Dealer Horror Stories

Anybody encounter any issues at your local dealer when trying to purchase your Toyota or trying to get work done? I was all ready to order in my 2010 Tacoma yesterday when the Mrs. in finance called me at work to cancel our appointment because she had to go get her nails done. WTF?? Is that more important than selling a new vehicle? I must be missing something here. Please share your stories. I can't be alone on this one.

 

You didn't know? She's supporting the economy by getting her nails done. All you're doing is trying to help the pinko commies. What a joke, I would make sure someone higher than her is notified. She might just find out that her nails are a privilege, not a right punk!

 

I don't know if I am more P'd or shocked that she'd call me at work to do that.

 

Call and talk to the G.M. at the dealership. Tell him what happened and you are taking your buisness to a dealer who wants your money. I would bet you could get something out of it. Maybe not though. It's worth a shot.

 

I went all the way up through grade school with owner/dealer principal and his wife.

 

Hey Bob: You know that dealer is gonna be pissed when he finds out the situation. In these times nobody wants to lose a sale over someting like that.

 

Very true especially in the situation Toyota is in right now.

 

Hadn't heard the term "Pinko" in a long time. We used to used the nickname "Commie Pinko Bedwetter".

Celtic Bob....You should be able to get a free accessory out of that ....or a generous reduction in price.

Good luck!

 

A long time ago, I had the finance person try to screw me big time. I had worked out what the payments should be, and she came it way over what I expected. When I asked, she wouldn't tell me the finance rate. She kept saying it was competitive....After I found out that it was 2% higher than the credit union, I said no. She then recomputed with a matched rate, and it was still high. It turns out she added in an extended warranty. It took my 10 minutes of arguing with her to get that removed. Then it was some payment insurance that she had added in. It was insane how hard it was to just finance the car, and only the car. I started to walk out, and she asked where I was going, and I said "home". She freaked out and finally did what I had asked.

I gave her the bottom of the barrel marks on the survey, and she must have caught hell for it. She decided to call me at home, at 7:30 am on Saturday to inquire why I gave her such crappy scores. I hope she finds work in a field that doesn't require human interaction.

 

WOW...She admitted to you that she was canceling for a nail appointment?? What a fucking moron.

 

I'd still call him. Regardless of your relationship with the owner, it's unacceptable.

Given the fact that you are tight with the owner this shouldn't have even come close to happening.

I'd take my business elsewhere on principle

~M

 

The only problem I've had was when I went to buy a new Honda for my sister years ago. Those guys were pricks, we literally left screaming and cursing them out; they treated us like shit. Since then I have bought four new Toyotas and was always treated with respect.

BTW it was Honda World in Garden Grove, CA.

 

I would contact the head guy and let him know you are shopping elsewhere.

 

About 6 years ago, my wife and I went in to pick up a new Highlander - we knew the list, invoice, current rebates, financing available . . . She's an RN, I am an engineer and we dress in ripped jeans / tee shirt to car shop.

Well we presented what we wanted for the deal (price trade finance .. everything), typical run around, but they had not given the keys back (couldn't find them was their line) for the car that we were trading when we had enough of the BS. My wife whom went to law school (loves to argue - knows the terms to use) starts shouting for someone to call the cops - "false imprisonment" other things, really really loud, she had everyone in the place looking at us. The sales manager just about had a stroke / heart attack trying to get the keys to us, he was so flustered. We were laughing before the door even closed behind us -

We went to another dealer the next day with the same proposal and they accepted in 5 minutes.

Car shopping has been mostly entertainment for us. There are always other dealers that want the sale!

 

I also had a nightmare finance mgr when I bought my truck last Oct - guy started off really arrogant and became increasingly dickish when I refused all the service contracts and crap, and he really lost it when I refused his financing and handed over the full payment I'd arranged elsewhere. It really surprised me - forking over that kind of cash I expected a little ass-kissing, or at the very least a sincere 'thank you'.

 

thats becasue they lost out on the intrest.

 

the Toyota dealers on Central ave in Toledo is a joke. I did an online quote, printed it out and went to talk to the guy. In the dealership he was trying to say it was for a different truck and couldn't sell it for that amount. I ended up calling him a liar andn walking out. Bought my truck at a Rouen in Maumee for basically the same price that was on the email i had.

Rouen does an awesome job. Washed my truck after an oil change. If you are in the market in NW ohio, i would recommend Rouen, but stay away from the dealer on the centeral ave strip (Jim White i believe)

 

My local dealer has a reputation for being "married to their cars". I tried to keep my business local, but when I tried to negotiate price, all I got was "everyday is a sale" but the price is still MSRP. Went online and got my truck 40 miles away for $5k less the next weekend.

 

I have to say, the service I have received at my dealership has been great... My biggest complaint is the "No Haggle" policy that dealerships in Canada stick to. I went to several dealerships when shopping for my '09, and they all offered nothing more than $100 in free accessories (which means you're forking out another $100+ to buy anything worthwhile). I was able to talk my dealership into giving me the me the $375 (cheap plastic) running boards as part of the deal. I had to wait a few weeks longer than promised for delivery, but I was (happily) surprised when I picked up my truck and found that they installed the $600 stainless steel set instead.

 

my dealership was AWESOME, they started high of course but asked what i wanted to pay. i told them, they said they COULDNT do that but went from 5.9% to 3.9% then if i signed that night (which i was planning on, just wanted to see the 3 colors i liked and chose one), they came down to my price (300 over their invoice per Edmunds, hey the sales guy had to make something) and 2.9% which i didnt expect. Shaved about 1000.00 off INTEREST alone over 5 years.....so i signed and flawless thru to when i drove her home.....now the nightmare story

2004 Isuzu dealership, last year of the Rodeos and this stealership had 3 leftover 03s for 16k....26k truck....now 2 had sunroofs, 1 didnt. The AD said 16000 3 available...now i wanted the sunroof, all of a sudden its a 700 add on....ok...fine...still a good deal. my wife is 8 months pregnant and i wanted a bigger car then her civic to drive. So, we got the price, goto the finance dept and the guys like sign this sales contract and ill get you an APR tomorrow...said i qualified for 8.9%....and i had a 780 credit score....um no, get me a better APR and ill sign. he started throwing papers around, yelling at me and my PREGNANT wife that we were wasting his F'ing time. Now my cousin has a used car lot, and my other cousin sold Toyotas, now BMWs and is the finance manager, so he told me what he did was wrong, and i was right not to sign anything till i got an actual APR, not a GUESS.... so i grabbed all the papers that had my social # on them, off his desk, tore them up in front of him and walked out. told the salesman that the finance guy fucked over his sale. i demanded my deposit back and left. i went back the next day, mind you im 6' all 220lbs and kinda insane looking, long hair goate. So i got "blacked out", leather coat, my ass kicking boots and went to the dealership, talked to the receptionist. I want to see the owner NOW!!!..her reply, is this a good visit or bad visit!!! hahahah, told her BAD visit. Told the GM, cause the owner was "busy" and explained what happened. They fired the guy on the spot, who knows if it was an "act" or he really was let go. you just dont pressure people into a sale until you get ALL the numbers, like MY TOYOTA finance manager did. To scream like an idiot at my pregnant wife....come on....f'ing scumbag.

Prestige Toyota Ramsey NJ, saleman Andrew Eagle....best service i ever had at a dealership and im on my 6th new vehicle by age 36. Also the best prepped vehicle as well.