Shaky Dealership Tactics...

The used car part of my Toyota dealership does not even want to talk about buying my 2022. After a grenaded engine, plastic pieces falling off, 4 seat side panels breaking and no worthwhile support from Toyota USA this will be the 7th and last Toyota.

 

Get an estimate from Carvana. They seem to be paying crazy prices for used vehicles. Present that offer to the dealer and see how they squirm.

 

The dealership does my oil changes on my 2014.
The first 3 years I would get those texts and other emails all the time.

 

Happens to me every time I get my oil changed or tires rotated.

 

Frankly i consider the service level of Toyota dealerships to monkeys throwing poop at each other. I dread dealing with the poor attitudes and incompetence

 

Why wouldn't a Toyota dealer that has a great history of servicing your vehicle not want to at least make an offer for your vehicle? I get these text every time I bring my vehicles in for service. They know the history more than any other person except for me.

I'm loyal to Toyota. Been an owner since 2004 of more than a dozen Toyota products. Currently own four Toyota/Lexus vehicles. When my 2017 Tundra had the Cam Tower leak in 2022 with 155,000 miles on it, they offered to pay half the bill. The dealer also pitched in 25% due to my loyalty to Toyota. I don't know any other car brand out there that would do this.

Shaky dealership practice? Why do you think it's shaky? I check it out all the time to see what my vehicles are really worth. Sometimes they are inticing, and other times a little insulting. Never have they worked yet, but maybe one day it could.

 

Happens all the time. Myself and several of the guys in my company have had this happen almost at every service visit.

 

It's shaky to me for several reasons.

First, I wasn't there to get an offer on my truck and to be solicited to buy another one. I was there to get shoddy parts repaired under warranty.

Second, it's well known that Toyota isn't offering trades "worth considering" on used Gen 3 Tundras, and there is not "high demand" for them. So, basically the text was a lie.

Third, I did not give the service rep consent to give my cell phone number to anyone else, especially not a car salesmen. I'm very picky about who gets my number.

Lastly, I think it's a poor look for Toyota. It shows desperation to try to capitalize on a customer who isn't there to be solicited. That said, judging by the number of salesmen sitting around doing nothing for the 3-1/2 hours I was there, I guess it's to be expected. Sadly.

 

Exactly and well said.

 

To be very honest your more Karen to post this on interwebz

Been going on since cell phones with SMS texting for like 10-20 years now.

Had this with my last ram, Nissan etc.

It's literally part of their job, and when you signed the service agreement, you signed somewhere that they could text you for communication - it's hidden in their fine print.

If not people's s like you woulda got this blown up over the Internet decades ago that there was no fine print and what they doing is illegal interfere with privacy yada yada.

And this is coming from a auto tech, but the customer is not 100% right, 100% of time.

Pretty simple for op, to talk this over with the dealer and request no communication via text or external stuff other than the service communication

 

Holy shit, the things people get bent out of shape these days are unbelievable. I couldn't imagine getting so freaked out over this.

 

Not sure where you're from, nor do I care. But, in my neck of the woods people don't share cell phone numbers for the purpose of soliciting without consent. I shouldn't have to read the "fine print" to opt out of this type of privacy violation.

As I said, I've never experienced this in 50 years of having vehicles serviced at dealerships. So, excuse me for asking if this is common practice these days.

I guess I should have started another thread to bitch about the poor range of the FOB remote start, hood glare, poor mileage, or wind noise...those are always popular.

 

Do you bitch to the mailman when he puts a pizza hut coupon in your mailbox?

 

Just a typical stealership trying to drum up business in winter when interest rates are high and they probably don't have good numbers as far as sales go!

I get an email and call now every time I schedule service for my Tundra and again when I go in for the actual service, they keep trying to get my 2020! I tel them no way or I ignore them, not for at least another 1-2 years, if that!! I may keep this and get a small cute Honda HRV instead of buying a 60K plus truck that doesn't seem reliable as of yet!

 

If you buy and/or service your car there, your number is in the system and anyone that works there likely has access to it, whether it's service or sales.

As the others have said, I think you are blowing this WAY out of proportion to what it is. Ignore the texts, it's very simple.

Stress is the biggest killer in America, so pick and choose what you get stressed about wisely!

 

I had questions....but then I read this...nevermind, you're old. Everything about this makes sense now.

 

And the next thing you know, your phone is plugged up with alerts from apps, texts from sources you don't want, and your spam folder is bigger than your inbox.

Edit- I had my truck in for an oil change and front rotor resurface on Wednesday. I just looked at my phone and between confirmations, ads for specials, app alerts, buy my car, surveys, etc., I had 10 communications pushed to me. I wanted 3. Confirm the work, phone call confirm the rotor warp and let me know when it's done.

 

LOL. If you think this stressed me in the least, you’re mistaken. It was mildly annoying, and a curiosity, that’s all.

It’s clear I’m not the only one.

If you like being solicited without asking for it, and having your phone number spread around without your consent, cool.

 

he gave the mailman consent obviously

 

In 2018, I had to get the A/C evaporator in my 2010 Tacoma replaced because it was leaking; I had it done at the dealer, and I went shopping to see which dealer could give me the best deal. One of the dealers I contacted was Sloane Toyota in Glenside; I left them a message saying that I had a 2010 Tacoma with a leaky evaporator core, and the next day, their sales department called me wanting to buy my truck.

My parents bought me the truck brand new in September 2009 and I still have it to this day. It had just under 90K miles in September 2018 when I got the job done, and the fair market value at that time was at least ten grand. My truck had been paid off for more than five years at the point and had nothing wrong with it other than the A/C leaking refrigerant, so ain’t no way in hell I was selling and having payments!

Needless to say, I selected Thompson Toyota to do the job, and that same dealer did my frame replacement in 2021!

 

Man up its just business sheesh

 

This isn’t below board at all. It’s not remotely a big deal. If you’re not interested, just say no. No reason to be offended by it.

 

This used to happen to me when I would go to the dealership for any reason (sister bought a car, buying a car for my wife, ...) but it never made sense to me. Even if they had my exact same truck...I would lose money on that deal because they need to gain money. Unless I was actually looking for a new (or different) truck...there's no point. That said...it comes down to "they ask" or "I ask". I agree with @War Machine ...if they ask, just said "no".

 

I enjoy pop ups on my browser too so the extra text with a special offer doesn't bother me.

 

Yep. I don't care what brand car or dealership, as soon as your ride is logged into the service department computer, the sales department gets alerted. Normal practice. Over the years, numerous members here drove away with a new ride after going in for an oil change and such.

 

Normally I would say just treat it like any other unsolicited advertising: ignore/delete. But this does seem more than a little excessive. I would be annoyed.

 

Or...you're waiting for your truck anyway. Try to negotiate a deal that they'll never agree to. What's the worst that could happen? Unless you actually have something better to do, then do that.

 

Toyota dealership in Columbus actually has a big sign on the wall in the service waiting area about not paying the service bill by driving home in something new or something like that.