Experiences with getting dealer to set Customization options for FREE

I called Toyota Customer experience and complained that to charge for even 1 customization was crapola. I said why not set the horn to honk when backing up and then they could probably charge $300 to get it turned off. Anyway they called the dealership (Toyota of Plano) who had quoted me $98.50 and told them do it for no charge. Had to leave it for 6 hours because they were "busy", although I get my oil changed there in less than an hour, but I was willing to pay the price to stop that reverse beep racket.

 

I just had three options set today (reverse beep, seatbelt beep, and all doors unlocked at once) for free. Took them about 30 minutes. Lake Charles Toyota. Nothing but good things to say about that dealership. When I asked about getting it done I was sure to say how I bought it from them less than a week ago.

 

I bought my car at Toyota Sunnyvale, and they changed a handful of customization items at my request during the PDI process, and also programmed the car not to lock/unlock automatically when shifting out of / into park after I couldn't get it to work using the owner's manual instructions-- all gratis.

 

Copeland Toyota in Brockton, MA also did it for free as part of the PDI. They balked initially but finally gave in when I told them it was a dealbreaker.

 

My dealership, Hatch Toyota, in Show Low, AZ has been very good about anything I wanted and they customized settings for me at Delivery at no charge and said they would change for me again at regular oil change if I didn't like any settings.

It's really just a matter of whether or not you have a dealership that wants to keep you happy after the sale as well! If they do, then maybe you'll refer a friend to them or put in a good word for them on the internet (PC). This should be just a part of good PR.

Offer to them to do this for them if they set your customized settings for free and then follow up by sending them a link and a letter letting them know you recommended them and they may be more likely to do it for you. Additionally, in the future, they will be more likely to treat you as a VIP!

 

We called around and basically got charges ranging from $60 - $100. One was talked into doing it for free when took it in for a $70 oil change (still need 4k miles before that happens).

Called our dealer, Hollywood and talked with the service folks. He said they normally charge (even though we bought from them) but would do it for free. Went in and he changed the reverse to one beep and our interior light to turn off after 7.5 seconds (factory preset is 15 seconds). Thought about the seatbelt beep and decided that we didn't mind having as we can use that to have our passengers "annoyed" into putting on their seatbelt if needed.

The only other thing we wanted changed was to have our headlights turn off when the car was turned off. He couldn't do that so we live with it turning off after 30 seconds (factory preset time).

 

We had several customizations done at the 1000 mile 'check up'. The invoice reads "Light duty repair ~ reprogram $0"

This is Toyota/Scion of Lompoc where we bought our 2010. They were very accommodating and acted as if it was a routine request. Hope you get this straightened out.

radio

 

I bought my car from Campbell Toyota, Hermiston, OR they set the customization options free before I took delivery of the car. Today I went in to buy some touch-up paint, they gave me that free also.

 

This thread will become plenty useful to me (I hope) at my 3,500 mile checkup, when I ask them to change the backup racket to one beep. My wife won't drive the car due to that one annoyance.

 

Too funny, I did the exact same thing today. I went to Service the the rep didn't even know what I was talking about and he went and talked to a tech. Came back and said it was a 30 to 60 min job and would cost (reg rate). I said no thanks and said I would talk to my sales person. That person wasn't in and ended up talking to another. She didn't seem to have a clue but went over to service. Came back and said it wasn't a warranty item and would cost. After a round of back in forth, she said OK we will eat the cost... just don't tell anyone else. Good grief. She figured that since I knew about it during the test drive that I should have said something than, I guess. Thing was, during the short test drive we never put it in reverse. That was the straw. I am scheduled Monday. At least they will do it in the end.

I sure hope Toyota takes these things into account with later models.

 

Longo Toyota (El Monte, CA) did mine for free. No question asked.

A good tip for finding a dealer to do it: Locate a Toyota dealer that's right next to Lexus (a combined Toyota/Lexus franchise). Lexus has a policy that offers a one-time complimentary Lexus Personalized Settings modification to all customers, exactly the same thing discussed here. I guarantee you they'll be familiar with it.

 

My dealer breaker was installing the remote start for free. They did it but would not customize my settings. I found a local dealer that would make the changes. Moving forward they will get 100% of my service work.

Why would any one go back to a service department that will not give the service people are asking for? As Dave Ramsey claims: They are working for you, If they can not do what you ask then fire them and find some one that can. I found a dealer that does what I pay them to do.

 

Buckhannon Toyota in WV changed my "beep" for me during prep for free. However this was discussed and agreed to as part of the negotiation process. I'm not sure asking them to take the car into service well after the sale should be expected although a dealer that you deal with often should do it as good will.

 

It blows my mind how poorly people run their businesses. Why would the dealer lose a sale over a 20 minute service item (it took my dealer less than 30 minutes to take my car back, do the 3 changes, then bring it back to me, for free!)?? That 20 minutes to the dealer is probably worth $10-$20. Wow.

 

I had a great experience at the dealer that made the changes. I pulled the car in the shop. The mechanic brought out the mini laptop and showed me the app that runs under Win XP. He told me that I could make the modifications if I wanted to.

I clicked on ‘Warnings’ and it showed the options I needed to change. I clicked ok and removed the OBDCII cable. I tested out the features and left.

Yesterday I went to an Oil Change place with my Prius and asked if I could perform the oil change using their tools? They were happy to let me do it. They gave me some advice and told me about other cars that are using the new filter. They also recommend places for me to buy the tool used to remove the oil filter.

I have a lot better feeling that the work is done right when I do it myself.

 

After I took delivery I discovered what could be done by reading the manual. I decided what I wanted done, and called my salesperson. He referred me to the Service Manager, who had his foreman do the changes for me at no charge. They were happy to do it, and used it as a learning experience, since mine was the first 2010 they'd changed the settings on.

 

I too asked for the customizations prior to delivery, but none of them were done.

I changed the lock/unlock configuration to lock at 12mph and unlock when the drivers door is opened by using the instructions on pg 69/70 in the manual.

I also wanted the remote to open all doors with 1 click instead of 2 (which I now regret) and the headlights to turn off after 0 sec. instead of 60 sec., to create my version of auto-running lights.

I made an appt at the dealer and the desk guy said the remote couldn't be changed and I said, It's in the manual." He said the headlights could be changed to 30 sec., but not 0 sec. Again, I said, It's in the manual." Then I got the manual.

He said, "Those things can be changed by the owner, let's go to the car and I'll show you how." A quick trip to the car and he was SOOO confused by the 2010 dash that he gave up very quickly.

After the work was done (in about 20 min) he went over the receipt line by line. He made a big deal out of telling me that Toyota doesn't pay for customizations, but they wouldn't charge me this time. I boldly stated that it is criminal to charge for something that we are prevented from changing ourselves.

He then stated that these features are changable by the owner, but frankly it would take way too long to teach owners and since it only takes the service dept a few min. and a quick scan to make the changes, it's just easier.

It was getting deeper and deeper by the minute. I only wish I had my boots on. lol

 

I'm sorry, but that is PATHETIC the way these guys just make this stuff up as they go... It's going to backfire on Toyota someday.

 

My dealer changed the reverse beep for free with no problem, Initially the didn't know how, no one else had asked.
I took them a dozen doughnuts the next day