Toyota Smartpath, anyone use it? Will it work to get a MSRP Tacoma?

I am in the process of buying a Tacoma through SmartPath and thought I would share my experience. I went online and shopped via SmartPath and the closest truck I could find was a 9 hour drive from me a couple states away. Why so hard to find a basic, 4 door, short bed SR with little to no options? Because I want a 6 speed manual. Anyway found a left over 2024 new, discounted by the dealer just over $2k.

So I clicked add to my cart, and went to check out. I chose the finance option, filled out a credit app and was instantly approved. BTW, to the question, "How would you like to complete your purchase?", online or in person? I chose "ONLINE". So after my credit approval, the site informed me someone from the dealer would be contacting me to finalize the paperwork and I could pick up my vehicle.

Next day a kid in sales texts me, "I see you are interested in a Tacoma, when would you like to come in to view the vehicle". I told him I live far away and was purchasing online via SmartPath. He says, oh the manager has the SmartPath info so he would get with him. Later he starts texting questions about financing and down payment. I did all that in SmartPath, so I asked, "Do you not receive that info from SmartPath"? So he gets that info.

Then the run around really started. I needed a credit app filled out via them for their records, I had to come into the dealership to sign documents, etc. I let them know how Toyota describes the ease of shopping from home online, and that if I could not buy it that way just forget it. They really wanted to get me in there and try to sell me a warranty and thousands of dollars worth of paint protection and lifetime care on dings, dents, stains, etc, etc. or they didn't want to sell it.

So I called Toyota Customer engagement and laid out my complaints. They got involved and now the paperwork is in the works, and they say my truck has a sold tag on it, and it is mine.

We shall see if I end up with it, and without any more shenanigans.

Dealers do not have to participate in SmartPath and offer up their inventory, and some don't. So as I said to the dealer and Toyota Customer Engagement rep, "If you don't want to sell your vehicles online via SmartPath, then don't offer them there".

This dealer, and I suspect most dealers are just trying to use it as a lead generator and then work you like any other internet inquiry. This is why dealerships as they currently operate are unsustainable. Tesla, Rivian, etc sell direct to consumer, no hassles, no haggling and that is what the younger people today expect to buy things. They want to go online and shop and buy,and pickup or have delivered, no BS.

BTW, I have been in the car business several times, including being a licensed dealer as a side hustle, and my last gig was a year selling at a large Toyota dealership. So I know the game, and the game is played out. It's a relic of the last century and unnecessarily excessively crooked. The dealer franchise model has got to have major reform or it will kill the companies that stick with it.

 

I also suspect that this is generally the case.

Some Smartpath dealers show their discounted price in Smartpath. Trade-ins are their wiggle room, but it doesn’t matter for a straight sale. A couple of dealers use KBB as their trade offer (which is usually reasonable), some use Trade Pending (which lowballs).

The weirdest thing is when the Smartpath has the vehicle at MSRP, but the dealer’s site shows discounts.

 

Sounds like similar experiences I've had. I had to call quite a few dealers and ended up driving quite a bit to get what I wanted at MSRP and get numbers finalized BEFORE i drove 8 hours so they cant try hardball me with some warranty or protection crap.

Vast majority, smartpath or not, did everything they could to avoid doing any actual dealing on the phone. they want to put you into high pressure scenarios.

 

I had the opposite experience. 3 fair offers accepted over the phone.

Anyway, I use “paint protection” or “nitrogen” as a guide. Any dealer with that nonsense added on is going to be a pain. Same with in house lifetime warranties.

San Antonio was horrible for that. One even tried adding $1500 for delivery (on top of the fee on the sticker). I laughed and got a little salty, they got offended and I laughed some more.

None of the dealers around here even try that. It wouldn’t be tolerated and they’d go out of business.

 

Around here I use "PULSE" as my guide for judging which dealerships to avoid. No way I'm paying $400-$500 for a $10 part that makes the third brake light flash. Early in my search for a 4th gen I was ready to sign papers at MSRP but the dealer refused to remove the $400 Pulse charge. I walked out on the sale. They called me for weeks after trying to save the sale but I was done with them and found a better dealer without all the BS.