Are Toyota Internet Sales Managers complete idiots or is it just me?

This....Dealers have what is called holdback....It is usually around 3-5% depending on manufacturer. So if you multiply MSRP X 3-5% then subtract that from the invoice price you get a general idea of how much profit is in the car. I know there are other factors involved for the true dealer cost, but at least when the dealer try's to give their BS about we are not making any money if we sell it @ invoice, etc, Blah Blah...you can spit out a little knowledge to them.....
FYI...here is the place that I usually use for invoice pricing..
http://www.carsdirect.com/build/stylewizard?makeName=toyota&modelName=tacoma

 

They typically make 3% at invoice. Not a loss, but not much profit considering the overhead on that fancy building Toyota made them build, the salespersons commission, detail guy to clean it, lights, etc. Also the reason there is usually an addendum adding a protection package, nitrogen, tint, pinstripe, etc. There's your profit. Also, more net profit comes out of the finance office than any other department in the dealership. The only expense is his commission. They make money, but it takes new cars, used cars, finance, parts, and service to make a profit at the end of the month. If you can buy one for invoice, they are definitely working with you. If you beat the dealership down to invoice or below and don't take any of the extra's, you should really tip your salesperson $100 if he did a great job. On an invoice deal, he will probably make a hundred bucks. not much considering the time he spent with you, and YOU actually bought something that day, unlike the other 4 people he waited on that day that didn't.

 

So, with that above example the TRD PRO I have a deposit on has a MSRP of $44,038- with a few extra accessories- invoice=$41,597..
So with est 3% holdback the dealer is looking at $3800(selling@ MSRP) or so profit before any other money making fee's, finance kick backs, etc. Obviously the higher the price of the car the more profit margin...

 

It's not just internet sales people. It's anyone trying to sell a car really. I was looking at a Jeep Wrangler back in the day and they wouldn't tell me how much it cost for some reason. They kept telling me how much a different more expensive model would cost, but not the one I wanted. They just don't like to be upfront I think.

They also tried this with me "hey if you finance this more expensive one, it's only $25 bi weekly more" - my response was "yeah but it's still $7000 more in total, that money doesn't disappear just because you finance it"

 

Yep. You say with accessories, obviously, you need to take their cost of the accessories out of that profit. I don't know about the TRD Pro, but I wouldn't pay MSRP for a Tacoma, should be able to get one for $500 over invoice. The TRD Pro may be different. Supply and demand dictates price. I believe those are order unit's only. Dealers usually can't stock them for inventory. Unless you are going to do some SERIOUS off-roading, I can't see paying the premium for the TRD Pro, especially if they are bringing MSRP. A suspension lift on a regular one with wheels and tires should run you $3000 or less. WAY less than $44K. A HARD loaded TRD Off Road MSRP is $39K with a few accessories and you should be able to get a discount down to $37K.

In my case I bought a base SR5 4x4 and spent $2000 on a leveling kit, wheels and tires and it looks great. I'll upgrade the factory speakers for about $500 and skip the $3000 JBL radio. Only thing I miss is the power sliding rear window. Sits taller than a TRD Pro and saved close to $10K. I don't offroad, need 4x4 for the farm.

 

If anyone wants a good salesman in the Ft. Worth Texas area, contact Jeff Raim at 817-447-4400. He is with Family Toyota of Burelson.

 

I'm a loan officer and have to deal with damn car salesman everyday. They get real pissed at me when I talk people out of all of those special add-ons they try and sell people. I've seen many deals where the salesman screws over my member.

 

Yes sir!! Just the games they play....4 squares, etc. So how much are your payments now..if we can get your payment $xxx do I have your business today??? You really have to go in with pricing knowledge of the vehicle your going to buy, trade value(various book values-KBB, NADA, etc)

 

My situation was exactly the one OP described. I seemed to get caught in a tool that constantly sent me emails to check on me. I had a canned response for each one and just copy/ pasted my original request for the manual at invoice price. Finally, a real life person began to correspond with me (internet manager). He asked, "what is going to take to sell you a truck?" My answer was that they just needed to sell me what I'd been requesting since day 1, and I forwarded him a dozen or so emails that I had sent to the robots. He told me to come in and talked to him. Went in with my printout and left in 45 minutes with a deal (invoice + $500 and they threw in Husky mats). Gave my $500 deposit and the truck arrived 4.5 months later.

 

I hear you brother....The PRO is demanding MSRP and in rare cases a market adjustment...which of course is ludicrous....It's the same way for the 4R PRO as well. I know a few guys here have said they got descent deals(a little of the top and some over invoice, but this is the guy who has a friend or great connection @ dealer.

 

these guys are tone-deaf. It's almost funny how you can come in, clearly say "I want vanilla and vanilla only", and they reply "oh, that's nice. How about chocolate?" It's incredibly off-putting.

 

I know this is a Tacoma thread, but if you know anyone looking to buy a 4 runner TRD Pro, there is a T-Force package available. Here are pics of the one I leased to my sister. It's basically the TRD Pro package. It may just be a Gulf States Toyota thing, but it looks badass. It's a $5K option. Not trying to sell anything on here, just an FYI. It can save you some $$$. It's a cosmetic option, so no changes to the 4 wheel drive system you get with a true TRD Pro. In her case she didn't want leather, so it's an SR5 cloth package with the T-Force package.

 

Some people just do not communicate well or think they have to be slick instead of just telling people straight up how it is. I used to sell Toyota's in the late 80's and at that time you could not "order from the factory". You had to accept the vehicles how Toyota sent them to you. Toyota does a better job now of explaining the various options and packages that are available and as I understand it, if you are willing to wait, you can get exactly what you want, as long the do offer that option.(ie, you cannot get a long bed with the Offroad package, simply not available) Sometimes it is just not possible for the salesperson to give the customer what they want as it is simply not offered by Toyota. But if you are a decent sales person you should be able to explain this concept to a customer in such a way that the customer can understand and so the customer feels that they have had something "explained" to them instead of something they do not want forced down their throat.

 

1) Your asking the salesperson to quote you on a truck that does not exist in their inventory.
2) The odds of them finding that exact truck and getting the other dealer to give/trade to them are slim.
3) Your asking people to go to work for you with zero commitment from you.
4) If you want any dealership/salesperson to take you seriously, stop in the showroom, sit down and discuss it.
5) A salesperson will do what they can to earn your business if your looking them in the eye and not shopping every dealership in your state.

Never bought a vehicle by conversing online or by phone. Walked in to local dealer and dealt with them in person. It's actually faster and easier that way.

Just my .02

 

Pay sticker out quicker. If you're willing to pay MSRP, do down there, tell them you're willing to pay sticker, but want what you want, and they will jump and ask how high. There is a reason customer service is great at luxury dealerships. They don't sell cars for invoice and their customers don't shop them at five dealerships.

 

By using online your are getting a place to start, give me a quote worth talking about and I'll come in with my checkbook.

You go into the dealership and they play the emotion game, drive this, try this, what monthly payment works for you.

 

Well.. if you can build the exact truck you want on Toyota's website, some dealer in your sales region (determined by your zip code that you entered) has that truck either on their lot or en route.

The website doesn't allow you to build a truck that doesn't currently exist or isn't allocated in your area. It's meant to put people in front of salesmen, it's not a "here's what options there are, build your dream truck."

No configurations are allowed if the above isn't true.

 

They make hold back on the MSRP base.

 

In sales people call that being "shopped" aka cockroach. A person calling around for someone's "best price". That's not the way business works for better or for worse. Sorry OP.
And Toyota doesn't need customers that badly to be dropping MSRP over the phone. Especially Taco s.

You'll have to go in and grind it out my friend. Only way to get the best price your looking for.

 

The Toyota website will let you build a truck that's not on the ground. It won't let you just do whatever you want and put a v8 in a corolla. It will let you build what a dealership can theoretically order, but it does not mean it's on the ground or close by. Just because a stick shift can be built, does not mean the dealers near you have ordered one. Plus it will let you build one with zero accessories. Try finding a Tacoma with out a "protection package", led lights, or some sort of accessory. At least in the Texas area. Dealer profit is very dependent on selling cars quickly after they hit the ground. They finance them just like you and me. Most aren't going to get creative by ordering a stick shift truck, they want inventory that will sell quick. This is why 70% of their inventory is black, silver, gray, and white.