Ordering a Tacoma? Am I getting the runaround?

I signed my purchase order on Jan 20. Salesman told me a 1-2 months wait until my truck arrives. No communication from the dealership those 2 months, so I show up on day 60 and simply say: "So what's up!?"

Salesman I worked with in Jan told me they searched the Gulf South region, then searched the midwest region with no luck on my particular truck requirements. That search wasted 2-3 weeks of time. He then told me it isn't expected to be built until April with delivery at the end of April.

Not a happy customer at the moment due to shit communication and shit time estimates by the dealership. The salesman actually tried to say the delay is on me because I wanted the JBL option and that was the only thing preventing me getting one from elsewhere faster.

OP: I'm in a similar boat as you. All I have is a copy of the purchase order. My dealership had nothing else to provide me related to the build.

 

Find a dealer that will maintain communication and can provide you paperwork on your truck that's in allocation before you drop a deposit. Make this a requirement up front for entertaining doing business.

 

You honestly should have not waited the entire 60 days to contact them, I usually text the salesman every couple weeks to track the progress.

 

Yea, I went to a dealership that has a rather good reputation all around, and was recommended by many I know. Lesson learned.

That is true. Life got busy, haha. Mardi Gras time and all during that time.

 

I contacted 20 or more dealers in my search for a new truck. I was told all kind of BS from alot of them from you can't order a truck to the options I wanted aren't available. I called them all out every time. Don't let them win it's your money get the best price you can. There will be a dealership that wants you business.

 

Do you end up paying taxes twice if you buy out of state, once for the state that the truck was purchased in and again in your home state?

 

No you pay the difference at most when you register in your home state.

 

If you buy it out of state and don't register in that state, then no. You pay where you plan to register. I've done this.

If you buy and register in the same state, then say move to another... you pay the difference if there is one I believe.

 

I got an explanation from the owner of Brownsville Toyota to the effect that the Gulf Region has to get their inventory from a distributor and the distributor decides which dealerships get what vehicles while the East Coast dealers are able to go directly toToyota. Just trying to rationalize what is going on.

 

Something seems fishy.

When I ordered my truck they detailed every option/configuration/color to ensure it was exactly what I specified. We went over the build sheet twice to make sure there were no mistakes. They wrote each of the package/option codes on the sales order leaving no room for misunderstanding.

I put down a deposit and they got to work. In a couple days they said they found one in allocation close to what I wanted but for the OEM tonneau and if I was good with it they would get that one and swap the tonneau off a truck on their lot.

Three weeks late I took delivery of exactly what I wanted, nothing more nothing less.

If a dealer refuses to be *specific* on the sales order for every option/package/color choice walk away even if they're the lowest price.

BTW, looking at the build configurator for your region (you said Virginia, yes? so I picked Roanoke just for something to get me in region) it won't let me "build" a DCLB 4x4 AT with P&T JBL in Silver Sky metallic. Seems odd, was the dealer able to do that config in their configurator and print you a build sheet?

 

Don't put up with that shit. Go to the sales manager, if you get no where with them go to general manager. Be polite express the issues you have with the sales dept. Don't wait for them to contact you either call or email them once a week they can check on the status of your order.

 

The first one I ordered I had them print out and sign by all the packages and options I wanted. Truck came 4 months later without a tow package, which was desired and signed for by them.

Turned truck down and then they found one in system with all my desired packages and options and they had it "routed" to them - a month later.

No clue why corporate won't streamline a straight forward ordering process. Pretty sure you can do that with Chevy trucks for an example.

 

It took me about a month to get my 2017 Blazing Blue off road. I didn't put any money down but I had a blank check from my bank.

The first one was being delivered an was taken from another dealership. I was pissed. Three days later my truck showed up. I took possession before any dealership add-ons. They wanted to put on a dealer security system.

The best part was I ordered a 2016 and a 2017 showed up. SCORE... It was the first one on their lot.

Side note...I would have changed dealers but they were USAA affiliated. I had a check for $55K to buy whatever...Crud should have bought the Vette