"In freight" -- What's this really mean?

Please excuse the lengthy time line and complicated plot.

About 5 weeks ago, I ordered a 2017 TRD Sport DC LB because the dealer couldn't find just the truck I wanted in anyone's inventory. Was asked to make a $1000 deposit on this order. Fine.

A couple weeks after I placed the order, my salesman called to say that they had learned of a truck just like the one I had ordered was coming into the region and they could get it for me at the same price. I agreed, as I was looking forward to getting my new truck. At the time I agreed to this, the salesman forecasted the delivery date to be in the Feb. 20 - 24 range. He said a more exact date would be known by Feb. 17. I called him on the 17th, but he didn't know the exact date. Still projected it to be in the Feb. 20 - 24 time frame.

On Feb. 20, I received a phone call from the "Assistant Sales Manager", Chase, who tells me my truck is "in freight" and will be delivered by the first of March. My salesman was no longer with the dealership. Chase would know the exact date in a couple of days and let me know. Late afternoon on Feb. 23, I called Chase for the delivery date, since he had not called me. Again, he told me that the truck was "in freight" and would be delivered by the first of March, but he didn't know the exact date. As I was frustrated with the vagueness of the information I was being given, I observed that I could buy a $14.95 widget from Amazon and would know the exact delivery date, but Toyota could not do the same for a $40,000 truck. Chase told me to take it up with Toyota corporate, a remark I considered bad customer service.

Can anyone explain the "in freight" term. Is there a good reason for the vagueness of the information I'm being given? Is it really impossible for a dealership to more exactly project a delivery date?

 

its probably like when you order something, and you check the tracking and it says "Out for Delivery". You dont know if it will be delivered at 10am or 7:48pm. If I were you (and I do get antsy like you are now) Id just stick it out until March 1. If its not there, call the dealership/Toyota Corporate on March 2, and seek answers. All is well, and if they mess up, they *should* fix their issue. IF they dont, you can ask for your deposit back, and go to another dealership.

 

Yeah what he said. The dealer has little insight to where the truck actually is. Mine was predicted to show up mid November and got delayed for several weeks at Port of entry. It said in freight on a rail car but it was really just sitting in port. Can't recall exact reason but it was around the holidays. It happens.... the delivery date is usually a week or two week projection which can fluctuate.

Where are you shooting chukars Bob? I hunt with a guy who raises them in AZ.

 

Well as explained to me about my order they load them on trains and then take them to a Port. From the Port they install a couple options to the trucks and then plan out getting a transporter loaded up so that it is full. Your truck is probably stuck at the Port awaiting a full transporter.

 

This happened to me and delayed the delivery for about a month. I quickly realized there wasn't much I could do so I just waited it out

 

I'm in a similar situation. I just recieved an email today from the salesman. He said the truck was built and is on a train in San Antonio. They are estimating the arrival at the dealership about March 15. We'll see...

I'm already a little annoyed with the whole process because when I put a deposit $500 down they had led me to believe that the truck was already at another dealer and they just had to make arrangements to bring it to their dealership. The next day, when I called them to check on the status they told me that it was at the factory being built.

 

How long has your wait been so far? I ordered mine in December and if it stays on schedule it will be on the assembly line some time next week and at my dealer at the end of March.

 

What did you order exactly? I ordered a quicksand TRD off-road manual with no Tech on February 3rd and my dealer just told me it's built and in shipping.

 

That is awesome you are getting it quickly! I ordered an OR Manual with Premium and Tech.

 

My dealer found a truck I wanted that was scheduled to go to another dealer. They contacted that dealer and were able to divert it. They said it would be 7 - 10 days. After 10 days I started calling. It was always "It's in transit, we should know more by thursday". On thursday I'd get the same thing. I finally pressed them and got a drop dead date that was about two weeks past the original 10 day estimate. I called them on the drop dead date and told them that if the truck wasn't there I'm out. They called me back and said "the truck is at the other dealer, we'll have it here today". I have good reason to believe it had been at the other dealer for at least a week, while I was calling asking about it. I don't think the dealer was going to lift a finger to find out where it was, other than taking a quick look at the status on their computer.

 

My wife just went through this with her new car which was "stuck" in port. It took us almost 2 months to get the car and of course nobody new anything even when it left port for the dealer. I find it hard to believe in this age of computers and automation that dealers can't provide timely info. My guess in both of our cases is that they know more but the answer is not what we want to hear so they plead ignorance

 

I actually only put the deposit down a week ago, so if it actually shows up when they say it will I'll be ok with it. I wish they had been upfront with me about truck not even being built when I put the money down.

 

Wait you didn't buy your truck from Amazon? Don't they sell everything?

Come on you can't compare a truck delivery to an amazon delivery.

 

Thanks to all for your replies. It helps to know I'm not alone in this position of waiting for an uncertain delivery date.

Not sure I agree with the statement about Amazon and truck delivery dates. If the truck was going into production at some uncertain future date, then being shipped, it would be more reasonable to see uncertainty in the delivery date. But at the time I was offered this truck, I was told that it was in transit and that an exact delivery date would be known by Feb. 17 and that it would be between Feb. 20 - 24.

But there's lots of things about which I know little or nothing. It might be best if I take a more Zen-like approach to this waiting game.

Just got an email from the assistant sales manager, Chase, saying he had just learned that the dealer delivery date is now Feb. 28 to March 6. For now my approach will be -- It will get here when it gets here.

 

I ordered my '17 in late august and it arrived in early December. that was actually earlier than the dealer anticipated. He had told me it could be several months. A friend ordered his in late march and got it a few days before I got mine. I was prepared for the wait so it was no problem. And we only live about 150 miles from the plant in San Antonio.

 

I was really happy I was able to order exactly what I wanted and waited a reasonable period of like a month or so. Then they gave me the same message as you and had to understand they were telling me what they knew and some details were out of their hands.

RZ Rob

 

One comment here from ME -- Toyota DOES NOT treat their "special order" customers properly! If a person is willing and patient enough to trust a vehicle manufacturer enough to order sight unseen, then Toyota should put special priority on these orders-PERIOD!

 

How does the truck do with 2 bikes in the back?

Tie downs hook up well?

 

Should do fine. I had 3 in my 15 longbed no issues.

 

Not getting the longbed but I will be driving the next few riding trips with the new truck

I should ride my bike to the dealer and ask if I can load it up in a bed