Dealership Rant

At this point, i'm irritated. My respect for dealers is out the window. I did have basic respect for them as humans.

No more.

Seeing what dealers are trying to charge and did charge. I won't buy another Toyota. 5 Tundras, Rav, Highlander, Venza...no more Toyotas/Lexus for me. This is my last.

Peace out to the Brand. To each his/her own.

 

The fact that you think Toyota dealers are the only ones being scummy with their prices...LMFAO.

 

The only ones I have dealt with, this isnt a Ford or GM thread. Thats what this post is about.

 

Oh so you have the same post ready when you go shopping for a Ford, etc?
Gotcha.

 

I only cross shopped Ram and Tundra, but Ram is doing the same with higher prices. It's just not as noticeable with Ram since their msrp has never really been accurate imo.

 

Well, what are your options then?
Serious question.
I have always had Toyota and Honda, but at work with our fleet vehicles I have dealt with Ford and GM dealers. They are all the same. Today I took my daughter's VW Beetle in for service at the VW dealer. Mind was blown..

Other than Honda maybe, I will stick with Toyota dealers. The rest are worse....

 

There's not a brand out there that doesn't have dealerships going absolutely stupid with the market adjustments. Which is why as I said - it's a joke that OP thinks it's only Toyota dealers.

 

Couldn’t even bother to mention what you got charged for and how much? New truck???

 

Salesmen need to be replaced with iPads. Would be much easier!

 

Instead of dealing with salesmen and allocations would be nice to just order exactly what you want online and then wait for it to be delivered to your house even if it meant having to pay a non refundable deposit or signing finance paperwork before delivered.

 

Amen!

 

Have you put them on BLAST yet????

 

Doing business with a car dealership is a game. Many do not appreciate or enjoy the game. I treat it like sport. I do not “enjoy” the game myself, but I enjoy the challenge. You have to have a plan. You have to understand the dealership doesn’t give a shit about you, what you want, or your finances. They want to sell cars at maximum profit to make money and stay in business. It’s highly competitive and it’s like selling curtains. Once you buy curtains, you don’t need curtains for a long time. They have to make each sale count for the bottom line. Be open and up front with what you want, and be willing to walk out. Your number one negotiating tool is that you have money and they want it. They don’t want the car. Stick to your guns and leave when you reach an impass. Give them your version of the deal, your number, thank them for their time and leave. If they don’t wanna deal, move on to the next one.

 

I feel ya. I wrote off Ford for their bullshit ADM attempt on my Lightning post order acceptance, for eliminating features post order, and for raising the price post order. I still think Ford is the trashiest. At least Toyota didn't delete features mid build.

Then I ordered a Raptor.

 

Awwww dog gone it….now you’ve made me remember that I have to buy curtains…aww crap…now I can’t buy more goodie’s for the tundra

 

And it’s actually draperies, to the cultured.

 

“Cultured” what an experience that could be

 

Does wonders for cheese

 

Couldn’t agree more. The game right now is rigged in favor of the house. That’s what sucks, people need to realize that. I’ve been shopping for a new motorcycle. Every dealer I call and ask about availability they typically say “Nope, we got nothing and we don’t know when we’re getting anything in.” It’s this way across the spectrum. My brother sells seadoos and everything they have “on order” is already sold for the rest of 2022. Ford stopped taking orders on new Super Duty pickups earlier this year. It’s the time we’re living in.

 

Large dealers have franchises with all brands. Dealership school teaches the method of maximizing profits for the dealer - and most make a ton of money. Unless you are prepared and understand then you will get burned one way or another. Anyone who thinks that someone at the dealer is trying to give them a good deal needs to have their head examined.

 

The dealership model is absolutely ridiculous. Even before the pandemic they'd try to take advantage of anyone they thought they could. When I bought my 2018 Tundra they saw a youngish guy (was 30 at the time and have a bit of a baby face) and tried to get me to pay over MSRP. Once they realized I wasn't stupid they played ball, but they would have had no problem squeezing an additional $10k out of me if I let them or didn't know any better.

I agree with others saying we should just order straight from the manufacturer and cut the dealer out completely. They all claim they make their money off used cars and service anyway, so just have Toyota/GM/Ford/Dodge/etc service centers and be done with buying new from dealers.

/rant

 

I purchased 3 new cars in 2022. One Lexus , one Toyota and another brand.
This is the first time I have ever paid MSRP for vehicles and did so for all three.
When I shopped, many dealerships are asking way over MSRP and decided I would never pay a premium above MSRP and just kept looking until I found one willing to sell at MSRP

 

Dealerships are all used car salesmen. If you have an in, go with it. But these days, the internet is your friend. Do your research and know what is out there and what it costs. Email sales persons and work them against each other. And be willing to walk away, like any negotiation. Also be willing to act. A while back, I would have said, know what they are worth and make the sales person invest so much time with you on the lot that they can't lose you. These guys and gals rely on sales to make a living. Today it's weird, supply and all. But someone still has to pay rent, so work it. If it's all bullshit, buy used and do the same.

 

How long is the Raptor wait and is it MSRP?

 

I had written off Ram because I thought I received terrible customer service during my year of ownership; I had so many issues, it had to go. In retrospect, that truck was almost perfect compared to the issues I'm having now. And, Toyota customer service has made them seem like they treated me like a king. They are now back on my list for future trucks. I don't have the history you do with Toyota, but I am a one and done for sure. I am extremely disappointed. I'm a broken record, but - it's not the problems that matter, but how they are rectified. Toyota has zero customer service standards.

 

That's exactly what we did with our last two vehicles. We bought a 4Runner and a year later bought the Tundra. Did it all online. They didn't deliver it to my house. We met in a parking lot halfway between us and the dealership.

 

I have very minimal dealership experience, and I must say that of the four Toyota dealers I’ve dealt with, three were awful.

• Toyota of Cool Springs added $1200 to my financing and tried to hide it.
• Beaman Toyota presented me with a price on an FJ Cruiser 5 years ago that had 9.25% tax figured in (here, vehicle tax is 7% while general sales tax is 9.25%…who knows how many unsuspecting people they’ve screwed with that one…). I called the sales manager out on it, and he just kept lying, even after I brought up the Davidson County Clerk page that says it’s 7%.
• Nashville Toyota North insisted that my credit must be run prior to a test drive. Maybe I looked really young? I walked.

Even the place I bought my Tundra from, Landers McClarty, added “nitrogen” in the tires and $60 vent shades for a $995 markup. I talked them down, but still…the crap they all attempt is infuriating.

In fact, the only two dealerships that were straight up, no hassle, no BS, no lying were Serra GMC and Nelson Mazda Cool Springs.

I hate the dealership model. I hate that they lobbied their way into generally being a necessary step. I hate that they did it to “protect the consumer.”

Yeah, I can play the game, I guess. On the Toyotas I’ve bought from dealerships, I wound up with a fair price. But I’d love to see the kind of disclosures required of someone in the financial advising industry required of car dealers.
“Yeah, we can lower your payment, but you’ll pay more over a longer term.”
“I have to tell you that this extended warranty is likely not worth your money.”
“I can’t give you a possible payment range because the regulators frown on situations where we could potentially fudge the numbers in our favor.”

 

Yeah it's msrp and I assume it's going to be minimum 8 months. from about 3 weeks ago.

 

Im completely for doing away with franchising laws. Let dealerships exist for those who want to deal with that or see it as a convenience. I for one dont need a middle man to purchase what I want. I generally have my mind made up before I step foot on a lot.

 

No one forces anyone to sign on the line. Walk if you do not like the offer presented or the way its presented.