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So I got one of those "we want to buy your Prius!" letters from a dealership

Discussion in 'Dealers & Pricing' started by Ashlem, Apr 16, 2015.

  1. Ashlem

    Ashlem Senior Member

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    Yeah, apparently they're so in demand that the dealership wants me to bring in my prius c (which is technically my brother's car right now), and trade it in for a new Toyota vehicle. They're also willing to offer me $1000 more than whatever it appraises at, which will probably be a low ball offer anyway.

    Tempting offer, but I think I'm good on vehicles for the moment. And since Toyota has no plans to release plug-in vehicles, aside from the Plug-in Prius, which they don't normally sell in WI, they don't have any cars I want right now.

    I recall several posters here before that have mentioned either getting similar letters, or being approached by sales people while getting their prius serviced. I guess this is a new marketing tactic they're trying out.

    Anyone else get similar offers? Did you take the dealership up on their offer just to see what they would give you?
     
  2. StevoB

    StevoB New Member

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    Just another meaningless "individualized" mass marketing ploy. Our 2003 Vibe with 200K miles is a really hot collector item right now!
     
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  3. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    I've received probably a hundred of these over my driving decades. None were good offers. But one was not so bad, because it valued my 3-year-old 2010 as a 2-year-old (in 2012), and allowed me to trade up too.

    It was 'not so bad' because it met my threshold on minimizing $/mile of long term depreciation, something it wouldn't have done if it traded in as its actual 3 years old. It was 'not good' because a week spent actually comparison shopping would have found better deals without much effort. But no tears because it met my pre-established target.

    On my desk now is a very slickly produced and highly personalized offer to buy back my 2012 Prius and put me into a 2015 Chevrolet. ENTiTLED! Guaranteed ENTiTLED buyback value of 130% of Black Book value (who makes Black Book, I've never heard of it before, and why is it lower than other used car books?) of up to $19162 *(minus some mandatory deductions, mileage alone on mine brings max offered tradein down to $8700). The only thing this offer is good for is as fuel for a car lot bonfire rally to protest deceptive and predatory sales practices.
     
    #3 fuzzy1, Apr 16, 2015
    Last edited: Apr 16, 2015
  4. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    Shred the letter.
    Keep the Prius.

    Dodge sends these letters.
    So does GM......Ford.....Honda.....etc.

    They don't want your Prius.
    They want your money.
     
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  5. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

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    I received one alike too.
    I opened the letter, I read it, I Laughed my lung out and finally it ended up in the trash............
     
  6. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    Yep...just anther database junk hook to get you in to buy another vehicle.
     
  7. SAronian

    SAronian Active Member

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    I received on from BMW as part of their One and Done campaign where they offered to buy my Prius Plug-in for $20K + $6,768, if I signed a 2-year lease for a BMW i3 for $6,768. I think it is a statement on the low sales numbers for the i3.
     
  8. Sergiospl

    Sergiospl Senior Member

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    Apparently, customers for some of these vehicles are limited.

    Once "everyone who wanted one got one", so, then they target plug-in owners of other brands.

    And I see this coming: "Prius is the most common car traded for our BMWi3" :)
     
  9. matt b.

    matt b. Member

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    They make nice paper airplanes ✈✈
     
  10. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    I have a built in defense mechanism whenever I get one of those dealership solicitations. It's kind of like Google Translate.

    Whenever I see a phrase akin to "We Want Your Prius" I automatically read "We Want To Sell You A New Car".

    And if I have absolutely no interest in buying a new car at the time? That's where the reading starts and stops.
     
  11. mrbigh

    mrbigh Prius Absolutum Dominium

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    Unfortunately doesn't apply to conventional paper mail.
     
  12. Ashlem

    Ashlem Senior Member

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    Haha, I hate that it looked like it might be a legit recall notice or something, as I did get one for the prius c a few weeks back, for I think the airbag light on the dash. Which I also think my brother hasn't gotten it done yet.

    As soon as I saw the message in it, I just tossed it in the trash. While I understand it's marketing and all, unless Toyota suddenly decides to sell plug-in EV's, I don't think they'll have any vehicles I'll want. And the prius is holding up quite nicely, and I hope it will for several more years.
     
  13. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    If you're driving a 2014 Prius, it's going to be quite a while until you need a new car....barring an insurance claim.
     
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  14. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    The latest versions arrive in yellow DHL junk mail envelopes.

    Do they really think I'm stupid enough to believe they actually need a 5+ year old car with over 90000 miles and do a trade for my same monthly payment? Mr. Toyota Dealer, my monthly car payment is $0. If you want to trade a 2015 Prius Five-AT for a 2010 Prius V-AT even up I may be interested. Otherwise, I need more incentive to visit your showroom.

    I don't waste my time with these offers--straight into the recycle bin. Offer a lottery ticket, a few dollars, a cheap watch, a towel, or a tool kit and I'll be there. The golf umbrella doesn't cut it. Best gimme was a decent tool kit from a Chevy dealer. Second best gimme was a stadium blanket from a Toyota dealer.
     
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