Safety Connect

[mindmachine]

Originally Posted by codybigdog123

Are you saying 400 miles to your nearest dealership in Cal? Or is there something special about the dealership where you bought the car, that you only want it serviced there?

My mileage comment re. the distance is arbitrary, but the guy who first responded to my post is in Virginia and I am in Ohio hence the 400 or 500 mile comment. He said he had them on the lot like I want, although I bet not the exact combination and colors I ordered.

However I for one don't believe in buying at one dealer and going to another after the purchase and expect to get the best service and warranty consideration.

The dealer I ordered from I bought from before, in fact my first Prius.

[chrisj428]

Originally Posted by mindmachine

However I for one don't believe in buying at one dealer and going to another after the purchase and expect to get the best service and warranty consideration.

I'm glad you said that.

People don't realize the value of building a relationship with a dealer. It's a two-way street.

[DeadPhish]

Originally Posted by mindmachine

Shopping issue? I think you miss read my post, I ordered 5 months ago with a non refundable deposit before safety connect was even available. Then Toyota starts shipping most if not all solar roof IV's in many districts with safety connect before I get mine. I assume you are saying I should walk away from my deposit and start all over again maybe even drive 200 to 500 miles for what I want out of state and give away my deposit? Not to mention when I drive my out of state car onto the lot (400 miles away)where this other dealer has what I want on the lot how fair of a deal do you think I will get on my trade in.

How is that a good business model for Toyota to make that necessary with their current allocation/order process?

Sorry I still see this as a shopping issue. You ordered a vehicle one way, presumably without SC, and the vehicle that the store is offering to you has it with a $650 bump in price ( SC + USB ). Why take something that you don't want? I waited two years for my Gen 2....and I sell them.

I've delivered vehicles to customers all up and down the E Coast, yes as far away as 200 - 800 miles including Niagra Falls, Cinci, Atlanta and Panama City. I also have buyers that notify me that they are sending inquiries to every Toyota store from NYC to Miami in order to secure the specific vehicle desired.

Your deposit should be of no concern if you're working with a reputable store ( 100% are I presume ). The vehicle didn't meet your requirements .... you get your deposit back. Move on. However if that store wants to save you as a customer they'll find a way to do so. If not then that's not a place you want to do business in anyway.

Trade? Presumably you have a number from your local store. SHOP IT!! My wife and I have sold our last three trade-ins to CarMax - after my own store gave us its best price. The CarMax trade-in value beat the one from our store each time so CarMax won our business. There's no emotional attachment to money. It's just business.

[mindmachine]

Originally Posted by DeadPhish

Sorry I still see this as a shopping issue. You ordered a vehicle one way, presumably without SC, and the vehicle that the store is offering to you has it with a $650 bump in price ( SC + USB ). Why take something that you don't want? I waited two years for my Gen 2....and I sell them.

I've delivered vehicles to customers all up and down the E Coast, yes as far away as 200 - 800 miles including Niagra Falls, Cinci, Atlanta and Panama City. I also have buyers that notify me that they are sending inquiries to every Toyota store from NYC to Miami in order to secure the specific vehicle desired.

Your deposit should be of no concern if you're working with a reputable store ( 100% are I presume ). The vehicle didn't meet your requirements .... you get your deposit back. Move on. However if that store wants to save you as a customer they'll find a way to do so. If not then that's not a place you want to do business in anyway.

Trade? Presumably you have a number from your local store. SHOP IT!! My wife and I have sold our last three trade-ins to CarMax - after my own store gave us its best price. The CarMax trade-in value beat the one from our store each time so CarMax won our business. There's no emotional attachment to money. It's just business.

"There is no emotional attachment to money"

I am not sure I know exactly what you mean with that comment other than I do know that money has value and you can over pay for something and if you do that it is just so much money you don't have to use for something else. There are also values of time and money that have a relationship that many people fail to recognize. Traveling 800 miles to get a car has a cost in itself that ads on to the sticker cost. Oh and selling to Car Max also has a cost associated with the tax abatement offered by trading in your car rather than selling outright. If your tax rate is 7% lets say selling to car max costs you $700 for every $10000 of car value not traded in but sold outright. I have sold to carmax myself twice before so I understand how it works and I was pleased both times.

Shopping issue, I still disagree but then again I would never wait 2 years on a car order.

Last but not least my dealer has my problem resolved and is taking good care of me and the order to my satisfaction. I will definitely say he has gone the extra mile for me and I think it is partly because I am loyal to him and am not going hundreds of miles away to get my car but am giving him every opportunity to keep my business.

Oh one more thing I just don't believe in shopping/buying a car from another dealer and bringing it home and expecting my local dealer to take good care of me for service and warranty issues. it's just not right in my opinion but that is the main source of my gripe and that is what Toyota is forcing customers to do with their allocation/order/preference system.

[DeadPhish]

Originally Posted by mindmachine

"There is no emotional attachment to money"

I am not sure I know exactly what you mean with that comment other than I do know that money has value and you can over pay for something and if you do that it is just so much money you don't have to use for something else. There are also values of time and money that have a relationship that many people fail to recognize. Traveling 800 miles to get a car has a cost in itself that ads on to the sticker cost. Oh and selling to Car Max also has a cost associated with the tax abatement offered by trading in your car rather than selling outright. If your tax rate is 7% lets say selling to car max costs you $700 for every $10000 of car value not traded in but sold outright. I have sold to carmax myself twice before so I understand how it works and I was pleased both times.

Shopping issue, I still disagree but then again I would never wait 2 years on a car order.

Last but not least my dealer has my problem resolved and is taking good care of me and the order to my satisfaction. I will definitely say he has gone the extra mile for me and I think it is partly because I am loyal to him and am not going hundreds of miles away to get my car but am giving him every opportunity to keep my business.

Oh one more thing I just don't believe in shopping/buying a car from another dealer and bringing it home and expecting my local dealer to take good care of me for service and warranty issues. it's just not right in my opinion but that is the main source of my gripe and that is what Toyota is forcing customers to do with their allocation/order/preference system.

Congrats on getting the vehicle you wanted and your local dealer taking care of you the right thing was done.

From the dealership side on servicing another store's sale.....bring them all on. We encourge every Toyota owner in our entire region to bring their vehicle to us for service rather than go back to the store where they bought it. We love it...in fact every store loves taking service away from another store.

From a business perspective it's incremental business that only lowers the cost of doing business. It's gravy and it's a blessing when it happens. Here we have a huge influx of Military from all over the world. Most bought their vehicles out of state and now need them serviced. What a bonanza.

Of course we lose a lot too when our buyers are transferred out of state too. Summary: Dealers love walkin service customers.