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Waiting lists...get on 1 or many?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by rfrance, Jun 14, 2004.

  1. rfrance

    rfrance New Member

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    Hi all,

    I have been reading this group for a few weeks and am really excited about getting a new Prius. I was wondering if there could be a problem in my order being delayed if I was on more than 1 waiting list. I didn't think that it mattered but a just talked to a dealer who said that it was. I don't really trust dealers so I wanted to get everything's take on it. Currently I am on 4 waiting lists. 2 required a refundable deposit and the other 2 did not.
    :D

    Thank you!

    Ryan
    Houston, TX
     
  2. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Toyota has been encouraging people to get on only one list so that they have a more realistic idea of distribution needs/patterns. They've collected names/numbers of people on each dealers list and sent letters to those on multiple lists asking that they choose just one.

    I don't know if the names of people getting on lists now are being forwarded to Toyota or not.

    They can't 'force' you to be on just one list. It is in YOUR best interest to be on as many lists as possible. It is probably in the greater interest of the Prius wannabe-owners for each person to be on just one list.

    I can't see it harming your chances or this creating an actual problem since production is so terribly behind. I'd stay on multiple.
     
  3. DaveinOlyWA

    DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!!

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    most people who have gotten a car quickly have been on multiple lists. I suggest that your chances of getting a car is to be a lists in less populated areas. being on a list from dealers in same general area i dont think will help you as much. but from what i see, there is no rhyme or reason to the distribution of cars anyway. This forum constantly has people who get their car in short order while others wait 6 months or more. There is no excuse for that imho.

    if Toyota did combine the list nationwide, then they should be doling out the cars in order they were asked for. computers would take care of the job in seconds. then we are talking about a few hours of phone calls and delivery to the person who immediately ready for delivery.

    I know its tough to not brag when someone gets their car after only a month of waiting, especially when so many have waited so long, but i think its total BS and Toyota's method of handling the problem ranks as a disaster.
     
  4. Dianne

    Dianne New Member

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    get on many!

    GET ON AS MANY AS YOU CAN.

    Most stores are not asking for deposits -- I know I quit taking deposits a while back -- it's futile to try and track all that paper when you do not cash them anyway.
    Di
     
  5. rfrance

    rfrance New Member

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    Thanks for the replies!

    Yes, I wish they were more organized in their approach. But then Toyota would probably charge more since they would have to hire a department to keep track of 'Master' list.

    Ryan
     
  6. Dianne

    Dianne New Member

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    Evan?

    Evan, how is it in anyone's best interest to be on only 1 list?
     
  7. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Re: Evan?

    Theoretically, in the big picture, if the giant Toyota corporate in the sky knew exactly what cars were needed where without any duplications they might, possibly, be able to better direct the flow of vehicles so that the maximum number of people on a waiting list could get their car more quickly. Cars could/would be distributed #1-by color/option pack, #2-by when the person got on the list.

    I see it this way, it's kinda silly that someone from VA that initially got on a waiting list in on say Jan. 5th for a white #9 then can start calling around to West VA dealers and get exactly what they want in a few weeks while still many places down on their original list.

    Listen, I'm not saying that it actually IS in anyone's best interest, now, to do that. Just that IF everyone had just signed up on one list AND the persons name/sign-up date was tracked by Toyota AND that Toyota would then distribute vehicles based on the sign up dates THEN there would be a bit less rancor, a bit less price inflation, a lot more satisfaction with Toyota's distribution system. A lot more predictibility as to when a given person would/could REALLY expect to get the car they ordered, etc.

    Look at it this way....If there were REALLY 500 people waiting for that #9 white and we knew that Toyota was sending 100 #9 white's to the US each month then dealers could honestly and factually tell people that their wait would be right at 5 months....assuming the distribution system was set up to allow for prioritization by order date, not by sales history or whatever obscure method is currently in play.

    The down side, thus, of being on multiple lists is that without knowing how many duplicate orders there are that even IF Toyota tried to do a 'by order date' system there still would be no predictibility or fairness.

    I wasn't trying to defend Toyota's stand, just explain it.
     
  8. Dianne

    Dianne New Member

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    Re: Evan?

    Forget trying to explain it to me. I'm related, indirectly, to the entire process. A process I disagree with vehemently.

    Your theory holds water ONLY if Toyota knows what package and color(s) you want. I have been communicating that only your dealer knows what you prefer. Toyota only knows your name, address, phone #'s and the date you got loaded into their system by the person who enters the info into it. That's it. If your dealer was THE one getting your car exactly as you ordered with the right color and package, then it's senseless to order in different places. But, as it stands right now, you widen your chances greatly with every single dealership you contact and request a car thru. it increases your odds greatly with cars coming to places with little demand as compared to others. Laying here beaten and battered in the trenches over this car and the craze for it, I am telling you... you are wrong. It's simple science - a ratio of success.
     
  9. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Re: Evan?

    Deep breath Di, reread my very first post in it's entirety. I know you're right, that's what I advised too. My explaination was purely the theoretical (I tried to emphasis that throught out the posts with all the "IF" and such).

    I absolutely agree that, were I starting today to try to get a Prius I'd be on the phone and on the internet absolutely everywhere within any radius from my house to where I was willing to fly to/drive from to get one.

    You must be beaten and battered, you seem a tad defensive today dalink.
     
  10. Dianne

    Dianne New Member

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    Re: Evan?

    Evan, he was asking what to do in the here and now, not "if" and "what if" ... if this was a perfect world, we'd order the car and have it in 4 months like we did years ago. That ain't happening. So, he's best off calling every single dealership he can get a phone # for in a place he is willing to drive or fly, and ask to be added to their list. Not bark at them about wait times, markups or color or options. Just add to the list and see how quickly a call may come. For his own best avenue if he wants a car fast as possible.

    Sorry -- was not about you. It was about him and what he wanted. It's not in the customer's best interests for Toyota to have been continuing to send and ship the cars to dealerships cross country with no regard for what their buyers are wanting and waiting for... so the buyers have to be proactive to find a car faster and better.
    Di
     
  11. rfrance

    rfrance New Member

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    Thanks guys!

    I think we are all very frustrated on the current process but have to live with it for now.

    Okay, now another question, Which package would probably be easily to get, a #8 or #9 or does it matter? It sounds like the big Toyota in the sky doesn't really know or care what options you want, just that you want one correct? It sounds like the #9 is a lot more common out of the 2 so they would make more, correct?

    Thanks
    Ryan
     
  12. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Ugh, sorry Di, I should have reread my first post. I INTENDED to say it's in one's best interest to be on multiple lists, but I actually typed it's best to be on just one. My mistake and I understand where the confusion comes from now. I just totally mistyped.

    FWIW, for the 4th time, I 100% agree that it is in each individual customer's best interest to be on multiple lists. I still contend that it exacerbates and confounds the problem of getting cars to those who 'should' have priority, but I don't see that problem being resolved in the near future in any case.
     
  13. tmorrowus

    tmorrowus Member

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    One way that being on multiple lists can be harmful to the buyer is that some dealers won't give back deposits if the buyer bails. It's been said that this is illegal, but some car dealers some of the time do illegal things.

    The other way it can be harmful is generally to the integrity of the buyer. If the buyer has to lie to some of the dealers and say or hint that they're being exclusive when they actually aren't, that's a high price to pay.

    And there's the issue that some dealers will sell dropped cars to people other than the next person on the waitlist. So by causing a dropped car, you are indirectly causing some people who are first on a waitlist to not get their cars. A good argument could be made that it's not your fault as the buyer, but the fact remains that you could have avoided that unfair situation and didn't.

    None of these things has to stand in your way of getting on multiple lists. If you make sure your deposit is refundable, are honest with your dealer about being on multiple lists, and verify that your dealer sells dropped cars to the next person on the waitlist, then you're golden.
     
  14. m4prius

    m4prius New Member

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    I'm on only ONE list. I received both my keychain and 3 letters , about once each month, from Toyota stating the wait for the Prius is excessive. So I know my dealer placed my order in the system...if not I would not be getting notifications from Toyota. I assume folks that want to pay 5-10K over the MSRP can get a car much faster through dealers that want to play that game. Definitely unfair to those who are patiently waiting.

    If my dealer for some reason cannot deliver the car I want at the price that we agreed upon on the sales statement then Goodbye...its that simple.
     
  15. Dianne

    Dianne New Member

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    Package with NAV may drop in ratio

    Depending on your geographic location, you will rarely seea package 8 and soon, I betcha package 8 goes bye-bye. Mark my words, the EPA will cause Toyota to start making some hard decisions about package content for us and ordering. Watch for package 9/8 cars to drop in half and more "basic" cars to be allocated. This honeymoon with all of these package 9 cars cannot last. It's historically not in the cards unless Toyota finds a way around it.

    Dianne


     
  16. bruceha_2000

    bruceha_2000 Senior Member

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    Re: Package with NAV may drop in ratio

    Hi Empress :) I do recall reading something about the EPA limiting the cars, but I don't recall how or why they would so such a thing. Can you post a short summary?

    Thanks
     
  17. Dianne

    Dianne New Member

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    Re: Package with NAV may drop in ratio

    I apologize. I haven't got the time to do the research... it just (for me) is what it is and I live with the results of their decisons. :D

     
  18. bookrats

    bookrats New Member

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  19. P-Car-Go

    P-Car-Go New Member

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    Houston TX waiting lists

    Ryan--

    Which dealers' lists are you on? When did you place your order? We ordered in NOvember from Champion Toyota, and we still don't have the car. There is no e.t.a.
     
  20. rfrance

    rfrance New Member

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    P-Car-Go,

    I also ordered from Champion. I've been on the list since end of May for a Silver, Black, or Blue #8 or #9. Which color/package did you order? I know some packages and colors are a little easier to get than others. They told me 6-8 months and took a $500 deposit which they cashed but said it was refundable.

    I would email/call other dealerships within driving range and see if you have any luck.