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Odd experience trying to buy hybrid battery at Toyota

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by StephenJ, Aug 12, 2024 at 5:44 PM.

  1. StephenJ

    StephenJ Member

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    Okay, so in the threads I found and online I saw where most places seems to be listing the hybrid battery G9510-47033 for around $2999 which you get $1350 of that back with core return and it nets out around $1650. The issue is its hard to find places to ship it and the one place I found the shipping was like $500.

    So I called the local dealers and they said the price for that part number is around $2475 with NO CORE return. Which brings me to some questions....

    Has anyone else experienced lately that Toyota didn't want the core returned? Does anyone have a current suggestion of somewhere else to call to get one more like $1650 and have it delivered? Or does anyone else have input regarding the core situation? Are they no longer getting the cores or is this just something odd at just my local dealers?

    Thanks!
     
    #1 StephenJ, Aug 12, 2024 at 5:44 PM
    bisco likes this.
  2. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    All I can think is that somehow they already have a useful core to return, which gives them the flexibility to offer you a simple sale.

    On the other hand, you could have been talking to somebody without a clue.
     
    #2 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, Aug 12, 2024 at 6:24 PM
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  3. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    You don't want to have it shipped that's going to cost a fortune as you just heard You want to go pick it up at a Toyota dealer where it's shipped to it'll be cheaper for you to do that than it will be to ship it unless you're talking some ungodly amount of driving distance or what have you which is possible I didn't look to see where you are generally you want to use the Toyota Network to get it as close to you as possible and pick it up at the dealer or else you're going to waste all your core money and savings in shipping and that's just fine as long as you realize that and you're down with the program some people can make the time some can't when you can't then you pay the premium
     
    #3 Tombukt2, Aug 12, 2024 at 7:40 PM
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i haven't read that anyone has gotten free or low cost shipping.
    in fact, most dealers won't ship.
    i have been reading lately that more and more dealers will only sell to mechanics. unfortunately, all you can do is call around to all the dealers you're willing to drive to.
    one member recently bought one hundreds of miles away,because his wife was going to be in the area to pick it up and bring it home. i forget how he was going to return the core.
     
    #4 bisco, Aug 12, 2024 at 8:52 PM
  5. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Or a car business owner dealer of some sort which is pretty easy to have handled
     
    #5 Tombukt2, Aug 12, 2024 at 9:02 PM
  6. StephenJ

    StephenJ Member

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    True, maybe they have one laying around and want to get the core money themselves.
     
    #6 StephenJ, Aug 12, 2024 at 10:16 PM
  7. StephenJ

    StephenJ Member

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    I'm in Birmingham, AL and called all the dealers here. The bad thing is having to deal with two trips to return the core. I could go to Atlanta to get one but a second trip is just too far for that.
     
    #7 StephenJ, Aug 12, 2024 at 10:52 PM
  8. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Why not take the core with you on the first trip?

    Surely arranging another car to make that trip is easier than doing a whole second trip.

    The dealers don't ship the batteries because few carriers will accept large, heavy packages that are technically dangerous goods. Toyota already has a freight service contracted to get parts from the ports to the dealer parts departments, so that's the free ride.

    Anything you do after that is going to cost money, and my (admittedly limited) experience with LTL freight says the hard minimum would be around $300.
     
    #8 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, Aug 13, 2024 at 4:42 AM
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