReallyFrustrated Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 7 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	My salesmen.... ...was also mad that they do it that way. What did he care? He was a nice guy (Mark Keeler at Toyota of Durham, I recommend him, if not the dealership) who would have done fine with the MSRP sale. They pretty much admitted to me their bait-and-switch tactics. Because I didn't want the port options, I just stopped climbing up the list. That's how they order all of their Prii now. Oh well. Now I'm getting a 7 in the color I wanted (only a 5 would have been better more me), for $1000 surcharge in two weeks. I'm thrilled. Where did you get yours in WV? How long did it take? Did you pay a surcharge? Cheers, No longer frustrated.

06-29-2004, 09:25 AM	#10
Huck Join Date: May 2004 Location: North Carolina, USA Posts: 31 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I went to Advantage Toyota, which is much discussed in the Dealers and Pricing thread (it's just this side of Huntington - the dealer, not the thread). My wait was less than two months and I paid MSRP. I liked them. However, partly because of people like me and aarons12 and half the other Prius owners I know, they are now doing market adjustments in WV too. They figure if people will drive as far as we did, they ought to be able to cash in, so they are. It seems to be boiling down to a choice between waiting forever or paying extra; lucky are the few who must do neither. At least until the shortage subsides.