Well I bought the 2012 Prius 4 at a good price in the color I wanted (sea glass pearl). Evidently they hadn't reached their quota for the day, so I think I got a deal. But when I questioned the $598 add on for the coupons (grocery, maintenance, etc.) they said that I had to get it & I would be sent $600o worth of coupons. Did I forget to mention when I got the so called "Customer Care Package" a few days later it said I had to pay $14.95 get the coupons downloaded. What a rip off. In my euphoria over the new car I didn't press the issue, thinking ok I could use the coupons. Just wanted to know if anybody else got the "Package"?
This has to be the newest ripoff from a dealership I have ever heard of. Some dealers prey on the euphoria of getting a new car, and not to mention the beating in getting the deal done - that some will not walk over issues like this. Sort of like Koons Tysons Toyota in Virginia having a $499 processing fee. The problem is that we as consumers are so used to "beating" the dealer in getting our car at the lowest price possible. Forgetting that a relationship of those that we buy from can be important as well. I learned that in my VW from Stolhman in the Tysons area. In the end I struck gold in walking from Koons and going to Carmax Toyota Laurel. A no hassle trade-in that was $2k to $4k over what Koons offered (walked that Sunday night Koon's lowball trade). I was prepared to take a 2011 from Koons, but ended up with a 2012 from Carmax for just a $1000 more! $24.8K was out the door - all fees and taxes and such - before the trade! If it weren't for my bank, I would have been out the door and back home in just a couple of hours.
That's a load. You should return them, tell them no, holler, call government agencies, tell them you'll buy full page newspaper ads, and for sure you're going to publish this story, with their full names, in " Don't buy from this dealer" articles that you'll publish on PriusChat and everywhere else on the Internet. There's a Dealers and Pricing section here for you to post your story.
Surprising thing on my case is that as much as I have posted negative things of how Koons Toyota handled things in my trying to buy from them here on priuschat, I have not heard a peep. One would think that a "super" dealership would have someone looking at the web and social media. While not up to some of the stories others like the OP have had, not good IMO that Koons seems to be so big here as not to care - even to try to have me try them for the free service - other than automated mailing so far.
The dealership that i went to today to test drive the 2012 prius iv also had the "customer care package" as well, which added on $1195 to the msrp. tinted windows nitrogen tire air some paint coating (not sure what its called) fortunately, no coupon fee was included. i m guessing that this is another way for them to make more $$
Start with the BBB and a letter to the owner that you don't want the package and want your money back. I'd be making a lot of noise for something I didn't want.
i found out that the $598 was a dealer processing fee & they started the "customer care" thing as a way to give back something to the customer. What a joke!
Have you received your Toyota new buyer survey yet? If not, be sure to mention to the dealer that you intend to rake them over the coals for ripping you off. Don't talk with your sales person. Call the customer satisfaction representative. My dealer, Olathe Toyota, hit me with a $299 administration fee. I was verbally told the fee was for my title and registration. Instead, I received a Statement of Manufacturer's Origin - in essence a do it yourself title kit. I raised a stink with the customer service representative and the dealership office handled the title application and registration process. I still had to pay the registration fees and taxes, but at least I received some value for the administration fee. Go for it. $600 ain't chump change to me. Tom
Sadly in most states these are admin fees that are OK by their consumer law. It takes a strong buyer to stand up to unfair fees and walk away from the deal or have the dealer "blood money" credited back towards the purchase price. There are fees that one can not escape in buying a Toyota, the advertising fee and transportation. Most anything else is on the table.... The educated consumer will win in the end.... A few years back my sister was looking to buy a GMC SUV , used the online tools to show her the best price she should ask for. She was waiting to get her new ride delivered, and an identical model was next to hers. Another gal was looking at it and asked the sales guy according to my sister what it would cost, the sales guy told her the sticker price. She said ok... Even though I got my sister down to invoice and rebates - not to mention dealer hold backs that were more easily seen back then....
