Dealership won't give Costco prices over the phone - normal?

In spring of 2006, the Costco people told me it was only $100 under MSRP. The nearest Costco-participating dealer, 150 miles away, didn't have any cars anyway.

Often dealers won't quote prices over the phone, because competing dealers might call to snoop on prices. It used to happen in the consumer-electronics biz years ago: one shop would call for a price check, then place an ad for a lower price.

 

we weren't able to get our costco price over the phone either, but once we went in!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(carolbrady @ Sep 6 2007, 10:22 AM) [snapback]507978[/snapback]</div>

That sounds strange to me - I bought my 2007 last November through Costco. On my first call, I spoke to the Costco salesperson at Piercey Toyota (San Jose, Ca) and he gave me the Costco price and its breakdown...very easy and I bought the car very shortly thereafter. And if you're curious, I got a #4 for only a couple hundred over invoice - the total OTD cost was $26.5K.

As a matter of fact, the Prius purchase experience was so good that I just made my second purchase at Piercey 2 weeks ago (this time a new Yaris for my mom). Again through Costco and the same salesperson, and this time $210 below invoice...I'll never buy without Costco again

Where exactly are you located? Would it be worth a trip to Silicon Valley, Ca? If you would like more info let me know...

cc B)

 

We were told the same thing. I told the salesman that I wasn't going to drive all the way over there just to talk about prices if he didn't have exactly the model and color we wanted. He asked what we wanted, but didn't have anything right then. He arranged to get our second color choice within a couple days and gave us the price. We made the deal by phone and only met in person when we went to pick up the car. But I'm sure it went down that way only because I was insistent that I wouldn't waste a trip just to schmooze the salesman so he could try to sell me something other than what I wanted to buy.

 

I had to go in to the dealer. But this was for a Matrix. When I inquired about a Prius, they claimed that it wasn't on their list, but they gave me the same deal. After much haggling, I got mine $500 below dealer invoice. Oh and costco sent me a $50 GC.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(carolbrady @ Sep 6 2007, 12:22 PM) [snapback]507978[/snapback]</div>

 

I just picked up an 07 Seaside yesterday using the Costco program. The dealership was about a mile away, so it didn't bother me that I didn't get the price over the phone.
I can tell you that it was $100 off the price. Not overwhelming but $100 is $100!
Good luck!

 

Don't rely on CostCo to give you the best deal...

Last week, Tuesday I called CostCo. They said go see the dealer and ask for person X. I did, and person X told me $800 above invoice.

Not satisfied, on Wednesday I sent out an internet inquiry (using an alternate email box as my contact, so I was prepared for the spam that would ensue)... most of it was spam and 'player' dealers, but one dealer called me and over the phone offered $500 under invoice.

That's $1,300 difference between CostCo and Internet... CostCo told me it wouldn't matter where I went, the deal would be the same, so I didn't bother pushing the 2nd deal as it was lightyears better than the first deal.

Friday I bought the car.... not through CostCo.

 

I tried Costco and Edmunds.com. I vote Edmunds, hands down!!!
Costco would only give me one dealer in my area and they would only go $250 below MSRP.
I got mine for around $1000 below. Three different Edmunds referals were that low. And a couple other calls to dealers were about the same.

 

I ought my 07 prius using the Costco progrm 2 months ago. Same drill about $100 below MSRP, because the Prius is a popular car. But I was buying an 07 just before the 08's were to come out. I discovered after the purchase that they were offering the car for an even lower price than Costco's. I was pretty upset about it. But after complaining to costco, the dealer refunded the difference. I guess they realized it's better to think long-term (where will I get my service work done) instead of pocketing the difference. So I can't really recomend Costco's program. But I am pleased with Magic Toyota, in Edmonds, WA.

 

I ought my 07 prius using the Costco progrm 2 months ago. Same drill about $100 below MSRP, because the Prius is a popular car. But I was buying an 07 just before the 08's were to come out. I discovered after the purchase that they were offering the car for an even lower price than Costco's. I was pretty upset about it. But after complaining to costco, the dealer refunded the difference. I guess they realized it's better to think long-term (where will I get my service work done) instead of pocketing the difference. So I can't really recomend Costco's program. But I am pleased with Magic Toyota, in Edmonds, WA.

 

The dealer isn't getting the cars any cheaper because they are on the costco list, so there is no magic in the deal, you can get the same price with or without costco.

For a high supply car, the costco deal is a good way to get nearly the best price without a lot of haggling, but for a low supply high demand car like the Prius its better to do the work on your own.

I got my touring package 6 for $1000 less than the costco price with 3 hours of work, going to and walking out of 3 dealerships then negotiating over the phone.

 

The dealer isn't getting the cars any cheaper because they are on the costco list, so there is no magic in the deal, you can get the same price with or without costco.

For a high supply car, the costco deal is a good way to get nearly the best price without a lot of haggling, but for a low supply high demand car like the Prius its better to do the work on your own.

I got my touring package 6 for $1000 less than the costco price with 3 hours of work, going to and walking out of 3 dealerships then negotiating over the phone.

 

The easiest way to get a good price is to call and ask for the "internet sales department". I called and got a package 6 for $2100 off MSRP. That made my price $25,600. That was in May. So I dont understand how Crypter got a package #4 for $26,500 and thought that was a couple hundred below "invoice".

MSRP is the price on the window sticker.

Invoice is the price the dealer paid for the car. (not necessarily the dealers final cost after holdbacks and volume sales premiums).

People often say "invoice" when they actually mean "MSRP".

Take a look on craigslist too. The internet sales department often advertises prices on Craigslist. I was seeing prices between $0 off MSRP to $2300 off MSRP on Craigslist before I made my call. Based on what I saw on Craigslist I was shooting for a minimum of $2k off MSRP and I wanted black on black. I got what I wanted on my first call. I figured I might have been able to call around some more to get a couple hundred more off the price, but decided not to worry about it.

 

i was referred by costco to palm bch toyota. they told me the costco program was $1000 over invoice. i explained on the phone what i wanted in the prius and they said it would have to be ordered and to come in and put down a $500 deposit. i went in the very next day and the sales manager told me that with what i wanted (nothing really that special, touring w/package 6), he couldnt give me that kind of a deal, but would save me a little...like $32000 otd or approx. $4000 over his invoice. i told him i will find another dealer who will tell me the truth, and thats exactly what i did...without costco's referral to palm bch toyota

 

Re: Dealership won't give Costco prices over the phone - normal?

Winston,
Go back and read my post, it's #4 in this thread. I said the Out The Door Price was $26.5K - that's with tax, license, etc. The sale price was a couple hundred above the KBB-listed invoice (not MSRP) for my 2007#4. You live in the Bay Area, you know what the tax rate is here - I'd hope you can do the math and figure it out. The couple hundred under invoice was what I paid 9 months later for a Costco-purchased Yaris I bought for my mother (again - the KBB-listed invoice price, not MSRP). This is stated very clearly in my post...:glare:

And to those who got a better deal without Costco - more power to you! I feel I benefited from using them and am happy to share my experience. But in the end we all have to do what we think will get us the best deal. In any case, owning a Prius is well worth it!