Why aren't ALL packages available everywhere?

GreenMachine · 11-09-2005, 05:18 PM

Seems really stupid to me that some of us have to travel half way across the country to get a '06 option package we want -- #4 in my case, for instance.

Why doesn't Toyota have all packages availabe in every region and let us make up our own minds about what we want, instead of someone deciding what we want for us?

I'm sure there is some economic reason for it, but I just don't buy it.

Does this irk anyone else?

Rancid13 · 11-09-2005, 05:26 PM

It definitely irks me! I want a Package #7 but remember hearing somewhere that the package was not available in California, but Package #8 is. #8 adds on leather interior at an additional ~$1160 which I could really do without.

I've never much liked leather seating to begin with, and the cloth seats in the upgraded Prius I test drove were very much to my liking. And now I may either have to pay extra $ for leather seating I don't care for, or somehow find a way to talk my dealer into snagging a Package 7 from a region that carries them if he can and if he will. And I refuse to go down below #7 as Navigation is extremely important to me-it's non-negotiable.

aaf709 · 11-09-2005, 05:29 PM

Don't know. I wanted a #5, but had to "settle" for a #6 as you can only get a #1, #3 and #6 in So Cal (I tried in Nevada, but failed).

My father said it reminded him of after WWII when dealers put on the most options as they could. They knew people were willing to spend just about anything for something as rare as a new car and there was a lot of profit in the options. In this case it's the rare Prius.

aka007ii · 11-09-2005, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GreenMachine@Nov 9 2005, 03:18 PM
I'm sure there is some economic reason for it, but I just don't buy it.

[snapback]153178[/snapback]

My guess is they know for instance that hill-billies don't need the Navigation option because all 100 people in thier town know where the 2 gas stations and 4 resterants are. There's only 1 highway and no cell phone repeaters so the BT is no good because Sprint's all digital nation-wide (built from the ground up) system can't be heard. And since the NAV doesn't show POI for cattle and sheep nobody would ever want to buy that package.

GreenMachine · 11-09-2005, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by aka007ii@Nov 9 2005, 05:31 PM
My guess is they know for instance that hill-billies don't need the Navigation option because all 100 people in thier town know where the 2 gas stations and 4 resterants are. There's only 1 highway and no cell phone repeaters so the BT is no good because Sprint's all digital nation-wide (built from the ground up) system can't be heard. And since the NAV doesn't show POI for cattle and sheep nobody would ever want to buy that package.

[snapback]153188[/snapback]

roflmao -- man that hit home hard -- you got where I live in Vermont down to a tee except we don't have all that many sheep

But we do need a nav system when we go to Walmart to buy cheese whiz and Hostess Dinky Twinkies.

galaxee · 11-09-2005, 05:40 PM

Regional distributors make the choices as to which options they'll sell. Since they're in charge of selling cars for the entire region, they're the ones to contend with. They buy their cars from Toyota, add some options at port (OK, that's mostly SET) and ship them out to dealers who sell the cars to people.

If you want a car your regional distributor doesn't carry, you have to go to a state that is serviced by a different distributor.

Stupid, but I guess that's the way some things go.

GreenMachine · 11-09-2005, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by galaxee@Nov 9 2005, 05:40 PM
Regional distributors make the choices as to which options they'll sell. Since they're in charge of selling cars for the entire region, they're the ones to contend with. They buy their cars from Toyota, add some options at port (OK, that's mostly SET) and ship them out to dealers who sell the cars to people.

If you want a car your regional distributor doesn't carry, you have to go to a state that is serviced by a different distributor.

Stupid, but I guess that's the way some things go.

[snapback]153196[/snapback]

That is what irks the hell out of me. I am questioning why they do this? It really does make no sense from the customer's viewpoint and we go along with it like sheep.

galaxee · 11-09-2005, 05:59 PM

Well, I guess not everything makes sense. Toyota employs distibutors to take on the cost of distibuting their cars in the US. While it would be great if we could just pick up any car anywhere, that's capitalism for you.

Jack 06 · 11-09-2005, 06:15 PM

My uneducated guess is that it makes their lives easier by SEEMING to be able to satisfy their customers' [forcibly reduced] desires.

8 colors X 8 packages = 64 possible color/package combos.

8 colors X 3 packages = 24 possible color/package combos

In other words, if they can artificially lower customers' expectations UP FRONT by limiting package/combo choices, both their (dealers') odds and customers' odds of getting what they "ordered" goes way up.

Yeah, it sucks. I want a #2. How many 2's do you think there will be? None here in CA. So if I buy here, I'll have to settle for #3. And how many "low-end" Priuses do you think Toyota will make compared to #5 and higher?

My odds are reduced appreciably from the git-go.

Kiloran · 11-09-2005, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jack 06@Nov 9 2005, 07:15 PM
My uneducated guess is that it makes their lives easier by SEEMING to be able to satisfy their customers' [forcibly reduced] desires.

8 colors X 8 packages = 64 possible color/package combos.

8 colors X 3 packages = 24 possible color/package combos

In other words, if they can artificially lower customers' expectations UP FRONT by limiting package/combo choices, both their (dealers') odds and customers' odds of getting what they "ordered" goes way up.

Yeah, it sucks. I want a #2. How many 2's do you think there will be? None here in CA. So if I buy here, I'll have to settle for #3. And how many "low-end" Priuses do you think Toyota will make compared to #5 and higher?

My odds are reduced appreciably from the git-go.

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I read a post recently that put my regions allocation at 15% #2 and the remaining 85% for packages #6, 7, & 8.

I want #4 so I have to drop down to #2 unless my dealer can get a #4 from NJ.

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11-09-2005, 05:18 PM	#1
GreenMachine Senior Prius Poster Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 732 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Seems really stupid to me that some of us have to travel half way across the country to get a '06 option package we want -- #4 in my case, for instance. Why doesn't Toyota have all packages availabe in every region and let us make up our own minds about what we want, instead of someone deciding what we want for us? I'm sure there is some economic reason for it, but I just don't buy it. Does this irk anyone else?

11-09-2005, 05:26 PM	#2
Rancid13 Cool Chick with a Black Prius Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Los Alamitos, Orange County, CA Posts: 2,455 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #8 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 2	It definitely irks me! I want a Package #7 but remember hearing somewhere that the package was not available in California, but Package #8 is. #8 adds on leather interior at an additional ~$1160 which I could really do without. I've never much liked leather seating to begin with, and the cloth seats in the upgraded Prius I test drove were very much to my liking. And now I may either have to pay extra $ for leather seating I don't care for, or somehow find a way to talk my dealer into snagging a Package 7 from a region that carries them if he can and if he will. And I refuse to go down below #7 as Navigation is extremely important to me-it's non-negotiable. __________________ Jennifer 2006 Black Pkg #8 w/bisque leather "Max" (Prius Maximus)

11-09-2005, 05:29 PM	#3
aaf709 Ravenpaw of ThunderClan Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 3,823 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Don't know. I wanted a #5, but had to "settle" for a #6 as you can only get a #1, #3 and #6 in So Cal (I tried in Nevada, but failed). My father said it reminded him of after WWII when dealers put on the most options as they could. They knew people were willing to spend just about anything for something as rare as a new car and there was a lot of profit in the options. In this case it's the rare Prius.

11-09-2005, 05:40 PM	#6
galaxee uphill battling Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: central NC/ western WI Posts: 8,808 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 5 Times in 3 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 19	Regional distributors make the choices as to which options they'll sell. Since they're in charge of selling cars for the entire region, they're the ones to contend with. They buy their cars from Toyota, add some options at port (OK, that's mostly SET) and ship them out to dealers who sell the cars to people. If you want a car your regional distributor doesn't carry, you have to go to a state that is serviced by a different distributor. Stupid, but I guess that's the way some things go. __________________ black 2005 prius, tweaked just the way i like it as DH was once told, someone with his capability should be in college, not doing mindless maintenance awaiting the occasional brain teaser. after conquering the entire ASE automotive series, he's busy retooling the diagnostic mindset for other life protecting applications. the prius tech is officially scarce, and his other half is sad without him.

11-09-2005, 05:59 PM	#8
galaxee uphill battling Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: central NC/ western WI Posts: 8,808 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 5 Times in 3 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 19	Well, I guess not everything makes sense. Toyota employs distibutors to take on the cost of distibuting their cars in the US. While it would be great if we could just pick up any car anywhere, that's capitalism for you.

11-09-2005, 06:15 PM	#9
Jack 06 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Winters, CA: Prius capital of US. 30 miles W of Sacramento Posts: 2,567 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	My uneducated guess is that it makes their lives easier by SEEMING to be able to satisfy their customers' [forcibly reduced] desires. 8 colors X 8 packages = 64 possible color/package combos. 8 colors X 3 packages = 24 possible color/package combos In other words, if they can artificially lower customers' expectations UP FRONT by limiting package/combo choices, both their (dealers') odds and customers' odds of getting what they "ordered" goes way up. Yeah, it sucks. I want a #2. How many 2's do you think there will be? None here in CA. So if I buy here, I'll have to settle for #3. And how many "low-end" Priuses do you think Toyota will make compared to #5 and higher? My odds are reduced appreciably from the git-go.