Toyota dealer pulling back said delivery date, screwing me?

[whitespider]

Is Toyota screwing me somehow in a game i'm not familiar with? I thought I won when I got a pkg#5 2007 for $24,900 with taxes and frees ($500 in BS 'dealer fees' which i was OK with for this price, and taxes and tags for rest) for a total of a little over $27,200. I was happy, I succeeded. I signed the papers after reading them, put down my $500 credit card deposit (not cash incase things went sour, as i read on some sites for advice) and left with the idea that June 9th was my day and with the numbers and details agreed upon i couldn't lose.

Then trouble starts. I call toyota to ask about valet cards (see another topic on this) and after getting my response on that I asked to confirm if 'this saturday' (June 9th, the day they quoted me before, which btw is not on paperwork) is the day I should expect, of course, to come in. The guy is hessitant about the answer throwing out scary words like "unsure about availability on that car" and such. I freaked.. he said he would check and call me back. A little over an hour passes and I call him.. he says 'she' wasn't in and if it was OK if he could get back to me later.. or... tomorrow (which is today, btw, June 6th).. 8 PM my time and no call.

I'm concerned. Are they trying to take me out of the market then screwing me out of the car I want? What kind of game could be in the works with them? I'm now unsure if i'll even be guaranteed the car details I wanted.

What should I do? My two friends (i'm 22, they're the same age) said I should pressure them by asking for a loaner car (i never traded in a car though) on June 9th incase things dont come out the way I want.

Could anyone chime in and educate me on what's going on here? Am I screwed somehow, here? I don't mind a little longer wait, if anything, but can it be worse than that or much more shady than I think?

(Might have to change my signature if things don't go well)

[derkraut]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(whitespider @ Jun 6 2007, 05:28 PM) [snapback]456976[/snapback]</div>

Is Toyota screwing me somehow in a game i'm not familiar with? I thought I won when I got a pkg#5 2007 for $24,900 with taxes and frees ($500 in BS 'dealer fees' which i was OK with for this price, and taxes and tags for rest) for a total of a little over $27,200. I was happy, I succeeded. I signed the papers after reading them, put down my $500 credit card deposit (not cash incase things went sour, as i read on some sites for advice) and left with the idea that June 9th was my day and with the numbers and details agreed upon i couldn't lose.

Then trouble starts. I call toyota to ask about valet cards (see another topic on this) and after getting my response on that I asked to confirm if 'this saturday' (June 9th, the day they quoted me before, which btw is not on paperwork) is the day I should expect, of course, to come in. The guy is hessitant about the answer throwing out scary words like "unsure about availability on that car" and such. I freaked.. he said he would check and call me back. A little over an hour passes and I call him.. he says 'she' wasn't in and if it was OK if he could get back to me later.. or... tomorrow (which is today, btw, June 6th).. 8 PM my time and no call.

I'm concerned. Are they trying to take me out of the market then screwing me out of the car I want? What kind of game could be in the works with them? I'm now unsure if i'll even be guaranteed the car details I wanted.

What should I do? My two friends (i'm 22, they're the same age) said I should pressure them by asking for a loaner car (i never traded in a car though) on June 9th incase things dont come out the way I want.

Could anyone chime in and educate me on what's going on here? Am I screwed somehow, here? I don't mind a little longer wait, if anything, but can it be worse than that or much more shady than I think?

(Might have to change my signature if things don't go well)

Patience my man.....patience! Don't get upset because you "think" there's a problem. Give the dealer a chance to deliver . If you don't have a deal SIGNED and IN WRITING, you have NOTHING.
[/b]

[efusco]

What papers did you sign? Was it a purchase agreement for a specific car (ie VIN # on the paper)? If so then definately chill for now. If they don't deliver or sell the car from under you then you've got a very legit gripe and can threaten law suits, demand a higher package car for the same price, whatever. But right now you're just getting typical dealer chaos.

If the paper you signed was a vague agreement without a VIN then you may, very well, be getting screwed around with if they found someone willing to pay more for a similar car. If so there's nothing you can demand (ok, you can demand but you won't get anything besides a curt apology) and that's your own fault for not having covered the bases while the slime bag worked you over.

[qbee42]

Prius can be hard to get, especially in a given color and package. When we got ours, the dealer knew it was on the boat before he could commit to an approximate date. Keep calling so they know you are serious, but keep your cool. I don't think they are trying to screw with you, just having a hard time with delivery schedules.

Tom

[whitespider]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Jun 6 2007, 09:35 PM) [snapback]457019[/snapback]</div>

What papers did you sign? Was it a purchase agreement for a specific car (ie VIN # on the paper)? If so then definately chill for now. If they don't deliver or sell the car from under you then you've got a very legit gripe and can threaten law suits, demand a higher package car for the same price, whatever. But right now you're just getting typical dealer chaos.

If the paper you signed was a vague agreement without a VIN then you may, very well, be getting screwed around with if they found someone willing to pay more for a similar car. If so there's nothing you can demand (ok, you can demand but you won't get anything besides a curt apology) and that's your own fault for not having covered the bases while the slime bag worked you over.
[/b]

Agreed. It was the latter. Man, if only I would have thought of that. I spent about a month doing my homework on not getting screwed and I guess this was the problem. So I guess they could very well have sold the car..

BTW the car was 'somewhere else' meaning at a port, at another dealership, I don't know.

Tomorrow I will call, as today was when he was supposed to call back.

We shall see where this goes, but damn, I didn't think of asking them to write the VIN on the agreement (there's a space there for it, but the only information filled out was what I requested specifically).

[JimN]

Whitespider, Toyota builds car and basically sells them to an importer that sells them to a dealer. IF you are being subjected to shady practices it is the dealer, not the manufacturer. As Evan said, read your paperwork. I'm sure, at best, you have an "order". The agreement is to sell you a car in a specific color with a specific option package at a specific price IF the dealer gets one. An unethical dealer will take a promised car and sell it to another customer who is willing to pay more. Your only recourse in this situation is to find the car yourself and come to an agreement with that dealer. In reality you probably only have a "reservation" for that car.

Last year I was led to believe I was ordering an option 7 silver car from Toyota and the dealer gave me an estimated delivery date in September. I was notified when the next batch of cars arrived and was given the option on 3 that were not spoken for, none of which was the car I "ordered". I agreed to trade down and am happy with the car I own. My original "order" was imediately discarded.

The game works both ways. If you have a refundable deposit (good move on the plastic) on the car at one dealer contact the Internet Sales Managers at others as far out as you are willing to travel and see what they can do for you.

Here's a trick to be wary of that may be in season now. Dealer will promise a 2007 model year car knowing full well it won't come due to the scheduled model year changeover. Dealer will string customer along with alibis like "we can't find it" or "it's on the boat" or "it was reallocated at the port" until it is too late for the customer to get a 2007 anywhere. Customer is then notified that only a 2008 can be purchased and (big surprise) Toyota changed the pricing so the original deal can't be honored.

If you didn't read through www.carbuyingtips.com do it now. They prey on everyone so don't feel singled out. No matter how it turns out you are going through a valuable learning experience. Don't get emotional over the car. I hope everything turns out well for you.

[whitespider]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimN @ Jun 6 2007, 10:16 PM) [snapback]457062[/snapback]</div>

Whitespider, Toyota builds car and basically sells them to an importer that sells them to a dealer. IF you are being subjected to shady practices it is the dealer, not the manufacturer. As Evan said, read your paperwork. I'm sure, at best, you have an "order". The agreement is to sell you a car in a specific color with a specific option package at a specific price IF the dealer gets one. An unethical dealer will take a promised car and sell it to another customer who is willing to pay more. Your only recourse in this situation is to find the car yourself and come to an agreement with that dealer. In reality you probably only have a "reservation" for that car.

Last year I was led to believe I was ordering an option 7 silver car from Toyota and the dealer gave me an estimated delivery date in September. I was notified when the next batch of cars arrived and was given the option on 3 that were not spoken for, none of which was the car I "ordered". I agreed to trade down and am happy with the car I own. My original "order" was imediately discarded.

The game works both ways. If you have a refundable deposit (good move on the plastic) on the car at one dealer contact the Internet Sales Managers at others as far out as you are willing to travel and see what they can do for you.

Here's a trick to be wary of that may be in season now. Dealer will promise a 2007 model year car knowing full well it won't come due to the scheduled model year changeover. Dealer will string customer along with alibis like "we can't find it" or "it's on the boat" or "it was reallocated at the port" until it is too late for the customer to get a 2007 anywhere. Customer is then notified that only a 2008 can be purchased and (big surprise) Toyota changed the pricing so the original deal can't be honored.

If you didn't read through www.carbuyingtips.com do it now. They prey on everyone so don't feel singled out. No matter how it turns out you are going through a valuable learning experience. Don't get emotional over the car. I hope everything turns out well for you.
[/b]

This really makes me uncomfortable. I'm under the impression of the idea that I couldn't pull back on the deposit and would have to reverse charges on my card if i don't get a reply, especially since i havn't been called back at all.

I'm not sure where to go, now. I mean i'm fine buying the car elsewhere, since i like the price at carsdirect.com (very close to what i was offered) and wouldn't mind there, but my deposit then would be lost.

[Danny]

My opinion is that these things just happen. When I ordered my Prius last summer, I initially had an estimated delivery date of mid-June. By the end of it, the car didn't make it to the dealership until mid-July, and it barely made it for the weekend I had planned to pick it up in Chicago (I'm in SC).
The whole scenario made me sweat, but it wasn't any fault of the dealership. Delivery dates to the port change on a daily basis. I don't think anyone's trying to screw you over. Buying it through CarsDirect would basically be buying the same car you've already ordered. You'll be subjected to the same time delays since CD gets the car from the same place.

[FloridaWen]

Certain Prius colors and package combinations are difficult to find and can take quite a while.......... be patient !! DON'T blow the deal........ chill and be "civil" to the Dealer and ask him HONESTLY what is going on..... DON'T try to go over his head at this point unless he did something like sell your vehicle to someone else or something "slimey" like that (and be SURE first before you accuse him !!)

My Wife and I were VERY, VERY "lucky"................... there were NO Silver Pine Mica TOURING with Package #5 and gray (cloth) interior ANYWHERE in the S.E.T. (South East Toyota) area, NONE.........
We originally gave the Toyota Dealer a deposit (personal check) and were planning to wait for 90 DAYS or MORE for one with this exact configuration. Well four days later we get a phone call from the dealer telling us he "found" one on it's way to port (Jacksonville, Florida) and it should be arriving at that port in about a week or so..... only problem was it was already "assigned" to another Dealer in North Carolina and he didn't know if it was sold (at THAT Dealership) or even under deposit. After he called them he found out it was NOT and he asked that Dealer if they could "trade" (vehicles before they arrive at port, while still on the ship) and they DID !! If it was NOT for this great fate, great piece of luck, we STILL would be waiting today and a couple of months more..................
Another GREAT thing was that we were able to ELIMINATE (cancel) that $699 ToyoGuard Plus Package they put on at port.... saved another $699 !! (Almost 99% of the S.E.T. Toyota's have it.......... forced to pay $699 for this useless, overpriced, package !!)
It seems that SPM as well as certain other popular colors are VERY, VERY "difficult-to-find" now ..............
We really enjoy the color we selected (Silver Pine Mica) and I am sure you will be happy once you get YOURS in whatever color you chose, and in our case we would NOT have "settled" for any other color and just waited-and-waited-and-waited if we had to !!

[SSmith]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(whitespider @ Jun 7 2007, 08:59 AM) [snapback]457294[/snapback]</div>

This really makes me uncomfortable. I'm under the impression of the idea that I couldn't pull back on the deposit and would have to reverse charges on my card if i don't get a reply, especially since i havn't been called back at all.

I'm not sure where to go, now. I mean i'm fine buying the car elsewhere, since i like the price at carsdirect.com (very close to what i was offered) and wouldn't mind there, but my deposit then would be lost. [/b]

When buying my car last month I TWICE paid $500 deposits for a car that was to be transferred from another dealer. I began my negotiation at the Costco buying program price and worked down from there as I talked to the different dealers.

Dealer #1 claimed that the dealers had stopped trading Priuses (Prii??) and they could not get a Seaside Pearl in the package I wanted. However they were very eager to sell me the Seaside Pearl in a package I did not want. They could not assure me of a delivery date, nor would they stick to the negotiated price.

At that point I went to dealer #2 who again was going to get the car from another dealer; they actually beat dealer #1's price. As soon as we had signed the paperwork and they had my deposit I returned to dealer #1 where they refunded my deposit without any problems.

I kept calling dealer #2 for status and was told the transfer was looking good, they were just determining the car they would be sending back in return. The next day when I called I was told the other dealer had sold the car. Again I was in limbo because the dealer had no idea when the color and package I wanted would be in.

After getting off the phone with dealer #2 I hit the internet and called Toyota dealers in neighboring states looking for one that had the car in stock. I found one about 2.5 hours away in WI and asked them to hold for me for the following day. I arrived just as they were opening and was driving my new car home later in the day. On Friday I went into dealer #2 where my deposit was refunded without and problems. The day after I bought the car the salesman from dealer #1 called to say the had my package in RED available and wanted me to come in and look at it.

I have read a number of posts lately that have been similar to what you and I have been through. If you are really wanting the car now I suggest that you find a dealer that has the color and package that you want in stock and deal with them directly You know the carsdirect price, if they won't match that you are free to walk out without giving them your business. That will eliminate and of the issues with dealer transfers or waiting for a boat to arrive.

I have had the car 2 weeks today and it was worth it to me to get more aggressive in my purchasing tactics. I traded in a truck that averaged about 16 MPG and for my first 2 tanks (860 miles) I am averaging over 52 MPG with the Prius. I hope to improve upon that as I learn how the feather the pedal for extended glides.

Hang in there, you will enjoy the car once you finally have it.