Toyota Incompetence

Alright, I'm already bracing for the backlash I'm going to get on this comment/complaint. But I think it's worth having a conversation about. I know everyone has a different opinion about fairness, but I'm convinced Toyota is botching TRD pro grill deliveries. I've been waiting since April on my TRD pro grill. After seeing so many folks getting grills in weeks, literally placing orders months after me, and getting their grill months before me...I opened a case with corporate. Their parts specialist investigated.

For everyone else also waiting, here's what's happening...and I think it's kinda BS. Dealers are ordering these grills in bulk to fill their inventory. They have no specific customers that need the grill, they just have low or no inventory, so they place orders for like 30 grills. Toyota, in it's infinite wisdom, does not prioritize customers who have placed orders over dealers who place orders simply to fill inventory. That's how someone like me can wait 6+ months, while other folks can order grills from @Roman or Toyota of Glendale and get grills in weeks.

Let me be clear, I'm not blaming these dealers...not blaming Roman or Toyota of Glendale. They're doing a stand-up job taking care of their customers. I'm blaming Toyota for not prioritizing people like me over dealers attempting to fill inventory.

 

I think you're right and also it's true. I know people that ordered grills 4-6 weeks ago and hav already received them. You have every right to be pissed off!!!

 

If there are so many different ways to get it quicker, why don’t you just go that route? So you want Toyota to confirm with dealers on every single grille sold that they’re not just stocking them and ship them individually?

 

i actually tried when glendale had some, but they were already gone by the time i called. also, my grill was damaged in an accident. insurance covered the grill, and I paid extra to upgrade to the trd pro. im' guessing it's going to be a hassle to get a refund, and then get compensated by insurance for my broken grill so i could put that money toward the new grill.

 

i'd like toyota to do what is fair. if that means asking dealers why they're buying grills, then they should do that.

 

I see your point. You ordered and paid for a part 6 months ago
Still do not have it yet you are watching others get the same part ordered after you did

In all fairness I think Toyota should expedite your order. But that’s just my .02 cents worth.

 

Order from @Roman and be done? Life isn't fair - and who has time to fix it?

 

Now I want to order one. You know...for delivery research purposes.

 

Chess not checkers!

 

I would just demand a refund and go Roman's route. If you're gonna do something, do it right the first time!

I get your point and completely understand.....shit, i'd be pissed off myself! Some dealerships are just flat out douches.

 

i've considered doing this. problem is i was in an accident. other driver's insurance covered the damages. i paid a little extra to upgrade to the pro grill. if i back out now and order from roman, then I'd have to go after the insurance company to give me a supplement on my broken grill and hood bulge. in my experience, supplements are ripoffs. i could skip the supplement, but then i'm paying full price for the grill, whereas right now it's only cost me about $200, including the hood bulge.

 

Oh, so what you're saying is you have to get yours straight from Toyota and they don't have any in stock because they keep sending all their available ones to the dealerships? I think I understand what you're saying now. If that's the case, yeah, that sucks.

 

I think you've got a dealer issue rather than a toyota issue. Toyota is a business, they are in it for money, not to safeguard tundra modification fairness. I'm not sure if anyone out there has waited 6 months for a grill - hell the shortage didn't even start until 5 months ago, so if you've been waiting for 6... that's on your dealer, not toyota.

 

ahhhh I got you....completely missed the mention of your accident.

 

YOu should be upset, I’d be. I agree w/ others who have said get a refund and then order from Roman. He’s a great vendor!

 

This. Probably a distribution issue more than anything. Not sure what "straight from Toyota" really means

 

Can the service manager do a dealer transfer to expedite your order. Maybe push the issue with him and the gm. 6 months is a little extreme. Maybe have them contact Roman at C Springs and ask for some forum based assistance.

 

The corporate parts guy explained i'm #36 in the gulf coast region (which is also stupid imo, shouldn't matter what state I live in). He said gulf coast is getting a shipment of 30 grills this month, which will put me at #6. still can't give me an ETA. Apparently there are a lot of people out there still waiting. The parts guy claims toyota ships them in order of when the order was placed. so if a dealer order 30 grills before me to fill inventory, then they will get their grills first. that's the part i'm really irritated with.

 

Ahh that's a real bummer. I ordered from roman 1 week ago and received mine today. Any thought of canceling your order and reordering from roman maybe?

 

Never mind I just read your comments above

 

That is the part of the problem. I'm sure there have been numerous dealers licking their chops with the Pro grilles and ordered a ton just because. We have not ordered in bulk since the Pro grilles started going on back order towards the end of March. Every single grille ordered has a name and prepayment for the grille attached to it. It's a real PITA to do it this way, but it is fair to everybody who has placed an order with me or will place an order with me.

Having said that, I received 13 black Pro grilles between Tuesday and Thursday, and I received 30 this morning. I am diligently trying to get every grille out to our body shop for paint, or shipped out if the customer wanted just the black grille. I MAY even come in on Saturday, but don't count on it.

 

So u have a truck with no grill for now? Why dont u find a chrom grill off craigslist or the forum for now. Ive seen some for 100 bucks maybe some1 will even give u 1 since they are all over the place and wait for the pro that way u dont have to deal with insurance anymore

 

Want to hear a funny story? They called me, and asked about the grilles. Said the "Infamous Roman" was causing "quite a stir" around the office there about the Pro grilles. He told me those exact numbers, so I now know they're referring to you. I couldn't believe they were asking me about the back order situation. Like, don't you guys know what's going on? I didn't know that GST/SET dealers received orders differently from the rest of the country. I only knew that they could get aftermarket parts with a Toyota part number on them because of how their regions are set up.

 

Here is my question... why have a pro grill when you don't own a pro?

 

haha, wow! i've been so frustrated with them, because their MO is basically blame it on the supplier and act clueless. I had to straight up be an ass to the parts specialist. i hope hope hope they're not giving you flack!

edit: i'm realizing how fucked up this is. and i think it's my fault. i explained to the parts specialist how i know for a fact people are getting good turn around times and customer service. i gave glendale and cool springs as examples. i apologize. i shouldn't have done that. but everything i said was sincere and positive, unless i was talking about toyota. i can promise that. what i dont' understand is why he even called you?

 

i have a grill, it's got two large cracks in the chrome border, along with the hood bulge. it's attached to the truck securely, just heavy cosmetic damage.

 

Ah so they read he posts here...

OK hey Toyota team, your customer base wants to give you money for accessories for their trucks, but the wait time for some of these parts is kind of ridiculous.

Please loosen up with the aftermarket genuine Toyota parts, thank you.
My wish list include:
TRD pro grill and hood bulge, inferno please.
TRD pro suspension.
Leather wrapped black steering wheel
Cloth TRD pro seat covers with the red cloth inserts.
Just for general information.

PS I will continue to withhold BBQ until these demands are meet.

 

Don't worry about that at all, bro. I like the exposure. If anything, it might give me some bargaining power to grab a job within corporate as something like a community manager where the voices of people in this forum, and others, can be heard. It might even help with their vehicle and accessories development. They can't give me flack for anything. They need to hear these sorts of things from their customers. They have certainly heard it from me. They called me because apparently I'm a big deal.

 

awesome, thanks for understanding. and i agree...they could learn a few things from you about customer service!

 

Becuse we like the grill? I for 1 didnt get a pro because i hate leather seats, 2 i was putting a lift on it, 3 i need a 6 seater and so on.....