Poor FJ Sales Experience

[C5Drvr]

Went to Oxmoor Toyota in Louisville, KY. Salesman walks up. Basically could only tell me what was on the sticker of the window. Had no literature. No charisma. No clue. I knew more about the FJ from this site and the Toyota site itself. It seemed like he didn't even know what the box in the bed behind the seats was. I had to tell him it was a subwoofer. Did the rest of you experience this buying your FJ's? I can't imagine buyng from someone that doesn't even care about what he is selling. I guess I want a salesman that has the enthusiasim for the truck that I do. By the way, he said they had been selling for "40 thousand" but the sales manager "might let one go for sticker." Oxmoor Toyota. You'll never have my business.

 

[greytandy]

Did the rest of you experience this buying your FJ's?

This is in a Maryland suburb of DC. The first salesman knew almost everything about the vehicle. I was truly impressed, and this was three months ago. He even knew about the speakers in the ceiling. Asked way too much for an FJC that didn't even have what we wanted.

The second salesman (at a different dealership) was semi-clueless. Luckily we had done our homework so it wasn't a big deal. Got it for $100 under MSRP.

Lesson learned - always try to know more than the salesperson.

 

[firetruck41]

That's pretty much par for the course. Do your research before you go to the dealer, when you go to the dealer do your test drive and then make your best deal. Who cares if they know anything about the vehicle chances are good they won't as last week he was selling used cars for the kia dealer across town.

All you need from the salesman is a price you agree to pay, don't believe or listen to anything they say as it is all unreliable, just get the price you want on the sales contract and call it good.

 

[Mustard Dog]

Sounds like the people Toyota had at the Off Road Expo in Pomona last year, fully clueless :laughing:

 

[TexasBadlands]

Went to Oxmoor Toyota in Louisville, KY. Salesman walks up. Basically could only tell me what was on the sticker of the window. Had no literature. No charisma. No clue. I knew more about the FJ from this site and the Toyota site itself. It seemed like he didn't even know what the box in the bed behind the seats was. I had to tell him it was a subwoofer. Did the rest of you experience this buying your FJ's? I can't imagine buyng from someone that doesn't even care about what he is selling. I guess I want a salesman that has the enthusiasim for the truck that I do. By the way, he said they had been selling for "40 thousand" but the sales manager "might let one go for sticker." Oxmoor Toyota. You'll never have my business.

What an idiot. That is one thing Toyota could learn from Land Rover. At Land Rover dealerships, the salesmen know everything about the vehicles, and most have been to the Land Rover driving school to be able to demonstrate what the vehicles can do (which is considerable). Personally, I think the Cruiser lines should be apart from the rest of the Toyotas sold on the lot, a more "off road" approach given to the sales, and salesmen who are real Cruiser oriented guys (or women) and more than likely own 1 or more Cruisers themselves. It would go a long way with customers to have this sort of customer/dealer relationship. At Land Rover, you can buy your Land Rover, and not only outfit your vehicle for off road safari, but even buy Land Rover labeled clothing which is geared towards off roading for the enthusiast. Toyota should do something like that with the Land Cruiser.

My two cents, whether worth it or not.

 

[Kasprzak]

They should also train the salesmen at the LAND ROVER shop repair skills as well for when they break while you are test driving them on one of their courses while the sales men is driving it. YEP!!! Happened to me while test driving a discovery last year. Funny thing was he didn't even hassle me when I walked off the dealership. Just said I understand.

 

[Noisycow]

Your typical dealer lot salesperson - not all - is a lowlife. He/she knows absolutely nothing about what they are selling, period. All they know is how to try and manipulate money out of you. I hate stealerships. I bet I already know more about FJs than 99% of the salespeople that sell them and I don't even own one yet. Same for Mini Coopers. Same for Hummers. Same for a lot of cars. They just don't care about the car itself they care about extracting your wallet - only.

 

[TLCgrappler]

None of this is surprising or FJ or Toyota related.

The first 3 new cars I bought were from salesmen who were gone from the dealer within a month!!

My FJ came from an older guy who was mature enough to simply make the deal with me and not try to "sell" me.

I deeply resent bargaining with salesmen over [mostly] what they are going to get paid while screwing up the buying experience.

Sales is a funny business. I have some experience in securities and heard a seminar delivered by a guy who trained stock salesman. It centered on what the amateur salesman versus the "pro" did. The amateur was knowledgeable and attempted to explain and impart the knowledge he had. The "pro" stayed away from specifics and always answered questions with questions, working into a basic "trust me, you'll love this, you won't be sorry" type of sale. The whole idea seemed to be to identify people who wanted someone else to take the "responsibility" for their purchase decision, and then to do that and sell them (the security in this case). [This certainly works on my mother-in-law.]

If you explained things, you put the responsibilty back to them, and lost control over the transaction. So if this is the model, having salespeople who understand the product can only hurt you. They may actually attempt to explain real facts to the potential buyer.

Louis Armstong must not have just been to a dealership when he recorded "wonderful world".

 

[JohnnyC]

Went to Oxmoor Toyota in Louisville, KY. Salesman walks up. Basically could only tell me what was on the sticker of the window. Had no literature. No charisma. No clue. I knew more about the FJ from this site and the Toyota site itself. It seemed like he didn't even know what the box in the bed behind the seats was. I had to tell him it was a subwoofer. Did the rest of you experience this buying your FJ's? I can't imagine buyng from someone that doesn't even care about what he is selling. I guess I want a salesman that has the enthusiasim for the truck that I do. By the way, he said they had been selling for "40 thousand" but the sales manager "might let one go for sticker." Oxmoor Toyota. You'll never have my business.

I hope you still buy one...dispite a sucky salesman...go someplace else...and do buy one....you will not be disapointed in the truck!

 

[TexasBadlands]

They should also train the salesmen at the LAND ROVER shop repair skills as well for when they break while you are test driving them on one of their courses while the sales men is driving it. YEP!!! Happened to me while test driving a discovery last year. Funny thing was he didn't even hassle me when I walked off the dealership. Just said I understand.

I highly doubt that happened. The Discovery's last year was 2004 and the LR3 (Badged Discovery 3 in the UK came out 2005). Either way Land Rovers aren't junk as many think they are by basing new vehicles on very old series II and III models. The newer Defender, Discovery and Range Rovers are built very well and can take a lot of abuse.

The POINT was, that Land Rover can teach Toyota how to sell their "Off Road" line better - the Land Cruiser line.

I own both, so don't go there when I've been off roading my Disco for 4 years now without a problem.

 

[JohnnyC]

The POINT was, that Land Rover can teach Toyota how to sell their "Off Road" line better - the Land Cruiser line.

X2

 

[Greg B]

Went to Oxmoor Toyota in Louisville, KY. Salesman walks up. Basically could only tell me what was on the sticker of the window. Had no literature. No charisma. No clue. I knew more about the FJ from this site and the Toyota site itself. It seemed like he didn't even know what the box in the bed behind the seats was. I had to tell him it was a subwoofer. Did the rest of you experience this buying your FJ's? I can't imagine buyng from someone that doesn't even care about what he is selling. I guess I want a salesman that has the enthusiasim for the truck that I do. By the way, he said they had been selling for "40 thousand" but the sales manager "might let one go for sticker." Oxmoor Toyota. You'll never have my business.

C5Drvr,
Hey there! I live in Lvl too, and had a terrible experience at Oxmoor Toyota too. Back in 99, I went in to look at a new 4-Runner. The sales people were jerks. They assumed I didn't have enough credit to afford a new 4-Runner and actually said to me, "Well, that lease rate that we advertise is only for people with very high credit scores, you probably won't qualify." Then a couple minutes later, a different sales person told me that they don't let people take their trucks out without an appointment and a credit check when I asked to take one out for a test drive. I told them both to kiss my ass.

Then, I went next door to Land Rover Louisville and bought a brand new LR Discovery Series 2 (the other truck I was interested in at the time). It was the best car buying experience I have ever had. I actually bought 2 more vehicles from them that weren't LR's. They hunted down the used vehicles that I wanted and sold them to me for very good deals. I bought my current 100 series from them that I'm driving right now.

If you want a good Toyota Dealer, go over to Greentree Toyota in Clarksville. They have been good to work with in the past. My wife and I bought a used suv (Jeep G.C.) from them and they were great to work with. That was back in 98 but still, I had good experience there. Since then, my Father-in-Law has bought 3 Camry's from Greentree and also had good success.

Good luck finding an FJ that you like. I am envious. I got to drive one in Moab during CM06 and I thought it was great. Talk about the best way to test drive a new vehicle, have the factory let you drive it in Moab; what a blast! I'm still trying to talk my wife into getting one.

 

[Alacrity]

I'll agree with Texas - the original Series trucks are as good as anything - better than most - engineered in the 50s and 60s. But from the 70s on, the engineering and quality control suffered - until BMW, then Ford, were involved. As much as I like Solihulls designs and aura - their offerings prior to the current were pretty disappointing.

Land Rover has always been a low volume premium brand - normally sold alongside other low volume premium brands. Tends to attract better quality employees in general and the brands are much more concerned about the "experience" - both the dealers and the US marketing arms. In Land Rovers case - good thing, they certainly arent selling reliabilty or residuals - but that is changing. Most Toyota dealers are concerned with volume, and TMS has Lexus to hold the elite brand banner. They did a decent job of getting the FJ legacy through the sales networks - but personnel may be the weak link.

 

[mrtoyota]

I actually had a GREAT buying experience,with a professional, and knowledgable salesperson,made the buying of my "Black Cherry '"4-wd
fun!!

 

[C5Drvr]

Oh, I am pretty sure that I will own an FJ one day. I actually don't live in KY. I am in NJ, I just figured that I would stop by a dealer while I was there so if I didn't want to talk to a salesman for a year while I arrange my finances (I wan't planning on replacing my Durango for another two or three years) I could just blow the dude off saying I lived in another state. Looks like that is what I am going to do anyway. You are right about the test drive thing. Kept hinting at how the thing rode. Would it ride ok for being a daily driver? It knew it was capable off road, how did it handle on the street? Did he even offer a test drive, NOPE. "if you are interested in this or any other Toyota on the lot, let me know. Here's my card." and walked away. I want to be treated like I am important to him, not just another sale. Maybe I should just buy off the internet. They need Priceline for cars.

 

[Maintz]

When buying a new car, any car, always do your research and determine exactly what you're interested in. Your only contact with a dealership salesperson should be for an anonymous test drive. Be courteous, but remember you're not there to gain new friends, and conversation is a waste of your time and the salesoperson's. The salesperson is there to make the sale on the spot, not to wait for you to finish shoppin elsewhere,.... most (not all) will say/do whatever it takes to sell you then, because they know you won't likely return to work with them. There's certainly no reason to listen/ponder/accept the rethoric you'll get.
If you're still a buyer after the test drive, I would suggest emailing/faxing the dealership's internet or leasing dept. an offer in the form of a Kelly Blue Book or Edmunds Automotive printout of MSRP & Dealer Invoice of the vehicle exactly as you want it equipped, and the price you're willing to pay "out-the-door" (including destination charge, sales tax, doc fee and license). Indicate you're not willing to pay for any extras or add-ons including any so-called advertising fees. Ask for a response within 24 hours.
All dealers can locate the same vehicle if they don't have what you want in stock, and they usually can trade with other dealers (i.e. finding a black FJC for you and swapping their blue one).
Obviously, this process gets complicated with a trade-in. Trade-ins get, at best, wholesale values with dings for mileage, condition, etc., and are probably going to auction.
Its been my experience that I'll get 1-2 dealerships willing to discuss offers near or below their Dealer Invoice out of 7-10 dealerships approached. Best advice is don't go to their turf to negotiate the best price,.... you won't get it!
Good luck!

 

[calphi27]

When buying a new car, any car, always do your research and determine exactly what you're interested in. Your only contact with a dealership salesperson should be for an anonymous test drive. Be courteous, but remember you're not there to gain new friends, and conversation is a waste of your time and the salesoperson's. The salesperson is there to make the sale on the spot, not to wait for you to finish shoppin elsewhere,.... most (not all) will say/do whatever it takes to sell you then, because they know you won't likely return to work with them. There's certainly no reason to listen/ponder/accept the rethoric you'll get.
If you're still a buyer after the test drive, I would suggest emailing/faxing the dealership's internet or leasing dept. an offer in the form of a Kelly Blue Book or Edmunds Automotive printout of MSRP & Dealer Invoice of the vehicle exactly as you want it equipped, and the price you're willing to pay "out-the-door" (including destination charge, sales tax, doc fee and license). Indicate you're not willing to pay for any extras or add-ons including any so-called advertising fees. Ask for a response within 24 hours.
All dealers can locate the same vehicle if they don't have what you want in stock, and they usually can trade with other dealers (i.e. finding a black FJC for you and swapping their blue one).
Obviously, this process gets complicated with a trade-in. Trade-ins get, at best, wholesale values with dings for mileage, condition, etc., and are probably going to auction.
Its been my experience that I'll get 1-2 dealerships willing to discuss offers near or below their Dealer Invoice out of 7-10 dealerships approached. Best advice is don't go to their turf to negotiate the best price,.... you won't get it!
Good luck!

X2 And when you talk to the dealership, make sure you work with the fleet manager.