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

Are Internet Savings Certificates Even Honored?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by HeyVern, Aug 12, 2009.

  1. HeyVern

    HeyVern New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2009
    47
    4
    0
    Location:
    Hickory, NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    It seems as though ¾ of the Toyota dealer sites I have visited have one of those annoying Internet Savings certificates that pop up offering you anywhere from $200 to $600 off on your new car purchase. I guess it showed how naïve I was when I started my search for a 2010 Prius and assumed that my local dealership was willing to offer a $600 Internet savings because they charge a $599 dealer fee on all their sales. I figured that at least would get me back to MSRP which was a good starting point for the Prius I was looking for. Not so. I was quickly informed by the dealership that the Prius is excluded from the certificate (see the fine print on the certificate that is too small to read unless you switch your browser to a larger font). Just for fun :D, I asked several other dealers in my area about their Internet certificates as well and received the same response. I understand this for the 2010 Prius given how fast they are selling without any kind of incentive but it made me question: 1) Has anyone every had one of these certificates honored by ANY Toyota dealer for ANY of their cars? and 2) Has anyone had one of these certificates honored when using the C4C program? I figured that if anyone could answer these questions it would be the PriusChat members.
     
    #1 HeyVern, Aug 12, 2009
  2. HeyVern

    HeyVern New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2009
    47
    4
    0
    Location:
    Hickory, NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Posted 1 week, 138 reads and no responses. Does this mean no one is interested on no one has every gotten a discount certificate honored? If the latter, sounds like an opportunity for a class action suit.
     
    #2 HeyVern, Aug 19, 2009
  3. LoraJ

    LoraJ Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2009
    507
    68
    0
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    My dealership does not honor the internet savings certificate forthe Prius. The Prius was also notincluded in other programs. It is always in writing somewhere that it is not included, so I am not sure why there would be a class action lawsuit. You have the option of not buying the car.
     
    #3 LoraJ, Aug 19, 2009
  4. danl

    danl New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2009
    231
    6
    0
    Location:
    Boston, MA
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Not only do they not honor their internet coupons, they dont honor their negotiations over the web too. Back in 2004, I emailed several dealers for a 2004 civic, and I ended up narrowing down the dealers to two. One of which, I was able to negotiate the price of the car almost entirely through email and phone. But when I got to the dealership, the rep I've communicated with wasn't there and I ended up having to renegotiate the whole deal once more. I got close to the price I wanted, but there was definitely some give and take.
     
    #4 danl, Aug 19, 2009
  5. JamesBurke

    JamesBurke Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2009
    1,222
    493
    27
    Location:
    Morgantown, WV
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I thought you had answered your own question. "Read the fine print". Don't think I've ever seen the Prius included in those coupons. Camry Hybrid just a few times. It's a sales gimmick, $300 to $600 off MSRP? Really? How about $300 to $500 over invoice instead. (plus rebates if any). Now that's a fair price for everybody.
     
    #5 JamesBurke, Aug 19, 2009
  6. HeyVern

    HeyVern New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2009
    47
    4
    0
    Location:
    Hickory, NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    You are correct in that we always have the option of not dealing with the dealer that employs such tactics. In fact, this is what I did.

    The wording on the all the cirtificates in this area is always something like "some vehicles do not apply" or something to that effect. The point being that if they post the cirtificates to generate traffic or at least get phone calls but NEVER honor them for any circumstances then this is a deceptive practice that they should be forced to stop.
     
    #6 HeyVern, Aug 19, 2009
  7. HeyVern

    HeyVern New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2009
    47
    4
    0
    Location:
    Hickory, NC
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Thanks for the reply. At least you have confirmed that you have seen SOME vehicles included and honored.
     
    #7 HeyVern, Aug 19, 2009
  8. nineinchnail1024

    nineinchnail1024 New Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2009
    280
    40
    0
    Location:
    New Orleans
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    I never even mention the net certificates. I go in with a price in mind (lower than what the certificate advertises) and if they can't reach it, I walk.
     
    #8 nineinchnail1024, Aug 19, 2009
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)