Toyota Employees Not Knowing Anything About Their Own Products... Again...

I just called my local Toyota Dealer to get a price on a TRD Skid for my Sport.

Needless to say the parts person was clueless about anything related to the truck.

Parts: How can I help you?
Me: I would like to get a price on a TRD Pro skid plate for a 3rd Gen Tacoma
Parts: ummm, what's a 3rd Gen?
Me: 2016-2018
Parts: Oh. One second... So is it an aftermarket part?
Me: No, it's the stock skid that comes on the TRD Pro models.
Parts: Oh ok, what's the difference? Does it say TRD Pro on it or something?
Me: It has TRD embossed on it, aluminum, it'slarger, provides more protection and not thin sheet metal like the other models.
Parts: Oh ok... Ummm... I have a picture here. I found it $550.
Me: Thanks, have a good day

This isn't the first time I've called about parts and them not having a clue and me having to explain it to them.

Sad really.

Anyone else have issues like this?

 

in my humble opinion, the truly appalling part of that story is the price he quoted you for the skid. That sounds outrageous.

 

Sounds about right. I shake my head at all the dealers that list TRD Pros online for sale and they’re clearly not pros.

 

Totally understand.

I have TRD sport because two different dealerships told me there wasn't a difference in the OR and Sport anymore, just firmer and softer suspension. I could get the Sport in a manual right then right there.

ARB locker solved that.

 

Its not Toyota. Its dealer employees. Gotta do your own research go avoid getting stuck in the bootyhole.

No one cares, like you do.

 

Toyota dealers are hit or miss. They aren't employees of Toyota so it's a matter of how much training and education their dealership owners want to do. I assume Toyota wants certain things done to keep a franchise but I don't know to what extent they care.

 

Just order the parts online, what are you wasting your time calling those asshats for.

 

How about this, next time the get
the part #
the year of the car/truck you want
Model you want
Parts guy not mind reader they dont know what you want

 

My local dealer said no rebate because it excluded TRD Pro. I explained I was buying a TRD OR which was different. There are few Tacomas around Metro Detroit for some reason. Fewer back when I got my 09. Hard to know the product when you don't sell all that much of them.

P.S. good job Ford on discontinuing the Ranger and dragging out the introduction of the new one. Toyota thanks you.

 

I’m picturing

 

Found to be a pretty common occurrence. I like the OEM blades and just replaced the rubber inserts. Only took a parts person 3 tries to get the right one for the driver side!

 

This is unfortunately the new norm. we live in the information age. and believe it or not, just because you and I spend obsessive amounts of time understanding our trucks, other people do not. including dealers. when I bought my truck, I knew every fricken option available before hand and how much invoice cost was. My sales guys didn't even know the difference between OR vs Sport.

It is what it is... just assume the worse, and use your knowledge to your advantage.

cheers.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/camelback-toyota-discount-for-tw-members.207298/page-6

ask Gunny or Jorge

 

Did he install it or you?

 

Being a good parts department guy is just being a good salesperson. Some people got it, some don't.

 

This happens on all manufactures not just Toyota, about 15 years ago I walked into the parts department to get an Oil filter for my car.

Parts guy: Can I help you
Me: Yes, l need an FL1A and 2 drain plug gaskets
Parts guy: Can l ask why you need 2 gaskets
Me: Because there are 2 drain plugs...
Parts guy: No there isnt!
Me: Yes there is
Parts guy: Dude.... your gonna drain the transmission pan
Me: Dude.... My car is a Manual
Parts guy: There are not 2 drain plugs
Me: YES there is, please look it up on the computer
Parts guy: Computer system is down
Me: Please give me the filter and gaskets so I can go.

 

So, do you remember how many quarts it took to refill your transmission after taking out both plugs??

 

It is a double hump oil pan to clear the K Member, so it has 2 drain plugs.

 

Having worked in a few dealerships, parts guys are always odd. As in life, knowledge is power. The guy I bought my truck from had minimal paperwork to do and very few questions to ask. I made it easy not just because I'm also in sales, but because I knew exactly what I wanted.

 

Me, whenever I walk into a car dealer or Lowe’s Depot...