North West BS Thread

Yep yep...will do.

 

People think I'm crazy driving 100 miles to another dealership. But when they treat you right and your home town dealership doesn't, it's not a hard decision to make. Being rural in Walla Walla, the local dealership thinks they can get away with all sorts of stuff. I quit going to them for services. I'll still buy if they are competitive, but their service department is seriously lacking in customer service.

 

Nope, not crazy at all. Customer Service is a lost art in most industries, but especially in Automotive Sales.

One of the primary reasons I stepped away from being a dedicated Ford owner was my local dealerships. When I had my 2010 F350, I had to drive back to the dealership to let them take a picture to attach to my service receipt. Those azzhats were so unethical on their warranty work, they had to provide a pic to "prove" they actually serviced a vehicle. Nutty. With my 2016 F150, I went through two dealerships trying to get issues fixed. When the 2nd dealership told me they wouldn't perform a safety recall, I sold the truck.

Sitting in the driveway, the F150 is lightyears ahead of the Tundra. But if I have to burn calories to get my truck fixed under warranty, then I'm done. Eff that.

Your thank-you letter is pretty cool. That's Old School.

 

It's the little things. Definitely old school anymore. Usually it's just a thank you email and a rate your service survey.

 

Many moons ago I used to work at a few local Honda dealerships. I saw all the games that were played, the douchebag sales people etc etc. I also learned some good stuff. It used to be the internet sales department was the best place to get a good price. Not sure that’s the case anymore. I hate sales and service people. I have been burned by Toyota sales/service on multiple occasions. So I think I’m going to switch to independent Toyota service shop down the road for services and depending what I do with this lease may just use the Costco or military buying programs and email all the dealers for my next truck.

Back to that video he was right about getting caught off guard occasionally. That’s how I ended up in a lease. At least I took all that equity from my last one and put it in my house instead. Hard not to go lift,wheels,tires,stereo etc on this tundra. I “may” loose a few grand on the truck but I quadrupled that equity I invested in my house...granted we aren’t selling anytime soon haha.

 

Wish I had a dealership within 100 miles that was that way... I need to keep looking. I still get a birthday card every year from the salesman I bought my first Tundra from, but that was from a Ford dealer in Yakima.

Thankfully, my daughter’s boyfriend and his dad are both awesome mechanics and actually care about doing things right. Aside from warranty work and recalls, I’ll be having them do all my work after my “Toyota Care” is done.

 

I did the internet game myself. Ended up buying in Bellevue (175 miles away) as local dealer would not go down that much. Had a dealer in Gresham pretty close in matching also but just happened to be in the Seattle area when I bought. As far as service, I am not sure what to do. I still have a few free ones with Toyota care but local deal forgot to put some nuts/bolts they took off on my last oil change. I will do what I can myself and then like mentioned, go to a independent service shop I took the Taco too and never had an issue. Always tough trying to find honest shops it seems though.

 

Yeah I have zero confidence in tech’s anymore.
1st Taco on first oil change didn’t change the oil. They called to see if I was happy. I thought this was weird so I went and looked at my truck. Pulled the dip stick oil was dark as could be. Next day I took it back and told them they didn’t do the oil change on an oil change service. They argued to which I said go get me a sample of any gun in the shop. I don’t care which one and when that doesn’t match this color let’s try this again. Wouldn’t you know it not 5 minutes later the service manager himself is apologizing for the mess up and the attitude from the dumbas advisor.
Next on our first 4Runner another dealer didn’t put the stupid screws back in on the hub cover and it came loose then ultimately scratched the shit out of my wheel while it was spinning around. They also denied any wrong doing. Which was easy to prove.
On my 1st Tundra this dealer NEVER balanced the tires after lifting it and putting 35’s on. I didn’t find out till about a year and a half later when I asked my local Les Schwab to do an alignment. My friend that works there rolls one of my wheels in and says you won’t believe this. That Toyota dealership(which was in the same family as my friend who was a GM at) tried to deny it. I said no freaking way. I have verifiable proof. After alignment and balancing those tires started chunking parts of the tire blocks about 1000 miles later.
Now this is Tundra number 2 and Toyota number 6 for me with the first actual issue. Not 1000 miles on it and the transfer case was replaced due to this weird whirrring noise it was making. Never been in 4wd before.

I have verified a few times that this dealer was doing certain services. I have chalked the inner sidewalls on my tires, torque stripped the filter cover and the drain plug. To my surprise both times they did the work. So it’s a crap shoot to what you get at the dealer.


Now on a good note when I was going through my last Tundra problems a member here reached out with some contact info and a bit of info for himself. I was talking to a friend of mine later that week that does a lot of custom builds for that dealer and asked if he know him. He says yeah he’s not just “pretty high in management” he was the owner. Turns out a few weeks later he bought Gresham Toyota too. To bad he isn’t on here anymore. He originally joined because he bought a Tundra and was looking for recommendations for shops or something.

 

I did the Costco price in 2018, which I thought was an ok price, got my Cement color as they traded a Calvary Blue for it at another dealer 100 miles away. I’m not much of an haggler when it’s something I want.

 

When I lived in San Diego I used to have a Mustang then later an F250. For about 4 or 5 years I had the same service advisor. I have used Wilsonville Toyota(closest dealer) for about 6 years. I have probably been through a dozen of them. I don’t even care to ask their name. Just do the Toyota care and give me my truck back.

To bad people don’t realize the importance of customer service. It’s not complicated. All you have to do is care.

Oh well.

 

On my wife’s 2019 4Runner I did Costco and our banks buying programs. Our banks dealer responded within 5 minutes. Told them I want a TRD OffRoad premium in one of these three colors. He said we have black. I said what’s my price. He came really close. I said I won’t play games that’s about $750 more then I want to spend. You come down and we will come buy right now. They did so we did.
Great experience. Unfortunately for service they are a little to far. But sales I would buy again.

 

Happy Sunday!
Looking forward to some good football and food today.
Had to take out a trespasser this morning in my field, my girls couldn't wait to go check him out.

 

I want to shoot coyotes off of my back porch.
Someday

 

It is a beautiful thing.
You got it though man, set a realistic time line and make it happen!

 

Sorry for the dad advice @jewsNbrews I'm sure you didn't need a pep talk, lol.

 

Trying to. Been searching for property. Just waiting for right one.

 

all good

 

Very cool, you were talking about the Lewiston area too right?
Could you find work there pretty easy?

 

Awesome. Save that pic for when the boys start coming around. “You see how my girls are not afraid of dead things?”

Yep. Being able to shoot off the back porch would be amazing.

 

Good idea, I'll show them where we bury horses too

 

I would be able to find work as an RN. I could take about anything to get over there. But it would probably be a waiting game for the right position to open up that I'd want to do.

It truly would be.

 

I grew up being able to do that. Technically, I guess I could here (well, front porch - I don’t have a back one). But I’m just a tad closer than I’d like to be to not be “that” neighbor, though I do occasionally step out from the basement door and test a new load or run one through my can for shits and giggles.

 

Just had a buddy smoking yotes from a helicopter in MT yesterday with his AR. Sounds like a awesome time

 

I had a guy offer to take me helicopter hog hunting in Texas a few years back. Just never was able to make the timing work - sounded like a blast.

 

Sound like the guy who has the bird also does pig hunts in TX. From what I’ve seen and heard it’s incredible. One of these days we’ll make it happen.

 

Yeah, a helo-hog hunt is on my bucket list for sure.

 

Final late-night call! Handing the reigns to the new guy after this meeting.

Hope you guys are having a good Monday.

 

Heading to bed shortly. Still tired from my 4am start yesterday.

 

Wednesday no work day

 

JEALOUS...