Ordering through dealer

[mrock]

Hello. Been lurking as I am in the market for a LC.

I live in a pretty high demand area - Denver metro. LC's typically have deposits on them before they arrive.

I asked my local dealer about ordering a specific color combo - Pearl White with Java.

They told me Toyota doesn't allow orders and that any dealer that says they will are typically just looking for a dealer trade. And that with demand what it is in my area, dealers aren't really trading.

Wondering if that is accurate and if anyone has any thoughts about ordering.

Thank you!

I live in western Colorado. I have always been willing to travel to get a good deal. Colorado dealers tend to be difficult to move off of MSRP.I negotiate everything over the phone, and require a deal sheet. I let them know that I will be bringing check for the exact amount we have negotiated, and there is no opportunity for any last minute extras. I bought my LC in Cheyenne, my F250 in Oregon, and my Bronco in Detroit. You can use Toyota's website to check inventory anywhere. My strategy is to never walk into a dealership without the deal already done.

 

[Chappy]

If people want to find inventory (allocated and on the ground), visor.vin is way better than Toyota's site, especially if you want to see a wider area and more specifics. This is just my opinion.

 

[Stalactically Gupid]

Hello. Been lurking as I am in the market for a LC.

I live in a pretty high demand area - Denver metro. LC's typically have deposits on them before they arrive.

I asked my local dealer about ordering a specific color combo - Pearl White with Java.

They told me Toyota doesn't allow orders and that any dealer that says they will are typically just looking for a dealer trade. And that with demand what it is in my area, dealers aren't really trading.

Wondering if that is accurate and if anyone has any thoughts about ordering.

Thank you!

Yes -All true. Just picked up a new ‘26 4runner Limited that we “ordered” in October with the portabello interior. The build was allocated to another Dealer and IT dealer had it redirected to them at port.
Check with Jim Rouleau in the FB Forums he may also be a member here
Jim is a broker and can pretty much get any Combination you need and I have it shipped to your area and usually had a pretty good discount

 

[dacillini]

I order Kinsey from Groove Toyota but can’t remember if that was before they sold to a big national dealership. I put a $500 refundable deposit down and gave them my trim and color preference. They called me whenever they had something inbound that matched and gave me the option to buy it

 

[kmershly]

If people want to find inventory (allocated and on the ground), visor.vin is way better than Toyota's site, especially if you want to see a wider area and more specifics. This is just my opinion.

Visor.vin is good, but it costs money for the "Plus" features while Toyota's website is free to use.

 

[SHCKR]

Not to get into a debate about Delivrd, I think he offers a great service and does educate the public which is beneficial.

My Brother used Tomi's technique, first dealership absolutely refused to talk over the phone, in fact the dealership hung up on him, the second after a bit of back and forth said, did you watch Delivrd?

He said that the dealership is well aware of Delivrd and the ownership made it clear they are not going to work with Delivrd nor are they going to partake in the process that Tomi is teaching.

The salesman said that if my Brother wants to come in, fine, but otherwise there was nothing more to say and the salesman said goodbye.

The third dealership said they are no haggle, this is the price take it or leave it.

My Brother was able to use Tomi's method, but with shipping, he was at the price of the no haggle dealership.

Tomi has a great thing and his method can work, but dealerships are aware of Tomi and are adjusting.

I used Tomi's advice, got 7.5% off a 26 LC (74K TSRP, I think it was about $5700 off).

 

[Madscientist]

I searched Toyota inventory within 300 or 500 mile radius and found a LC with the specs I wanted about 250 miles away. Negotiated with the dealer over email then made the trip to get it.

 

[kmershly]

I used Tomi's advice, got 7.5% off a 26 LC (74K TSRP, I think it was about $5700 off).

His advice is sound, no arguments there, he is also a really nice guy, I have emailed back and forth with him.

The problem and he has said as much on his videos is that dealerships are aware of his advice, some realize the value proposition of an easy sale and others don't. Those that don't, some have decided that they will not engage with customers trying to negotiate over the phone (and others still will, even if they hate idea of it) and that is forgetting Tomi's advice which works which is why certain dealerships are making changes.

My brother ran into a dealership who was aware of Tomi's advice and had decided that they will not engage with customers trying to negotiate over the phone, it is what it is.

When I emailed Tomi about the dealership who said to my brother that they are aware of Tomi and ownership has made the decision to not negotiate over the phone no matter what, ending the call saying, if my brother wanted to come, fine, they will negotiate at the dealership, if he doesn't there was nothing more to say and the dealership hung up.

Tomi responded, yes there are dealerships like that and he (Tomi) believes that these sorts of dealerships are misguided, but only the loss of business will change their minds and that loss of business may or may not happen if customers continue to buy cars there and the dealership makes money.

 

[AlexGates]

Another tactic to watch out for, is them pulling the "Oh, we thought you were going to finance, we gave you the financed price."

The place I bought my LCLC from tried this, after I flew in to get it, I showed them the e-mails repeatedly saying I was paying cash, and they backed down.

A dealer in a city next to fine will deal with you, then pull the "that's the financed through us price, we charge $1,000 if you don't finance through us." Not kidding.

*Just because negotiating got brought up. Now, you can get them to drop the price more if you finance through them because they make money off of it. Go for it if you don't mind the minor hit to your credit, and get a much lower % from your bank or you're paying cash. I have a buddy who does this, "This is what I'll pay, I'll finance through you, I don't give a $#@# about the interest rate," Then he pays it off the minute he gets the account number, the dealership loses the bonus, lol.

 

[copernicus]

how do dealerships get bonuses for financing? do you need to finance for a certain period of time?

 

[EOD Guy]

All above are valid points.

My normal MO...... negotiate as if financing, when I receive the written offer, I ask "what if this is a today all cash purchase" Then I go with whatever is cheaper, If it's the finance route, I pay it off as soon as the 1st invoice comes in the mail.

 

[kmershly]

All above are valid points.

My normal MO...... negotiate as if financing, when I receive the written offer, I ask "what if this is a today all cash purchase" Then I go with whatever is cheaper, If it's the finance route, I pay it off as soon as the 1st invoice comes in the mail.

I essentially do the same, I just paid off my wife's vehicle the minute I received the 1st invoice.

About two weeks later, I got a call from the F&I employee hopping mad that I paid it off before three months and cost him his commission.

I said to him, I told the salesman that I wanted to pay cash, he said that if I paid cash it would $1,500 more.

I said, fine I will fiance, but I am going to pay it off immediately.

I said to the F&I guy, the salesman understood that, I am a straight shooter, I do as I say, I have nothing more to say and hung up.