Have You Been on Multiple Lists?

In May of 2005, I put myself on 6 waiting lists. I waqs up to buy the first available though, so when the first dealer called, I was there. Worked out well for me.

 

I started my journey last October and put (2) $500 deposits and (1) $250 deposit. ALl dealers said it was refundable. No dealers ever called me, I had to keep calling. At all 3 dealerships, it was a miserable experience. I filed a complaint with the BBB for one dealership as they would not return my calls and I wanted my money back due to their poor customer service. (Got that back real quick once BBB was involved). In January 2006, I finally went to a dealer on eastern LI (more country like) and was treated well. Left a $500 deposit; he made no promises. Called him 2 weeks later, he said he had a seaside pearl coming in (I had requested barcelona red) and if I wanted it, to call him back with 2 hours to confirm and it was mine. Well, it was a done deal and I got my seaside pearl and have been happy as a clam ever since!

 

I had my name on "lists", usually with a fleet agent for the dealer. The I started going out to dealerships and talking to salespeople who wanted to make a sale. I left my info with about 5 sales people. I also kept contacting different dealers and found one with my car.

Total serious shopping time, about 2 weeks. I eventually heard from all of the salespeople within a week of my purchase date with acceptable color choices (3 choices exterior, 1 interior (grey)).

 

I lived in Fargo, ND, and there's only one Toyota dealer there. I didn't want to travel out of town to buy my car, so I got on the list and placed a $500 refundable deposit in November, 2003. I was told the likely waiting time was 3 months. I got exactly the color and package I wanted in January, 2004, a month sooner than promised.

It had taken me a week to decide not to wait a year to buy the car. My old Civic was working fine, and I'd often heard that you should not buy a car in its first year. But I decided I didn't want to wait a year for this coolest of all cars. I've never regretted my decision. A few months after I got mine, the waiting time had grown to six months, and eventually to a year, at that dealer, though even at the worst of it you could have gotten one sooner by shopping nationally..

 

Yes, 2 lists for me.

See my thread about the gray #6 in Order Tracking.

 

In September 2004 I got on one list (no deposit) and was told the wait was so long it wouldn't be until February 2006! I did get about 3 or 4 calls from them starting in January 2005, but didn't buy from them. In fact when I got mine in April 2005, I got it online.

 

No list or deposit here. Just talked to the fleet manager and had my black baby 2 weeks later! I am so impressed with the patience some people have had!!! I feel so lucky!!