Is this cut throat move too cut throat?

I looked it up in the manual. Here is the list for 30,000 miles.

Clean cabin air filter (solar power ventilation system only)
Replace cabin air filter (except solar power ventilation system)
Replace engine air filter
Replace engine oil and filter 1
Rotate tires
Inspect the following:
__ Automatic transmission fluid
__ Ball joints and dust covers
__ Brake lines and hoses
__ Brake linings/drums and brake pads/discs 3
__ Drive shaft boots
__ Engine/Inverter coolant 4
__ Exhaust pipes and mountings
__ Front differential oil
__ Fuel lines and connections, fuel tank band and fuel tank vapor vent system hoses
__ Fuel tank cap gasket
__ Radiator, condenser and/or intercooler
__ Steering gear box
__ Steering linkage and boots

On my 2000 Toyota 4Runner they wanted over $200 for all this. I did not do it. I never did schedule maintenance. From 2000-2010, I put 305,000 miles on that vehicle with less than $1,000 in total repairs.

I had new front brakes put on at 170,000 and a new timing belt at 180,000. I never replaced the rear brakes.

 

You didn't read the prior post where I wrote that buyers are notified before the sale is confirmed that there is an extra charge for Syn-oil. It's put in writing on the Buyer's Order and the buyer has to initial it that this has been disclosed.

The rest of your complaint is covered by 'Read The Manual', then take control of your own life. Nobody but you is reponsible for what comes out of your own pocket or what is charged on your credit card. However if you have a negative bias on this subject then there's little or anything that anyone is going to be able to do to change your view.

Suffice it to say that the buying public here has rewarded our store with the largest volume of new buyers, pre-owned buyers ( they also get Oil Changes FREE for LIFE as well ) and service customers of any store within 100+ miles. It works, that's all that can be said.

Combine this perk with

• Engine Guaranteed for Life,
• State Inspections Free for Life,
• Free Shuttle Service
• A restaurant inside the store
• A mini-movie theater inside the store
• A hair salon / barber inside the store
• A manicurist inside the store ( Free for Ladies on Wednesday )
• The newest, largest and most comfortable store within 200+ miles

and there's a reason for a highly satisfied clientele.

 

I've quoted the original post so we remember what it was.

This dealer attempted to pull a sleazy move on the (potential) buyer. Fortunately, the (potential) buyer got his deposit back, but only after some hassle.

Despite several posts here attempting to justify the dealer's actions, there's no excuse for what the dealer did--none. This is why dealers have a reputation similar to lawyers.

 

Total cost for the BIG service...~$100

At the small services on the Prius, the 5K and 10K intervals, the total costs are..
5K's .... $32 for Tire Rotations ( or DIY )
10K's .. $50 for Tire Rotations ( or DIY ) + Syn-oil

 

Fair enough. Now let's put yourself in the OP's position.

You go to the dealer to buy a Prius and the one you want isn't there. You negotiate and get a fair price to buy one that you want, but that one isn't there.

He does an inquiry and finds one that fits your requirements at another store, but it might not be there. So, what should you do?

 

This is like a pizza place claiming they have the best pizza in town.

Every dealer I went to when I was looking at the Prius told me they were one of the largest dealers in the area and they have stronger buying power then other dealers. They all make the same false claims.

You keep claiming your oil changes are free. Are they free or do you surcharge $18 for Prius owners. $18 + FREE = $18. The math is not that hard.

 

He should lock a deal with the other dealer before he takes a deposit from the customer. All dealers lack this integrity.

 

You said it clearly, the oil changes ( labor and filter are FREE ) the Syn-oil costs $18. The buyers know that in advance during the dealership tour, again at the time of agreeing on the price and again at the time the contract is finally signed. It works, that's all that can be said.

Dino-oil changes are FREE also and there is no charge for dino-oil.

 

No, in my case, I don't do this either.
I won't spend hours on the phone to get a trade done - to find a car for someone - unless I have their deposit. The point of the deposit is to make the deal based on having a car. And, in my case, I won't get on the phone and start trying to trade out of state or area unless I have a commitment. To me, that's a deposit that says: "Go ahead and get it, I'll buy it when you do."

I won't make someone sign a blank contract or a purchase agreement unless a car is HERE or a tangible car coming in to me on my own allocation/inventory. But, I will take a deposit to trade for a car.
Dianne

 

OK, we're in agreement on this. I think that this is the correct procedure too. But what if it's 8 PM or Saturday or Sunday or that other dealer can't be reached? Should the OP be sent home with nothing? The Buyer's Order and Deposit ( with a time limit ) makes both parties serious about the issue.

Now take the case of the Prius' in short supply so many times over these last 6 yrs. A buyer want one and only one color package but there are none anywhere in N America. It has to be ordered. The arrival time is 60 to 180 days.

Your multiple objections about everything having to do with dealerships have been noted.

 

Yeah, maybe that's YOU. Just about every dealership I've been in has pressured me or my family to do extra service, and for some reason the phase "just do what is on this required maintenance list" does not seem to register with the "service adviser". As a family, we have never experienced this kind of poor service at Subaru, Mitsubishi (low mileage, and on a Evo, so maybe doesn't count), or Honda (where the dealership was surprisingly honest about "you can do this later").

EDIT: I forgot to mention that I've been to 3 different dealerships. Same story, same garbage.

 

I noticed the same thing from the dealers in my area. I wanted a Silver Prius IV without NAV or sun roof. I called all the local dealers and none of them could give me a date or do a search on other dealers that might have one on order.

I used google and searched every dealer in a 180 mile radius. I sent emails asking if they had the car and when they expect to get it. I found a dealer 120 miles from my house.

They gave me a VIN of the car I was going to receive and I gave them a deposit using a credit card. I drove 2 hours and picked up the car.

The sales people at the local dealer did zero for me. The sales people at the place I bought it made me sit around for 2 hours until the place closed at 9:00pm. Then they sent me to the finance guy.

I was clear on the phone I was paying cash. He still tried to sell me financing. He tried to sell me all the other things I posted before. After an hour I told him I will stay here until midnight and waste his time like he is wasting mine.

They claimed they never got a deposit from me. I called my credit card company and they told the dealer they charged my card for $500 on a certain date. Then the dealer took the deposit off the total. The entire experience was horrible.

I should have got the commission. The sales person did nothing.

 

I get why you're angry, and it was certainly a douchebag thing to do - However, I kind of expect shady tactics from dealers though. I expect them to be predators and try to extract money from me at any oppertunity possible, regardless of car brand (no haggle dealerships are obviously better, though).

 

I agree. I've been shopping for a new prius in Socal and went to a few toyota dealerships and most of the dealers do the bait and switch and lie to you about the availability of the cars and the prices. And one dealership actually offered a 120 mile car as new LOL... I've never been repetitively lied so many times.. integrity is a joke to these guys.

 

This is true. I was buying a new prius. The financer tried to take advantage of me on the service plan and tried his hardest to persuade me to jump in but i refused it

 

I'm certainly not missing the point.

The dealer represented they "had" a specific car you could buy, by showing you the vehicle inquiry report. Then they changed their story after they had your deposit. Sleazy. Others can try to sugar coat it, to in some way justify the dealer's sleazy actions, but I'll just call it as I see it--sleazy.

 

Unless I'm missing something, that's not what happened.

Up until the point he gave them a deposit, it seems it was represented to him that they "had" the car he wanted--by showing him the inquiry report, including the VIN. I don't see in any of the OP's posts where they told him--before placing the deposit--that they had to get the car from another dealer. If I've missed that part, please show me where.

 

I agree. I've placed several $2,000 and $5000 deposits for cars to be delivered sometime in the future (sometimes unclear how far in the future)--but that was clear all along to me. Doesn't seem to be the case here.