Stealership took me for a ride

[juneau92]

I should have known better. Received a coupon in the mail a couple of weeks ago for genuine Toyota maintenance, parts and so forth at any local stealership. One of the coupons said oil filters for $2.99+tax, no limit. Well I thought that's not such a bad deal. So I'm in the area today, and stop in to get some filters. I tell the parts man I want six of them. He goes back to get them and then comes back to the register. As expected from the dealer, they are genuine Toyota filters in the red box.

As he is ringing up the order, he asks if I would like some crush washers. I say "Oh ya, thanks for reminding me!" He says, "How many ya need?", and he's got a whole handful (must keep a jar of `em under the counter or somewhere). I say "Give me ten or so, in case I lose one." He says, "Okay, they're $1.00 each, so ten bucks."

Huh? I didn't want to be rude, but I did tell him I thought that was kind of a rip, and then went ahead and bought the six filters and also six (not ten) of the crush washers. I probably should have just walked, I don't know.

So anyway, my filters (with washers) cost me 3.99 + tax each. So much for a good deal, I guess. Maybe one day I'll learn.
:bash:

 

[Koz]

You did say STEALERSHIP?

Koz

 

[Jacobzky]

they could've just given you the washers for free, at least thats how i got them when i asked the parts guy for a washer, he grap a jar full of it and asked how many do i need, i said 10 he gave me 20. And when i asked how much, he said, its free.

 

[veloindy]

Fumoto

Invest in one. It makes a simple oil change even easier. No more crush washers.

 

[drake3]

OK, you are going to love this...

I buy my filters for my 4runners from my local dealer. Usually only 2 or 3 at a time. I go in and get them and I get told the crush washers are $2.50 each. Whatever, I only change the washers about once every 3 oil changes. They last a long time if you don't torque your drain plug to death.

So then, my girlfriend, who works for Toyota Corporate takes me in to the parts counter to get some parts for herself that were ordered. While I am there I ask her if I can get some oil filters since I am running low. I pick some from the shelf and she flashes her Toyota badge which gets her a big discount on the parts. The parts guy, the same one who waited on me (but did not recognize me) asks us if we need some crush washers. I say sure and he throws a handful into the bag for free!

So, obviously it depends on how the parts guy is feeling that day if you are going to get screwed when you need crush washers.

 

[toto]

I think $3.99 is still a good deal, but they way they went about it sucks. ($2.99 + $1.00)

The cost of parts is VERY arbitrary. The parts guy can charge you anywhere between cost and list price. If you're the average guy off the street, you pay list price. If you're at all connected in the trade, you get better prices. If the parts guy likes you, you get a better price.

But for what it's worth, I have yet to replace a washer, and I have yet to have any sort of problem. I have a pile of washers in the toolbox that I've gotten free without even asking.

 

[Jacobzky]

in actuality the price of the oil filter is $3.99USD

 

[Northof49]

I probably should have just walked, I don't know.

Or you could have just bought the cheap filters and gone somewhere else that (apparently) has a better price on washers? You're not getting a cheaper oil filter anywhere by the sounds of that price....so that part of it sounds perfectly reasonable to me

The coupon didn't say "$2.99 filter with free washer" did it? I guess I fail to see how the dealership did anything wrong?

 

[juneau92]

I think $3.99 is still a good deal, but they way they went about it sucks. ($2.99 + $1.00)

Yes, I agree. I'm not really complaining (that much anyway), it's just the way they sucked me in with the $2.99 deal. Like someone else stated, I could have just got the filters only, but I needed the washers, and by the time I drive to another stealership to get them at 10 cents each like I do on my other car, it's not worth the time and gas.

But oh well, like you said, $3.99 not too bad anyways. $2.99 for filter w/ washer would have been better, though.

On a side note: If they had just thrown in the washers for free, I would have thought "Nice place here, nice folks, honest." Now I kinda feel like they're going to try and rob me for whatever they can each time I visit them. "Stealership" is an appropriate term used amoung us. Believe me I'll be on guard now whenever I need to go in for service.

 

[Uneek]

I get the filters for $3-3.50 each and the washers are thrown in. I think online the washers are $.50 a piece.

 

[toto]

If they had just thrown in the washers for free, I would have thought "Nice place here, nice folks, honest."

I agree... that's the big thing with dealers that I just don't get. They never seem to think about the next sale and building a relationship with the customer. It's always "how can I maximize the sale that's here now?" With parts and service, they bring you in with a special offer of some kind, and then charge lots extra to actually make that offer useful. I laugh at all the service coupons I get in the mail that say something like "Full Brake Service", and then you read the fine print and it's just a bunch of inspections or adjusting a screw half a turn.

The first car dealer I encounter that would just offer a fair service at a fair price - not a lowball, zero margin price, but a profitable yet competitive price - would surely get my business.

 

[Jeff Kleb]

My favorite was at the Toyota dealer back in '93 or '94 with my ex-wife's Corolla. It was there for a state inspection and they typically (although I think they only have to pull two wheels) remove all four wheels to check the brake linings. I saw all four tires off the car and then asked them to just put the front tires on the rear and rear tires on the front; since they had them all off anyway.

Guess what? The sh*tstains charged me $25 for a tire rotation! Now that is what I would call chutzpah any day of the week.
:bash:

And these jerks actually wonder why people who can "turn a wrench" avoid their service department for everything but warranty work. Sheesh!

 

[juneau92]

Guess what? The sh*tstains charged me $25 for a tire rotation!

LMAO!!! Man, that's bad!! :biggrin2:

 

[JungleJim]

Re: Re: Stealership took me for a ride

Or you could have just bought the cheap filters and gone somewhere else that (apparently) has a better price on washers?

The problem I've found concerning washers is that most auto parts stores only sell the plastic washers. Thus I'm stuck with getting them at the dealer.

 

[drake3]

Re: Re: Re: Stealership took me for a ride

The problem I've found concerning washers is that most auto parts stores only sell the plastic washers. Thus I'm stuck with getting them at the dealer.

From the motorcycle world you can usually find copper crush washers at the hardware store for cheap - well when copper was cheaper. They won't have the nice felt sprayed on them, but should work the same.

 

[Boston_Runner]

And you can reuse the copper washer.

 

[Buckfever]

I remembered this post and when I went for the touch up paint and he gave it to me for free and I was there so I figured why not get the crush washers. If it makes you feel any better yeah they were a buck each here too and that's what they go for over here, as he printed out an invoice for me.

 

[atomic punk]

4R's have a crush washer????!!!

uh-oh.....

 

[Buckfever]

It's a fiber washer.

 

[atomic punk]

Yeah, I know.... my wife's TL has one. But I had no idea that my 4R has one too. I'm sure my oil change guy has no idea too... yikes.