Toyota dealership won't budge on price...say they can sell vehicle anyway!

[ead79]

I haven't bought a car since I bought my Honda CR-V in 2005, but I absolutely did not pay sticker price for it. In my family we always buy Hondas or Toyotas, and we have never paid sticker price for any of them. We have found them to be very reliable, well-made vehicles, but the sales people here are willing to negotiate. In this area the only places I know of that don't negotiate are Carmax and Saturn.

I just find it amazing that in this economy the Toyota place isn't willing to deal at all. While I'm not surprised that they aren't offering the same slashed prices as some of the US manufacturers, I'm surprised they are so sure they can get full MSRP. At least in my neck of the woods, you don't see as many new car tags around these days, so I would think sales would be down. Maybe cash for clunkers is affecting their sales a lot.

 

[IDoDis]

I just bought a new 2010 Corolla LE three weeks ago. Sticker was $18549 (or close to that), and we paid $16,500 which included a $500 rebate minus $4500 CARS money = $12,000. We had to leave and wait for them to call us back the next day. I planned the shopping to occur on the 30th of the month knowing that dealers would want to reel in some more deals on the 31st (last day of the month). They often can get bigger cash to dealer incentives (ones you never hear about and they don't tell you about when they show you the "invoice") by meeting certain sales quotas. If they are close to that quota and it's the last day of the month, they'll be calling you with a better price. When we walked out on the 30th, the lowest they'd go was $16,800 but we were able to get them to come down another $300.

The key is to not be passionate about the car. Have the mindset that if you get the deal you want, you'll buy it and if not, you'll walk and try again in a few months. I happened to get lucky with the timing though because this was right when the original CARS money was supposed to end, so they were trying to get as many deals as possible.

When I took the car back a week later to get the windows tinted, their inventory of Corollas was way down which I'm sure made them less willing to negotiate. I think that is what people are seeing now with the prices being higher. Even if the model you are interested in isn't the big seller, the dealer doesn't have to give it away since they've mad up for lost time with CARS overall.

 

[LoraJ]

CARS is over on Monday, so I would wait a couple of weeks for the stock to begin to replenish.

 

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

Gee, I wonder how you would feel if people referred to you as an idiot?!?!?! If you treat people the same way as you speak about them I wouldn’t want to go shopping for anything with you.

My experience is that many (though perhaps not all since I haven't met every single car salesman out there) are idiots...and disrespectful idiots at that! When they tell me that I need to bring my dad or husband in with me to buy a car...well that just speaks for itself!

Although at least I can say that my comments were not directed specifically at any one person...and I think I'll leave what was an otherwise humorous thread alone now.


K

 

[CowboyCO]

Yes, there are some heinous tactics that have existed (and some still do) by people in the car industry. I worked 6 years at a luxury car dealership (Acura) and one time I had a new manager who was very old-school. I was negotiating a car deal and it wasn't going well. The customer made a last offer and asked that if we couldn't do the deal, that I bring the keys to his trade back from the managers office. I took the last offer and the manager penciled him his last offer, but wouldn't give me the keys. I told him that this was his customer, but it was my reputation and he could give me the keys and let me go try to get the deal, or he could walk his fat butt out there with the last pencil. Then, like a good sales professional, I locked my lips and waited for his response. He handed me the keys and I went back out, set the key visibly on the desk and presented the last pencil, made the deal and earned a repeat customer. He later told me, at delivery, that he was surprised I came back with his keys and he was girding up to rip me a new one if I didn't have them. The act of bringing them, not giving up on getting him the car he wanted made him decide to purchase from me, even though he knew he could save a little by driving to Denver. Customers pay for service and trust is a commodity.

Of course, I also had many customers that due to the reputation of the car industry were the absolute biggest jerks I have ever met. Treated me horribly, regardless of the level of service and effort I tried to provide. More than once, I've had customers that just want to get their new keys and go. Acura REQUIRED that at delivery, I go over the car in detail and explain all functions of the car. With voice-controlled NAV, radio and climate control plus all the buttons, Acura wants their customers to know how to make a phone call and where the car tools are. I'd explain I would make it as brief as possible, but my CSI is on the line. When Acura surveys him on his experience and asks if I went over the features of the car, I'm the one that gets dinged.

I've also had customers that would refuse to take the car they were buying on a test drive. "I've driven them before". I would calmly and professionally try to explain that even though Acura's were the finest-built cars in America, that I would be happy to negotiate the deal to his satisfaction, but before he signed on the line, I wanted him to drive the car. If I let him sign and then deliver a car that had something wrong or different than he expected, it's my CSI on the line.

Then there are the liars. I know that most people think that all people in the car business are liars. Fine. A large percentage of the people I worked with lied about something when they bought their car. Usually it was about their trade. They'd lie on the phone about condition (which is why dealers rarely give trade quotes on the phone). They'd lie about the history of the car (wrecked). They'd lie about maintenance (like the timing belt). They would misrepresent their payoff and try to get me to pay the difference because "you said you would pay off my car".

They would also lie about who would be actually operating and insuring the car (a straw-man deal which can get me fined and lose a lender).

They would also lie about what deal they were offered by another dealer. That is the hardest because I'm not stoopid. I know what his car is worth, I know what my car cost and I know what the market is (within certain degrees). But when he's lied to me and I can't match his phantom deal, he's stuck. He now has to buy from my competition (for an equal or higher price) because he lied to me and he painted himself into a corner on price, so I lose the deal.

Although the car industry has created a poor reputation for the business as a whole, my experience is that many buyers are as bad or much worse ethically than the people trying to sell them a car.

 

[frndshpcptn]

My experience is that many (though perhaps not all since I haven't met every single car salesman out there) are idiots...and disrespectful idiots at that! When they tell me that I need to bring my dad or husband in with me to buy a car...well that just speaks for itself!

Although at least I can say that my comments were not directed specifically at any one person...and I think I'll leave what was an otherwise humorous thread alone now.


K

My father is a car salesman and he is certainly no idiot.

 

[legalsea]

This is a fun thread. I always enjoy name-calling. Here is my story:

So, I’m at a dealership shopping for a car. Some a**wipe named “Bob” came out and asked me if I wanted to look at a car. “No, doofus” I screamed at him, “I’m here to *%&$@5^$ your grand^%$#()mother!”

I then told this &%^#(#&# what I thought of him. You see, it is best to establish superiority to these a**wipes at the very beginning.

Now, I have never, ever paid the ‘sticker price’ for a car. Only a true (^%&*#)#8 would do that, and that it not me. Why would any &%$$**^& pay the sticker price when, with a little moxy and big &*#(#s you can get the price lowered?

However, in negotiating with these *^&%#@)#’s you have to set them straight: I pay your salary, a**wipe, and don’t you forget it! It is the same thing when you go into a department store to buy makeup or whatever: that person behind the counter is a &#^#)$ (not to mention a flaming #@*&%$) and is not worth my time (maybe yours!).

Anyway, that is how you deal with the *^%$(87% idiots who sell cars. Put them in their place! Make them give you the car for practically nothing! Oh, and when the ^$#$@!(& car salesman comes into your place of business, it is ok to call them a &%#*# but not a ***$%$$, since you do hope to get that money from their *#&# pocket into yours.

 

[wdwmom2]

This is a fun thread. I always enjoy name-calling. Here is my story:

So, I’m at a dealership shopping for a car. Some a**wipe named “Bob” came out and asked me if I wanted to look at a car. “No, doofus” I screamed at him, “I’m here to *%&$@5^$ your grand^%$#()mother!”

I then told this &%^#(#&# what I thought of him. You see, it is best to establish superiority to these a**wipes at the very beginning.

Now, I have never, ever paid the ‘sticker price’ for a car. Only a true (^%&*#)#8 would do that, and that it not me. Why would any &%$$**^& pay the sticker price when, with a little moxy and big &*#(#s you can get the price lowered?

However, in negotiating with these *^&%#@)#’s you have to set them straight: I pay your salary, a**wipe, and don’t you forget it! It is the same thing when you go into a department store to buy makeup or whatever: that person behind the counter is a &#^#)$ (not to mention a flaming #@*&%$) and is not worth my time (maybe yours!).

Anyway, that is how you deal with the *^%$(87% idiots who sell cars. Put them in their place! Make them give you the car for practically nothing! Oh, and when the ^$#$@!(& car salesman comes into your place of business, it is ok to call them a &%#*# but not a ***$%$$, since you do hope to get that money from their *#&# pocket into yours.

When you can type something legible, and not need deciphering, come back to see us.

Totally uncalled for!!!!!!!

 

[CowboyCO]

This is a fun thread. I always enjoy name-calling. Here is my story:

So, I’m at a dealership shopping for a car. Some a**wipe named “Bob” came out and asked me if I wanted to look at a car. “No, doofus” I screamed at him, “I’m here to *%&$@5^$ your grand^%$#()mother!”

I then told this &%^#(#&# what I thought of him. You see, it is best to establish superiority to these a**wipes at the very beginning.

Now, I have never, ever paid the ‘sticker price’ for a car. Only a true (^%&*#)#8 would do that, and that it not me. Why would any &%$$**^& pay the sticker price when, with a little moxy and big &*#(#s you can get the price lowered?

However, in negotiating with these *^&%#@)#’s you have to set them straight: I pay your salary, a**wipe, and don’t you forget it! It is the same thing when you go into a department store to buy makeup or whatever: that person behind the counter is a &#^#)$ (not to mention a flaming #@*&%$) and is not worth my time (maybe yours!).

Anyway, that is how you deal with the *^%$(87% idiots who sell cars. Put them in their place! Make them give you the car for practically nothing! Oh, and when the ^$#$@!(& car salesman comes into your place of business, it is ok to call them a &%#*# but not a ***$%$$, since you do hope to get that money from their *#&# pocket into yours.

 

[sbell111]

... Although the car industry has created a poor reputation for the business as a whole, my experience is that many buyers are as bad or much worse ethically than the people trying to sell them a car.

While it is true in many cases that 'buyers are liars', I can't think of the last time that I have left a dealership and not felt a little bit used.

Case in point: The other night, my wife and I went out to dinner. After dinner, we hop into my Jeep to find that it won't start. It turns over like crazy, but won't even attempt to start. We call a tow truck and talk while we wait and wait. For about thirty minutes, we talk and occcasionally try to start the thing. Surprisingly, on the 374th try, it starts right up.

We run by our house so Cathy can grab one of our other cars and then drop my Jeep at the dealership. I drop my keys into the night drop with a note explaining that it wouldn't start earlier.

The next day, the dealer calls me with my 'problem'. The battery needs to be replaced, he claims. Given my experience the previous evening, I knew that the battery was awesome. It might, in fact, be the only thing on the Jeep that I absoultely knew was good.

I sent him back to try again and he eventually came up with a believable problem, so I OK'd the service, even though I knew that the charge that he quoted was way, way more than it should have been. Unfortunately, I didn't have the time to do the work myself, so I had to pay.

When I got the car back, they of course give you a form that the technician supposedly fills out when he does the 297 point inpsection. It was totally obvious that no one went near the car to fill that thing out. It claimed that my brand new tires needed to be replaced and that the obvious valve cover gasket leak didn't exist.

Morons.

 

[Chicago526]

When you can type something legible, and not need deciphering, come back to see us.

Totally uncalled for!!!!!!!

I'm pretty sure that was said with tongue firmly planted in cheek.

 

[wdwmom2]

I'm pretty sure that was said with tongue firmly planted in cheek.

If it was, I apologize to LegalSea. Sometimes I am blind to things. If I was right, I stand by my statement!!!

 

[battricia]

OP, i can sympathize. we went to a honda dealership today, they didn't really seem interested in talking to us at all, but i finally asked someone if i could drive the car. he said yes, handed me the keys and walked off. when we got back he came over after a good long while, asked what I thought of the car. I said it was OK (honestly I'm a little surprised at the quality of the plastics and rugs, but whatever). When I asked what kind of deal he could give us, he said there was no leeway on the sticker price 'right now'. My SO took it as an opportunity to ask when we should come back for some leeway and he acted like he didn't know what we were talking about. gave us the same BS about there being no overhead on the price, which i know is not true. gave us BS about how many of these cars they had on the lot which i called him out on. and then we left. I would have handed him a check for invoice price (+destination fee, tax and tags obviously), but he wasn't at all interested in talking about it. I think it's really a shame since there was 2 other people on the lot, both looking only at used cars. other than that it was dead. I'm pretty sure there were 4 salesmen inside sitting around doing nothing.

 

[sunnyday123]

I'm not sure if this is true or not, but it won't be once the Chevy Volt hits the production line. The 45 to 50 MPG that the Prius will deliver won't even be a pimple on the Volt's you know what when it starts coming in at over 230 MPG with the first 40 miles per charge requiring no gas at all. I was always rather impressed with the fuel efficiency of the Prius until the fuel standard was revamped in '08. They used to tout 60 miles per gallon and that was impressive, but I'm not so impressed with the true numbers. I am 100% impressed with the Volt. I guess time will tell how it stacks up, but GM has announced that they expect it to get better than 230, not simply, 230. Unfortunately, it will be releasing at close to $40,000 to compensate for the pricing of the batteries, so I won't be among the first to make a purchase, but 2 years down the road and I have little doubt I'll be buying me my first, GM automobile.

I saw that car on tv-the mpg is amazing! Buy why are they all so darned tiny??? There's no way I could get DD, her soccer stuff and a grocery bag in one of those things!! And we're picking up our Newfoundland puppy tomorrow-I'd have to get a side car for her! I'm sticking with my Explorer.

 

[BC]

but it looks like they would at least be personable about. That blunt "whatever" attitude is what blows my mind. BTW, did you mean you thought the quality of the plastics & rugs was below what you expected? I am also considering a Honda CR-V if I can't find the Highlander I want.

 

[RitaZ.]

Negotiations weren't going too well, and I'd decided it was time to leave . . . but they "couldn't find my car keys". It was an obvious lie, an attempt to keep me there a little longer, to put themselves into a stronger selling position. I walked over to phone (1988, no cell phones) and loudly announced that I was calling 911 to report that my car was being stolen. They found my keys in a big hurry.

The same thing happened to us in 2001 when we were looking to purchase a new van. The salesman was quite young and he was probably trying out all the "tricks" that he had been taught by the "experts." He started with some b/s figure. I guess he figured he would work his way down from there and really impress us with 'the deal'. DH stood up and said, "We are out of here!" Sure enough, the guy said he couldn't find our keys. Instead of threatening to call the cops, DH walked out of the office, stood in the center of dealership, which was surrounded by offices, and loudly yelled, "Will someone get my keys?" Several salesmen came running out of the offices to ask DH if they could help him. Customers were watching the spectacle. The keys appeared right away. The salesman proceeded to run after us begging us to go back in. He even offered us "good food" if we gave him another chance.

I don't understand how car salespeople believe that such a stunt will garner a sale. If you push people into a situation where they feel disrespected and threatened, they are going to push back.

 

[IDoDis]

I used to sell new cars (Chevys) when I was in my early 20s. I'm certainly no idiot. Many car sales people are wonderful. I worked with some really nice people who I respected highly. Back then there weren't many women who sold cars, so when a single woman walked on the lot and saw me heading her way, they she'd breath a sigh of relief. I got lots of sales that way. Yes, some of the salesmen were total jerks, but you get that anywhere.

After selling new cars for 2 years, I went to work for an auto buying service where I helped people by-pass the salesmen and and helped them purchase their vehicles from fleet departments at fleet prices. They'd come in after shopping at the dealers telling me stories that they thought would make me fall out of my chair, but since I had been on the other side of the fence, there was nothing they could tell me that I hadn't already heard before.

With our recent Toyota purchase, I felt like we were treated like royalty and like we had purchased the most expensive vehicle on the lot instead of the inexpensive Corolla that we bought. Even when we went back for window tint, we chatted it up with the aftermarket sales manager and the service manager. Every time we came, the sales manager came out to shake our hand, thank us for the business, and said not to hesitate calling him if we needed anything. I've received 2 thank you cards in the mail, as well.

 

[wdwmom2]

BTW, did you mean you thought the quality of the plastics & rugs was below what you expected? I am also considering a Honda CR-V if I can't find the Highlander I want.

I am wondering what they meant too??? We just bought an 09 Accord and nothing appears to be made of cheap or inferior quality materials. I am very satisfied with the entire car!

 

[squirrlygirl]

I'm not sure if this is true or not, but it won't be once the Chevy Volt hits the production line. The 45 to 50 MPG that the Prius will deliver won't even be a pimple on the Volt's you know what when it starts coming in at over 230 MPG with the first 40 miles per charge requiring no gas at all. I was always rather impressed with the fuel efficiency of the Prius until the fuel standard was revamped in '08. They used to tout 60 miles per gallon and that was impressive, but I'm not so impressed with the true numbers. I am 100% impressed with the Volt. I guess time will tell how it stacks up, but GM has announced that they expect it to get better than 230, not simply, 230. Unfortunately, it will be releasing at close to $40,000 to compensate for the pricing of the batteries, so I won't be among the first to make a purchase, but 2 years down the road and I have little doubt I'll be buying me my first, GM automobile.

The 230 mpg rating is an "average" taking into account trips that never use gas with the occasional long-distance trip thrown in. If you never drive more than 40 without charging, you never use gas. On trips of lengths farther than 40 miles, the motor kicks in, but ONLY to recharge the battery. The motor does not drive the car ever. The 600 mpg range is how far you can go with one tank of gas recharging the battery. At that point you can either charge the battery at an outlet or refill your gas tank so that the motor can recharge the battery.

The Volt will have some hefty government rebates to bring the cost down (I think it's $8,000), and they expect 2nd generation vehicles to cost much less (they're already in the works).

 

[JESW]

In 2007 I went to the new Toyota dealership near us to "just look" at the Sienna's. A couple hours later I drove off with my pick from the lot.

Fast forward to this year....my 2007 is declared totaled by the insurance company. I figured I would just get the insurance check, pick out a new mini van and be on my way.

No such luck.

We went back to the dealer. NO mini vans on the lot. NO mini vans coming in. The only one in the showroom is a fully loaded limited edition that we were told someone ordered and backed out of the deal due to money issues. Not sure if the story is true but too much $$$ for us.

So here I sit...two weeks after that visit with no van. I am using a rental car that is costing me a small fortune. There are two Sienna's sitting somewhere in Indiana (I am in MA) and they don't know when they are coming in. We put $800 (refundable) down to let them now we are serious and WE JUST WANT THE VAN! Right now they can't tell us when it is coming in.

There are no other Toyota dealers around. It is the van I want as I really liked my other one. The dealer tried to get one from another Toyota dealership and no-one will deal. They tried to trade a different car for a Sienna and no-one would deal. (These are the stories we are being told) They tell us that between cash-for-clunkers that depleted a lot of their inventory, and the economy with less cars being manufactured, their inventory is very low.

They also won't make a deal on the van sitting in their showroom as they say they can sell it. Who knows??

At this point we just sit and wait. Very, very frustrating.

Jill