1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Dealer inexperience

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by Frank Perkins, Oct 24, 2012.

  1. Frank Perkins

    Frank Perkins Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2012
    129
    66
    0
    Location:
    Fairfield, Connecticut
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    I live in CT and the incentive is only 3.5k as compared to 5k in Mass. I have been trying to negotiate a price on a PiP advance model and my trade in over the phone/email with a few dealers. Here is my experience

    Dealer A)
    • Did not know there was a Federal Tax credit on PiP
    • Great price on PiP (2301 below MSRP)
    • Screwing me on trade in (-3000 below what I want)
    • Taking days to get back to me. I'm ready to buy.
    Dealer B)
    • Keeps giving the 5k Toyota incentive as part of THEIR discount
    • Couldn't find pricing themselves, had to call manager. I can find pricing on their website faster.
    • Only 1442 below MSRP and didn't care if another dealer was 2301 below. Kept referring to 5k incentive and 0% financing as part of their "deal".
    Dealer C)
    • Was not aware of Advanced model
    • Had to call me back to see what pricing they had.
    • Still waiting... (update: emailed me pricing. Sent MSRP! LOL)

     
  2. ny_rob

    ny_rob Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2012
    1,968
    813
    0
    Location:
    L.I.- NY
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I feel your pain... If your gut tells you to walk away from a dealership- do it!

    It's a daunting task to buy a new car nowadays- you got to suffer a little bit- but hang in there... the reward (PIP) is worth it.
     
  3. Frank Perkins

    Frank Perkins Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2012
    129
    66
    0
    Location:
    Fairfield, Connecticut
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    I thought we were in a recession? lol. I guess not.
     
  4. Rav

    Rav Member

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2012
    92
    52
    0
    Location:
    San Jose, CA
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    I was also much more knowledgeable about my PiPA than the sales guy thanks to the Internet :)
     
  5. SJ PiP

    SJ PiP Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2012
    190
    35
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    me too... i guess they were excited i took a PiPA off their lot (before the massive TFS rebates!)
     
  6. raimix

    raimix Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2012
    204
    33
    0
    Location:
    Long Island NY
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    I thought PiP dealers were required to have designated trained PiP Salesman.
     
  7. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,156
    50,059
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    you're allowed to buy in mass. check out the dealers with the most on the lot. they will likely be willing to deal. all the best!
     
  8. lensovet

    lensovet former BP Brigade 207

    Joined:
    May 23, 2009
    2,614
    496
    0
    Location:
    Burlington, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2018 Tesla Model 3
    Model:
    N/A
    i second this advice. you're so close to MA there's absolutely no reason for you to waste your time with these clowns in CT.
     
  9. Frank Perkins

    Frank Perkins Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2012
    129
    66
    0
    Location:
    Fairfield, Connecticut
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Just to clarify, those dealers I listed are in Mass. For some reason, I can't get them to commit to a price without walking into the dealership. I had thought "Internet no haggle pricing" was just that. I'm going to have to make a trip up there to firm up the deal.
     
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    110,156
    50,059
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    if they won't give you an internet price, they are hoping to get you in and trap you. they don't know anything about cars, but they do know how to sell them. that's what they put all thier time and energy into. you have to be STRONG! or else take a friend with you who can help.:)
     
  11. wilsoncat

    wilsoncat Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2008
    7
    3
    0
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius c
    Model:
    II
    I too knew more about my PiP when I went into the dealer. Sad too....this is the guy I bought my 2010 and spoke to in 2008 before buying one at another dealer. He tells me that he just bought one for his wife but has no idea that it has no spare tire. He also didn't know that because of that, Toyota offers 3 years roadside and had to verify. He didn't know that the PiP came in a green color (Sea Glass Pearl) when there was a poster on the wall with one in that color. He didn't know about the $1500 teachers rebate that was being offered in NY. He didn't know that when you lease a PiP you do not get the federal incentive. I can keep going, but I like the guy so it didn't matter to me and I got what I wanted.

    All this was after he told me he went to a training class on the PiP.
     
  12. CharlesH

    CharlesH CA HOV Decal #5 on former PiP

    Joined:
    Nov 27, 2005
    2,788
    1,153
    0
    Location:
    Roseville, CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Those of us out West need to remember that New Englanders typically have several states within commute range, so "buying out of state" is not so far-fetched. :)
     
    Jaimison likes this.
  13. Dana Sion

    Dana Sion New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2012
    19
    1
    0
    Location:
    Hudson, New Hampshire
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Yes, but perhaps only ONE and they may be partly retired and only work Wednesdays for a few hours in the middle of the day(LOL).

    Seriously, the large brand new Toyota dealer(well brand new facility that is) near me in NH has one Prius expert and they admit it. They sometimes will message or call him if they have questions when he is out.
     
  14. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2006
    7,028
    1,116
    0
    Location:
    South Jersey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Does the Mass. incentive have a residency requirement? Read the fine print. Can you get quotes through a buying service like Costco or AAA?

    Personally, I wouldn't bother with those 3 dealers. There's something wrong with the picture if I have to work to get you to sell something to me. If you are hell-bent on buying from them then make them an offer, either they accept or move on.
     
    bshef likes this.