I’ve seen it repeated many times on this board, most recently in this thread, that, of all sellers of new cars, Toyota dealers are the worst rip-off artists. I never hear any specifics, however. What, specifically has earned them such a bad reputation? For example, for me it would be justified to shout “Fraud” if they routinely quoted a price, then tried to slip unwanted extras past you, or if they agreed to one financing deal, then substituted a higher-priced one after you agreed to buy the car.
On the other hand, if all they happen to do is refuse to agree to the exact discount that a buyer happens to want, or don’t value a trade-in as high as the person doing the trading, that’s just part of the selling game that pretty much all dealers practice to some extent. Toyotas are not the only cars on the market, and if you don’t happen to like the deals they are offering, there are plenty of other places to take your business. So, what’s the story here?
a) loading their cars with with high-cost afternmarket “packs” like fabric protection, pinstriping. etc. and refusing to negotiate on them at all.
b) refusing to negotiate on the price of the car, sometimes even charging above list price
c) offering a lower trade-in for used cars
d) overpricing their own used cars
In short, Toyota dealers are taking the basic product and then jacking up the price because you have to do business with them.
I’m not accusing them of anything illegal. I’m accusing them of general jerkiness. And anytime the general practices of its retailers discourage me from buying a product from a certain manufacturer, jerkiness is bad enough.
Well, I see what you are saying, but in this case ISTM they are just doing what the market allows. Apparently people really, really want Toyotas, enough to allow themselves to be gouged on price. Me, I’ take my business elsewhere. Toyotas aren’t infinitely superior to any other cars on the market.
We are currently on our 3d and 4th Toyotas, all bought from the sale salesman at the same local dealer.
As you may imagine, we have no significant complaints.
Service at the dealership is top rate as well.
Last time we did any comparison, we were really turned off by a number of factors at the local Honda dealer.
Looked at the linked thread, and saw only 1 person complaining about Toyota in California. After 2-3 folks recommended Toyota products.
I suspect dealer service - and integrity - may be a very local situation.
Around these parts, a local Pontiac dealership has an exceptionally bad rep.
I bought a Camry almost a year ago here in Colorado and have no real complaints. I think it’s true Toyota dealers know they don’t have to haggle very much 'cause the brand is really popular. I would imagine Honda dealers are the same. If you want more deference, go to a dealer of a poorly selling brand like Mitsubishi or Ford.
I have never heard that Toyota dealers are more crooked or dishonest than any other car salesmen.
What I HAVE found (and others tend to agree) is that Toyota dealers are far less likely to haggle and cut you a better deal than other dealers are.
And, like it or not, that’s understandable. Toyotas are very popular, and dealers know that they don’t HAVE to bend very much (if they bend at all) on price to make a sale.
I have never heard that about any Toyota dealers around here. The ones I have dealt with have been reasonable. Of course their cars are very popular and so the price is high. It is just a question of supply and demand. I guess if you enter the dealership and try to haggle and beat down the price, they will become pretty impolite. That isn’t the kind of business they are seeking. But if you realize that their vehicles are going to sell at a premium, they have been reasonable people to deal with.
I have never heard of the local Toyota dealers having a bad rep. The only Toyota dealer locally that I don’t like doesn’t have a bad rep, I just hate his commercial.
Well, when Consumer reports used to print “rating the car dealers” Toyota dealers traditionaly ranked either the worst or nearly the worst.
If you read the article linked to in that thread- confessions of a Car Salesman, his first assignment is to a Japanese car company lot. Read the osrt of abuses they were taught to put their customer through. It is quite likely it was a Toyota dealer there, but I suppose it could have been Nissan or something similar. I know Toyota used the “4 square” system, (read the article) which gives them 4 ways to screw you- price, financing, trade-in, and umm, err… :smack:
Not only are they crooks, they are taught to be crooks and Toyota (and other companies) knows it and goes along with it.