This advice may be obvious, especially because the fact that you're reading this means you are likely familiar with how to use the world wide web, but I just had a rather strange experience at my local Toyota dealer that compelled me to share.
I was about to finish a timing belt job, so I went to get 5 gallons of Super Long Life Coolant from the local dealer to prepare for a flush and fill (just got the rig so I wanted to start real fresh). The price came out at about 30% above what I was expecting, based on the online price of ~$18/gal. So I asked Mr. Parts, "Aren't they 18 bucks a pop?"
This is where it begins to get a little fuzzy, as the sheer absurdity of his responses made them so elusive to my memory.
He responded, "Oh, you mean the online prices, hold on," proceeding to tippy tap on his keys with the focus required to conjure up a new price, just for my online self. It came out to $99 rather than $134. Truly magical.
I asked, "Why is there a difference between the online and in person pricing?"
He said, "Ya know with the way things are right now, people are usually ordering for home delivery so online is a little easier..."
I said, "Oh yeah, sure, but what makes the prices different?"
He said again, referring to the validity of his previous statement, "Yeah yeah, a lot of people order online, like we get a lot of orders from Alaska–"
"Don't they have Toyota dealers in Alaska?"
"Oh sure but the prices are so high, like you pay 10 bucks for a loaf of bread, so they just order from us."
At this point I knew that Mr. Parts would not reveal his magic. It was a black box, and I left perplexed. I was glad that our fellow Americans in the 49th state could get parts at a reasonable price, but unsure how they would be treated if they had walked in while on business in the area, thinking they might as well kill two birds with one stone and drink directly from this sweet fountain of life.
All I know is this. If you find yourself ordering parts at the dealer in person, say this simple incantation:
"That Was Not The Price I Saw Online"
The price will drop like magic.
I was about to finish a timing belt job, so I went to get 5 gallons of Super Long Life Coolant from the local dealer to prepare for a flush and fill (just got the rig so I wanted to start real fresh). The price came out at about 30% above what I was expecting, based on the online price of ~$18/gal. So I asked Mr. Parts, "Aren't they 18 bucks a pop?"
This is where it begins to get a little fuzzy, as the sheer absurdity of his responses made them so elusive to my memory.
He responded, "Oh, you mean the online prices, hold on," proceeding to tippy tap on his keys with the focus required to conjure up a new price, just for my online self. It came out to $99 rather than $134. Truly magical.
I asked, "Why is there a difference between the online and in person pricing?"
He said, "Ya know with the way things are right now, people are usually ordering for home delivery so online is a little easier..."
I said, "Oh yeah, sure, but what makes the prices different?"
He said again, referring to the validity of his previous statement, "Yeah yeah, a lot of people order online, like we get a lot of orders from Alaska–"
"Don't they have Toyota dealers in Alaska?"
"Oh sure but the prices are so high, like you pay 10 bucks for a loaf of bread, so they just order from us."
At this point I knew that Mr. Parts would not reveal his magic. It was a black box, and I left perplexed. I was glad that our fellow Americans in the 49th state could get parts at a reasonable price, but unsure how they would be treated if they had walked in while on business in the area, thinking they might as well kill two birds with one stone and drink directly from this sweet fountain of life.
All I know is this. If you find yourself ordering parts at the dealer in person, say this simple incantation:
"That Was Not The Price I Saw Online"
The price will drop like magic.