Do (or should) Toyota dealers provide courtesy charging for Toyota Primes and Plug-ins?

Thought I'd throw this out there.

Dealership my brother works at has taken away the public's use of their charger when it wasn't being utilized. I guess it's the 3rd "bad" argument in the last few weeks. This time it wasn't an owner vs the dealer - but rather between two other people who wanted to use it at the same time.

But the owner was over it... Can't say I blame him.

Any of you run into this?

 

I'm not sure I understand.
Are you saying in the first sentence that the dealer removed the charger, or restricted it's use to the business?
3rd "bad" argument?? Are the 'arguments' normally between the dealer and a customer???
If the dealer has a higher demand for the charger, it seems to me a small price to pay to bring customers inside, why wouldn't they expand and add a charger or two?

No, I have never heard of such a thing happening.

 

Because then only a 3rd (or 4th) low battery case needs to roll up before they're again hosting a dispute in the parking lot.

With more disputes trending towards lead propulsion ceremonies, I can't say I fault them for terminating the service.

 

As much as I would like to disagree...I can't. Imagine a current situation where only a few cars get access to free gas. Can you imagine the lines, arguments, and fights to get to it? That will be the situation long term if people keep putting in free stations.

 

On my cell here, so please forgive any misspellings.

The dealer has made the charger for use by the business only. Previously anyone, even non customers could use it.

Arguments were between public and dealer. Public apparently wanting to use it when the dealership was using it for a customer and getting upset about it being tied up. This last argument however was between two people wanting to charge up. The two nearly came to blows from what I was told.

Why expand and have more people show up? If you’ve ever been there you’d see they just pull up, plug in, get free coffee then leave!

If they actually got a tire rotation, brake service - anything maybe it’d be worth it. But I think they did the right thing and just took its use away. Can’t play nice then you won’t play at all as my mother used to say.

 

Thanks, that makes more sense to me.
I still disagree, but I’m not ‘on the ground’ there.
It just seems to me, if you have a way to bring in potential customers, who then stay in your place of business while their car is charging, you don’t need every one to buy an oil change. If one of them buys a car in the future, because they were comfortable at the dealership, that makes up for a lot of charging.

The arguments or fights are unacceptable, I agree with that.
If they are free chargers, seems removing the free aspect (except for business use) would resolve most of that.
Again, most businesses would love to figure out another way to bring in potential customers.

It is a completely different mindset.
First, the anology doesn’t fit well. People don’t have a way to pump gas in their garage. Getting gasoline is very limited, and in most areas of the country, gas is much more expensive than electricity.
I do agree with you about the ‘free’ aspect though. I don’t think free chargers are appropriate in many situations.
However, businesses us ‘free’ items in limited quantities all the time, to bring in customers. So it can be advantageous, if done correctly.

 

^ From a certain point of view, that dealership built themselves a Black Friday Walmart doorbuster that could potentially function 365 days a year. I completely understand why they want to change or remove it.

 

I like the middle ground idea that businesses charge a nominal fee, about the price per kWh similar to what the local utility would charge.

The business would never recoup the material, labor, and upkeep/repair costs, so this would still be quite generous on their part. Visitor squatting would be minimized. Still many would be happy for the affordable charge as a matter of convenience and likely to pop into the business, some who would likely spring for a big purchase down the road. Win, win.

 

No, no! This is ridiculous! I bought my Prius prime just a week+ ago, and it comes with full tank of gas and fully charged! I reside in Canada. And that’s I expected to get when I decided to get a car. This is my fourth car I bought in Canada and previous cars all came with full tank of gas!
However, when you are “happened” to be in the neighbourhood or came in for service, then I don’t expect they will charge up your EV or PHEV, but it will be much appreciated to retain the customer!

 

LOL ... I thought I was doing that today with the single digit weather and snow and ice on my front and back windshield/window !!! ... But I came back less than 15 minutes to a totally dead vehicle.... not a happy camper... but apparently it doesn't stop the heated seats from working... not sure how that could even be possible... but it was the only thing that was still showing as lit up so guessing they were still heating up... Also, how does one properly "PRE-CONDITION" their vehicle with success? Hopefully for future reference! TY!

 

Because dealers are legally mandated by laws in many states that require the sale of responsible vehicles as a prerequisite to selling garbage trucks, and land barges. Thank God for California and other compliance states.

I'm sorry but most of my neighbors have no inkling of the benefits of electrified cars. They don't even consider EV powered cars; they know nothing about them except what I profess. Remember, there are NO ads for Primes, and very rare ads for any kind of hybrid. They're into ICE everything: trucks, SUVs, Mustangs, Hemis, and the less frequent Civic (the kids). And this is in supposedly enlightened California! Har, har!

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
AChoiredTaste.com

 

Oh, when I got my new plug in Prime, they used my cord ( yes they unpack it with part of plastic wrapping intact) to charge my car. And it’s fully charged when I left the dealer!

 

nice! you may have been the first!

 

I appreciate this is an old threat but I have owned a 4 year old Toyota Prius for 2.5 months, (also previously bought a Toyota Auris 3 years ago and had it serviced with them) transferred my service plan from the Auris to the Prius with my local Toyota dealership and discussed with the lovely service desk receptionist at the time if I can use their chargers. "Of course you can whenever you are passing. Feel free to pop in for chat and a coffee." Great customer service. Fast forward to late this afternoon and I've just been very agressively told off by either the managing director or the guy who thinks he is, "“You’ve been observed parking here. We have to pay for all the electricity that is used. You are only allowed here to charge your car when you are having it serviced. I want you to unplug your car and leave now.” Customer service skills in minus figures, clearly having a bad day but don't take it out on a customer
I wouldn't have minded if they had mentioned some sort of fair use as I have used their chargers 5 times in the last 2.5 months, a total of 3 charges at 50 minutes and 2 charges at 30 minutes. Needless to say I'm cancelling my service contact and It's really soured my ownership of the car, can't fault the car, but can't see me keeping it now as theres no other Toyota dealership for over 100 miles, the three nearest are all owned by same business.

 

Even the Jeep stealer-ship out here in the boonies now has a charger L2 EVSE (aerovironment manufacturer) - but it's usually ICE'd - & once they close at night? It's all locked up - just like most other stealer-ships.
.

 

That is a story that needs to go directly to the head of that dealership.

 

Include the electricity cost of charging for an hour.

Bob Wilson

 

never ask a receptionist for advice

 

Yeah, the relationship with a dealership is important for our royaltiesto the brand. If you are treated well at a dealership, you are more likely to become a repeater... but I understand if you don't have other choices of a dealership, then I guess, you have to move on. I live in an area where I don't have many dealership choices. Therefore, I never make my car purchasing decision based on the dealership's customer service. If I did, I probably have to buy online without ever dealing with dealer service. But, then again, there will be a time I have to use a dealer service for warranty repair or other services. So, I just pick a car based on the car and the value it provides, not based on the dealers.

 

I find receptionists typically are some of the best people to talk to