Flippin worthless salesdrones

[Beowulf]

And look what it's turned you into:

A green rubber guy with an odd cranium....

And on the other side you have the computer geek with total control of the "Global Destruct" button. Get out those computer history books and start readin'

-B-

 

[Good Times]

you really can't blame the sales moron that much. i mean they're pure sales drone that's there to sell whatever they get on their hands at all costs. they work for commission and if it doesn't work out at one place, they move to the next. they don't have the time nor would they take the time to learn the history as they know their life there will be short unless they know they're a great sales person. if that's the case they wouldn't be one as they'll just be a manager there instead.

So with that said, I'd say you're better off just doing your own homework online and then just show up to purchase the vehicle. anyone that needs to ask a sales person something is asking for trouble.

now if your local toy dealership is price gouging then just go visit another dealership. msrp is still too much if you ask me but considering how many dealerships toyota has in the usa, i know you'll find one near you that'll sell for msrp. worst case, just buy it from another dealership that is not near and ship it. figure crosscountry shipping would be no more than 1500? I would say that's way cheaper than 6k over sticker + tax/lic.

 

[Gumby]

I think they should know the current product; standard features, options, engine metrics, construction materials & techniques, and everything that a prospective buyer might ask about a new vehicle.

Knowing what years the FJ60's was manufactured isn't important to a new car salesperson. Hell, I don't even know the years the FJ60 was sold in the US and I certainly don't know the engine/transmission/options and all those details.

However, I know a lot about computers; history, lineage, options, construction, and all those things that are immaterial in today's market. A new computer buyer doesn't need to know that today's Intel processors derived from an 8004, 8008, 8080, 8086, 80186, 80286, and on and on.

IMHO, it is quite vain for someone to expect a salesperson to know that their FJ60 was sold new in 1983 vs 1979.

-B-

I don't expect them to either. I expect them to know all they can about Toyota's biggest launch since the Prius.

I expect them to know it's reflective of a FJ-40 and I expect them to know what an FJ-40 is.

I don't care if they look at mine and don't know that it's a 74 based on the rear doors and wiper motor position. I do care if they say "nice jeep"

 

[atoyot]

My Dad called a dealership in Santa Rosa CA and was told 2WD models will be starting at $26K with no options.

 

[okie]

I went to the local dealership in Pleasanton, Ca. like 5 min away from my house and asked a sales guy about this. haha. First he said. No , toyota is not comming out with anything like that and kind of blew me off. I told him a little about what was comming up for toyota next year. He listened but tried to act like he didn't care. I think he was kinda embarassed. Anyway at the end of the conversation, he said yes ; oh yes the FJ cruiser! ( like he remembered or something) " oh yes those are going to be standard around 80k." I looked at him very suprised( trying to hold in the laughter)

OMFG! what a retard.

I asked him what would make the truck so expensive to be worth 80k.

It is undeblievable ho wdumb they are. These peopel first of all ( int he bay area) need to learn to speak some english, second of all need to do their job)

Anyone could be a care salesman for toyota here. HELL, A kid could do better than thhese retards. Sorry its just soooooo outrageous.

 

[cabron]

okie, that takes the cake for horrible product knowledge. We should all vote on the worst encounter with a Toyota sales person and call their super....

 

[calamaridog]

I've never shopped for a car or truck and known less than the salesperson about the vehicle...

I also like to call bull@&@&@&@& when they talk out of their ass

 

[beaufort-fj60]

you really can't blame the sales moron that much. i mean they're pure sales drone that's there to sell whatever they get on their hands at all costs. they work for commission and if it doesn't work out at one place, they move to the next. they don't have the time nor would they take the time to learn the history as they know their life there will be short unless they know they're a great sales person. if that's the case they wouldn't be one as they'll just be a manager there instead.

So with that said, I'd say you're better off just doing your own homework online and then just show up to purchase the vehicle. anyone that needs to ask a sales person something is asking for trouble.

now if your local toy dealership is price gouging then just go visit another dealership. msrp is still too much if you ask me but considering how many dealerships toyota has in the usa, i know you'll find one near you that'll sell for msrp. worst case, just buy it from another dealership that is not near and ship it. figure crosscountry shipping would be no more than 1500? I would say that's way cheaper than 6k over sticker + tax/lic.

that pretty much sums it up. those guys are there to sell not to be Toyota encyclopedias. But don't get me wrong, it's nice to talk to one that knows the difference between a tire and a light bulb.

 

[LandCruiserSteve]

those guys are there to sell not to be Toyota encyclopedias.

Very true. Their primary job is to sell them rather than being an expert on the vehicle's background.

However, virtually every press release and review on the FJ Cruiser starts off with a recap of the Land Cruiser's history and how the FJC evolved from the FJ25/40. Matter of fact, this whole "retro" pitch is Toyota's primary marketing tool for the FJC.

So, when the average customer walks into the dealership armed with more knowledge of an FJ Cruiser than the salesperson has, that sure doesn't help the credibility of the dealership, nor Toyota for not bringing their own employees up to the same speed as the off-the-street "Joe Consumer."

Like Gumby said, it sure wouldn't hurt if the dealerships had some actual enthusiasm and product knowledge about what they're selling. Especially if their competitors like Rover and even Jeep do.

And, why doesn't Toyota's show any after-sale enthusiasm and support of these trucks?? (Where the heck is Toyota's equivalent to "Camp Jeep" / "Jeep Jamboree," and Land Rover's "Overland Expeditions" for their customers?? )

 

[swank60]

And, why doesn't Toyota's show any after-sale enthusiasm and support of these trucks?? (Where the heck is Toyota's equivalent to "Camp Jeep" / "Jeep Jamboree," and Land Rover's "Overland Expeditions" for their customers?? )

Well, they need a vehicle that is involved in that lifestyle, first. how many soccer moms are going to show up in their 100s or 80s for a weekend of camping, driving in mud or easy trail driving? Same question could apply to RAV4 owners. Toyota's position right now is more like that of Honda, not Jeep - or even Land Rover. Could you see Honda having an "Element Jamboree"?

 

[Gumby]

Honda has one of the biggest customer appreciation parties in the US. It's called the Honda Hoot.

You are right in that it's for a lifestyle enthusiast and not for soccer Mom's though.

 

[LandCruiserSteve]

Well, they need a vehicle that is involved in that lifestyle, first. how many soccer moms are going to show up in their 100s or 80s for a weekend of camping, driving in mud or easy trail driving?

That's my point . . . now they have a new truck other than just the soccer-mom SUVs that can be lifestyle-involved (and they're even advertising it as such). But, Toyota still won't go the extra yard to support that particular lifestyle or interest after the sale like Honda, Rover and Jeep.

 

[swank60]

Yeah, but Toyota probably figures that they don't have to do any of that…

 

[LandCruiserSteve]

Yeah, but Toyota probably figures that they don't have to do any of that…

I'm sure that's the same cocky attitude that GM had before someone kicked them out of first place. (Great cartoon though.)

 

[swank60]

I'm sure that's the same cocky attitude that GM had before someone kicked them out of first place. (Great cartoon though.)

Good point!

I'm a bit of a mysanthrope, so the whole "let's get together because we own similar __________s !" doesn't really speak to me.

Do a lot of people show up at the other events? I'd like to know what percentage of owners go to those events, and what benefits the companies get in return for throwing the events.

Hmmmm.

 

[LandCruiserSteve]

the whole "let's get together because we own similar __________s !" doesn't really speak to me..

Me neither. (In spite of the fact that I'm hanging out here amongst thousands of other 'Cruiserheads. )

Do a lot of people show up at the other events? I'd like to know what percentage of owners go to those events, and what benefits the companies get in return for throwing the events.

I can't speak for the "Honda Hoot," but Rover's and Jeep's events draws a pretty good crowd from what I've seen. Many of which are appreciative enough of the company's interest, that they've become repetitive buyers of the respective vehicles. Again, it's sad that Toyota doesn't show similar appreciation to its customers by becoming more familiar with their own product line, and/or providing after-sale support in the use of their vehicles.

 

[cabron]

I went to the dealer again and the sales guy didnt know the new Cruiser was coming out. he better stick to the Corolla crowd...

 

[firetruck41]

If I go to the local Jeep dealer I guarantee the sales man won't know the difference between a CJ-5 and a CJ-7 and he won't even know there was a CJ-8. Anybody who expects anyone at a dealer to know more about a vehicle that they have actually done some research on, are kidding themselves. Especially in this day and age of "car malls" or multiple manufacturer dealerships. The local jeep dealership shares real estate with VW, Hummer, Subaru, Honda, Saturn, Chrysler, Mitsubishi, and a few others I forgot. The salespeple will tke you from one lot to the other depending what they think they can sell you, even some of the parts departments are combined, all they know is whether or not they have the part number you are looking for, any more help than that is unlikely.

The local Toyota Dealer on the other hand, is exclusively Toyota, not located in an automall, and have lower (relative) pressure sales techniques, and a somewhat helpful parts dept, so they could be better, but are already head and shoulders above the other manufacturers in my experience, here in my town.

 

[Red Fox Ranch]

No wonder people pay a premium for Lexus. Toyota dealers suck.

Amen to that, I own a LX450, bought it used a few years ago, I would drive twice the distance to have it serviced at a Lexus dealer, cost is 6's and you get treated like a king! Pull into a speial enclosed waiting area with overhead doors, walk right through the doors and speak to a service person, free coffee and donuts, 1st class waiting area, night and day from a TOYOTA dealership with all the people and snotty nosed kids coughing all over you!

 

[LandCruiserSteve]

The local Toyota Dealer on the other hand, is exclusively Toyota, not located in an automall, and have lower (relative) pressure sales techniques, and a somewhat helpful parts dept, so they could be better, but are already head and shoulders above the other manufacturers in my experience, here in my town.

I guess that individual dealerships will vary depending on location and management. But, it's still a shame that any car manufacturer's dealership can't know their product line half as well as their customers do.

Not to sound like the old fart that I am , but back in the sixties when all Toyota dealerships had an FJ40 (their flagship vehicle at the time) perched up on that 60 degree display ramp, the sales people could tell you everything from towing capacities to crawl ratios. That's the kind of enthusiasm and interest I wish was still around these days. You'd think with all of this "retro" stuff taking off like crazy, they'd be matching it with a "retro'd" sales attitude as well.