Experiences with getting dealer to set Customization options for FREE

I had it put into the sales contract... change the reverse beeping to a single beep. The salesman was happy to throw it in, and I'm having it done Tuesday.

 

Your DEALER should not charge you! End of discussion. Call Toyota Headquarter, Phone: 800-331-4331, and lodge a complaint. Tell them the dealer would not change the customization settings without a service fee. After I lodged a complaint against Ourisman Toyota in Fairfax, VA. I got a call immediately (within 5 hours) from the service manager Leo Gabella and asked that I come in immediately and they would do whatever I asked, even turning the beeping sound seat belt which every dealer basically claiming federal law, which is BS.

I printed out the customization setting from the manual and handed the service manager, an hour later all the settings (reverse beep, seat belt beep, 1-touch unlock, ect.) were changed to my specification.

Don't fall for that lazy-tired excuse line "it's against federal law to make adjustment". I printed Rules and Regulations section from the NHTSA's website regarding to seat belt. I was prepared to hand the service manager but he did not want it, just a list of changes to the customization setting.

I was told by the service manager, each time you lodge a complaint against the dealer, they get a demerit. Apparently, Ourisman Toyota was concerned about the demerit, some dealer couldn't care less about the demerit points so they are not too enthusiastic making the adjustment. Again, you have the most leverage before signing the paperwork and demand the dealer to make the necessary changes to your vehicle before you leave the facility. Once you sign the paper, I noticed the dealer couldn't care less, especially at Ourisman Toyota, your leverage is gone.

 

Buckyball,

Great tip on calling Toyota HQ. Sometimes, all the dealer needs is a little motivation to do their job correctly. Luckily, I didn't have to resort to that level of persuasion this time. All I had to do was hand the manual to the service manager with the customization settings (single beep for reverse) highlighted, and Rosner Toyota in Stafford, VA got it done in about 30 minutes - NO CHARGE.

 

I bought mine from the same dealer. The sales and delivery people refused to make the reverse beep or seat belt beep changes. I dropped into the regular service department a few days later with a copy of the manual and asked them to make these changes. They did, no discussion about regs prohibiting them. And, the bottom line, no charge!! All done in less than 30 minutes!
Good Karma? Agreeable service people? Doesn't matter. The changes were made and I'm a happy camper. What a relief it is to NOT have that infernal back-up beeper squawking at me!!!!!
Stu

 

I tried holding lock unlocked for several seconds together on the fob. The results were instead of just one door opening and having to press unlock for the others, one door opened driver and then all doors open. But not all doors at once have to open drivers first. Is that right.

 

We were there yesterday ( a day after you were) to look at a few Prii they have on their lot.
I was surprised when they told us they required a non refundable deposit to order one but am glad to hear you've had a good experience with them.

 

When I called my dealer (Performance Toyota of Cincinnati) and asked if they would change some customized settings for me they said yes and there would be no charge. I called them after having the car for about 2-weeks. When I took my Prius to the dealer to have it done (I highlight about 7 settings in the manual I wanted to change) they said it would cost $87.00 for 1-hours worth of labor. I went in and talked to the sales manager and he waived the charge. They said the reason they were going to charge me was because I wanted so many settings changed. One or two apparently is not a problem, but 6 or 7 requires a bit of labor. I'm not sure I believe that, but in the end I got all the settings I wanted to change at no cost.

 

It requires at least 5 more mouse clicks.

 

Prior to taking delivery I sent an email to my salesman asking him to make about four customization changes before I came in. Everything was done for free without any questions.

Toyota of the Desert in Cathedral City, CA - great experience and I'd buy from there again, even though it is far from my home.

 

My dealer will do the first customization for free, but they will charge after that.

 

Dan Cava's Toyota world killed my passenger seat beep, reverse beep, and one-click unlock all from the fob. All I needed was an appointment. Took 10 minutes and no $$. Even did it on a Saturday morning.

 

My experience with McGeorge Toyota in Richmond, VA has been reasonably pleasant. I forgot to negotiate the settings when signing the buyer order. I had to return the vehicle a week or so later to have the body side moldings and front clear bra installed and asked my salesman to have only the reverse beep changed to a single beep (the continuous beep is the most maddening feature, ever!). He said he would get with the service manager to have it done. When I returned that evening, everything was done except for the reverse beep. He stated the service manger wanted 1/2 hour labor ($55) to make the change. I replied that did not seem correct since Toyota made it a dealer only change. He then offered to go get the technician and brought him out to discuss it with me. He came out with a long list of steps that he claimed to be the way to change it. I took one look at the printout and it was the same as for my 05 Prius I traded. I told him that worked only on Gen II and not on the Gen III. He seemed shocked, but agreed to go check again and came back toting his laptop and appologized and offerd to make the change. He plugged the cable to the diagnostic connector and commented that it found 30 processors in the car (Prius V w ATP). He then found the custom settings screen and made the change. He said he would make one or two changes like this at no charge, but there have been people that have changes made, come back later and make more or undo previous changes and ask for these several times. He said for them, the charges would begin after the first request. So, for me, I'm happy and I am rid of that damn maddening beep in reverse. I could understand it if the beep was an outside the car beep since it is so quiet, especially in parking lots. Toyota should never make something like this a dealer only change. All changes should be customer selectable and not bother a busy dealer that is in business to make money. Then if the customer can't figure it out, then he has a legitimate right to charge for making the change.

 

It seems the sleaze never ends at some places. This looks like a good to reason to wait a bit before completing the customer satisfaction survey. If the dealer won't properly configure the car for free then I don't have a problem complaining to Toyota while in the showroom and turning in the worst possible survey. Perhaps a few poor surveys will encourage an attitude adjustment.

 

I'm wondering what those 7 settings were....?

 

Is there any way to get this cable and software and just do it yourself?

 

I wondered the same thing myself. If all it takes is a laptop, cables & scanner, then why not make it available to the owners?

I was also curious about the 7 customizations - seat belt beep, reverse beep, auto head lights off timing & 1 or 2 click door opening with fob are all I can think of, but I'm at work (don't tell my boss) and don't have access to the manual.

 

I'm sick of my dealership! I had several little problems with the buying process, and I was up there today to deal with it. But in addition to that, I was going to have them put leather in my car. I negotiated my salesman down to $1299 from $1399, but when I asked the service manager to make those customization changes, he totally blew me off. Wanted to charge me $44 for a half hour's worth of labor. He wouldn't look me in the eye even, just kept repeating, "Well, I have to pay my service people," over and over again in response to whatever I said to him.

So for those who might be in the Houston area, watch out for Don McGill Toyota. They have the most bi-polar set of staff I've ever come across.

 

A lot of people are too stupid to handle even those. Just ask Dianne Whitmire.

There are many more listed in 6-2 (Customization) in the manual, over 30 different modifications.

 

We do the first change for free, as many as you like. But we will not change the seatbelt warning. And it isn't because of laws or any other dumb reason. Straight from the owners mouth. He flat out said if someone places an order with that stipulation, politely thank them for thinking of us and wish him well as he/she finds another dealership to do business with. Nothing personal, but he won't change his mind. I agree. Besides it being illegal to not wear your seatbelt (which will cause the beeping to stop), it is too much of a liability for an unscrupulous lawyer.

And there is a cost involved to do it. Some dealers just eat the cost and move along to keep customers happy. To upset a customer over $50 after they just spent $22k doesn't make a lot of sense to me.