Was the stealership trying to rip me off? Throttle body cleaning...

I love going to the dealerships for buying vehicles, confronting issues, etc.

My wife worked retail for years; and her father ran the parts department at an antique Corvette shop. So when we get down to brass tacks on vehicle purchases or the like, I send her in.

Last truck we purchased before my Tundra, the guy was trying the whole "You gonna let a truck go for $700?"

Wife said "Yep. We don't NEED a truck...but I bet you have to sell one to make quota this month."

We got the truck @ the price we wanted.

 

Yes,

TON, won't be returning to them! On top of this episode with their service department, I have bought a SEVERAL trucks and a highlander from them, and when I went to them a couple months ago looking for a commuter vehicle so that I can preserve Blueberry (Yes, I name my vehicles too) for as long as possible, they were still going to charge me WAY over MSRP because of the "shortage". I said to them I have bought lots of new vehicles from you, and I am loyal customer as well in the service department, you won't give me a better deal? Manager: Nope. Ok then ..l.. , looks like I am bringing my business to Bow then!

P.S. HIGHLY recommend Grappone in Bow, MUCH better buying experience, and I will be giving both their Honda and Toyota dealerships a try for service this month as well!

 

That kinda Sucks you have to commute that far for service BUT I hear the Shitty attitude from dealerships !! When I was living in Snow country

either Dover or Rochester had my business because Portsmouth treated us like just a number

They should know better but when big Corp buys out the "lil guy" customer service means nothing... all about ca$h flow

 

Meh, it's ok, I am equidistant from both places, it's just the other direction.

 

6 months ago my uncle was off work so he gave my brother a ride to buy an F150.

Brother was negotiating the deal, uncle quietly sitting in the room. Same kinda run around, salesman “are you going to lose this truck over $500?” …..My uncle “Are you?”

Was the only thing he said the whole time and brother ended up getting the extra $500 off.

 

Also, just because a dealer tries to upsell you some things like brake fluid flush, throttle body cleaner, etc. doesn't mean they entire dealership is evil and has to be avoided. For example, dealership near me is for the most part is great. Parts department is friendly and has most things I need in stock, sales people are tolerable, service department is super fast, easy to schedule, good at communicating. Do they offer me those services? Yep, I decline. Learn what you need, decline and move on.

 

When in doubt always reference your user manual, it contains all the service recommendations based on mileage/time. I’m a service advisor at a Toyota Dealer, when checking in customers I’ll always go over the routine service due based on mileage/time and talk about other recommendations based on mileage/time and present them.
Whether or not you think they are worth having done is up to you, it’s my job to inform you. There are plenty of times that people get verbally combative, demanding why we’re making all these suggestions on a “new” truck.

Working at a dealership can be a real pain in the ass.

 

BIL goes to walnut creek Toyota

 

Rochester Toyota has treated me really good. Small family owned. But when I need a anything done now I swear by Kezar automotive in Chichester. He has a Toyota mechanic there and works on anything. Must have been Irwin you went to. I have several good stories about them. Stay away from them.

 

Hopefully the Brother & Sister still own/run this one ; plus their Dog.

Two Tacoma's and Two Camry's from them Plus they "work with the local 4x4 groups" ....She even brought a few New Toyota 4x4' over to an

Off-Road event just down the street from their dealership . Not sure who coordinated that

 

TPMS light is on. Brought my truck to Longo Toyota, and they tell me I have two bad sensors. To replace them, they want to charge me...$500. Lol. Can't wait to see what their estimate will be to change the alternator.

 

Go to Discount Tire or America's Tire...

 

I've got a good tire shop that I use. Just funny to me that they try to get away with this stuff. If the oem sensors are like $20 apiece, how do they justify the labor?

 

Discount Tire charged me half that to replace all four.

 

Our sensors are about 130 each. Plus 1 hour to program the sensors ($190.88), each sensor install is .3 of an hour so that’s 57.88 per wheel to install

 

Who do you work for? Dealer prices are usually higher than places like Discount Tire. Mine were in the neighborhood of $65 each and that included re-balancing the tire.

https://www.discounttire.com/accessories/tpms/tpms-sensors-catalog

 

Im a service advisor at Concord Toyota, it’s in the northern Bay Area in California

 

I see online that Longo sells them for $71 apiece:

https://parts.longotoyota.com/oem-p...ONAOP2PqMzt3Gbo9EA82MFXI0pG8ktdRoCsYYQAvD_BwE

So they were really trying to screw me on labor.

 

I got suckered into a service package. I don't drive enough miles to even come close to getting to the big one before time runs out. They don't do any of that stuff when they are paying the bill! Cabin filters are easy peasy unless you're driving an older E36 Beemer.