PRBond
New member
So, I broke the key where the plastic piece inside the fob housing holds the actual metal part that comes out on my wife's 4Runner... I tried snapping it back together, but it didn't hold. I had heard or seen somewhere on the interwebs that you can call the Stealership and give your VIN and they can order you a replacement. So I called up their servicing dept and they made an appointment to get me a new key. I promptly scheduled the time off work and headed down to get my key either fixed or replaced. I'm also due for an oil change, so I'm thinking if it's not too bad, I'll throw that in.
Here's where it all goes to hell...
I pull up for my appointment, the service guy comes out, scans my VIN inside my door frame and checks my name. I reaffirm to him why I'm there and he then tells me that he needs to go check to see if they even have the key in stock. (Here's where I start to get pissed)... He comes back about 10 min later to tell me that they don't have the key in stock and it would have to be ordered. I would have to pre-pay to order it ($277) and that it may take up to 3 days to arrive.... I go, "Wait, why did you guys make an appointment with me to do this, and tell me the whole process would take about an hour, when you don't even have the part in stock?!?"... He goes, "Yeah, do you know who you spoke with?" I said, "I called your servicing department and you guys scheduled this appointment. I took the time off work and clearly you have my appointment booked. Now you're telling me it was a whole waste of time and you don't even have the part?" He goes, "I think you probably spoke with our phone servicing team who answers calls when we're busy and they booked you." I said, "That's BS! When they answer the phone as SERVICING DEPT, how are you supposed to know if they actually work there or not?!?"
So now I'm pissed, but I'm trying to calm down and I go... "Ok, so if I order this, it's $277. Is that $277 for everything?" He goes, "No, it's $277 for the key plus tax, then an additional $159 to program it to your car." So now we're in the $450 range assuming there's nothing else added... The crazy part is that in all honesty, if they had the part there in stock and could've done the whole thing in an hour like I was initially quoted, I probably would've done it... Here's the funny part... As I'm in a fit of rage and about to drive off, the guy I'm talking to goes, "I can give you a name and a number of a locksmith guy that we use here at the dealership who can probably help you."... At this point I had nothing else to lose, so I call the guy and tell him that I was referred to him from the Toyota dealer. He says he can come out in an hour and he'll do the whole thing for $140 cash. I said, "DONE!"
So, assuming this ends well and I'll know here in less than an hour. I'll have a rave review for the locksmith. While I'm still pissed at the dealership, I suppose that in the end I should be thankful that I was referred to a guy who can do it and apparently does it for the dealership regularly.
This also got me to thinking... If this guy does this whole thing for the dealership for I'm guessing the same cost or in the neighborhood of what I'm paying, then that's a hell of a markup for the Stealership.
Here's where it all goes to hell...
I pull up for my appointment, the service guy comes out, scans my VIN inside my door frame and checks my name. I reaffirm to him why I'm there and he then tells me that he needs to go check to see if they even have the key in stock. (Here's where I start to get pissed)... He comes back about 10 min later to tell me that they don't have the key in stock and it would have to be ordered. I would have to pre-pay to order it ($277) and that it may take up to 3 days to arrive.... I go, "Wait, why did you guys make an appointment with me to do this, and tell me the whole process would take about an hour, when you don't even have the part in stock?!?"... He goes, "Yeah, do you know who you spoke with?" I said, "I called your servicing department and you guys scheduled this appointment. I took the time off work and clearly you have my appointment booked. Now you're telling me it was a whole waste of time and you don't even have the part?" He goes, "I think you probably spoke with our phone servicing team who answers calls when we're busy and they booked you." I said, "That's BS! When they answer the phone as SERVICING DEPT, how are you supposed to know if they actually work there or not?!?"
So now I'm pissed, but I'm trying to calm down and I go... "Ok, so if I order this, it's $277. Is that $277 for everything?" He goes, "No, it's $277 for the key plus tax, then an additional $159 to program it to your car." So now we're in the $450 range assuming there's nothing else added... The crazy part is that in all honesty, if they had the part there in stock and could've done the whole thing in an hour like I was initially quoted, I probably would've done it... Here's the funny part... As I'm in a fit of rage and about to drive off, the guy I'm talking to goes, "I can give you a name and a number of a locksmith guy that we use here at the dealership who can probably help you."... At this point I had nothing else to lose, so I call the guy and tell him that I was referred to him from the Toyota dealer. He says he can come out in an hour and he'll do the whole thing for $140 cash. I said, "DONE!"
So, assuming this ends well and I'll know here in less than an hour. I'll have a rave review for the locksmith. While I'm still pissed at the dealership, I suppose that in the end I should be thankful that I was referred to a guy who can do it and apparently does it for the dealership regularly.
This also got me to thinking... If this guy does this whole thing for the dealership for I'm guessing the same cost or in the neighborhood of what I'm paying, then that's a hell of a markup for the Stealership.
