So tired of the dealership buying experience

[Lando]

You're paying sticker? I saw for the first few years after Covid new vehicles were going for MSRP and sometimes over. I'm glad I wasn't buying then. I just wonder if those days have made some car salesmen greedy now that it is back to somewhat normal.

Yes, MSRP on almost all Toyotas. A year ago when I got mine there was (is?) still a shortage on some in demand ones, the mini-van, Rav 4’s and Corollas basically were arriving pre sold! The only one you could possibly bargain on was the Tundra.

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[TheBandit]

I think Toyota is trying to get out ahead of this in the future with certain dealerships offering to buy completely online with no in-person negotiation. When I bought my 24 SR, I found the truck online at a dealership (difficult to find the manual SR’s in general) about 30 miles away. I walked in and asked to test drive the truck—they didn’t even know they had it on the lot. When I came back I told them exactly how much I was willing to pay and if they wouldn’t make that happen, I would find a dealership that would.

With how much money dealerships make on selling the financing, I understood that many do not like cash/check sales and would not be very willing to negotiate price down, especially on a truck that is so hard to find. I still walked out with the exact truck I wanted under the price I was willing to pay with very minimal discussion and they got the point that I didn’t want to buy any of the add-ons or extended warranties pretty quickly.

In the past, I have financed through 3rd parties and this eliminates most of the issues with the dealership trying to sell financing and any of this ticky tack behavior. I think, when possible, taking that leverage out of the “stealership’s” hands helps a lot with negotiation, especially if you make it clear you’re not afraid to get up and walk out. I probably would not have put up with as much of the nickel and diming as you did, if nothing else to prove a point

 

[izzy]

I think Toyota is trying to get out ahead of this in the future with certain dealerships offering to buy completely online with no in-person negotiation. When I bought my 24 SR, I found the truck online at a dealership (difficult to find the manual SR’s in general) about 30 miles away. I walked in and asked to test drive the truck—they didn’t even know they had it on the lot. When I came back I told them exactly how much I was willing to pay and if they wouldn’t make that happen, I would find a dealership that would.

With how much money dealerships make on selling the financing, I understood that many do not like cash/check sales and would not be very willing to negotiate price down, especially on a truck that is so hard to find. I still walked out with the exact truck I wanted under the price I was willing to pay with very minimal discussion and they got the point that I didn’t want to buy any of the add-ons or extended warranties pretty quickly.

In the past, I have financed through 3rd parties and this eliminates most of the issues with the dealership trying to sell financing and any of this ticky tack behavior. I think, when possible, taking that leverage out of the “stealership’s” hands helps a lot with negotiation, especially if you make it clear you’re not afraid to get up and walk out. I probably would not have put up with as much of the nickel and diming as you did, if nothing else to prove a point

They also don't give a fk if you're buying an SR. They don't make money on those, the longer you take with the salesman the less time he has to sell TrailHunter and TRD Pros

When I walked in to SF Toyota and said I'm buying that SR over there in cash and I don't want to sit in or test drive anything else they got the message.

This is basically how it felt:

 

[RokeHi]

I had no sales issues except for the added on Diamond Ceramic Protection by Penske Auto Group.

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