2013 Special Order FAIL

[MitchRobbins]

I was really hoping that my first post to this forum would include pictures of my brand new Limited and some snarky comment about how I understood sacred covenant of "Search before asking questions".

Instead, my dream was shattered today by a salesman when I tried to get the exact kind of truck I wanted. After reading about factory ordering (which is nothing more than asking a distribution center for a certain vehicle) on this forum and others, I went in and asked for the following:

2013 (Limited Trim)
Black Ext./Sand Beige Int.
3rd Row Seats

Easy, right? I even told him it will have to be ordered since nothing in the area matched what I was looking for. Guess again. The salesman made the following points to me:
1. I cannot get the Limited Trim in New England WITHOUT getting the upgraded voice-activated Navigation system ($2,400 or something ridiculous). I wanted the standard display-audio system that comes with the Limited package. A quick autotrader search told me that although most in my area have the upgraded Nav, not all of them do.
2. To get third-row seats on the Limited package, it would be $2,520 rather than the $1,365 I expected. Anyone know the difference between the two packages
3. Special ordering rarely works. There's no guarantee that I get my vehicle (I agree) and he's never really seen it work before (more like he has no idea how to do it).

4. He would do it for an MSRP of $44K+ (online it was $42,840) and offer me $1,000 off sticker. He knew that I would say no. I got the feeling he just didn't want to deal with special ordering.

AHHH! I desperately need my fellow 4runner-philes to tell me everything will be OK. The way I see it, since I can easily build this online for MSRP of $42,840, I should be able to get it. Does anyone know if numbers 1 or 2 above are correct? Also, can someone recommend a New England or NYC dealer that knows what the heck they're doing?
Again, I apologize my first post wasn't celebratory with pics, but this episode made my wife start to think about other vehicles for us, and I panicked. I think she just signed up for a Honda Pilot forum. Not cool.

 

[chetJ]

really sorry to hear about your experience dude.where are you located?

 

[GrantK]

Try a different dealer. Actually, try several until you find one that is willing to work with you without gouging you on the price. Some people go to 10 or more before finding the right one for them.

It's not uncommon for dealers to try and go for sticker (or higher) this early in the model year, especially for custom orders. This means more work for you to find that really top dealer you'll be happy with.

 

[MitchRobbins]

really sorry to hear about your experience dude.where are you located?

Thanks for the sympathy I'm located in New Hampshire, but willing to go anywhere in New England. I'm hoping that the issue is that the salesman was just lazy and the dealership would only do it for a big fat mark up. If you have a dealer recommendation, I'm all ears.

 

[poolzer]

if you have a costco membership or are in the military and belong to USAA, order through them and you will get specifically what you want, though it may take some time.

 

[Qjake]

If you can equip it the way you want on the Toyota site then the dealer can order it the same way! Whoever you spoke with obviously is an uninformed, lazy $hitbag who could care less about you and your business, find another dealer!!

I have bought my last four vehicles from Boch Toyota in Norwood Mass. Each time they were a pleasure to deal with, they were respectful and courteous and (I like to think) gave me a very good deal. I highly recommend them!

Good luck with your search!

 

[chetJ]

do have a couple of dealers

Thanks for the sympathy I'm located in New Hampshire, but willing to go anywhere in New England. I'm hoping that the issue is that the salesman was just lazy and the dealership would only do it for a big fat mark up. If you have a dealer recommendation, I'm all ears.

MitchRobbins....I am from pa and loved working with New Holland Toyota. If you want I also have a recommendation for a sales person there who was great. RusselToyota from Baltimore were good too.

 

[MitchRobbins]

Ok, so I'm not crazy-- just got to keep hitting the payment. Thanks a lot for your help and recommendations. I will contact the dealer in MA and slowly work my way west. Appreciate the support.

 

[Hawaiian4runner]

Isn't the LTD third row seat leather? As for the other crap. Not true. Just inconvenient. Toyota themselves don't want you to special order. Toyota is an arogant bunch and have a take it or leave it attitude. Most of the time they are right. We just take it...I wanted a trail with kdss,locker, basic stereo. Only one dealer in Hawaii. Ended up with moonroof, JBL premium with nav and $4500 hole in my pocket. They won.

 

[Merlin]

Isn't the LTD third row seat leather? As for the other crap. Not true. Just inconvenient. Toyota themselves don't want you to special order. Toyota is an arogant bunch and have a take it or leave it attitude. Most of the time they are right. We just take it...I wanted a trail with kdss,locker, basic stereo. Only one dealer in Hawaii. Ended up with moonroof, JBL premium with nav and $4500 hole in my pocket. They won.

i think servco actually gets packages from the factory just for them that may not be available on the mainland. i think they have their own packages available on vehicles, including special "anniversary" editions of certain models (i think the camry had a anniversary edition with packaging not available anywhere else - one of the joys of being a virtual monopoly on the island).

one of our friends that works at a dealership told me that toyota loves servco because they like to order their vehicles from the factory with all the bells and whistles and bundle them together to maximize profit. they know the hawaii market likes toyotas, and will buy toyotas regardless of packages.

the servco website has option packages that don't match the toyota corp. homepage on most of their vehicles, which leads me to believe that our friend was actually quite correct.

 

[Hawaiian4runner]

Agree. Servco orders straight from japan (not Toyota America) and they do create their own packages. And yes, Toyota loves servco. Friends brother used to fly to japan with the Fukunagas to create packages including colors not available elsewhere and yes, the anniversary versions are a servco invention. I like my salesperson. Very knowledgable, honest and low pressure but he has no control over what they bring in and is allowed almost no play on price. All that said, love my 4runner. They win again!

 

[PracticalFJ]

Call Stacey Alderman @ Alderman's Toyota in Rutland VT, or Chris Johnson @ Acton Toyota in Littleton, Ma.

They should both be able to help you.

 

[treyb]

I had success by going to the Toyota website and "building" the exact 4Runner that I wanted. After "building" it up, I believe there was an option to request a quote from local dealers. I remember putting in a couple of local dealers and then the fun began. I was immediately swamped with all kind of calls and emails from dealers that wanted to sell me a truck. I was very clear with them as to exactly what I wanted and those that were willing to work with me got my attention. Those dealers that just wanted to sell what was on their lot got an abrupt "no thank you, but you can call me when you have what I want!" Eventually it was clear which dealers were willing to earn my business by finding/ordering/transferring the truck that I wanted.

 

[GrantK]

I had success by going to the Toyota website and "building" the exact 4Runner that I wanted. After "building" it up, I believe there was an option to request a quote from local dealers. I remember putting in a couple of local dealers and then the fun began. I was immediately swamped with all kind of calls and emails from dealers that wanted to sell me a truck. I was very clear with them as to exactly what I wanted and those that were willing to work with me got my attention. Those dealers that just wanted to sell what was on their lot got an abrupt "no thank you, but you can call me when you have what I want!" Eventually it was clear which dealers were willing to earn my business by finding/ordering/transferring the truck that I wanted.

That's the trick. Sort out the dealer that are willing to earn your business from those that just want to give you the business.

 

[snomobile]

Call Stacey Alderman @ Alderman's Toyota in Rutland VT, or Chris Johnson @ Acton Toyota in Littleton, Ma.

They should both be able to help you.

I agree! I got mine thru Aldermans Toyota in Rutland
Neil Carlson was and is fantastic to deal with. I just got a 2012 limited black
no third row with the basic stereo.

 

[Merlin]

Agree. Servco orders straight from japan (not Toyota America) and they do create their own packages. And yes, Toyota loves servco. Friends brother used to fly to japan with the Fukunagas to create packages including colors not available elsewhere and yes, the anniversary versions are a servco invention. I like my salesperson. Very knowledgable, honest and low pressure but he has no control over what they bring in and is allowed almost no play on price. All that said, love my 4runner. They win again!

That's pretty cool, that he got to fly up there and choose what kinds of options and packages that we'll get - they are generally a pretty good mix, although we were told that they like to include some of the pricier, high-end stuff because they know that:

a) we don't have a choice, it's already on the car

and b) Hawaii people love the bells and whistles anyway.

my wife chose her sienna limited because it had all the bells and whistles, and was CHEAPER than the next lower model (xle) optioned out to the same specs (and not just a little cheaper, like almost $2k cheaper). :thumb3:

it's true about the almost no play on price, unfortunately.

doesn't matter whether which of our friends we go thru (including managers), all of their "best prices" were within $1k of each other.

 

[Dad's Toy]

I was really hoping that my first post to this forum would include pictures of my brand new Limited and some snarky comment about how I understood sacred covenant of "Search before asking questions".

Instead, my dream was shattered today by a salesman when I tried to get the exact kind of truck I wanted. After reading about factory ordering (which is nothing more than asking a distribution center for a certain vehicle) on this forum and others, I went in and asked for the following:

2013 (Limited Trim)
Black Ext./Sand Beige Int.
3rd Row Seats

Easy, right? I even told him it will have to be ordered since nothing in the area matched what I was looking for. Guess again. The salesman made the following points to me:
1. I cannot get the Limited Trim in New England WITHOUT getting the upgraded voice-activated Navigation system ($2,400 or something ridiculous). I wanted the standard display-audio system that comes with the Limited package. A quick autotrader search told me that although most in my area have the upgraded Nav, not all of them do.
2. To get third-row seats on the Limited package, it would be $2,520 rather than the $1,365 I expected. Anyone know the difference between the two packages
3. Special ordering rarely works. There's no guarantee that I get my vehicle (I agree) and he's never really seen it work before (more like he has no idea how to do it).

4. He would do it for an MSRP of $44K+ (online it was $42,840) and offer me $1,000 off sticker. He knew that I would say no. I got the feeling he just didn't want to deal with special ordering.

AHHH! I desperately need my fellow 4runner-philes to tell me everything will be OK. The way I see it, since I can easily build this online for MSRP of $42,840, I should be able to get it. Does anyone know if numbers 1 or 2 above are correct? Also, can someone recommend a New England or NYC dealer that knows what the heck they're doing?
Again, I apologize my first post wasn't celebratory with pics, but this episode made my wife start to think about other vehicles for us, and I panicked. I think she just signed up for a Honda Pilot forum. Not cool.

It sounds like what you need to do is go through what is called an independent auto broker. They are not tied to any one brand and can look nationally for the vehicle you want. Maybe this will ease the pain.

http://www.1clickautobrokers.com/index.htm

 

[maine runner]

Having read dozens of threads on special "preference" requests, the bottom line is you have to find a decent dealer to work with. It takes patience, details and communication. The failure stories are depressing with people getting the run-around for months, lies, misstatements, vehicle swapping at the last moment etc.

If you can build it on Toyota.com with your zip, it can be done.

The regional distributors make the decisions as to what to order, how many in each trim, color, options etc. They are based on what they think will sell.

Since a special preference uses 1 of the dealer's allotment spaces, most dealers don't want the hassle since it reduces the allocation by 1 until the ordered truck arrives. It is more work when they have trucks on the lot.

While I avoid dealers, a good dealer somewhat near you is Prime Toyota in Saco, Maine.

I would not recommend Berlin City in Portland. I had 3 sales guys tell me you can't do a request and then a 4th said it was totally doable.