Drew
Well-known member
I know the feeling, and I am with you on this.First post — compelled to comment re: market adjustment on TRD PRO and Trailhunter.
To be clear: The idea of paying a nickel over MSRP on a Toyota is absurd to me.
I’ve been blessed to purchase a number of new speciality cars over the years, including several built-to-order Porsches. Never paid over MSRP for any of them pre-COVID, during COVID or post-COVID. And it’s not because I’m an exceptional person or negotiator. Their dealers simply don’t engage in this practice. They know that many people who may have money to burn will absolutely refuse to participate in their own gouging. That’s one of the ways they’ve earned and continue to keep their money in the first place.
My wife and I are first-time prospective Toyota buyers. We handed over a $1K refundable deposit for a 2024 Trailhunter or TRD PRO. We told the sales manager we will pay MSRP, period. He took our money. Time will tell what kind of person he is, and what kind of dealer we’re attempting to do business with.
The fact that we can special-order a $250K 911 GT3 at MSRP, but are unsure whether a Toyota dealer will be able to 1) locate a Tacoma to our liking, and 2) sell it to us at MSRP, is telling in the worst possible way. Honda, Genesis and other Japanese and South Korean mainstream manufacturers and dealerships are doing the same thing since COVID turned the market sideways and insane.
Perhaps they see doing business this way as appropriate and profitable. I disagree. The way I see it, if you offer a particular build on your public configurator, customers should be able to buy it without hassle or markup. Otherwise, don’t waste people’s time presenting a dog and pony show. In our case, you’ll lose a single sale, and potential customers for life.
This kind of behavior is the very definition of cutting off your nose to spite your face.
I thought I was going to buy a Hyundai Tucson PHEV. They quoted me MSRP. I ordered. A few months later, they called to ask if I might be interested in a Santa Fe instead, and I said the size was bigger than I was looking for and the price difference was a problem. It was then that they told me the markup on the Tucson would make them equal. I said absolutely not to markup. The manager called me and offered to split the difference. I pointed to my written quote and he tried to blame Hyundai. Team Hyundai of Bend will never see a dime from me.
Peterson Toyota of Boise has promised MSRP for local buyers who order. If they try to go back on that, I will get my money back and they will never get my business. We'll see.
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