Dealership unable to order what I want even though I can build it online?

Hi everyone! Just made an account, this is my first post but have been lurking here for the past 8 months or so.

I'm in the market for a 2018 Tacoma Offroad manual (7545) in super white with premium and technology packages. I followed the great write up here when I began my search (https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/so-you-want-to-buy-a-tacoma.475482/). I contacted 50 dealers near me in Atlanta, GA and picked the dealer I wanted to do business with which is a state over in SC. That process took 4 or 5 weeks and placed my deposit with the dealer in SC on April 2nd, which was the last day for March incentives, so I could lock in my best price.

Fast forward 3 weeks to now and they're saying that they can't order what I described above. I've heard crap about Southeast Toyota in general, but this dealer seems to be working with me as best they can. They claim that Toyota keeps rejecting the order (they've placed it twice to my knowledge) for my truck and that is all they say. I can build the same truck I want online, on the Southeast Toyota website. I recall another dealer or two saying I couldn't get both packages but figured they were just trying to sell me something on their lot. They don't give a reason as to why it's rejected. The only thing I can come up with is that the manual transmission can't be built with both packages for the Southeast region, but I don't know why that would be the case. They said they can get me the premium without the tech, but I want both.

I found a 7545 in white with both packages a few months ago in northern Tennessee, exactly what I wanted, but turns out they had special ordered that for someone. Before they realized it was a special order, they sent me the spec sheet so I could verify it's what I wanted. To note, Tennessee is in a different region from the Southeast dealerships.

Does anyone have an idea of what may be going on here? Or any suggestions on who I can contact? May have to expand my search to states north of me to order what I want.

Sorry for the long post and thanks for any insight y'all may have.

 

Some options are limited to regions. A dealer can order pretty much anything if they want to....they just don't want to.

Also, they can buy from other dealers, if they want to.

Gotta try another dealer.

 

Hey there! Ya bud you just gotta keep on looking and get what you want don't settle!!

I had to order mine, went through countless dealerships via email phone in person all over. Got in contact with a fleet manager and he got me exactly what i wanted with fair price.

I got the off road 2018 dcsb 4x4 white with only the tech and prem package...(sunroof leather temp control jbl etc )

Just got to find someone willing to get what you want and not sale you what they have

goodluck!

 

Sounds like the dealer does not want to honor the incentives even though they took your deposit. You should be able to order whatever you want. I was doing the same thing at a dealership in Colorado this past weekend. I did not want to wait 6-10 weeks for delivery. Off-road with those options in manual are rare, so more than likely would be a special order.

 

Not to be cynical, but it's now the end of another month. I can imagine a sales manager telling a salesperson to get on the phone and convince people with deposits down to buy what they have, not what they want.

 

Keep checking with different dealers even if you have to travel out of State, 7545 with Premium and Tech is awesome!

 

to get what you want will require persistence. there are few MT's made, they are allocated according to Toyota Corp's sales goals but are not 'ordered' by individuals, dealers, or distributors. so they are divvied out how they are and you are in the right place & time or not... this is why it appears so inconsistent with these stories.

i was in a similar situation wanting a specifically outfitted MT. it took me being on the ball, planning waaay ahead (5.5 months), and being skillful with 2 different dealers and salesman to coordinate them to bring the truck to me, and it worked. but hey, for some it's super easy... just find it online and make a call. wasn't like that for me tho. good luck. be patient and persevere... the MT is absolutely worth the effort IMO.

 

"I can save you more on a truck I have here than if you order one."

 

This. I was told that the truck I wanted could not be built for my region, but my dealer was willing to work with me. They got the regional Toyota sales manager involved, and in the end they got the truck I wanted built for me.

 

Which works to your advantage if you play hardball. They have to sell you a truck, you don't have to buy one. Keep that mindset and you'll be surprised what kind of deal you can get.

 

You seriously contacted 50 dealers to make a deal? God I wish I had that much free time!

 

Not sure where you're located, but I ordered my Silver 2018 DCSB Offroad 6sp Manual with Premium and Technology packages from Peruzzi Toyota in Hatfield PA. It took about 10 weeks, but it was exactly what I wanted. Overall dealership experience was great (3 others I visited were varying degrees of terrible). PM me if you'd like the contact info for my salesperson.

 

Most salesmen dont even know that our trucks are available in manual transmission. Even more dont want to deal with the headache of having to put in a build request for your truck.

I was not going to be persueaded by them to get into an automatic truck.

I literally visited 7 dealerships, placed 2 deposits at 2 different dealerships, considered flying to Vermont (from Texas), and finally had to drive 5 hours away to get the truck I wanted (2017 DCSB Manual trans). You may have to do something similar, be very trusting and patient, or be very lucky to get yours.

 

Yeah, I know there are few MTs out there. Thanks for the explanation, just gotta play the long game it seems.

That's a great thing to keep in mind, thanks!

Yes, but I did it all exclusively through email and tracked everything in Excel. It was in fact time consuming but was trying to get some good pricing without going to a dealer or even talking on the phone.

I'm located in Georgia just outside Atlanta. I'll PM you about your salesperson, thanks!

 

Yeah, it looks like it may come down to this for me as well. I thought I was going to be able to get exactly what I want within 2 hours from me but looks like I'll have to expand my search. My current dealer is going to get one more chance before I pull my deposit.

 

My luck came through when someone who ordered the exact build i wanted didnt get approved through financing so the dealership listed the truck for sale on either cars.com or autotrader.com. I went down there and paid more than i wanted to for it, but it is TOTALLY worth it. MT>AT

 

How jacked up are you about the white? The exact truck you want is at Hendrick Toyota in Merriam Kansas, but it's in Cement.

 

Interesting, thanks for the heads up. Cement is the only other color I would consider, but would prefer white. May contact them and feel them out.

 

Good luck! I bought my 2017 there... they sure are great people.

 

Try a high volume Toyota store, they tend to have more flexibility with allocation