What should I think of this dealer?

Hi everyone,
We've been waiting a long time for the 2016 to come out so that we could buy our first Tacoma. We're on the east coast.
We preordered a TRD sport in July and were told we'd have it by the end of August or beginning of September at the latest. We were assured that they, being a big dealership, would have them before anyone else. We put down a $500 deposit.
At the end of August, we were told mid-september. Now we are being told early October.
Well, today I went on the very same dealer website and saw two 2016 Tacomas advertised as "Just Arrived!" at the dealership. Neither of them were the one we ordered.
I called, and was told that they have no Tacomas. I kept asking about the two that their website says have "just arrived!" and couldn't get a straight answer.
I'm pretty annoyed.
Anyone have any thoughts? Is this normal?

 

Tell them you want your deposit back and go to another dealer.

 

welcome to T.World.
Welcome to toyota corporate my friend. This is ine of my pevs with toyota like Time warner there customer service sucks an ass!
If you have any other dealers within driving distance go to one of them take your $500 over there.

 

Thanks for the welcome! I love this site but this is my first time posting.

So... you think they are jerking us around, then? Or that they just don't have their stuff together? Thing is, if we take our business elsewhere, then we have to wait months more while they order us another, right? There are lots of other dealers around but I haven't seen any advertising a 2016 TRD sport yet.

 

You are paying a substantial amount of money for a new truck. The dealer works for you. If you aren't happy, fire them.

 

I will give you my thoughts and info my dealer gave me.

1. the first 2 tacomas arriving at the dealer were pre allocated to them, they couldn't do anything to them or change any options/pkg's
2. my allocation is actually first on the list, but until its built, shipped and PDI by the dealer, they are in the same boat as me, until it physically arrives, they have no clue when they will get them.

on another note, there is another dealer in the state that shows they have all these vehicles, but when you actually press them for details, they actually say they are in transit. so they will have those vehicles eventually, but until they show up, its just a gimmick to get people to come to the dealer.

 

I'm in Tennessee and trying to get a white off road and am having the same problem. I told them what I wanted in July and was told it would be here early September and now it has been moved back to at least mid October. In my case I get the feeling this is just how Toyota works, but I also think the dealer is being intentionally vague to keep the sale. Either way I've decided I will check in at the first of October and if it has changed I will just go somewhere else. I assume if I change dealers it will delay me getting a truck but at least the sale won't go to them.

 

None of the dealers have a clue. They know about a truck when it comes in on the transport. Otherwise there is no info. Corporate is not updating the build sheets until after it hits port delivery. Dealing with this very thing here in San Diego. Almost all of the build sheets have placeholder VIN's(not real VIN's). Mine was supposed to be built 8/19. No clue if it has been built yet.

 

Thanks for the information! This helps. Makes sense about the preallocations.

The weird thing about my case is*my dealer*'s website lists two tacomas as "just arrived" today. If they said "oh, yeah, those are preallocations we had no choice" I'd be fine. It's the refusal to admit that they have them when they just listed them as "just arrived" on their website that ticks me off.

 

When you order a car, it isn't necessarily a custom order. What usually ends up happening is they take all the specs down that you want in a Tacoma, then they out that request into the factory and/or wait until they get the Tacoma you want allocated to them. So it very may well be that the truck you want has not been allocated to that dealer yet. As soon as they get an allocation for your order, you will get it.

They also may have sold those Tacoma's already. I know my local dealership has already sold 5. So that means, the first truck of Tacomas going to that dealer may be all sold. Doesn't mean they won't still park them on the lot and claim they have trucks to sell.

I would calm down. You haven't been waiting any longer than anyone else. Most dealerships don't have them yet, mostly the West Coast and Texas have em. This truck was released 6 days ago...

 

There are no 2016's on the lot at my dealer. There isn't even an option to build your own 2016 on the website. You're getting a brand new truck the way you want it, have a little patience...

 

This is normal.. take a chill pill or go shop elsewhere.

Be prepared to take the chill pill at the next dealership also. The same "issue" happens every single model year, even when it's the same warmed up leftovers as the 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 model year trucks.

 

I'm beginning to wonder if these "build dates" mean anything at all. Mine is supposed to be built on 9/29, but I'm not counting on it.

 

Here is my example Aspie83..... just got work a few mins ago mine is built

Hello Sam

Good news, we have movement !!!!


VIN : 3TMBZ5DN4GM001029 Production Month : September


Status Estimated Date Actual Date
Production Date 08/19/2015 09/16/2015
Available for Shipment (CBU)
Vessel Departure (CBU)
Vessel Arrival (CBU)
Port Processing 09/16/2015 09/16/2015
Rail Departure
Rail Arrival
Shipment to Dealer 09/18/2015
Dealer Arrival 09/18/2015 - 09/22/2015
Railcar Location
Location Date

 

Build dates are when Toyota has that VIN scheduled for assembly.

Without a real VIN, I wouldn't put any weight on what the build date says.. I got my real VIN about a week after I placed my order, and it was well before the truck was scheduled for assembly. I was told it's about 3 months from order until delivery, in my case it was nearly 5.

 

Congratulations Sam B--your long wait appears to be over soon. This gives me faith that maybe these build dates aren't just a marketing ploy.

 

Two arrived at the dealer but not your special order truck. I don't see a problem.