Total Failure with PIP Preporder

it's solved

It appears solved.
He's going to get a car.
Regardless of where ANYONE thinks it came from, he's getting a car.
BTW: Moolman, and all - Erika's got THE crystal ball. It won't serve you to contradict her. And, she is working her rear end off to solve lots of communication problems between customers and Toyota and has been there for me 100% on every single issue. If she says the dealership failed to confirm or the client failed to confirm, it is what it is.

Yes, I'd have known folks hadn't confirmed or finalized. Lots of my buyers can attest to that - by the emails and phone calls they got about their order not being complete.

I'm smarter than the average bear and figured this all out in the heat of the moment, as emails started flying in without any names or car references, I realized what folks were seeing (in emails), and saw what I was seeing (the same vague references to a car being ordered) ... so a smaller store with probably less savvy folks or less training to the order process would have screwed up easily. I saw it in my own area. I probably picked up 25 or more extra orders just because the chosen dealerships didn't handle things right and folks flocked to me to make sure all was well. I'm sure it may have delayed a few cars for folks, but that's better than NO car at all.

It's to Erika's credit that she solved this. I'd thank her!

 

OMG - I agree!
I think a card from a business is very impersonal.
Some here do Birthday Cards online - the system reminds us to do this but the data is secure and inaccessible to the average guy!
But, I dislike them because of the impersonality thing.

 

While I'm glad it is going to work out for you Andy, and as I mentioned, there will definitely be cars after the online orders are fulfilled, I wanted to follow up and clarify some of what you're saying for those following this thread.

The reality is there was a problem with your order. The order number you gave me is an online order # and that order never went to final confirmation and was not scheduled to be built. Your dealer is going to get you a different car because as a company (corporate, where I sit, and in dealerland, where he sits, and everyone in between), we of course want you to get what you had thought you had ordered and get it as fast as possible.

I am sorry that you and others had a much less than ideal technical experience with the order site, we certainly were not aiming for that type of experience. That said, the info I provided you with was and continues to be 100% accurate. In the end, in working with the local office, your dealer and providing the order history, we, as a company, were able to find a way to ensure you will get a car when cars become available to that dealer.

Thanks again for reaching out to me and I'm glad things will work out.

Best,
Erica Gartsbeyn
Prius Product Manager
Toyota USA

 

Sorry to hear about the OP's woes and glad to hear that things worked out ok in the end.

FWIW, one of my former coworkers who was ordering his PiP November 2011 ran into troubles w/his local dealership (Toyota of Marin). They apparently were clueless.

Fortunately, he posted his woes on the Toyota Prius FB page and I saw it (and Erica should be able to easily see it ). I pointed him (on FB) to this subarea and eventually he found one of the Priuschat Certified dealers and things worked out ok.

Interestingly, the OP's troubles seemed to be be with Magnussen's Toyota and they're on the certified list. Oh well. YMMV.

 

I still don't quite get why there's such a rush to buy a car, any car, unless the old one is broken and a replacement is needed right now.

 

Pinto Girl, that is a very practical point of view which you express. And I assume that you never purchase a new dress until those you have are worn out and that you never take a bath unless you are really dirty.

 

I must assume that you were being sarcastic, because otherwise what you said is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever read on PriusChat.

[Getting excited about new things, in my mind, is a basic human characteristic]

EDIT: After thinking about it more, I think I was a little harsh. I, too, generally have been one to drive my car 'into the ground', driving it until it simply can't be fixed anymore. I now have a two year old daughter and my car is clearly nearing it's end. In Minnesota winters, I don't want to get stranded with her because of car problems. The timing of the PiP's release couldn't be better for me me because my car is dying (and will need to be immediately replaced if it can't go). I hope it lasts just few more months.

But still, most people buy things based on wants, not needs. Cars are no different except that they are much more expensive.

 

this just ain't ANY new car! we'll either be at the beginning of something big, or they'll be classics. either way, we win. and, isn't winning the only thing?

 

[/QUOTE]
But still, most people buy things based on wants, not needs. Cars are no different except that they are much more expensive.[/QUOTE]

A little off topic, but I don't necessary agree with that point of view; especially when it comes to cars. Now, mind you, for most people: needing a car - does not mean they left their last one on the side of the road; it is more a combination of things like they are worried it will break down, or that they want a car perpetually on warranty; couple this "need" with availability of an alternative (new model, "deal of the century", etc.)

Your sentence struck me as symptomatic of one of the problems we have as a society: "consumerism" to the extreme.

 

Let me rephrase:
The salesman, who is a real nice guy, sends us a personal birthday card. The insurance agency, sends us a form card. One of our favorite restaurants sends us a free entree coupon on our birthday month.
That's it i think. All have our repeat business, but not just because of the card. It's just kinda thoughtful; which added to $1 will get you a coffee at the QT convenience store.

 

People buy new cars for a variety of reasons:
1) Current car is dead or dying
2) Need an additional car in the family
3) Want something newer (offers more features, etc)
4) Current car no longer matches need/lifestyle

For myself, it's a combination of those reasons. One very big reason is to be able to get back into the commute lane here in California. My job location recently changed and has added 15 miles to my commute, which has added anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes extra commuting time. Being able to get back into the commute lane will be a huge help to me. Another reason is my son needs a second car for his family and wants to buy my current Prius from me. Also, my current Prius is over 7 years old and has 159K miles on it. Sure, it's still going strong, but I would like something newer and the fact that the PiP will get even better gas mileage is another huge help.

But I think the biggest reason a lot of us are in such a rush, as you put it, to get this car is because we're early adopters, we want to be the first on our block to get one of these, and we've just decided to spend between $33K & $40K on a car that most of us have never seen or driven. We're intrigued by the new technology and the benefits it will bring us. And it's a shiny new toy to play with.

 

Gosh, the slightly caustic replies to your question kind of surprised me.

I'd just say that depending on your upbringing, experience, and financial situastion, we're all over the road with this. Most of us Californians who commute and have had the HOV lanes since summer 2005 are spoiled. We want that privilege back ASAP. This is the way to get it without really compromising too much in regards to car use and money. I'll point out that this car, in many ways, compares to a Prius III now, albeit the PHEV has a few other extras that are nice ... but there is a $7,000 difference between sticker on a III and sticker on a base PHEV. For many of us, it's worth it. Tax credit $2500 Fed, State who knows what it will be, and, for many either all or half their commute using no gasoline at all. That's a perk for the planet too.
I think it's probably mostly about the HOV Lanes for CA buyers.
For some, it's just having the first PlugIn hybrid that Toyota's made.
For me, it's a little of all of those.
I can justify it any way I want to myself.
Luckily, I don't have to justify it to anyone else.
You are right, tho - depending on your experiences and upbringing, you view things differently. My mom is a child of the depression and cannot understand why I have TWO cars and why I am buying a PHEV when my own Prius is just fine. (She is in my old 2005, and has 120K on it now).

 

Wow how about this crazy winter we're having huh? A couple days of Winter and then back to Fall for 8 days.
Why do you ask such personal questions?

 

two cars

I have two cars.
I have often had two cars at the same time over the years.
With my commute, I need a 2nd car because otherwise, I'll run my Prius into the ground. Like the last one - because of the HOV stickers.

I'm only going to drive the new PHEV 5 days a week... M - F and the other car on the weekends. (No traffic usually on weekends!)

Hmmm. I wonder if anyone can guess what my car #2 is.
PS: if you're a Facebook friend, you can't answer this because you probably already know!

Di

 

vette?