Lower Ball Joint

Counter point on this I have been ordering parts from them for 5yrs now for all my Toyotas and zero issues with Toyota parts deal. I will say I never had to return anything though.

 

So my order arrived today looking like this



2 LBJs, 2 UBJs, and 7 bolts. Bolts were rolling around loose in the box and bolt #8 fell out somewhere between Colorado and Florida. FML

 

Holy Hell! Was that from Colorado Springs Toyota? That's horrible. Damn! While they don't control the carrier they do control how it's packed. I'd call them on it (the missing bolt).

Looks like it was sucked into a USPS sorting machine lol.

 

Looks like it was sucked into a wood chipper. Guess that’s what $25 in shipping costs buys. They packed 4 ball joints and an open bag of bolts with nothing more than some craft paper to secure it in the box. Frankly, it’s not worth the effort of contacting them for a $2 bolt. From here on out I’ll buy everything from my local stealership and never use Toyota of Colorado Springs again.

 

My local dealer, for some reason, charges at least double on every part they sell vs what those parts go for elsewhere. And they won't price match.

Was looking at a TPS sensor for my 96 4runner, $55 at McGeorge...$60 at a dealer about 30 min away.

My local dealer - $120

its like they just don't want to sell parts or something.

 

Agreed on the packing. Maybe they had some new kid packing... either way it sucks. Can't stand that crap. USPS totally owns the exterior treatment though.

I feel the same way about Wheeler's, Trail Gear, All Poo, etc. Can't assemble a coilover correctly (not once but twice!), why the hell would I ever order from em' again?

Maybe order from McGeorge next time? Same coast, right?

 

McGeorge Toyota FTW.

 

My local dealership is Stadium Toyota here in Tampa. If I call their parts department I get ridiculously high prices. If order online from parts.stadiumtoyota.com the parts are about half of the over the counter price. Same dealership, same parts counter, half the price. For example over the counter the LBJs would have been $205 for one side and $250 for the other. Online they are $104 and $130. Same dealership same part counter.

 

^ this. I order a lot of parts this way from Toyota Of El Cajon.

 

One of the dealerships in my area does this or at least used to, changed owners and I haven't been there since. Anyway, I was in there getting some brake work done and saw the estimate. I looked up the same exact parts on their own site and they were half the cost. I called it to the service manager's attention and he said "Sorry, those prices are if you order online". I was going to order the parts and he says "Sorry, we can't do that. If we're doing the work, the parts come from a different bin".



Whatever. Stealership forever I guess.

 

Different bin = different column on the spreadsheet.

 

Yeah I get that but when your customer sees a literal savings of a couple of 100 bucks, well you do at least something to make them feel taken care of - if you want them to come back of course. After all, we're talking service department - money making part of the stealership. All good though, haven't been back nor ordered from them.

 

I completely understand what you're saying. But I've also worked in a company where we had different divisions and there were policies in place at the business level that dictated how parts and labor can pass between divisions. I would bet that parts sales to service departments are a bigger slice of the pie than direct-to-customer part sales. So, they policy lock inter-company-part-transfers at retail. Service then passes that full price onto you, and both divisions "win". It's not great when you can buy the part cheaper obviously. But I doubt the service manager can change that.

 

Right, I hear you and completely understand keeping the books straight with correct GL acct numbers, etc. No stranger to that.

What I was trying to convey is there are ways to keep a customer and make em' feel like you care. Doesn't mean fragging another department or policy. Doesn't happen every day either. I was just recounting what happened when I took the time to look up their online price and call it to their attention. Hell, if he tossed out a free detail of the truck I would've felt better. Guess it was the clear cut response of "I dont give 2 craps what you found online" attitude.

My luck, the detail would've scratched up something lol

 

Toyota. We screwed the last guy and passed the savings on to you.

 

Dose anyone happen to now what tap size to use to chase the treads in the steering knuckle?
I don't think toyota totally ran one of mine down as I always have one bolt that is super short because it bottoms out to soon.
Also check out the new hotness.

 

M10x1.25

 

Thanks a bunch!

 

lol, i shoulda changed mine. happened 1 hour ago. truck is at 240k, and they were replaced once at 100k...





Is there a list i

 

Oh FFS. Ouch. Sorry to see this. Count your toyota blessings, could've been worse. At the end of your post you mention a list, for?