AAA/Toyota Dealer clash over dealers refusal of Price Guarantee

I'm impressed with you fighting the good fight. It just shows what type of disreputable scum car dealerships are and what gutless maggots AAA are. Is there a clause in their contract that allows the dealership to unilaterally break it? Piece of crap, arrogant dealership. It's in large part what's wrong with this country.

 

Hey Mark,

Good for you, you're doing everything in your power the right way. Take your time with this, you are the buyer. You know your budget better than anyone else so stick to your gut. IMO, there will always be plenty of new Priuses available. They're cars, not Tickle Me Elmos. Plus we're still in a recession. Dealerships claiming shortages is only so they can squeeze every dollar out of every customer. They didn't trick you and are better off for it.

Your story was somewhat similar to my purchase two years ago. I tried using the AAA discount program to buy a Prius. They only offered me a discount of $500 at the time. I was insulted, that was chump change. So I tried going through Costco's discount program. The dealership didn't even honor Costco's discount, also of $500. Since the dealership also didn't budge with their price, I literally hopped the fence and went to their Certified Pre Owned dealership and got myself a nice deal on a Gen II.

 

I wonder if USAA pricing will be/is affected, too.

That really stinks, Mark. I'm sorry this happened to you.
I hope you'll get your Prius eventually; you'll love it.

 

Six weeks ago, I could have gotten a Prius III for $1000 under invoice using the USAA plan. By the time I bought it last week, I was lucky to get it for invoice. I suspect the situation with buying plans will be fluid for the immediate future, if not for months.

 

sorry to hear aaa didn't back you up. as a member, i find it very disallusioning.

 

Many dealerships have excluded the Prius from their buying programs such as Costco and AAA. It can be done at any given time. From that moment forward, a dealer won't have to honor anything from the past. It just is what it is.

As a both consumer and sales professional, I KNOW it's frustrating. ON my end, folks who I emailed information and pricing to as long ago as 3-4 weeks ago are coming out of the woodwork to get my deals NOW. And, I have to say "no, sorry. That won't work anymore. Pricing quoted is for 72 hours."

 

Knowing what I know about the current market conditions, I would not expect any dealership to offer any discount on the Prius, regardless of any AAA, Costco, USAA, etc. agreement. You might find a few hundred off somewhere, but nothing like invoice. I'm pretty sure you are not surprised that you didn't get it for that price. A few months ago, everyone was using the prices from USAA, Costco and AAA as "starting points". Nobody was complaining then when people were beating up the dealerships for every last $100 bucks they could get out of them. My point is that it works both ways.

For anyone who wants a Prius anytime soon, now is the time to buy. I foresee prices being MSRP for the near future. Only difference is that right now you have a better chance of getting the car you want, in the color you want, with the options you want. Shortly, people will be buying whatever they can get their hands on, regardless of package or color. Dealers will be selling them before they are even on the ground, just like the good ol days. Plus, any incentives that Toyota has out there today will most likely not be as good in the future.

 

It's a case of supply and demand. With the events in Japan and high gas prices, I expect the Prius to be selling above sticker price in many areas.

 

I knew the apologists would creep out of the woodwork. If a contract exists and does not allow this to happen, then the dealer is a piece of disreputable crap for not honoring his written commitment.

It's just part of the lawless America that we've become. "Screw my written commitment, I'm going to do what I want, regardless."

 

I would assume that a sudden unexpected disruption in supply (e.g. tsunami) would essentially void any contractual agreements to sell the vehicle.

 

Mark -

Is it possible to check dealers in PA or DE? I'm not sure how far from here you are, but the dealership I used seemed pretty good. I paid around 25k for the package 3 w/ nav. Granted, they had just hit dealerships, and they weren't willing to budge on price. I managed to get the winter floor mats out of them for free (big deal, I know). They weren't trying to sell them above invoice or anything like that. Even said they never did in 2008 when they were selling before they got them. They wouldn't even take a deposit for one on the way, but would "claim" it for you on their shipment. I'm sure if they couldn't reach you after a day or two, that would fall off, but I didn't get into detail about that.

 

If you're willing to do PA or DE, also check MD. Carmax in MD is selling new Prii at a pre-determined, non-negotiable price. They have 2 2011 Threes... One for $23,758 and the other for $24,978. Unfortunately, neither appear to be silver.

 

So what I hear you saying is that you are okay with Toyota NOT honor its contract becasue (drum roll please) the market changed?

I wonder if that works the other way around?

"Hey Toyota, I just got laid off so I'm not going to be able to honor our contract. Here's $3,000.00 less than we agreed on, and thanks!"

It's dishonest, it's disgusting and it's a terrible business practice relative to long-term customer retention. In fact, that experience would be enough for me to never consider buying another Toyota ... and I LOVE Toyotas.

Shame on Toyota.

-Brad

 

Why would you assume that? Do you have any knowledge the contract allows for that?

 

How do you know what the "contract" or "agreement" said? You don't, because it wasn't with you and frankly is none of your business. The arrangement was between AAA and the dealership. And at this point, AAA obviously is not going to pursue this matter any further, either because they choose not to under the given circumstances or there is no legal merit to do so.

 

Of course you are correct, but you are missing my point. I'm sure both AAA + Toyota are technically covered from a legal perspective. That was written into the fine print on day #1.

My point is that it's a terrible business practice that will, and should drive customers away.

-Brad

 

AAA, an insurance company need to be held accountable for not holding the dealerships's feet to the fire by canceling their agreement. What if I joined AAA just for the negotiated Prius rate?

This website is a great place to highlight bad behavior of companies such as AAA and the dirtbag dealership:

http://www.ripoffreport.com or
http://www.badbusinessbureau.com

I'd tell my story there with names and numbers so that the buying public can be aware that this dealership doesn't have the time of day to abide by his own written contract when it is not in his financial interest to do so because he'd lose an opportunity to gouge his customers due to a tragedy.

Opportunistic scum with no sense of honor, i.e. car dealership.

 

Unforeseeable circumstances, acts of god --- pretty standard contract text.

In any case, the AAA is not going to tear up their contracts with every dealer so give up the fight. If this was me I would try to hold off buying the car for a couple of months until supply returns to normal.

 

It's a three way matter. The AAA member is ALSO involved and he is the SOLE purpose for the agreement in the first place.

Of course it is my business. It's anybody's business who'd use AAA buyer's program. What kind of a blind fool are you to make such a statement?

You are just an apologist shill who has no sense of honor, either. I'd be willing to bet that you'd have no compunction about walking away from a mortgage on a house that was underwater too. Am I correct?

Lastly, you have no evidence that the contract allows the dealership to unilaterally and without notice exclude certain cars.

I'd post the complaint here:

http://www.badbusinessbureau.com