Dinner at Toyota

PatapscoPete · 08-11-2006, 12:55 PM

Yesterday I went to a dinner at my local Toyota dealer. I was invited to the dealership because I bought a Prius from them on July 4, and they wanted to tell me about their excellent customer service. I knew I was in for a speil about their maintenance shop, but FREE FOOD was mentioned, and I went. Actually, my wife, young son, and I went. We met up with about 30 other folks at the dealership ... all very friendly (they were getting FREE FOOD too!). The dealership was very friendly, not the least bit pushy, gave us the spiel about the service department, and toured us around. During the event they also gave away door prizes of Toyota pen/flashlite/tire gauge kits, aprons, store credit cupons, and backpacks. Now, I know they were buttering me up for the customer satisfaction thing, but they seemed to go much further than any other dealer I have ever dealt with.

The service mgr said something very telling during his 15 minutes. He said his techs were very good, the facility was excellent, and ther service was going to be very good. But, he said they were human too. All he asked was before we went away unhappy for what we thought was a poor job, PLEASE let him know first. All he asked was that we give him the final shot at making it right.

I've never owned a Toyota in my life before this Prius. My wife was a Camry owner, and raves about the company. I also spent a career in Quality Assurance. If this is any indicator of how Toyota values their customers, it's no wonder they are the #1 car company in the US. The sad part is that Ford, GM, et al, never saw it coming!

PS: In the interest of full disclosure: my son got a backpack, the wife got the apron, and I got the pen/flashlite/tire guage set. Then, my wife bought me a set of neato floor mats!

cwerdna · 08-14-2006, 12:55 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PatapscoPete @ Aug 11 2006, 09:55 AM) [snapback]301544[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Yesterday I went to a dinner at my local Toyota dealer. I was invited to the dealership because I bought a Prius from them on July 4, and they wanted to tell me about their excellent customer service. I knew I was in for a speil about their maintenance shop, but FREE FOOD was mentioned, and I went. Actually, my wife, young son, and I went. We met up with about 30 other folks at the dealership ... all very friendly (they were getting FREE FOOD too!).
...
I've never owned a Toyota in my life before this Prius. My wife was a Camry owner, and raves about the company. I also spent a career in Quality Assurance. If this is any indicator of how Toyota values their customers, it's no wonder they are the #1 car company in the US. The sad part is that Ford, GM, et al, never saw it coming!
[/b]

Cool. Although I had a good buying experience w/my dealer, they never did anything of this sort (nor did the Toyota dealers for the last 3 Toyotas my parents bought). We did get some free dinner after buying a new (at the time) 93 Dodge Caravan from a Dodge dealer.

BTW, #1 car company in the US? If you're talking about in terms of car sales, that would be GM. Toyota is the top import though. In terms of unit sales in the US YTD, the top 4 would be GM, Ford, Toyota then Chrysler. See the table at the right side of http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic.../608020413/1148.

Salsawonder · 08-14-2006, 01:17 AM

I was very surprised to get a dinner invite for my dealer after my August 05 purchase. It was not just Prius but all models. We were shown air bags, tire changing, rec'd 20% discounts in parts and a really good meal. There were even door prizes and a "car dude" to answer questions.

It was fun. I still drive to Toyota Carlsbad for my service. One year old and 15000. Still love it.

Godiva · 08-14-2006, 01:32 AM

Yep, I attended one after I bought mine.

I think it's an individual dealership thing. I think it's good business practice. Business knows that it's not the produce, it's the service that keeps customers coming back. And that word of mouth is nothing to be sneezed at. (Especially now with the internet.)

buyaninsight · 08-14-2006, 01:35 AM

the dealership I go to services my car and doesn't act all hoity toity abotu it.

tracysbeans · 08-14-2006, 11:32 AM

PatapscoPete, Hey how have you been? (It's Tracy) Why the name change?

Starfall · 08-20-2006, 01:23 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Salsawonder @ Aug 14 2006, 12:17 AM) [snapback]302865[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I was very surprised to get a dinner invite for my dealer after my August 05 purchase. It was not just Prius but all models. We were shown air bags, tire changing, rec'd 20% discounts in parts and a really good meal. There were even door prizes and a "car dude" to answer questions.[/b]

We went to the same type of "New Owner" meeting. Food (including great fresh veggies & fruit - I was impressed), prizes, & meeting/talking with other Toyota car purchasers.

It was a very low key affair - information about services but zero sales pitches. In fact, some people didn't even know about the extended warranty until a new owner asked whether there was one. The question didn't elicit a spiel to everyone present about buying one, rather a short answer that this was available & to speak to someone after the meeting if interested in further details.

What made it really special was at the end new owners got to meet individually with a technician & see the car they owned, up close & personal. In our case, being the only Prius owners, we were able to ask each & every question which came to mind.

We must have spent close to an hour with this knowledgeable young man who was a Prius owner himself. On request, he put a Prius up on a lift so we could examine the underside (this pleased my husband, the engineer, no end).

The whole event was handled professionally & was purely informational. Like Godiva said, it's a good business practice.

msmit002 · 08-22-2006, 10:08 PM

Ah, Patapsco Pete... Sounds like you had fun.

Hmmm... might you have purchased your Prius from Russel Toyota?

When my boss bought his Matrix this year, he went to the same sort of thing. Now he drinks coffee from that Toyota mug every morning....

**TonyPSchaefer** · 08-22-2006, 10:15 PM

Well crap. I didn't get nothin'.
In fact, in 2004, thanks to Priuschat, I knew more about the car prior to ownership than most or all of the dealership. Glad to hear that you have gotten off to a great start.

PatapscoPete · 08-23-2006, 07:58 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tracysbeans @ Aug 14 2006, 11:32 AM) [snapback]302987[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

PatapscoPete, Hey how have you been? (It's Tracy) Why the name change?
[/b]

No name change ... but, I may have inadvertantly hijacked someone's avatar. It would be helpful if one got a warning before doubling up on an avatar that is already in use.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(M Smith @ Aug 22 2006, 10:08 PM) [snapback]307990[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Ah, Patapsco Pete... Sounds like you had fun.

Hmmm... might you have purchased your Prius from Russel Toyota?

When my boss bought his Matrix this year, he went to the same sort of thing. Now he drinks coffee from that Toyota mug every morning....

[/b]

Russel Toyota, Yep, you got me.

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08-11-2006, 12:55 PM	#1
PatapscoPete Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 24 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Yesterday I went to a dinner at my local Toyota dealer. I was invited to the dealership because I bought a Prius from them on July 4, and they wanted to tell me about their excellent customer service. I knew I was in for a speil about their maintenance shop, but FREE FOOD was mentioned, and I went. Actually, my wife, young son, and I went. We met up with about 30 other folks at the dealership ... all very friendly (they were getting FREE FOOD too!). The dealership was very friendly, not the least bit pushy, gave us the spiel about the service department, and toured us around. During the event they also gave away door prizes of Toyota pen/flashlite/tire gauge kits, aprons, store credit cupons, and backpacks. Now, I know they were buttering me up for the customer satisfaction thing, but they seemed to go much further than any other dealer I have ever dealt with. The service mgr said something very telling during his 15 minutes. He said his techs were very good, the facility was excellent, and ther service was going to be very good. But, he said they were human too. All he asked was before we went away unhappy for what we thought was a poor job, PLEASE let him know first. All he asked was that we give him the final shot at making it right. I've never owned a Toyota in my life before this Prius. My wife was a Camry owner, and raves about the company. I also spent a career in Quality Assurance. If this is any indicator of how Toyota values their customers, it's no wonder they are the #1 car company in the US. The sad part is that Ford, GM, et al, never saw it coming! PS: In the interest of full disclosure: my son got a backpack, the wife got the apron, and I got the pen/flashlite/tire guage set. Then, my wife bought me a set of neato floor mats! __________________ "Hump ... what hump?"

08-14-2006, 01:17 AM	#3
Salsawonder Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: La Mesa California Posts: 1,882 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 80 Thanked 44 Times in 37 Posts Friends: 0	I was very surprised to get a dinner invite for my dealer after my August 05 purchase. It was not just Prius but all models. We were shown air bags, tire changing, rec'd 20% discounts in parts and a really good meal. There were even door prizes and a "car dude" to answer questions. It was fun. I still drive to Toyota Carlsbad for my service. One year old and 15000. Still love it.

08-14-2006, 01:32 AM	#4
Godiva AmeriKan Citizen Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 10,340 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 7	Yep, I attended one after I bought mine. I think it's an individual dealership thing. I think it's good business practice. Business knows that it's not the produce, it's the service that keeps customers coming back. And that word of mouth is nothing to be sneezed at. (Especially now with the internet.)

08-14-2006, 01:35 AM	#5
buyaninsight Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 39 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	the dealership I go to services my car and doesn't act all hoity toity abotu it.

08-14-2006, 11:32 AM	#6
tracysbeans Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 905 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	PatapscoPete, Hey how have you been? (It's Tracy) Why the name change?

08-22-2006, 10:08 PM	#8
msmit002 Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 59 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Ah, Patapsco Pete... Sounds like you had fun. Hmmm... might you have purchased your Prius from Russel Toyota? When my boss bought his Matrix this year, he went to the same sort of thing. Now he drinks coffee from that Toyota mug every morning....

08-22-2006, 10:15 PM	#9
TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Far-North Chicagoland Posts: 11,215 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 58 Thanked 311 Times in 195 Posts Friends: 27	Well crap. I didn't get nothin'. In fact, in 2004, thanks to Priuschat, I knew more about the car prior to ownership than most or all of the dealership. Glad to hear that you have gotten off to a great start.