Horrible Dealership Experience

Thought I would share this so others can steer clear. The dealership in question is Toyota of North Charlotte in NC.

Started calling around local dealerships today searching for available TRD Sports or TRD OR in MGM as I currently have an existing deposit on a Lunar TRD Sport that’s 30-40 days out but not totally sure I will love the color (It was all they had with config I like available and had previously made deposit on SR but wanted to upgrade).

Finally found an available MGM DCV6 TRD Sport with package I want and it even is scheduled to come in earlier than the above. The online/phone sales rep sent me sheet with details and MSRP price and I decided to drive the 30ish minute to their store so I could lock it in. After arriving went through some initial info gathering with an assistant and then got handed over to a new salesman I had no prior communication with.

I again confirmed the truck with him I wanted and he proceeded to go ahead and pull some financing numbers and credit which I assumed was to get ahead on that process before truck is delivered. He then came back with the numbers and the monthly payment seemed way off based on an MSRP of roughly 42k. He tried to pitch some BS extra warranties which I was prepared for and swatted away. I then asked minus the fluff what is the bottom line price. When he told me 50k my jaw almost hit the floor. He informed me there is a 6K markup on new Tacomas.

I hoped this was just a game for suckers and told him where to take his markup. He then went “in back” to see what his manager would do. He then came back and stuck firm. I told this little twerp that this isnt 1-2 years ago and he better be ready for the upcoming market shift, but there was no change in his stance. So I then proceeded to walk and there wasn’t much of an effort to stop me.

I’m fuming that I wasted 1.5 hours and on top of that this little @&?! probably ran my credit for no good purpose. Stay away from Toyota of North Charlotte!!!

 

Money moves, dealerships don’t.

 

The main problem I see, is that they ran your credit. I never give the needed information to run my credit until we have a sales contract signed. They are dicks and you learned a valuable lesson. Thanks for the heads up!

 

I don’t know dude. You allowed them to run your credit and you didn’t ask about a market adjustment before going there……

 

Dude. If you can't handle dealing in person then simply buy from CarMax or Carvana. Easy peasy and you don't get so... mad.

 

Yup! And the OP must be living under a rock if a "market adjustment" was news to him. 99% of dealerships are doing it, or trying it.

 

I guess a standard question to always these days; is there any dealership markup!

 

Next time offer to shake his hand while floating a rancid fart. Don't let go, just let him wallow in your air biscuit.

It won't make him change his mind on the price. But you'll have a better story to tell at least.

 

Interesting responses, shame on me I guess for assuming transparency in the initial price sheet, or not asking up front “can you give me a kiss at least before bending me over with your markup”. In my prior purchases of vehicles there was a general understanding dealer already making a solid chunk of change at MSRP. Markups were for very rare or special order units. This isn’t a Ferrari

 

Ok one more time. Buying a car is like getting a date. You absolutely can not care at all if you leave with a car or a phone number.

You must be prepared to walk away at any step of the process. Buying a car is actually a heck of a lot of fun, but only if you just don't care. There are literally hundreds of tacoma out there, just like there are hundreds of compatible women or men if thats your style. This particular truck does not matter. Dont like the sales persons shoes? Bounce. Wanna make em crap thier pants? Walk into another sales persons office and announce I wouldn't buy a candy bar from that guy, do you want to sell a truck?

That dude pisses you off, ask where the water fountain is, then walk up to the sales tower and ask them if they wanna sell a truck?

Seriously I sold cars for Toyota. Drove me nuts. I know all thier bullcrap though. Just go in, don't give a crap, have fun, laugh honestly at the bullcrap, tell them what you will pay, if they take it great, if they don't move on.

 

Hey I get it, this isn’t life or death stuff and normally I would laugh it off. I’m just highly annoyed to have wasted my valuable time and as well to get the credit hit. Also, a $2K markup I might understand as a mildly sane tactic, but $6K? Are there people on here unintelligent enough to put that up?

 

They’ll call back

 

It's a sellers' market right now. If you walk away someone else is going to run in and beg them to take their money. Good luck. I'm about 1-2 years out before I'll be looking for another truck. If things are still this bad, I'll seriously consider rebuilding and repainting what I have.

 

You should check the thread titled "Dealers selling at MSRP"...or something like that. It might have a dealer near you. Save you some time. I didnt and wouldnt pay markup, but apparently people are, so the dealers can get away with it I guess.

 

^^^This exactly^^^
Yes, you wasted your time, and yes you should have clarified markup before giving vitals for credit. You’re correct-these aren’t Ferraris, they’re dime-a-dozen Japanese trucks. Good trucks, but nothing extra special.
You should’ve turned the tables and set up the guy so that he didn’t waste anyone else’s time today. I’d have asked for a tour of the parts dept, service dept., and I’d have test drove everything they had on that lot. Good luck with your search.

 

I bought mine a year ago. My first question was about adjustments or mark ups. My second question was about the mandatory options.

 

I understand the upset, I do. I used to be forced to cause it. I hated that job.

I am in my own way trying to encourage you. You did not waste any time. You learned a valuable lesson. Now if you can take my advice, try again somewhere else, no deposit bullcrap because then they have a hook and a lever.

Just don't care. Walk in, have fun, if you can make a deal, if not be the topic of conversation at that dealership for the next week.

The salea guys are supposed to never let you go to the sales tower.
They are supposed to control every aspect of the purchase.

Flip the script. Be the guy that sells them on making you leave with the truck at your price. Who cares if they are mad at you.

They can't make you sign.
They can't take your birthday away.
All they can do is try to hijack your amygadala.
Laugh at the bullcrap, it knocks them off balance.

 

OP - I'm up in WSalem and after a similar exp. with another dealer, started asking those questions before and same dealer did say there was the mark up. My local dealer said they (Toyota of N Charlotte) don't trade much if at all with others either. If you're still looking, could try Modern here in Winston. No markup. I paid MSRP on buying from them. Only ones I was able to find that do that is Modern and one up in the Mtns...Bryan Easler in Hendersonville. Every other one I called had some sort of variable mark up.

If you don't know you can look around here and see what is coming into the SE region. No guarantee it's not presold but no need to wait on a dealer to do a search and tell you they can't find one or don't want to if not coming to them.

Toyota Tacoma 4X2 | Explore Toyota (setbuyatoyota.com) Go down to the bottom left put in zip code and you can adjust by the choices on the left to find trucks within certain mileage ranges. If you see one you like, go to the top and there is a pull down menu for dealers. Have to check each one but should show where it is allocated (at the time you look).

 

I hate the dealership...even if everything goes well.

I have more fun at a colonoscopy.

 

Thanks for sharing some good options. I’m actually already on a signed offer sheet with Hendrick here in Concord at MSRP. That was part of why I was blown away by the experience today. Hendrick even tried to sell me a truck on the lot at 1K off MSRP but I wasn’t a fan of the color.