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

Inventory Search

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by PiPLosAngeles, Jan 14, 2019.

  1. PiPLosAngeles

    PiPLosAngeles Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2012
    1,550
    720
    0
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    LE
    I don't understand Toyota's inventory search. You can search for a model in your area, and it gives you a list of models and colors available. However, it seems there is no way to tell what dealership has it and there is no way to even blindly contact the possessing dealership. What is the point of an inventory search if there's no possibility of purchasing a vehicle you find?
     
    #1 PiPLosAngeles, Jan 14, 2019
  2. Woodman411

    Woodman411 New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2019
    23
    11
    0
    Location:
    New York, NY
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    After searching by model, you have to click on "contact a dealer" or "view details" button to see the specific dealer where it's from.
     
    #2 Woodman411, Jan 14, 2019
  3. Dale Leonard

    Dale Leonard Member

    Joined:
    May 16, 2017
    66
    47
    0
    Location:
    Hartland, Wi
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Use cargurus.com
     
    #3 Dale Leonard, Jan 14, 2019
  4. PiPLosAngeles

    PiPLosAngeles Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2012
    1,550
    720
    0
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    LE
    That's just the nearest dealer based on your location or ZIP code. You'll notice it's the same for every car on every search.
     
    #4 PiPLosAngeles, Jan 14, 2019
  5. JamesBurke

    JamesBurke Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2009
    1,222
    493
    27
    Location:
    Morgantown, WV
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Yes it's a pain. I have a whole set of zipcodes I use to cover the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Search is good for seeing what's available with what options and cost in the area covered by your zipcode. My zipcode (26505) gives me all of DC,MD,VA, and WV. I use a DC area zipcode (20910) for Primes so when I go to the Find a Dealer page those dealers show up. Suggest clicking more dealers and then larger map to see all the area dealers pins. Then you have to select each one and go to dealer website to check inventory. (opens in a new window for me else your screwed if you try to go back as it resets the search). The other sites don't show all the dealers or inventory despite what they say. One grey/black advanced left in my region. Probably in DC/MD.
     
    #5 JamesBurke, Jan 14, 2019
  6. Woodman411

    Woodman411 New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2019
    23
    11
    0
    Location:
    New York, NY
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    You're right, sorry about that. Inventory search really is useless if you're trying to find the specific dealer. I guess it is only helpful to see what models/color/trim are available in an entire region/zip.
     
    #6 Woodman411, Jan 14, 2019
  7. PiPLosAngeles

    PiPLosAngeles Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2012
    1,550
    720
    0
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    LE
    That's why I wondered about the purpose of the search. How can I buy a car if I can't figure out who's selling it? It just seems so strange.
     
    #7 PiPLosAngeles, Jan 15, 2019
  8. Woodman411

    Woodman411 New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2019
    23
    11
    0
    Location:
    New York, NY
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    They do list dealer websites by region/zip, so one could comb through each website one-by-one, which is a pain. My guess as to why they do this is to help the smaller dealerships that don't have such a large inventory.
     
    #8 Woodman411, Jan 15, 2019
  9. PiPLosAngeles

    PiPLosAngeles Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2012
    1,550
    720
    0
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    LE
    The smaller dealers might have a better time if they specialized in carrying the less common color/package combos. Trying to compete with the big guys on the same models leaves nothing but price to beat. That's a hard battle for little guys. If they had the slower moving stock in inventory, they'd get attention from the inventory searchers that couldn't find that exact combination they wanted at the big dealerships.

    In other words, don't try to out-Walmart Walmart. You're gonna lose.
     
    #9 PiPLosAngeles, Jan 15, 2019
  10. Woodman411

    Woodman411 New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2019
    23
    11
    0
    Location:
    New York, NY
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    That's an idea. I have to admit though, by forcing me to browse each dealer's website, I've seen dangling carrots I wouldn't usually see if my searches were more targeted, such as free lifetime car washes, free lifetime oil changes, and the icing on the cake, free lifetime warranty (eg. tuscaloosa toyota). Chances are a dealer will change ownership or go out of business before one can really leverage any of these dangling carrots, but interesting to see, especially for me the car washes (which would save me a lot of money if the dealership was nearby). And I still agree that not having inventory search tied to a specific dealer is a pain.
     
    #10 Woodman411, Jan 15, 2019
  11. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2010
    4,297
    2,348
    33
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    deleted double post.
     
    #11 frodoz737, Jan 15, 2019
  12. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2010
    4,297
    2,348
    33
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    #12 frodoz737, Jan 15, 2019
  13. Coryzipprius

    Coryzipprius New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2019
    3
    5
    0
    Location:
    95222
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    If your in SoCal I had good luck for in stock inventory at DCH Oxnard but thankfully one came up locally or I would had to fly to SoCal to find one. I used Truecar to get their cheapest price which was a pretty good discount
     
    #13 Coryzipprius, Jan 15, 2019
  14. PT Guy

    PT Guy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 23, 2016
    1,085
    711
    0
    Location:
    Washington, the state
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    Pick the dealership you feel will gouge you the least, and let them bring in the car for you.
     
    #14 PT Guy, Jan 23, 2019
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)