How to buy/preorder a new Tundra TRD Pro without markup/market adjustment?

I've done a bit of shopping around over the past week trying to find a specific color combination for a Tundra TRD Pro.

I used Markup.org to help search for dealers who are known to be doing markup. There were a few in my area who don't, but they didn't have the specific color combo I was looking for (either Gray w/ Black Interior or Gray w/ Red Interior).

I used Toyota.com's "Search Inventory" function to search listings out to 500 miles. Every time I contacted a dealer, the vehicle was either already allocated to a customer, or available with markups ranging anywhere from $10k to $15k.

I did run across a black/black TRD Pro that was on a lot, but didn't want to give in just yet on my preferred color.

Also worth mentioning, I found a listing from a dealership that participated in Toyota's SmartPath, and even showed the listing with a $4k discount off of MSRP. I promptly filled out the online application, just to get a response from the dealership to say they wanted over $80k and wouldn't honor the "Dealer Advertised Price."

I say all of this to ask:

- What am I doing wrong?
- Is there a better way to go about this?
- Or... Is this the way it is, the market sucks, get over it?

PS... If this post is in the wrong area, let me know and I'll put my nose in the corner of shame.

 

I bought my truck from Toyota of cedar park in Texas. They added about $900 in window tint, paint/interior protection “mandatory” but they only charge msrp otherwise. All the other dealers around here were charging markups as you said. The process basically worked as me putting a deposit down (refundable) and specifying what I want (limited, 4x4, hybrid) and then waiting. I changed my mind a few times on specs I wanted but kept my spot in line. I put my deposit down on early May, 05/04. I bought the truck and drove off with it early November about two days ago so about 6 months waiting? Take that for what it’s worth. Still not as bad as the wait time for my suppressors….

 

If you searched a 500 mile radius you sound like you are willing to travel. Thats how I found the exact truck I was looking for. I realized my dealer may never get the allotment I wanted. Unfortunately there is a bit of luck needed and many will already be assigned to a buyer when you learn about them. It took me ten months searching autotrader and cars.com with filters for what I wanted. I also used search on Toyota build your truck and searched by zip codes I would travel to. I can’t count the hours invested but it is worth it. Good luck with your search.

P.S. dealers get there next allotment every two weeks. So I searched weekly and only spoke with sales managers. They would tell me what they had coming that wasn’t listed or already sold.

 

Shop in Oregon. Tax free and honor msrp

 

It was a long search for this truck. I was like you over the last year looking for one. It started by putting down a deposit at an MSRP Dealer back in Sep of 2021. A year and a month later, I got nothing from them. Around July, I began searching other dealers. I checked Autotrader, Cars.com, MSRP dealers in multiple states from Markups.org. All the answers were the same, marked up to hell and back, or spoken for. A friend of mine said I should put my name down at another local MSRP dealer for this truck. By this time, no one was taking deposits because they can't promise stock. So, they put my name on the list with the expectation of waiting till 2023.

So, I don't know what happened: the high interest rates, people did not like the color (Solar Octane), or no one picked up the phone etc., but within one month of putting my name down, I get the call that my truck was in. It was a brand new 2023 in Solar Octane. At first, I was hesitant. Solar Octane was not my first choice. In fact, it was probably my 2nd to last. I wanted Ice White, Lunar Rock or in the case of the 2023, the Magnetic Grey Metallic. But if I did not take the truck they were going to move right down the list and god who knows how long it will be before I get a shot at another. I pulled the trigger. I literally drove the truck for one day before I flew out to Japan for vacation.

Basically, put your name down at multiple MSRP dealers. Be patient, even with the economy in the crapper and interest rates at all-time highs, the limited nature of this truck and its high demand will still precipitate waiting. That supply pool only gets smaller because we want it at MSRP. There are plenty of stupid dealers that want you to pay extra for the privilege of owning this truck. And even those dealers are getting what they are asking for, making the overall supply situation even more awful.

Also, you might have to open up your color (interior and exterior) options to give yourself the widest chance. Believe me, spending this kind of money you expect to get what you want. I really wanted Ice White, but Solar Octane is growing on me every day. And in the end the overall capabilities and looks of the truck are still so striking that I don't regret buying it the moment it came up.

 

Mind boggling to me Toyo will not allow custom orders from a plant in TX. Their allocation based system where the term "port installed " is still in use for built in USA is an leftover from the 80s. The "see your dealer" slogan from the 80s will age even worse in the EV future when rest of industry is order at MSRP based.

Successful companies die when they get complacent, particularly at technical or product pivot points.

 

Sounds like I need to cool my jets a little I guess. I'll take the route of simply trying to put my name down, and maybe that will turn into some positive results.
I'm glad to hear that even though some people didn't get their first choice, they don't regret getting it. I'll probably end up broadening my search.

 

Not sure this helps but in Nov 2021, I put three deposits in three different states (I live in Colorado).

Colorado has always had the unofficial “TRD Pro tax” in which dealers always add $3k-$5k in markup for any Pro model. But when the inventory lost started to dwindle, they changed it to a “Denver Market Adjustment” aka another excuse to scalp customers.

in April, I had Toyota of Boerne (just San Antonio, TX) contact me to say they had one inbound. He said they wanted “101”. I asked, “101 Pesos?”. He said dead serious “dollars” but if I made them offer around $90k they would “consider” it. To which I told him to pound sand.

it wasn’t until I got contact by O’Brien Toyota in Indianapolis that I got one and at MSRP exactly. I was told that because other dealers are raiding their inventory for dealer trades and other customers are basically shipping them off to bigger Toyota markets for the same scalping, they would only sell Pros to return customers or locals.

it’s a shit show out there and dealers are actually loving it. There’s zero incentive for the market to return to previous levels. It will probably force the small volume dealers out and then give the bigger volume guys more market share.

At least that’s my theory.

 

Tax free until you register it in your home state, at which point they will promptly request the sales tax paid in full.

 

I paid my tax for my state and got MSRP

no mark up whatsoever

 

This right here is correct. Unfortunately it is going to be the new norm. This past spring I was shopping for a replacement for my mid life crisis vehicle (2017 Chevy SS) due to the crazy used car market and being able to make 3k on something that I bought used in 2019 and put 21K miles on it.

Anyways.....I spoke at length with various Cadillac dealers and basically any Backwing I saw online was already spoken for as an order on way into the dealer. Ford dealers were telling me they are pushing the "pre order" so heavy because consumers are less likely to back out of one they have a deposit down on. Mark ups on GT500s are as high as 25K over sticker and people are crazy enough to buy them at that price.

The smaller Cadillac dealers are convinced that corporate is trying to close or weed out smaller volume dealers as allocations are lower now.

But all were suggesting that the days of having many various models with varying options to choose from on every dealer lot are over. Dealers save money by not having to pay insurances and such on unsold inventory etc...etc...etc....

Happy shopping!

 

I'm looking for the Hybrid Limited with the TRD 4x4 option, but would take the Hybrid TRD Pro grade if I can get it at MSRP. The Limited is probably harder to find at this juncture. I've got my order in at 2 dealers, and have one hit on the Limited TRD Pro that is NOT Hybrid and I'll at least go drive it. I have now started calling everywhere. If I have to take a road trip to pick it up, nbd. But, this allocation crap from Toyota has got to end. I'm also considering other manufacturers just b/c I'm sick of it. Still holding out and hoping for the best.

Oh, I did have some luck in TX but the price was so outrageous I LOL'd at them. I told them I'll pay the MSRP and no more than that. So, I sent my offer and, the sales person was like, huh? So, I wrote it down and said if they can do it I will take it. So, we'll see there. I'll call all weekend if I have to.

 

6 more months the market will be 180°… prime keeps raising and raising- just wait. Mortgage companies, tech companies….. huge layoff’s… its coming, just wait.

 

I agree. It's coming. It's the "just wait" part that is hard lol

On a side note, I did actually come in contact with a dealer that does do MSRP and I put down a deposit today. I'm remaining hopeful.

If I had won that PowerBall, I'd be willing to pay a markup at this point.