My super white came in today - only 1 problem - it's not super white My sales rep called me today and left a voice message. He said he had good news for me. I called him back and he said that the super white I had a deposit on was somehow re-allocated to another dealership and he was not able to get it from them on a trade. He said that a silver pine mica was there now with the bisque leather interior I had wanted in white. He said I had to make a decision and fast because there were people waiting to buy it if I didn't want it. I was pissed. Not only was my Super White not there they were now rushing me to make a decision after having taken a deposit and told me it would be in by end of May. I told them to give me my deposit back. I really would not be happy with the Silver Pine Mica color. I did like the bisque leather interior which I was supposed to get in my super white but no offense to the fine people that own SPM prii - SPM to me is the least appealing color in my opinion - so much so that it may cost me another month or 2 for an 08 or longer if I decide to order an 09 in June. Also more than the wrong color - I didn't appreciate that they wanted a decision in 1/2 hour after committing to me already and screwing up. If there were so many people looking at that car, there'd be no problem waiting for me one more day to take a look at the car and decide. If they had a waiting list why would people in the showroom without deposits have a crack at this vehicle before those on the list. I can't believe that there were no deposits already in place for a SPM colored Prius. I'm guessing that those on the list are getting 'sold out' - (probably because the deals made on the waiting list were not as lucrative as the customers in the showroom willing to pay MSRP.
I guess I won't be so quickly joining those others who are already 2 prii families. At least I have my wife's magnetic grey to tool around in the evenings - she's usually asleep before 8 PM.
Make sure the next time you buy a car you first get a new sales rep. To be honest, were I in your position, I would have asked which the "other" dealerships was and gone to them to get the car. IMHO, had you told the salesman that, he might have responded differently. Tom
IMO, it's pretty common to get sales critters to try and pressure you to decide ASAP. That said, the Prius is definitely in hot demand now, and I guess the dealers/sales critters can afford to tick some people off. Yeah, stick with your color choice if that's what's important to you.
Stick with the color you want regardless of pressure. IMO, most (if not all) of the car dealers are ALWAYS over-promise and under-delivery. The hardest part for them is to make you leave a deposit first and then work you up to get what you don't want/need and whatever they've in stock. If you feel they don't have intentions to work with you for buying the Prius you want, time to hop to another dealer or through the Internet.
Thanks to all for your supportive comments ! A disappointing and aggravating day but by no means the end of the world. I've pretty much been to the end of the world and this doesn't even show up in my list of top ten. I know I'll get the combination I'm looking for and have no shortage of patience - just have to pay more than necessary at the pump for a while - oh well.
If the color does not appeal to you, it is worth waiting for the white to be available. Have them put it in writing...for your peace of mind....Make sure that the dealership will not do the same thing all over again.
I would not have taken anything but a Super White (Federation regulations). I waited a week or two (a year or go) and am glad I did. Hang in there. All sales weasels will go to hell.
I think you did the right thing to take your deposit back. Not because the car was the "wrong" color. One gets used to a different color. But because of the high-pressure sales tactic, and the car-switch, which was probably a lie. A car allocated to them is not likely to have been re-allocated elsewhere. It's more likely that someone offered them a premium to jump the waiting list. Your patience is wise. You'll probably drive this car for many years, so you can wait to get the one you want, and preferably from a reputable dealer. I'd have to want something awfully badly to buy it after being told I had to make an immediate decision. On color: I hated the color of my Zap Xebra when I first bought it. I took it because there were only three colors available and the others were worse. But it grew on me and now I love it. Another Xebra driver called this color "garden-pest green." It's the color of something you'd expect to find chewing on your garden vegetables. My advice to people agonizing over colors is to take what's available. You'll get used to it. But walk away from pushy salesmen and don't look back.
What dealership was it? I had a tough time with a dealer in eastern PA and I'm wondering if it's the same one.
