Dealer website

I did some research and checked dealer websites in a 1 hour radius of me to check inventory. I found a dealer about 80 minutes away that showed 10 '16 Tacoma's on their website. So my wife and daughter drove to the dealer today to look at a couple of them and to discuss pricing. I purchased my first Tacoma with this same dealer back in 2007. When I arrived at the dealer we drove around the lot and I was shocked to not see a single '16 on their lot. I parked out front and went inside to talk to a salesman. When he approached me he asked how he could help. I asked him to see one of the (10) ten 2016 Tacoma's they had on their website. He literally laughed at me and said "I don't think we have any Tacoma's in stock". I told him that I just drove over an hour away and they better have one in stock since their website shows 10 in stock. He said "Yea, I don't think the website is right" and conferred with 2 other salesman. He came back and said "Nope, we don't have any in stock". At that point I was furious. I drove 80 minutes one way to look at one of the 10 Tacoma's they had on their website.

After I got home I sent an email to the dealer asking how they can conduct business this way. First to list 10 vehicles on their website that they don't even have and also to have a "professional" salesman actually laugh at me when I ask to see one. I actually got both an email and a phone call (a couple hours later) with a formal apology. His explanation was that the website lists the vehicles as "In Stock" or "Available". If it's "in stock", it means that it is either on the ground at our dealership OR in it is in freight status on it's way to our dealership. If it is "available". it means another Toyota dealership (within trading distance of us) has it on their lot or in freight coming to them. I went back and I can now see the status listed as either "Stock or Available". To me they mean the same thing but I guess to a dealer they mean something different. Although neither status means they have one on their lot.

They blamed the website situation on Toyota saying that they don't have control over the website that is managed and ran by Toyota. To me that is 100% horse crap. To me "available and In Stock" means the same thing. I wasted over 3 hours driving there and back to not see a single vehicle.

Any other dealers have a website managed by Toyota and have this same issue? To me this is 100% crap.

 

This happens when dealerships are owned by large companies. They list all of 'their' vehicles on all of their websites. AutoNation does this around here. They own 61 dealerships and Hamer Toyota shows that they have 58 Tacoma's 'on their lot'.

I look to see if they have true pictures to know if they have it on their lot. A stock photo from Toyota means they do not have it. Call or email them before you get there. Ask them IF THEY HAVE IT ON THEIR LOT for you to look at. I am currently speaking to 35 dealerships awaiting my truck

 

That is the way they do it in GST...

 

their website and their internet department only exists to get you ON THE LOT. They will only sell things on the lot. You can talk to an internet salesperson for many weeks and when you get there, you will deal with a salesperson, not the internet guy. Always call to make sure they have what you want. If they lie to you and you get there an they don't have it, then make it work in your favor.

 

I left without purchasing anything. That certainly didn't work in their favor. I don't plan on working with them for my 2016 purchase either.

 

No photos of actual vehicles. I believe the website said "photo coming soon" or something like that.

 

But the website made you visit their lot. It served its purpose. Maybe they hoped you would buy a Sienna or something while you were there and very mad. Did anyone offer to sell you a Sienna?

 

In fact it recently happened to me.

I researched, found exaclty what I wanted, CALLED the dealership (Chuck Hutton Toyota at Shelby and I55 in Memphis, TN) to ensure it was on the lot and was told:

"it's here, you can drive it home today"

only to drive 55 miles ONE WAY with an older handicap person and then be told, it's not exactly what you were looking for... This after I was very specific.

I wanted a 2015 Camry XLE in white over almond and the 2.5 i4 equiped with the advanced tech package. They had a black over black 2016 Camry XSE V6 with the tech package...not exactly the same. I told them to get fucked. Called Toyota and then got a call back from the dealer...saying so sowry...I had bought there before too.

As of last week I added one (what I wanted) to the barn to keep the T4R company from a different dealership (Oxford Toyota in Oxford, Mississippi)...of course.

 

Same in the Southeast...When you build a truck the site shows how many are allocated to the local dealer(s) and what date they are due in AS WELL as ALL the trucks with VINS in Southeast Toyota territory. normally if you see a real picture of a truck it is likely in stock. Otherwise assume its not.

You have to know how to read the website and disclaimers. Calling first would be a great idea. If you tell the dealer you are coming today to buy a truck he will have to tell you it's not available or what is available

 

Good for you (telling them to go "F" themselves). Dealers should be held to a standard that is above 3rd grade. Just bringing them into the dealer hoping that you will buy a Sienna is childish and very immature. Some of us have better things to do with our time than to chase down dealers who have a runny nose.

 

The manager started off blaming the computer system too until I told him I had spoke to a specific saleswoman.

I further told Toyota, I'd buy a used Yugo before I'd every buy a Toyota of any type from that dealership. When I received my emailed customer survey from Toyota on the Camry I did purchase, it asked if I had shopped at other dealers and if so, why I didn't buy there...I gave them an ear full. I'm sure it will have zero results but, it sure made me feel better.

 

Unless you're Chuck Hutton Toyota in Memphis...

see above.

Sorry for the vent and thread jack OP.

 

It states on the website "If status is "Available" then the vehicle shown is not currently in stock. The vehicle can be obtained from the manufacturer or some other source. Please call for availability.

The problem with that disclaimer is that they show 2 of their vehicles as "in stock" which would mean they have them IN STOCK which obviously not the case.

 

Shows two in stock and 8 available...

Fine print leaves one to believe unless it states "available" than they have it on the lot for sure.

 

Exactly.

Listen - I received a call from the dealer manager. He explained to me and apologized at least 10 times and admitted at least that many times that the website sucks and admitted full responsibility. I asked him what the difference between "In stock" and "Available" meant and he admitted that the two terms are very confusing. I then asked him where the 2 vehicles were that were classified as "In Stock" and he said they weren't there. So again, he screwed up. He admitted it. So while some of you guys are trying to give him every reason to get out of his responsibility, he accepted full responsibility in the mistakes on his end. He even said that I shouldn't have to call to verify stock on hand.

 

Must be the company line man. Sounds almost exaclty like what I was told until I had names, phone calls and emails to back it up.

 

My loss is this discussion with you. No matter how much evidence and facts I give you it is my fault. Not the dealer. Even after the dealer admitted the problem accepted responsibility you fault me as the problem. You tell me that "I obviously don't know the business" etc. The business if the dealer shouldn't be to misinterpret, mislead, lie or screw over a customer. They were doing at least 3 out of 4 of those. You want to give them a pass, go ahead. I read the disclaimer unlike you reading the posts discussing the conversation that I had with the dealer. I would be more than happy to post the entire email that he sent me if that helps you but I don't think it will.

 

Very mature. Grab a beer for yourself and avoid conversations that actually involve an IQ above outside temperature. You posted on this topic to do one thing, bust my balls. You lost... After all the evidence is put out you still back the side of the dealer after THEY admit that they screwed up. My question wasn't if the dealer screwed up. That was obvious when they admitted it to me. The question was how many other dealers pull this shady crap.

 

You're wrong again.

http://hilandtoyota.calls.net/new-toyota-tacoma-moline-il
They list 2 Tacoma's in stock. I called - They have 2 in stock

http://www.smarttoyotaquadcities.co...ius=false&showSubmit=true&showSelections=true

They list 1 Tacoma in stock. I stopped by - They have 1 in stock.

So yet again you THINK you know everything but you are far from that. Two dealers close to me don't pull the same shit that Iowa City Toyota did.

Go get your beer now....

 

Still stuck on the fine print BS huh? Did you miss the part where I told you that I called and they have 2 on the lot and they list 2 on their website?