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Stories from the Sales Frontlines

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Comments

  • jayriderjayrider Member Posts: 3,602
    Most folks need to see what their buying re cars. The same is true for appliances. Our brains are hardwired for dealing. Too much emotion in the deal for the one price model to work. You could send uncle Vic to the car lot with the down payment once you decide what box on wheels you need to replace the old one with. Stay home in the lazyboy with a brew but you'll probably have to buy Vic lunch.
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,120
    boom....just read another Toyota report stating that they (assuming "they" means Toyota and their suppliers) have found a fix for the accelerator pedal defect. And, that they're sending it to the factories. Dealers are crying "foul" since they say Toyota should send the fix to them first so they can retrofit the stock they have on hand.

    Dealers are right. Yet, I'm sure Toyota wants the dealers to buy new, "improved" cars first to keep Toyota revenue flowing..

    Seems as if Toyota can't keep themselves from tripping over their own feet. If there's any group that's as important as the consumer who buys their products, it would be their dealers.

    Now, the dealers will have stock on the lot that they can't sell (at least not for awhile), paying floor plan on it, until they can order new stock from the factory, and wait until Toyota sends them new parts to do the fix on old stock.

    Sheesh! What a mess....all of Toyota's own doing.
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • boomchekboomchek Member Posts: 5,516
    No, sorry I meant to say that he told me the service dept is busy checking which cars have the defective parts, not actually repairing them yet, and busy with traffic from concerned customers.

    We'll see how this all turns out. I'd be cursious to see canadian black book values for Toyotas too when they come out next week and see if there are any huge price drops. Apprantley here at our auction nobody was buying Toyotas at all either since it's not known how this recall will affect their values.

    2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX

  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,723
    Hopefully, the dealership will find their sales folks other things to do, so they can keep them.
    A salesman I bought several vehicles from, said that one time, during a prolonged sales slump, the owner got them side jobs painting houses.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,590
    Re: My RAV4 rental, very nice of Budget. They say there cars are maintained well, so they don't think the cars will be affected. It must really worry people. It is like the stock market, when there is trouble prices go down and it is a great time to buy, so it is probably a great time to buy a new or used Toyota;

    We also want to reassure you that the affected Toyotas represent only a small percentage of our overall fleet, so we expect to be able to fulfill all projected demand and you can continue to make reservations with complete confidence for any rental occasion. Our fleet strategy emphasizes diversity so that we are able to respond to the full range of vehicle rental needs of our customers, as well as to reduce our risk from any issues arising out of any individual manufacturer.

    We further want to emphasize that only certain Toyota makes and models, in addition to the Pontiac Vibe, are affected by the recall. Those Toyota vehicles that are not affected will continue to be offered for rental; however, if you are uncomfortable driving a Toyota vehicle, we will make every effort to offer you an alternative vehicle if one is available.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • houdini1houdini1 Member Posts: 8,351
    My opinion is that you just enjoy stirring the pot and kicking Toyota and their salespeople while they are down. The various dealers are making a lot of money on service due to this issue as they are getting paid, the sales folks are not.

    2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460

  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,723
    Sounds like a free upgrade. Or you could ask them to pay for your wife's spa treatment that she needed to calm her nerves, after she found out you were driving one of the affected vehicles. ;)
    I'm really worried the Richard is going burn me about my sentence structure. :confuse:
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,590
    Sounds like a free upgrade.

    Yeh, they'll probably offer me a Smartcar :sick:

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,723
    Ok, you ramp it up a bit. "Thank you for acknowledging you rented me a potentially dangerous vehicle. I am very interested in how my family can be made to feel comfortable driving one of your rental vehicles again for the next month.
    Your informative email has been forwarded to my litigator." ;)
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    You are correct and that's exactly what the F & I manager said so no post-dated check.

    I learned in my law class that there is no law prohibiting post dating a check. There is also no law that says a bank can't pay on a post dated check.

    In short if you buy something by check and date in 01/29/2020 and the store puts it through the banking system it will cash just like you dated it 01/29/2010.

    I have even seen undated checks get cashed.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    Within 30 minutes from my house you can buy any car available in the US with the exception of Smart (closest one is about an hour to an hour and a half away). There is even a dealer selling Panoz nearby.

    There is one street that if you go down you will find almost every car available in a 10-12 mile stretch.

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,590
    Your informative email has been forwarded to my litigator."

    lol. Right now I am not too concerned. I do feel like putting a big sign on the front of the rental RAV4 that says, "Warning, be cautious if you are in front of this car - it could speed up and go out of control at any moment".

    I have read if the pedal sticks, ram the gear shift into nutral. You can also turn off the key, but i'll lose the power assist.

    I am so into R&R mode, that I don't feel like going to the airport and doing all the paperwork over again. I am more concerned with the loose sloppy steering...you really have to concentrate to stay on track. I liked the Outlander I rented a few years ago, much more than the RAV4.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    It is now snowing lightly here. To our horror, a revised forecast calls for us to get 6-12 inches with a 1/4 inch layer of ice. That's not much for some posters, but to us it is practically a death watch. They salted the main roads this afternoon. We just don't cope well here---snow tires, chains, large plows, etc. My wife and I have the cell phones charged, lanterns ready, gas logs, and food and water. That's about all that we can do. So glad that you missed most of the ice.

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    Our gas logs have an electrical fan installed in the stone fireplace just above the logs. I forgot that we won't be able to use that if the power goes. :sick: :cry:

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    I had a terrible thought yesterday. I was thinking about how I could ride through the Toyota dealership in my Chrysler convertible and shout, "That is what you get for treating me like a dog two years ago!" Then I thought about the families who depend on the salesmen's paychecks. Though the dealer, the SM, and the salesman weren't nice to me, there have to be some nice people working there. It would have been a heartless, vindictive thing to do. As you have said before, this situation could have happened to any company. It is a tragic state of affairs for many, many employees. Hopefully, things will work out for these dealers.

    Richard
  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,590
    , a revised forecast calls for us to get 6-12 inches with a 1/4 inch layer of ice. That's not much for some posters,

    Good luck Richard. 6 to 12 inches would even be a major snow fall in my area near Toronto. If the electricity stays on at least you can post.

    It is always amazing to me how we are so dependent on our modern conveniences, and how powerless we can be when nature gets extreme.

    Hope you come out of this one much better than it sounds.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,590
    As you have said before, this situation could have happened to any company.

    It can happen easily to any company because there is so much out sourcing, and competition for low bidders. This one sounds more like a design flaw though.

    It might be a good reason though not to buy a car from a company that couldn't withstand such a disaster. If it was Suzuki they might just go bankrupt, and couldn't be around to make repairs. Might be something to consider when buying.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    They are sending the fix to the factories first???!!! We have Toyota owners screaming at dealers and service people. Then management does this? How disgusting! It reminds me of AIG, Bank of America, etc. The big boys look out for themselves. :mad: :sick:

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    At the moment, I'm just happy that you are using capital letters! :P

    Richard
  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    I find it interesting that you no longer have to endorse checks that you deposit directly. I wonder why the policy changed.

    Richard
  • roadburnerroadburner Member Posts: 18,325
    So where's your neighborhood? I'd love to have a Mazda dealership like that around here.

    Same here, the Louisville Mazda dealers have horrible sales, service, and parts departments(at least they're consistent). Having to drive over 240 miles round trip every time that miserable Mazdaspeed 3 needed repair got old REAL quick.

    Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
    Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
    Son's: 2018 330i xDrive

  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,723
    driver, I am assuming you know I am just having some fun.
    have you checked the tire pressure in your RAV?
    i find that low pressure makes for very sloppy handling.
    all the car review mags are saying the RAV is the best small 'ute.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,723
    Richard, don't forget to take your explorer out in the snow and hang the the back out at about a 30 to 45 degree angle as you drive around the neighborhood.
    That's what I usually do, just to make sure it can still do it. ;)
    OK, I've been watching too much X Games, but there it a lot of truth in my post. :surprise:
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • jipsterjipster Member Posts: 6,296
    As you have said before, this situation could have happened to any company. It is a tragic state of affairs for many, many employees. Hopefully, things will work out for these dealers.

    Tragic yes. It's going to cost millions to Toyota, over what could be a simple and inexpensive part to fix the pedal problem. Human nature the way it is, no doubt there are many Honda, Nissan, Ford etc salesman and upper brass licking their chops over Toyotas misfortunes. What is Toyota's loss, will be their gain... $$$
    2021 Honda Passport EX-L, 2020 Honda Accord EX-L, 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, 2010 Mercury Milan Premiere.
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Richard,

    Batten down the hatches. It sounds like you are well stocked so just snuggle in.

    Got enough booze?
  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    >" as you read them.

    The "as I read it" was a colloquial usage just meaning how I read the situation!!!

    Am I glad I was able to think of something to explain my mistake!!!

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    >I feel sorry for Toyota dealerships in particular

    I have trouble sympathizing after all the games Toyota has played about earlier reports, years old, of unexplained acceleration.

    Also, I found Toyota's area dealerships to be really arrogant, especially one owned by a large family name around Cincy and it doesn't have a "W." I've always found that particular one, close to an airport, just plain snotty. It's amazing to be treated with respect as a customer at Acura and Mercedes stores who seem to realize old jeans and old car may mean clear checking account while a store pandering to the unwashed masses as does this one particular store has a pencil up its nose.

    If I really wanted a Toyota, I'd probably buy it at the store close to the Dayton Mall or Richmond, IN.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • mako1amako1a Member Posts: 1,855
    image

    2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali

  • mako1amako1a Member Posts: 1,855
    image

    2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali

  • mako1amako1a Member Posts: 1,855
    image

    2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali

  • mako1amako1a Member Posts: 1,855
    image

    2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali

  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    >That is what you get for treating me like a dog two years ago!" Then I thought about the families who depend on the salesmen's paychecks.

    I do feel sorry for people working for a living at the stores who aren't the snotty salespeople (and general manager) of at least one area toyo store. In our state having a job is a valuable asset these days with the 20% unemployment, and higher in my judgement.

    >this situation could have happened to any company.

    I would word that to say any company can have recalls and problems. Most companies would have paid more attention to them earlier in the knowledge of occasiona, random, or not-so-random acceleration events. Most companies would have found the fix earlier rather than attempting to make the problem events seem as innocuous as possible as long as possible. There is also the manipulation of the category of what kind of acceleration has to be reported by toyo to the government agency. They employed a person who had worked for the government who knew how to categorize the events of acceleration so as not to garner attention. There is an article posted or linked in some of the toyota acceleration topics here on Edmunds to that effect, complete with the person's name. Toyota has done this to themselves and their family of workers, partly to say the least.

    (the preceding paragraph has not been checked for proper format and grammar. Just read it and enjoy? If any errors are found, treat it like a Stuart Woods book. He says in a postlogue in most of his books that if you find an error someone else already wrote him about it!)

    I had to spend the day in the State House in Columbus, and so I am trying to catch up on 100s of posts, over 70 in this discussion alone.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,675
    I didn't remember if Richard64 said he was stocked up on bird seed. Hot chocolate and lots of bird seed, a great combination.

    Our big joy is feeding the birds during a storm. We have many feeders out normally and when the snows, sleet, and ice storms hit, we put extra seed out that's on top of the snow or clean off the regular feeders. Then we get the camera ready.

    Our friends near Nashville said they have 3 inches of snow today and sleet now. They also feed their birds.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • nyccarguynyccarguy Member Posts: 17,493
    Every Friday in The Daily News & The New York Post there are a lot of car advertisements - Mostly screamer ads. I noticed today that many of them headlined "No Sticky Gas Pedals Here" or "Toyota Trade In Center."

    I do feel really bad for these guys working at Toyota dealerships.

    I'm sure Toyota's reputation will take a hit short term. They're going to fix this & make it right somehow. Their sales will plummet for maybe the next 6 months to a year. Consumers forget very easily. Somebody used the analogy of people trading in big SUVs when gas was $4 a gallon. Very true.

    One of my neighbors is the General Manager of a Nissan Dealership. He buys most of his used cars at Nissan Auctions. This way if there are any repair or reconditioning necessary, his techs in the service department can fix it right. When gas was $4 per gallon, he was buying used SUVs for $4000 to $6000 cheaper than usual while he couldn't keep Altima Hybrids in stock. Gas went down eventually, he wished he had bought more used SUVs at rock bottom prices & didn't order so many new Altima Hybrids for the next year.

    2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD

  • oregonboyoregonboy Member Posts: 1,650
    If the deposit is made to the account of the payee (of the check), there is no potential for fraud. So why require an endorsement? It's all good. :shades:
  • tidestertidester Member Posts: 10,059
    I'm not sure what you did but it appears that you're including the actual source content of the images in your link rather than a URL address to the source file. Click on the help link at the bottom of this page for detailed instructions on how to post an image.

    tidester, host
    SUVs and Smart Shopper
  • mako1amako1a Member Posts: 1,855
    Sorry about that. I got the pics from an email sent to me and tried to copy them straight from the email (drag & drop). It worked on my end.

    The Benz one was funny. A guy had his hood ornament taken and fashioned his own from a coat hanger. Rough copy, but he wanted to display the Benz emblem real bad.

    2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,590
    I'm not sure what you did but it appears that you're including the actual source content of the images in your link

    makala just set a new record for blank posts. The record was held by oldfarmer after a rough day in the back 40.

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,590
    I got the pics from an email sent to me and tried to copy them straight from the email (drag & drop).

    M, It might take awhile but try to find the picture on google and try to search for the picture....then copy it from there.

    Good luck, hope you find it, sounds cute!

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • driver100driver100 Member Posts: 32,590
    i find that low pressure makes for very sloppy handling.
    all the car review mags are saying the RAV is the best small 'ute.


    The RAV4 is a big seller and people who own them love them. Lots of people comment on how much they like the RAV and tell me they want to buy one, especially because of all the room inside.

    I find the interior is all gray and plasticky. I have a feeling most buyers are younger people who haven't driven a car that is actually fun to drive. It does everything competantly, and the little engine hums along, but the car ain't got no soul.

    I think the car was made by engineers working to some formula, the car is not fun to drive. It gets you there like it was made to do, but getting there is not fun. There is no "love of driving" built into the RAV.

    I haven't driven an Escape, but I think I would like that more. And, I am sure the VW Tiguan would be a lot more fun.

    image

    2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250

  • sterlingdogsterlingdog Member Posts: 6,984
    "Got enough booze?"

    I hope that I can finish this post before the power goes. We can hear the transformers popping down the street. We're getting right much ice.

    Yes, the bar is well stocked. I made sure of that when we shopped. When we bought this retirement home three years ago, we were surprised to discover that it had the nicest bar at one end of the formal living room. During our initial visit to the house, we wondered why a double door closet was in the living room. Upon inspection, we found a bar with sink, cabinets, glass shelves, etc. My wife had the interior of the bar wall papered in a dark red and gold to match a set of champaign flutes that she likes to display. She also added a pretty light fixture for accent. My niece gave us a red teak wood serving tray with four decorative books on mixing drinks. My nephew gave us a set of cut glass high ball glasses and monogrammed wine stoppers. I'm set up in high style. It's a far cry from the old days when I kept my booze in two cabinets above the refrigerator. :D

    To Imidazol: We, too, are bird lovers. We have plenty of seed for the feeders. We are especially fond of the Humming Birds. Also, I see from one of your posts that you have a Toyota dealership like ours in your area. They must be kin to one another. As I have said before, it was the rude and crude treatment that made the experience worse than the actual sour deal. I shall never forget the salesman asking me at our meeting with the dealer and SM if I was a born again Christian. Talk about inappropriate! I won't share my response to him on this board.

    To Explorer (and to stay on topic): I am not about to take the Explorer out of the garage to play on the ice. I'll just take your word for the fact that it will do what you say. :)

    Hope everyone stays warm and safe.

    Richard
  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,120
    imid...there's really only a few dealership groups I won't set foot in unless forced to (like helping someone else buy from a place they prefer).

    Those are...

    -Kerry (I think that's the one you're referring to?). They have Toyota, Ford, Nissan, Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep maybe a couple of others. They're on both sides of the OH river in OH and KY. Always feel like I have to take a shower after visiting their stores. Every dealership cliche (most of them aren't good) defines them

    -Wyler....I believe he has Cadillac, Nissan, Honda, GMC/Buick, Chevorlet, maybe others. They're very practiced at the art of grinding their customers (which is probably why I've never bought from them......I don't grind). They used to use the ad tag line of "Cars, like eggs, are cheaper in the country". Indeed! The dealer principal is kind of.....ummmm......less than forthright. Met him a couple of times. Didn't cherish either of those times.
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    I stay far away from the grammar posts....but....

    " We're getting right much ice" ???

    Just stay wrm and safe.
  • jipsterjipster Member Posts: 6,296
    Wyler....I believe he has Cadillac, Nissan, Honda, GMC/Buick, Chevorlet, maybe others. They're very practiced at the art of grinding their customers

    The Wyler Toyota in Clarksville Ind. was a joke. They came down a whole $400 on a 3 year old Sienna with a seatbelt that looked like a cat had gnawed halfway thru it. How they would put that van up for sale without repairing an obvious safty hazard I still wonder about. When we asked about having it repaired, we really didn't get a straight answer. We walked without batting an eye.
    2021 Honda Passport EX-L, 2020 Honda Accord EX-L, 2011 Hyundai Veracruz, 2010 Mercury Milan Premiere.
  • snakeweaselsnakeweasel Member Posts: 19,592
    Consumers forget very easily.

    If thats the case GM still should be #1

    2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D

  • roadburnerroadburner Member Posts: 18,325
    there's really only a few dealership groups I won't set foot in unless forced to (like helping someone else buy from a place they prefer)

    In Cincinnati I won't go near a Jake Sweeney dealership.
    In Louisville the Oxmoor and Neil Huffman groups are off the list.

    Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
    Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
    Son's: 2018 330i xDrive

  • graphicguygraphicguy Member Posts: 14,120
    roadburner.....I've had good experiences with Sweeney, on both Chevy and BMW sides of things. It might have helped that I went to the same church as the late Jake Sr. and was acquainted with him. That said, people I know swear by "The BMW Store", too. Those are your two choices when it comes to BMWs around here, though. Sweeney does all of the service work on my Tahoe. They've always been good.
    2024 Kia EV6 GT-Line AWD Long Range
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    Yes, we changed tire suppliers
  • joel0622joel0622 Member Posts: 3,299
    I find it pretty amusing how allot of people were just loving beating the domestics into the ground when they were down and almost out. Now Toyota is tanking, having all the same problems the domestics had when they were trying for that prized #1 automaker spot. But in there case everyone is sure it is just a bump and they will be fine and it is not really that bad blah blah blah.

    Yes the precious imports are subject to failure also. If they would have just followed Hondas path and not worried about being #1 and stayed out of the truck business they would still be good to go.

    What are they up to now 10,000,000 cars recalled world wide?
  • wesleygwesleyg Member Posts: 164
    We had no main gas furnace for two days, waiting for new furnace to be installed. we used our gas fireplace in the living room and made it thru. The electric ignitor is broken in ours, but all you have to do is turn on the gas pilot and light it with a match, therefore if your electricity is out due to storms, you have a full working gas fireplace regardless.
This discussion has been closed.