dealership stories.. good or bad

So I'm fairly new to this forum but I see the hate for dealerships and their service is quite rampant here. What actual stories do you guys have regarding dealership experience? Good or bad.

I'll start with a bad one. Wife has a Rav4 and we were taking it to toyota for the regular service. Expensive but part of the package is you get some 180 day warranties like your tires. Should it go flat, they'll repair or replace up to $150.

My wife's tire went out. She took it to Servco (Toyota Hawaii) and they charged her $380 bucks for the tire. Told her that since its warrantied for $150 all she has to pay is $180. HELL NO!!! I called and was told "its OK because without the warranty the tire would cost about that." So WTF is the warranty for I asked. Do you hear the stupidity pouring out of your mouth?

I called the tire shop and the exact same tire was $150. I asked Toyota where are they getting the $380 cost? They said its the tire shop giving them that cost. LIARS.

Anyway after some grumbling we didn't have to pay a dime. I can only imagine all the people that just pay the money and get ripped off.

 

They are pronounced "stealership" lol. There are a few dealers on here though.

 

Mine was easy. Wife works for South east Toyota so i knew my price before i went. Salesman didnt make squat ( no profit ) and really didnt like helping me. Saved 4500.00 off sticker and financing was already done so easy peasy

 

Wow, I thought there'd be more stories they way people talk. Maybe not as bad as everyone thinks?

 

I would say its more just an normal annoying salesman type stuff..not exactly specific things that people don't expect when going to the dealer..for me..it wasn't bad for my first time...walked in...went for a drive..told him what i wanted..he printed out some similar type configs..and picked one! sadly it wasnt available so had to get it custom built..yea..i dont got it yet :l

One thing i hated..the inventory on toyota dealers...he was like..yea..all toyota dealers use the same site..i like..so..whats the point of the inventory when you don't even have it in inventory XD Not a salesman issue..just dumb toyota lol

 

I have no issues with my Toyota dealership they have been great.

Years ago I had a Grand Am GT. Had just had state inspection done at the Pontiac dealer when I got a cracked windshield a few days later. Had the windshield replaced and went back to the dealer for a replacement inspection sticker for the windshield. Looked me up saw I was just in there and said no problem hang tight for a few minutes while they put the new sticker on. 15 min go by and I notice my car is in the garage and up on a lift I'm thinking WTF. So I asked what was going on and they claimed I headlight bulb out. Baffling because first of all you don't need the car on the lift to change a headlight and because I knew all my lights worked and they shouldn't be checking anything anyway. So the guy tells me it's going to cost something stupid like $50 to replace the bulb to which I said no thanks I'll replace it myself for a few bucks. He then said he couldn't give me a new inspection sticker and that he would have to charge me $15 labor to reinstall my headlight. Tried my best not to flip out, told them I know all my lights were in working order and that I want my vehicle down off the list now, my new sticker on, and to speak to the manager. Guy told me to hold on, 2 minutes later comes back with my keys saying that I'm all set and the new sticker is on.

Same dealer a couple years prior had replaced an intake gasket or something on it under warranty. Couple days later I'm driving when I hear this terrible noise coming from the motor. Car would barely accelerate, wouldn't shift out of 1st, and the check engine light was blinking. Pulled over, had it towed to the dealer. Again, after a while they come out saying I'm ready to go, had no service write up or anything about what was wrong and they were being shady trying to beat around the bush til finally the guy said the person who worked on it the other day left a fucking rag INSIDE the intake. Needless to say stopped going there.

 

Mine is bad and good at the same time..

I went into the dealer about 11am. Found the truck I wanted, and started the fun to haggle with them over price. I made my first offer, and a very low offer at that.

The sale man says let me check with my sales manger. Comes back with some guy, who says "Hi, I'm a sales manager here, I wanted to let you know that the price you offered isn't going to happen".. I said "ok, this is how much my mom paid for hers brand new from here, this is how much my dad paid for his brand new from here, and this is what I"ll pay brand new from here".

The sales manger then said (while making the jerk off motions) "sorry but that's just not true, you guys can leave now have a great day". Then he 'escorted' us out of the building. He just kicked us the fuck out like we were homeless people begging for food. What he didn't know, was I had $25,000 cash in my pocket. What a dildo.

My wife and I left, we were really tired from doing a 10mile walk for MS that day and it really didn't hit us that we were just thrown out of a car dealership. We went to another dealership that treated us like gold, but didn't have the truck I wanted. So we went home, and both were pretty pissed for being kicked out. I called in and asked for whoever is highest up on the food chain, talked to head of sales, told him that I was kicked out and the guy made a jerk off motion to me and my wife.. Guy on the phone asks for a name of sales manager and we couldn't give it to him.. So my wife was PISSED and gets in her car and takes off to the dealer. At this point I tell the guy on the phone "My wife's on the way down to yell at him in person, she's your problem now".

So My wife goes in there, finds the guy, gets his name, then proceeds to chew his ass out in front of everyone. While I stayed at home and had a beer. She called me up about 30 min later and said "they are willing to work with you for kicking us out", I said "tell them to fuck off". So my wife did, the person she was talking to asked her nicely to stay in the room while he made a call.. Guess he called the owner of the dealership, told the story to him and came back and offered us the truck, fully loaded, with 8 year extended warranty, for $30,000 out the door. My wife called and told me this, I said "put a TRD exhaust on it and its a deal".

About 4 hours later I drove my Brand new 2011 Pre-Runner DCSB super white OR truck.

The sales manger was put on admin leave for 2 weeks. Then was 'let go' about 2 weeks after he came back from his un-paid vacation. I did run into him while he still worked there, walked right up to him and said "Thanks for the come up you stupid fuck, next time you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Now go fuck yourself and have a nice day".

 

Wow..thats a story...but most curious..you carry $25k in your wallet?!?!

 

What, you don't? lol. I'd be scared having that kind of cash. Most cash I ever had on me was $5,700 when I bought my boat from a guy on CL a couple years ago.

 

Well my bad experience was from the closest stealership to my house. They didn't have a truck packaged the way I wanted, 4x4 TRD (sport or off road) DC with JBL. They went on to tell me they could get me what I wanted but there was only one or two in the whole southeast region. I knew from looking at Cars.com that the one I wanted and bought was at of all places their own sister dealer about an hour drive away. This was Team Toyota Mall of GA. I bought mine from Team Toyota of Lithia Springs. Mall of Ga kept trying to put me in one of the trucks on the lot. I want what I want, I'm not settling when buying a $32-33k truck. Needless to say they pissed me off. So I went to the other "Team" dealer and negotiated and bought my truck. The dealer I bought from sent me to Mall of Ga the next morning to get my truck detailed since it was after closing time and the detailers had went home by the time I signed the papers. Ironically the first call I got on the bluetooth system was right after leaving Mall of Ga toyota the following morning from the salesman from Mall of Ga wanting to know if I still wanted to make a deal.

Now to the next bad one. Team Toyota of Lithia Springs whom I bought from has yet to pay me my $100 referral fee! I referred my brother to them since I didn't like Mall of Ga. He bought his Taco there also. It's been 6 months now and still nothing! I keep calling them and keep getting run around. I've tried contacting Toyota Corp. but they told me there was nothing they could do. So both of us bought $30k trucks and they can't afford a $100? I hate dealerships! It's one thing to try to rip people off, it's the nature of the business. But to lie to my face is another thing! I was told that the referral check would be cut automatically once all the paperwork was filed and it should come in 4-6 weeks. I'm fed the eff up!

 

I'll be returning to this thread when I have a bit more time for some LONG stories...

 

nothing but good for me. at either dealer. the one i got it from or the one by really close to the house that i deal with for stuff.

the dealer i got it from, toyota of knoxville. was great. we went down and looked talked to a guy. looked at a few on side test drove one. the salesman even had a 5 luger. he put fog lights in his. and told me he could tell i looked at the forums because i new soo much about everything. and if i looked at tacoma world. i said yes and that i was on here. lol only person i have ever talked to at either dealer that new about the TW or any forums.


the dealer by the hose it really good. Fox Toyota. we have dealt with them for years. with the ’00 tundra and the ’87 corolla and ’05 scion.

 

how about service? Any issues?

 

Win!

 

Had an '01 Civic. I always change my own oil, but the one, only, and last time somebody else changed my oil was the stealership I bought that car from (a lot going on and didn't have time).

Fast foward 3k miles when I was about to change the oil again. Damn sumumabitch oil filter is on there tighter than they torque the space shuttle bolts. Even with a filter wrench, for the life of me could not break it loose.

Anyway, took it to the stealership and asked to speak with the Service Manager. Told him my story, and simply asked if he could loosen the filter so I could proceed to change my oil. He said he would have to charge me for an entire oil change, which he tried to convince me I might as well have them change the oil again. I said, 'na, its cool, I like to change my own oil, and would appreciate if you could just loosen it to the specified torque recommendation so I can change it myself, not to mention I already bought a new honda filter and oil from their parts dept'.

He says sorry he will have to charge me anyway. Trying to stay calm, I asked him why the filter was on there so tight, he said it wasn't (he hadn't looked at the car, just assumed). I'm starting to get peeved about now and tell him I bought this car here, and will probably be buying my wifes new car there soon also. His response? 'Seeing how you never get your car serviced here, we don't want your business'.

Fumes start pouring out my ears, so I walked out, went over to the Sales Manager, explained the situation, and told him the Service Manager said he doesn't want my business because I never get my car seviced there. Sales Manager says he will be right back. He comes back 5 min later and says to kindly bring the car over to the service dept and they will loosen my filter for me.

After I get my filter loosened, walk back into the Service Manager's office, poked my head in his office and said 'YOU'RE A DICK!'. Oh yea, found out he was let go shortly after, appartently giving lots of customers bad advice/service.

Damn, I need a cig now.

 

Haha so funny how you can get so worked up all over again telling the story right?

 

It was 1994, I was looking to buy my first Toyota truck. I was in the dealer's showroom, reading a brochure, trying to figure out what was needed to get the truck I wanted. I had already gotten a "printout" from my credit union that told the various costs of each option and I had a pretty good idea of what the truck could be had for($17,000).

A salesman approached me and we began talking about what truck I wanted. Finally he asked me what I was thinking in the way of cost/payment. I told him I wanted to keep it at around $17,000. He said there was no way I could get the truck I wanted for that amount. I said, well I will just keep saving my money up and try to catch one during a sale.

He replied, that Toyota was never going to have anymore sales, because they did not need to anymore. I stood there dumfounded. I debated whether to just walk out or what to say. Finally I turned back to him and asked if the Sales manager was around. He pointed to a guy in the corner office. I said, "Go tell him I would like another salesman, that I am finished with you." He stood there a moment, undecided. I said, "Or I can go over to him"

He went over to the office. I saw the manger look up at me. I could see him saying "ok" as he listened. He got on the P.A. system and asked for another salesman to come to the floor. The new salesman, went to the offfice and after a minute or two came over to me. The new guy came over, aplogized about the situation.The new guy was totally straight. He and I got along well. I bought my truck there.

 

I went in last week to order tube steps for my '09 DCSB. Now I had been in about a two months before (to get my blower motor changed AGAIN!!) and was talking to a guy in the parts department about said tube steps. Up until '11 they only made the tube steps in grey but I wanted black. He said if I wanted them in black I would have to order the 2011 version and that they will fit fine as they made no changes to the body. So I go in last week and try to order the steps and when the guy (different person) behind the desk sees I have a 2009 he says there is no way the 2011's will fit my truck and that they stopped making the ones for 2009. He pretty much tells me I am S.O.L unless I go aftermarket. I tell him I'm almost positive they will fit since they made no changes to the body. At this point he gets up and WALKS AWAY into the back room never to be seen again. I leave pissed off. I get home and consult TW and everyone assures me they will indeed fit. I returned the following day, ordered them and they look great. I cannot wait to go back when he is working and tell this jackass how he has no clue about the products he's selling.

 

The service and friendliness (smiles and handshakes) at my local dealership (only one nearby) seems to increase or decrease in direct proportion to how much I'm spending. For example, darn near impossible to get any attention when I'm just asking a question, online or in person. Not good when I'm the type to question and ponder options before buying.

Speaking of online, that's perhaps the worst. Hell, I've had my truck over a month and one salesman is still sending emails wanting me to buy. I've responded several times, but he just doesn't seem to get the message (literally - he doesn't seem to be receiving my email messages). At the same time, any questions sent by email to the dealership itself are never answered (ignored or form letter saying to stop by).

 

EPIC!!!!!!!