Just wanted to share my recent experience buying a 2019 4Runner Off Road Premium on behalf of my friend, particularly want to share the bit about the extended warranty.
As I’ve done for other friends, I handled all quotes, negotiations, ensured every detail was correct, and avoided the typical dealer games as best as possible. In return, I got a free BBQ dinner
I followed the same process that I explained earlier in the thread with my truck purchase. I contacted 10+ dealers via email requesting a quote for a very specific build 5 days before the EOM. I kept as much as possible in writing so that I could take the lowest price to other dealers and see if they would beat it. I was transparent that I was shopping multiple dealers. 3 dealers all quoted me the same exact VIN vehicle which had $550 in extra options, 2 basically wiped them out since I told them they were zero value to me. I took the lowest quote to Hickory Toyota, where I bought my truck, since they are willing to beat any offer in writing. They did it on my truck and again on this 4R. As we finalized the deal (12.3% off msrp and promo financing) and they needed a deposit to go get the vehicle, I then broke the news to them that my friend will be making the purchase but I will be there the entire time etc. they pushed but we’re fine with it. This was all via phone with Hickory Toyota up to this point.
When we went to the dealer a few days later to take delivery, everything went well, no surprises. I found a couple minor detailing issues and they fixed them. Things got interesting when we got to the finance office.
This is one “game” we encountered... the price on the paperwork did not match our deal that was signed by the sales guy and sales Mgr. I spotted it, they fixed the ~$800 delta and we moved on. Now we come to the extended warranties... he started and I politely interjected and said “thank but no thanks”. He insisted that he “had to” review the options with us. So I decided to give him 5min and no more as I was getting hungry (drove 70min there right from work) and I checked the forum until finally saying once again “thanks but no thanks”. He tried dealing with her but she wisely looked to me. He began to push, asking why we didn’t want it so I just said “we don’t see any value in it. It’s not necessary for her.”
He tried asking 2 more ways and I had to firmly tell him “No”, before sitting up in my seat, leaning on his desk, and before I could tell him “if you ask about an extended warranty one more time, I’m walking over to the GM to explain why you cost the dealership a sale”, he said “what if it was $10?”. He made me pause because I had never heard that one, so I took a breath, chuckled, and replied “No, lets move on, I’m getting hungry.”
He finally moved on, left the office for a minute. When he was gone my friend asked why he wanted to sell an extended warranty so badly, so I explained what I knew. He came back and offered a $500 interior protection package for free. I laughed and said, “I’m sure it’s not free so once again NO”. He insisted it was free so I told him to show me the numbers, I wanted to see where he was adding and deducting $500. He showed me the numbers and fully explained what he was proposing and a little bit of why. It was free IF my friend didn’t pay the vehicle off early since he reduced the interest rate enough to cover the $500 extra. I openly discussed the pro/con with my friend and she decided to accept the offer. I said to my friend, “apparently this is one of those dealerships where finance guys get fired for not selling enough service plans.” He non-verbally confirmed that.
This is the first time I’ve seen or heard of a dealer being THAT desperate to sell a service plan.
Damn that was a lot longer than I thought it would be, sorry.
As I’ve done for other friends, I handled all quotes, negotiations, ensured every detail was correct, and avoided the typical dealer games as best as possible. In return, I got a free BBQ dinner
I followed the same process that I explained earlier in the thread with my truck purchase. I contacted 10+ dealers via email requesting a quote for a very specific build 5 days before the EOM. I kept as much as possible in writing so that I could take the lowest price to other dealers and see if they would beat it. I was transparent that I was shopping multiple dealers. 3 dealers all quoted me the same exact VIN vehicle which had $550 in extra options, 2 basically wiped them out since I told them they were zero value to me. I took the lowest quote to Hickory Toyota, where I bought my truck, since they are willing to beat any offer in writing. They did it on my truck and again on this 4R. As we finalized the deal (12.3% off msrp and promo financing) and they needed a deposit to go get the vehicle, I then broke the news to them that my friend will be making the purchase but I will be there the entire time etc. they pushed but we’re fine with it. This was all via phone with Hickory Toyota up to this point.
When we went to the dealer a few days later to take delivery, everything went well, no surprises. I found a couple minor detailing issues and they fixed them. Things got interesting when we got to the finance office.
This is one “game” we encountered... the price on the paperwork did not match our deal that was signed by the sales guy and sales Mgr. I spotted it, they fixed the ~$800 delta and we moved on. Now we come to the extended warranties... he started and I politely interjected and said “thank but no thanks”. He insisted that he “had to” review the options with us. So I decided to give him 5min and no more as I was getting hungry (drove 70min there right from work) and I checked the forum until finally saying once again “thanks but no thanks”. He tried dealing with her but she wisely looked to me. He began to push, asking why we didn’t want it so I just said “we don’t see any value in it. It’s not necessary for her.”
He tried asking 2 more ways and I had to firmly tell him “No”, before sitting up in my seat, leaning on his desk, and before I could tell him “if you ask about an extended warranty one more time, I’m walking over to the GM to explain why you cost the dealership a sale”, he said “what if it was $10?”. He made me pause because I had never heard that one, so I took a breath, chuckled, and replied “No, lets move on, I’m getting hungry.”
He finally moved on, left the office for a minute. When he was gone my friend asked why he wanted to sell an extended warranty so badly, so I explained what I knew. He came back and offered a $500 interior protection package for free. I laughed and said, “I’m sure it’s not free so once again NO”. He insisted it was free so I told him to show me the numbers, I wanted to see where he was adding and deducting $500. He showed me the numbers and fully explained what he was proposing and a little bit of why. It was free IF my friend didn’t pay the vehicle off early since he reduced the interest rate enough to cover the $500 extra. I openly discussed the pro/con with my friend and she decided to accept the offer. I said to my friend, “apparently this is one of those dealerships where finance guys get fired for not selling enough service plans.” He non-verbally confirmed that.
This is the first time I’ve seen or heard of a dealer being THAT desperate to sell a service plan.
Damn that was a lot longer than I thought it would be, sorry.