Toyota dealer pulling back said delivery date, screwing me?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(whitespider @ Jun 6 2007, 05:28 PM) [snapback]456976[/snapback]</div>

 

Prius can be hard to get, especially in a given color and package. When we got ours, the dealer knew it was on the boat before he could commit to an approximate date. Keep calling so they know you are serious, but keep your cool. I don't think they are trying to screw with you, just having a hard time with delivery schedules.

Tom

 

Whitespider, Toyota builds car and basically sells them to an importer that sells them to a dealer. IF you are being subjected to shady practices it is the dealer, not the manufacturer. As Evan said, read your paperwork. I'm sure, at best, you have an "order". The agreement is to sell you a car in a specific color with a specific option package at a specific price IF the dealer gets one. An unethical dealer will take a promised car and sell it to another customer who is willing to pay more. Your only recourse in this situation is to find the car yourself and come to an agreement with that dealer. In reality you probably only have a "reservation" for that car.

Last year I was led to believe I was ordering an option 7 silver car from Toyota and the dealer gave me an estimated delivery date in September. I was notified when the next batch of cars arrived and was given the option on 3 that were not spoken for, none of which was the car I "ordered". I agreed to trade down and am happy with the car I own. My original "order" was imediately discarded.

The game works both ways. If you have a refundable deposit (good move on the plastic) on the car at one dealer contact the Internet Sales Managers at others as far out as you are willing to travel and see what they can do for you.

Here's a trick to be wary of that may be in season now. Dealer will promise a 2007 model year car knowing full well it won't come due to the scheduled model year changeover. Dealer will string customer along with alibis like "we can't find it" or "it's on the boat" or "it was reallocated at the port" until it is too late for the customer to get a 2007 anywhere. Customer is then notified that only a 2008 can be purchased and (big surprise) Toyota changed the pricing so the original deal can't be honored.

If you didn't read through www.carbuyingtips.com do it now. They prey on everyone so don't feel singled out. No matter how it turns out you are going through a valuable learning experience. Don't get emotional over the car. I hope everything turns out well for you.

 

Certain Prius colors and package combinations are difficult to find and can take quite a while.......... be patient !! DON'T blow the deal........ chill and be "civil" to the Dealer and ask him HONESTLY what is going on..... DON'T try to go over his head at this point unless he did something like sell your vehicle to someone else or something "slimey" like that (and be SURE first before you accuse him !!)

My Wife and I were VERY, VERY "lucky"................... there were NO Silver Pine Mica TOURING with Package #5 and gray (cloth) interior ANYWHERE in the S.E.T. (South East Toyota) area, NONE.........
We originally gave the Toyota Dealer a deposit (personal check) and were planning to wait for 90 DAYS or MORE for one with this exact configuration. Well four days later we get a phone call from the dealer telling us he "found" one on it's way to port (Jacksonville, Florida) and it should be arriving at that port in about a week or so..... only problem was it was already "assigned" to another Dealer in North Carolina and he didn't know if it was sold (at THAT Dealership) or even under deposit. After he called them he found out it was NOT and he asked that Dealer if they could "trade" (vehicles before they arrive at port, while still on the ship) and they DID !! If it was NOT for this great fate, great piece of luck, we STILL would be waiting today and a couple of months more..................
Another GREAT thing was that we were able to ELIMINATE (cancel) that $699 ToyoGuard Plus Package they put on at port.... saved another $699 !! (Almost 99% of the S.E.T. Toyota's have it.......... forced to pay $699 for this useless, overpriced, package !!)
It seems that SPM as well as certain other popular colors are VERY, VERY "difficult-to-find" now ..............
We really enjoy the color we selected (Silver Pine Mica) and I am sure you will be happy once you get YOURS in whatever color you chose, and in our case we would NOT have "settled" for any other color and just waited-and-waited-and-waited if we had to !!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(whitespider @ Jun 7 2007, 08:59 AM) [snapback]457294[/snapback]</div>

When buying my car last month I TWICE paid $500 deposits for a car that was to be transferred from another dealer. I began my negotiation at the Costco buying program price and worked down from there as I talked to the different dealers.

Dealer #1 claimed that the dealers had stopped trading Priuses (Prii??) and they could not get a Seaside Pearl in the package I wanted. However they were very eager to sell me the Seaside Pearl in a package I did not want. They could not assure me of a delivery date, nor would they stick to the negotiated price.

At that point I went to dealer #2 who again was going to get the car from another dealer; they actually beat dealer #1's price. As soon as we had signed the paperwork and they had my deposit I returned to dealer #1 where they refunded my deposit without any problems.

I kept calling dealer #2 for status and was told the transfer was looking good, they were just determining the car they would be sending back in return. The next day when I called I was told the other dealer had sold the car. Again I was in limbo because the dealer had no idea when the color and package I wanted would be in.

After getting off the phone with dealer #2 I hit the internet and called Toyota dealers in neighboring states looking for one that had the car in stock. I found one about 2.5 hours away in WI and asked them to hold for me for the following day. I arrived just as they were opening and was driving my new car home later in the day. On Friday I went into dealer #2 where my deposit was refunded without and problems. The day after I bought the car the salesman from dealer #1 called to say the had my package in RED available and wanted me to come in and look at it. :blink:

I have read a number of posts lately that have been similar to what you and I have been through. If you are really wanting the car now I suggest that you find a dealer that has the color and package that you want in stock and deal with them directly You know the carsdirect price, if they won't match that you are free to walk out without giving them your business. That will eliminate and of the issues with dealer transfers or waiting for a boat to arrive.

I have had the car 2 weeks today and it was worth it to me to get more aggressive in my purchasing tactics. I traded in a truck that averaged about 16 MPG and for my first 2 tanks (860 miles) I am averaging over 52 MPG with the Prius. I hope to improve upon that as I learn how the feather the pedal for extended glides.

Hang in there, you will enjoy the car once you finally have it.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(whitespider @ Jun 7 2007, 01:21 PM) [snapback]457440[/snapback]</div>

I think you have to get this whole thing in perspective, because a week or a month from now you'll be driving around in your very own new Prius, enjoying the experience and the sour taste of dealership hassles will be fading into the past. The car is the thing, you know you want one, you know you're buying one, you know pretty much what you'll be paying for it, all you don't know for sure right now is where it's going to come from and exactly when. Think ahead!

As for the present problem, it's really quite simple. You gave them a deposit in good faith and they if they aren't going to deliver on it, there won't be a problem getting your money back. Toyota dealers, like those for all the big motor manufacturers may be sleazeballs to deal with, but they're not thieves. If they ARE messing you around, they know it and they'll hand back your money without a quibble because there's no point in them keeping it - they won't have a car you want to buy. If they're NOT messing you about, they'll try and keep your business if they can - and you can help them do that by calmly explaining that you're frustrated with the way they're treating you, and that you want to know when they will have your car available, that if they don't have that information by a date you specify for them, you'll take your business elsewhere.

Take control of the process, make the decisions you need to make in order to get the car you want, and impose your expectations on the dealer or take your business elsewhere - you are, after all, worth a lot of money to the dealer who makes the sale to you.

 

whitespider, I hope things work out well for you. Just remember that YOU (just like I am in Tampa) are dealing with the S.E.T. (South East Toyota) group and once the Prius hits Port (Jacksonville, FL) they are adding on $699 for "ToyoGuard Plus Protection Package" and lately I have seen $299 additional for rubber floormat sets also added on the "window srticker" from the PORT, as well as $79 for mudguards, too.

Did you know the "window sticker" is actually made AT THE PORT !! For some silly reason I really thought it was put on the vehicle in Japan, before it it loaded onto the ship (duhhhhhhh !!!!!) This is how vehicles can be "swapped" BEFORE they hit port as well as "eliminating" the ToyoGuard Plus Package, window tints, floor mats, and other options ALL done at port.

I know you are very anxious to get your new Prius, but remember, IF you "catch it BEFORE it hits port" you can lop off these $1,077 worth of "extras"............ Our Dealer (Toyota of Tampa Bay) gave us a GREAT price on our new Prius as well as throwing in (NO charge) a set of genuine, Toyota rubber floor mats, which actually are "nicer" and fit sooooooooo much better than the WeatherTechs could ever fir, even after cutting and trimming the WT's !!

Hang in there buddy................ it will all work out, if NOT with your initial dealer, but with another one as you already are trying..............

 

Check out my experience.

I have no experience with CarsDirect but I've heard mainly good things. A few negatives here and there but I suppose it's impossible to keep everyone happy. I would have looked into them a bit more but thier services weren't available in my area.

One of the dealers did say that they dealers ask for a deposit to get you "off the market" like you stated. Also, a friend of mine that used to work in car sales said that you'll always get a better quote on cars they don't have on the lot because IF they do indeed get them in it's better for them if they get them off the lot sooner than later. But, IF the dealer will ever actually get the car you want...That's another story. ONE of the dealerships I dealt with tried to intercept a delivery when another dealership beat him to it. So....the dealer that really had it on it's way did get the short end........

If you do go through a dealer the best advice that was given to me and that I would have to agree on is to deal with dealerships that have the car you want in stock. I searched the new car inventory for dealers in just about my entire state and Texas IS big. I emailed the ones that had the car I wanted in stock along with an offer. Near the end I had some VERY competative prices. Even better than what I am getting. BUT, with no guarantee that they'll even get the car I can't really consider those good offers. KWIM?

 

According to buyatoyota.com there is one vehicle exactly as you want in S.E.T. region right now, it is Mag. Gray with Dk. Gray cloth interior, Package #5 and NO ToyoGuard Plus ($699 SAVINGS) and NO "extra options", VIN #JTDKB20U873264898 but it might be "sold or under deposit" ??
It is at Toyota of Tampa Bay (813-375-3006). If it IS sold, still try them.... this Dealer was where WE bought OUR Prius from and I am telling you, they will be 100% HONEST with you............ ask for Roger or Matt (internet Matt).

Good Luck, be patient ONCE you find a "good" Dealer................ B)

 

Whitespider,
I feel so lucky now. I wanted the exact same package as you and same color as you (I did not know that the package 5 in Mag. Grey was soo difficult to come by??) and I just singed the paperwork on it yesterday (they gave me the VIN # and everything so I know it is legit and it should be in by the 20th of June). They told me they were the only dealership in all of the southeast that is getting the Mag. Grey in Package 5 coming to them and I was the one who got it (I'm not sure is they were shooting me crap but who knows), but this has been a long and tedious process. I know it's hard to be patient but it will come...Good Luck.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(traydragen @ Jun 9 2007, 09:50 AM) [snapback]458619[/snapback]</div>

Since YOU are getting your Prius from S.E.T. (SouthEast Toyota) which in includes your state of South Carolina as well as four or five other Southern states, you have the option (provided the vehicle did NOT come into port yet) of "declining" (omitting) the $699 ToyoGuard Plus Package (VIN Etch, wheel well undercoat, paint "protector") and ANY OTHER "port installed options" such as $299 for 5-pc. rubber floor mats, $79 spalsh guards (mud flaps), etc.
Just an F.Y.I. ...................

 

whitespider, I'd question why is it taking all of them so long to get the car to you? If carsdirect's dealer has it, why so long before delivery? I'm just wondering if they're not setting you up for the same thing you just dealt with. Did you try the websites of all the local dealers? I have found great pricing going through the Internet Sales' groups and they will tell you what they have on the lot.

I hope it all works out for you!