Trying to Stay Patient But...

So if you look at some of my previous posts, you'll see I've gotten a lot of quality advice from a lot of you out here. So I'm looking for a little more.

I went to a local (USAA certified) dealership in NJ last Friday and had an excellent salesman and quite possibly the most painless experience in making a significant purchase. Here's the issue.. I have not been able to pick up my truck because the dealership is unable to get what I want.

This was my request: 2013 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport DCSB in BLACK (4x4, 4.0L V6) with the towing package.

What seems to be the biggest issue is (at least in NJ) finding this model in BLACK. Now, I'm not a naive fool -- so I can put together a little information on my own. I noticed in the salesman's searches that they do have this model in SILVER physically on the lot here. After almost a week, I get a call from the salesman, and he says that he is unable to secure a black Tacoma for me so he's going to have to "expand his search and see what he can secure en-route" BUT he can sell me a silver Tacoma no problem. I told him I am NOT willing to budge on any of these features, and that I am willing to wait a longer time to get what I want, rather than make a knee-jerk reaction and take a color I am not crazy about and get it tomorrow. He said he understood but it would take until next Friday to have any updated information on the situation. So I told him then we will talk next Friday.

In the mean time, what I've done is contacted a dealer in Columbus, GA (where I am going September 4th-8th to sign a lease, as I will be there in November for Army training) and played all my cards to the salesman on the phone. I told her if she has this model in black, I will sign on the dotted line September 5th after I sign the lease and take the truck right then and there. She seemed very happy to hear this (who wouldn't be?!) and very adamant about finding the truck I want. I am still waiting to hear if she has secured the truck yet or not, however I am feeling much more optimistic about the GA dealer than the NJ dealer.

My question is: Should this GA dealer be able to secure the truck I want, would it be professional to basically say "thanks but no thanks" to this guy in NJ and blow him off and get what I want in GA, or should I give him the opportunity to figure it out and give him a deadline of September 3rd to get the truck and if he can, buy it from him? I am not the most savvy business man but I DO know that a fire in someone's ass of losing a sale is a good motivator.

 

Tell the guy in NJ he has till the 3rd then make headway with your contact in GA. Let them both work and whoever finds it first gets the sale

 

I dunno about your current salesman in NJ or the one GA but I when I was having trouble getting a truck in VT using the USAA buying program, I found a dealer in Mass. Acton Toyota.
They are a USAA certified dealer under the buyer program.
They delivered the truck to me for free. The driver was a professional who says they go all over the East Coast with vehicles for buyers.
They have a Black Sport on their lot right now that matches your criteria.
I did a quick search.
They were awesome to deal with a no BS.
I never thought I would buy out of state but it worked, great price.
You can see there ratings on dealer rater.com

 

Might not be available since you are wanting a 2013.

 

That's a good dealership. The guy I got there wanted to play games but it sounds like you may have found a good one.

 

Whoever gets you the deal first. You don't owe a car salesman anything.

 

Wow you're right! Just checked them out, it's all here! http://www.actontoyota.com/new/Toyota/2013-Toyota-Tacoma-90b543d00a0a00de018bc5ebaffe9e58.htm

I'm gonna give them a call right now and see what I can get for a discount. Honestly so far no salesman has given me anything that I can't get at a USAA certified dealer. The discount certificate is 7.5% off MSRP and I can get an additional military discount (that's from Toyota). The only thing left to negotiate for me is the APR, which at a 750 credit score and 2LT income from the Army isn't too hard.

 

Its not hard to look at dealer inventory. Go to google maps and type in toyota dealerships. from there you look all over the country.

 

My parents just bought a 4Runner from Jay and said it went well. Besides them bullshitting a little with my dad on trying to defend themselves versus the dealership up by me, they don't dick you around like the Ford dealership in Columbus does lol.

One of the better examples of a Toyota dealership I have seen.

My best experience was up here in Kennesaw. They don't charge the dealer fees like many do. No idea on how buying it non-locally works thoughs.

 

It seems like some strange game to me I sell what they have I'm also from New Jersey and I walked into a few dealers and told them exactly what I wanted. They all said sure we can certainly get that from so and so dealership it will just take a few days to get it OR we have this one right here. No thanks ill wait the few days. A few days later sorry we couldn't get that truck but we still have this one right here. This exact situation happened at a few different places.

 

Car dealers/salesmen are not your friend or your pal, yes some are better than others, but in the end they are there to make money off of you.

As long as it is done ethically there is of course nothing wrong with that.

Said all that to say this, it is just business, do not worry about 'hurting' his feelings, he sure would not worry about yours.

In a couple of years you will not even remember this guys name, but you will still be living with a truck you really did not want.

 

Very cool, yeah I was retired and Toyota doesn't include that category in the rebate.
I cannot say enough good about Acton.
It was easily the best buying experience for me.
I had the USAA certificate & they work with usaa's buying program.
I am not sure if that means they are certified? I would think so?
Internet Sales top notch
Finance Guy no BS top notch
Driver who brought me my truck for FREE - top notch. I bought him lunch.
I had never done it, saved $$ over what VT & NH dealers were telling me. None would match it.

 

YUP! Seems scripted to me haha. The dealership in NJ had what I wanted except that it was this crazy modded out black Tacoma -- had a lift kit, new rims, tires, chrome steps, a bed step, bed cover, the improved exhaust system, and all kinds of other crazy shit making the truck an MSRP of $43,000. When he suggested I buy that I chuckled and suggested maybe we look at his database. He still is trying to push the silver one and this tricked out black one -- must be hard to push these things off their lots or something.

 

I just called them the ONLY unfortunate thing is that this one was a long bed, which I don't really have a use for and ups the MRSP about $1500. I am not necessarily opposed to getting the long bed however, so I told the salesman we would be in touch. And yea, you were right they are USAA certified, and guarantee all the same savings. At least I am making some headway!

 

Buy the truck wherever u find it.

 

I think this pretty much sums it all up! Thank you for the advice.

 

Personally I think there are better things in life to stress about. It's amazing you're able to afford a new truck like this at 23. Some of us can't catch a break till later in life, or worse, never get one. If it were me, I'd be respectful to the first sales guy, up front and honest. Yeah salesman are looking out for themselves, but doesn't everyone?

 

Truth!

Hey LT!

After buying my wife a new car in 2010, and then my truck in 2011, I won't shop for a car any other way. I used USAA online, put in the make and model I wanted, with options, and I had local (within 50 miles) dealers calling me to tell me they had it on the lot and when I wanted to come see it. As you well know the price point is already fixed (and a good deal).

 

I was working with several when I bought mine. One was on vacation when I decided to buy. She called when she got back. Rather than have her keep calling and emailing. I told her what happened. She said no problem it happens all the time.

 

Tell your salesman you want to speak with his manager....Tell his manager he can go shit in his hat if he doesn't have the truck by the middle of next week. You're about to give them over 30 grand they better be doing their job and finding you your new truck and not make you run around looking for it yourself! Stand your ground, there's always plenty of more dealerships wanting to take your money.