Weird Dealer Experience

paulrubin · 08-31-2007, 11:17 PM

I picked up my '07 today. Everything went as expected though slowly other than the dealer wouldn't budge under retail price on the extended warranty. I thought they'd move a bit. So I guess I'll be doing that via here at some point. But here's the weird part. Before I test drove the car itself, I saw the mats and round wheel covers in the back of the car. When everything was done with and a different salesman showed me the details of the MFD (package 5) I noticed that while clean the round wheel covers weren't on and weren't in the back. And the guy acted like I was delusional. Now my wife may think I'm a bit odd but I know what I saw and I know what comes with a Prius. I made him take the ones off another Prius. I don't know which bothers me more. The fact that they might have been trying to rip me off. Or that they'd try to train me with a guy who knew little more than me on some things and nothing on others. Any way you slice it, I found that part disconcerting. Anyone else have a similar incident?

BTW, 50.5 mpg after I reset after a 5 minute warmup over roughly 15 miles of driving. Not a bad start.

Syclone · 08-31-2007, 11:52 PM

Old expression:

How can you tell when an automobile salesman is lying? His lips are moving!

iDonna · 09-01-2007, 08:40 AM

I had a similar incident when I bought a Honda Accord back in '99. It's part of the stupid games car dealers play. They didn't happen to ask that you give them favorable ratings and comments on the survey from Toyota, did they? My Toyota dealer did.

I didn't get a mailing from Toyota on my customer experience with the dealer this time though. If I had, I would have complained about their ridiculous excessive stall tactic.

Well off the dealer for a routine service. I'll make sure the mats are still there when they're done.

Good luck and enjoy your Prius.

paulrubin · 09-01-2007, 10:37 AM

Oh don't for a minute think I didn't look for the mats immediately after seeing the case of the missing hubcaps. I'm wondering what else mysteriously disappeared. And every salesman asks you to rate them excellent. I don't know that I'd call the situation excellent but at least I was able to get my hubcaps off another car. Pity the next guy who doesn't get theirs

auricchio · 09-01-2007, 04:10 PM

And you're sure someone didn't just stuff 'em down into the lower cargo area, below the cargo floor? Maybe the guy thought you didn't want 'em on the car, so he stashed them for you.

It'd be a bit embarrassing to have to return a set of the wheel rings, but then it was their fault for not doing something sensible in the first place.

daniel · 09-01-2007, 07:24 PM

January of 2004, my salesman didn't know much at all about the car. He implied that I would get the EPA mileage in Fargo, ND, in the middle of winter, at 30 degrees below zero. He didn't have a clue about the options for which doors the SKS opens. He knew almost nothing about the car.

However, in all fairness, the car was too new, and too different. He did right by me where it mattered: he got me exactly the package and color I wanted with a two-month wait, after promising three months (a month early!) and he didn't try to force unwanted options or fraudulent charges on me, at a time when demand far exceeded supply. And when I told him (before committing to buy) that I'd like a longer test drive, he let me take the demo out on a Saturday evening at closing time, and keep it until opening time on Monday morning, so I got a 36-hour test drive.

He was as straight up with me as his own ignorance of the car would permit and I was happy overall with the experience. Toyota does not provide the kind of customer support that Honda gives (another reason, perhaps, that some folks still buy the HCH) but my salesman was a good guy.

makar · 09-01-2007, 09:06 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(syclone @ Aug 31 2007, 11:52 PM) [snapback]505277[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Old expression:

How can you tell when an automobile salesman is lying? His lips are moving!
[/b]

I'm in the process of buying my first Prius, and the salesmen have been awful. We have several dealers, and even though I don't tell them who I've talked to or at what dealer, they call the other salesmen liars and just seem to be a backbiting lot. One salesman was so negative, saying what everyone else was doing was wrong (and didn't address getting me the car I wanted), that I just walked away.

I do have a depost down on one. And went in today to test drive a Prius -- and he wouldn't let me drive! Said most people have trouble driving them at first and he didn't want me to have an accident! Well, I'm not buying the car if I can't drive it first, so I did manage to take it out on a test drive, though he came with me (in the past, salesmen have just let me take cars as long as I leave my car and my car registration with me). By the way, I had no difficulty at all driving the car (other than the usual -- I'm used to a manual transmission).

The salesman says he has a line on a Prius with the package I want, but doesn't know the color or the delivery date yet. He's being a little too vague. If I don't get specifics within the next week, I'll give him an ultimatum and go elsewhere.

paulrubin · 09-01-2007, 11:07 PM

I looked in the storage compartment underneath (which he didn't seem to know existed

And I just noticed today (it was dark by the time I got the car) that they didn't take the plastic on the two front pillars. Let's be realistic here. The dealership didn't prepare the car properly and obviously didn't have a knowledgeable Prius guy to show me stuff. Luckily for them I've very tech savvy and thanks to everyone here, quite knowledgeable. I'll figure most of it out just fine from trial and error and the manual.

Did they get the car when they said they would? Yes. Did they give me the price I was hoping for? Yes. Did they treat me nicely? Yes. But I've seen better. And when I get my plates in a week or two, it's my intention to say a few words. Perhaps they'll make up for these little annoyances with something like a free oil change or something. That would go a long way to making me feel less annoyed.

Thankfully, the car's been great though.

I do have a question though. Last night the car was lighting up inside and the door unlocked as I reached for the door. Today no such luck? I'm not even sure which setting I'd prefer better but which is normal behavior and how is it changed?

daniel · 09-02-2007, 11:12 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Paul R @ Sep 1 2007, 08:07 PM) [snapback]505642[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

...

I do have a question though. Last night the car was lighting up inside and the door unlocked as I reached for the door. Today no such luck? I'm not even sure which setting I'd prefer better but which is normal behavior and how is it changed?
[/b]

You might have inadvertently bumped the little button under the steering wheel (at about knee height) and shut off the SKS. With the SKS on, the door will unlock and the light come on, when you touch the inside of the door handle (not when you reach out toward it).

hyo silver · 09-02-2007, 11:46 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(iDonna @ 2007 Sep 1 5:40 AM) [snapback]505371[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

...They didn't happen to ask that you give them favourable ratings and comments on the survey from Toyota, did they? My Toyota dealer did...
[/b]

I didn't even get to fill it in. Conveniently, the survey card had been completed for me.

09-01-2007, 07:24 PM	#6
daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 11,278 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 59 Thanked 201 Times in 127 Posts Friends: 0	January of 2004, my salesman didn't know much at all about the car. He implied that I would get the EPA mileage in Fargo, ND, in the middle of winter, at 30 degrees below zero. He didn't have a clue about the options for which doors the SKS opens. He knew almost nothing about the car. However, in all fairness, the car was too new, and too different. He did right by me where it mattered: he got me exactly the package and color I wanted with a two-month wait, after promising three months (a month early!) and he didn't try to force unwanted options or fraudulent charges on me, at a time when demand far exceeded supply. And when I told him (before committing to buy) that I'd like a longer test drive, he let me take the demo out on a Saturday evening at closing time, and keep it until opening time on Monday morning, so I got a 36-hour test drive. He was as straight up with me as his own ignorance of the car would permit and I was happy overall with the experience. Toyota does not provide the kind of customer support that Honda gives (another reason, perhaps, that some folks still buy the HCH) but my salesman was a good guy. __________________ Daniel Primary car: 100% Electric 2003 Porsche 911 Carrera. Estimated range at 55 mph: 81 miles total or 64 miles to 80% discharge. Top speed 70 mph. Secondary car: Zap Xebra SD, also 100% electric. 1.9 cents per mile. Range: 40 miles total, or 32 miles to 80% discharge. Top speed 35 mph. Faster downhill. Both EVs use electrons generated from water power. Gas guzzler for when I have to travel farther than 60 miles: 2004 Prius. "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." -- Emma Goldman "Anyone who has ever looked into the glazed eyes of a soldier dying on the battlefield will think long and hard before starting a war." -- Otto von Bismarck

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Weird Traction Control Experience	danatt	Gen II Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting	1	05-10-2007 12:38 PM
Dealer experience - Ira Toyota Manchester NH	Jazzn2day	Dealers & Pricing	4	09-17-2006 11:55 AM
Dealer Experience	Oregon-Mica	Gen II Prius Main Forum	1	01-14-2006 05:19 PM
Bad Experience with dealer	Kiloran	Dealers & Pricing	5	10-11-2005 01:50 PM
(Mostly) good experience with dealer in Golden CO	mmapes	Gen II Prius Main Forum	0	09-10-2004 09:15 PM

08-31-2007, 11:17 PM	#1
paulrubin Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 32 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I picked up my '07 today. Everything went as expected though slowly other than the dealer wouldn't budge under retail price on the extended warranty. I thought they'd move a bit. So I guess I'll be doing that via here at some point. But here's the weird part. Before I test drove the car itself, I saw the mats and round wheel covers in the back of the car. When everything was done with and a different salesman showed me the details of the MFD (package 5) I noticed that while clean the round wheel covers weren't on and weren't in the back. And the guy acted like I was delusional. Now my wife may think I'm a bit odd but I know what I saw and I know what comes with a Prius. I made him take the ones off another Prius. I don't know which bothers me more. The fact that they might have been trying to rip me off. Or that they'd try to train me with a guy who knew little more than me on some things and nothing on others. Any way you slice it, I found that part disconcerting. Anyone else have a similar incident? BTW, 50.5 mpg after I reset after a 5 minute warmup over roughly 15 miles of driving. Not a bad start.

08-31-2007, 11:52 PM	#2
Syclone Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 529 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	Old expression: How can you tell when an automobile salesman is lying? His lips are moving!

09-01-2007, 08:40 AM	#3
iDonna Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 89 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I had a similar incident when I bought a Honda Accord back in '99. It's part of the stupid games car dealers play. They didn't happen to ask that you give them favorable ratings and comments on the survey from Toyota, did they? My Toyota dealer did. I didn't get a mailing from Toyota on my customer experience with the dealer this time though. If I had, I would have complained about their ridiculous excessive stall tactic. Well off the dealer for a routine service. I'll make sure the mats are still there when they're done. Good luck and enjoy your Prius.

09-01-2007, 10:37 AM	#4
paulrubin Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 32 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Oh don't for a minute think I didn't look for the mats immediately after seeing the case of the missing hubcaps. I'm wondering what else mysteriously disappeared. And every salesman asks you to rate them excellent. I don't know that I'd call the situation excellent but at least I was able to get my hubcaps off another car. Pity the next guy who doesn't get theirs

09-01-2007, 04:10 PM	#5
auricchio Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cambria, CA, USA Posts: 904 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	And you're sure someone didn't just stuff 'em down into the lower cargo area, below the cargo floor? Maybe the guy thought you didn't want 'em on the car, so he stashed them for you. It'd be a bit embarrassing to have to return a set of the wheel rings, but then it was their fault for not doing something sensible in the first place.

09-01-2007, 11:07 PM	#8
paulrubin Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 32 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I looked in the storage compartment underneath (which he didn't seem to know existed And I just noticed today (it was dark by the time I got the car) that they didn't take the plastic on the two front pillars. Let's be realistic here. The dealership didn't prepare the car properly and obviously didn't have a knowledgeable Prius guy to show me stuff. Luckily for them I've very tech savvy and thanks to everyone here, quite knowledgeable. I'll figure most of it out just fine from trial and error and the manual. Did they get the car when they said they would? Yes. Did they give me the price I was hoping for? Yes. Did they treat me nicely? Yes. But I've seen better. And when I get my plates in a week or two, it's my intention to say a few words. Perhaps they'll make up for these little annoyances with something like a free oil change or something. That would go a long way to making me feel less annoyed. Thankfully, the car's been great though. I do have a question though. Last night the car was lighting up inside and the door unlocked as I reached for the door. Today no such luck? I'm not even sure which setting I'd prefer better but which is normal behavior and how is it changed?