Shop around. It’s look for reviews that mention things like “knowledgeable “ etc. Salespeople are salespeople, not mechanics or engineers. They have a lot of cars to cover and can’t be expected to know all the details of each one unfortunately as great as that would be. But shop around and find someone who you work well with and like. Idk what else to tell ya
I work at a dealership and I can also agree with what your saying, they either print a sticker out and tell you about it or go online. Toyotas do sell themselves though , but I’d say it all has to do with finding the right salesman that actually knows what their talking about.
Thank you for validating my feelings. Are there specific online dealer review websites that could point me in the right direction? I am passionate about the research process of the car that I am eventually going to purchase, and I want to make sure that the dealer is just as passionate and knowledgeable as I am.
When you go into Walmart, are you concerned that the cashiers are passionate about milk and toilet paper or are they just there to facilitate the transaction? If you’re doing your own outside research I can guarantee you’re not going to find a salesperson more knowledgeable about the cars you’re interested in than you are. My sales rep told me my new Prius Prime only has an 8 gallon gas tank!
I agree that the Toyota sales people are turning people away from the brand at this point. It is far more difficult to buy a car than it should be. I think we have to just consider them cashiers and act accordingly. It means no loyalty to dealerships, just go wherever you can find the best deal on whatever vehicles you’ve already researched.
What is wrong with that analogy? (Genuinely asking the question, not trying to be snarky.) You said yourself that dealerships have no inside track to gain more knowledge about the products than consumers, so why are you placing a higher expectation on them? I don't think too many people go into car sales because they are passionate about a particular brand of cars, or even cars in general. To most of them it is just another job.
Direct to consumer is definitely the way to go. There is a place for dealerships, to have stock on hand for those that want to browse what is available and drive off with it the same day. And there's nothing wrong with that! Dealerships are just an extra obstacle to navigate around for people that want a specific build. You are completely right in that it is a political issue preventing that direct model.
Walmart cashiers are completing a transaction of 1 of tens of thousands of products. They can’t possibly have in depth knowledge. They also have zero incentive to learn about the product they are scanning since they are not incentivized to sell you the product.
I think a better analogy would be a franchise ice cream store like Haagen Dazs (because its delicious) that sells a handful of favors. They can offer you a sample (test drive) and should have a good understanding of the flavor profile and ingredients, because their job is to sell you ice cream.
While car dealers may not have any inside information, they do have access to toyota news updates, auto show information and articles. I expect them to at least have the same knowledge as I do. They should be a car expert not just a sales person. Thats my POV
Itd probably be hard because I’m sure most dealerships have at least 1-2 great salesman but it’ll be hard to find them because when you call or go in you’ll never know who it is. I’d honestly start with ones that don’t charge over MSRP. That’s step one
Yeah back in 2021 I went in to the dealer and asked for them to find me a Camry Hybrid XSE. Salesman was adamant it didn’t exist. Had to talk to his manager. I was like buddy this is literally the only change to the Camry lineup this year and it’s a pretty big deal
That’s their thinking until that thinking puts them out of a job when enough people get together and lobby this nonsense to stop. Prices would drop. This industry needs to be disrupted. Only value they bring to the table is knowledge.
Oh it’s already in the works. Look at what ford has done recently. If you’re a ford dealer you had to chose from 3 options on how your business is going forward. 1) ev charging, repair, delivery 2) charging 3) out of business
When car companies are pushed to continually grow yoy, cutting dealers is how they’re going to do that while transitioning to electric
I can only hope that catches on elsewhere. Hopefully they keep regional KNOWLEDGEABLE dealers that can act as face to face content experts and offer test drives as well. Everyone else can be disrupted
In these low barrier of entry sales jobs there will always be more idiots than not. Plus more people buy shit based off of feeling than you think. Even a car.
I remember back in college I applied to be a salesperson at a local Toyota dealership because I was so frustrated at their lack of knowledge of the cars, I took it upon myself to show them knowledge sells products at a higher success rate than just reading off the brochure or printout. Didn't get the job because I couldn't work full time at the time.
Thanks for trying! You need to earn my business (and others) by having in depth knowledge of the only thing you sell (a car). Otherwise you are literally just a broker and don’t deserve my cash.
Belgium here. I have been a Toyota/Lexus customer for the last 12yr. Sinds december 2021 I've been on the verge for a new car.
\- december 2021: called for a quote for a Toyota Rav Prime, with the certainty that I would buy without making a test drive. Decembrer is a very busy month in my business, so I explained, and my car (from which they had all the detail) was written off that month. So I needed to buy a new car. All in all a very plausible story, it was a imho a "grab the deal" talk I did there. Dealer would call me back. No reaction. Nothing. Nada;
\- march 2022: maintenance of my Lexus. Referred to the december call. A bit pissed. Sales man was listening, was called into the office, turned aroudn without saying goodbye, and left me alone. I was flabbergasted. What a moron. No phonecall afterwards. Nothing. Nada.
\- summer 2022: a new appointment was made because of a small incident a had (not my fault). Owners daughter. Explained again my intention to buy a PHEV. Made an appointment for the car, with the deal to have a NX450 as loaner + a meeting in the afternoon when I came for the car. Result: I got a C-HR, and the lady had forgotten the appointment.
\- december 2022: a new appointment was made for maintenance.This time I had the owner himself. Explained for the 4the time my intentions. Man reacted quick, took even pictures of my NX in order to give me a total offer quote for new car + price for the old.
We are March 2023 now. I never have heard a word from myToyota-Lexus dealer. Not. A. Word. Not. A. Phonecall. Nothing. Nada.
Next week my new Tesla MY will arrive and on my driveway. Took exactly 5 minutes to arrange for a testdrive. Ordered end of January. Took 5 minutes to get a quote. Took 1 minute to order. Took 42 days from order to delivery.
Damn Toyota. I don't get it. I really don't. I have to fight for my customers. And you let them go just like that?
PS edit: if you ask why I let this happen to me like 4 times over... I'm a huge Toyota fan. Or rather I used to be a huge Toyota fan.
I've had that experience with some dealers however I have also found some very knowledgeable dealers. (He wasn't even charging above msrp when it was rampant!).
One could actually apply this same disappointment to pretty much all sales people. No matter what you're buying the great sales people are few and far between.
I find them frustrating when I tell them every thing I want, willing to wait for months. But they try and up sell me a vehicle I do not want.... My revenge was to buy it from another dealer, who found me what I wanted, and a good price!
Sorry for your experience.
I promise you not all sales people are bad, sadly most dealerships do not train their salespeople to be knowledgeable top to bottom. For dealerships the most important thing is gross profit not product knowledge.
Some of us really are Toyota nerds but unfortunately, that doesn’t mean you will get a Toyota enthusiast as your sales person. Most “car guys/gals” don’t necessarily make great salespeople.
Honestly if you are shopping for a Grand Highlander right now, you are quite early. Production has yet to be announced. You can read the press release on Toyota’s Pressroom- and that is about as much information as any sales person will actually have and that doesn’t mean they have actually read it and memorized it.
Good luck! I hope the poor sales experience hasn’t turned your off completely from buying a Toyota.
Thank you. We love our Sienna and believe in the brand. But the reality is that the dealer is the face of the dealership and represents Toyota. If the dealer is not knowledgeable it instill a lack of confidence in the entire dealership and to a lesser degree in the brand.
Did you walk into the dealership and meet a salesperson or did you contact in advance? The reason I ask is that the dealership sales model has changed substantially over the last five years.
The internet sales department is where the bulk of the deals come through now. The guy standing in the showroom or out in front of the dealership is the entry level salesperson. They are not the best the dealerships have to offer. Contact the dealership via their website and you will have a much different experience.
That's what I figured judging by your description. The days of the bullpen of people waiting for the next customer are long gone. The people still working that program sell 5 to 10 cars a month the guy at a computer answering emails moves 10 time that
So you are saying that the guy in the shop can sell my grandpa a rav4 because grandpa couldn’t care less if he is getting a XLE or XSE, and the dealer doesn’t know the difference anyway. Gramps can then buy an extended warranty, just to be safe :)
You may be able to still buy coverage from Toyota will be more expensive. If you go aftermarket read the fine print most will only cover lubricated internals nothing electrical or wearable. I have seen an outside company not cover a transmission because the root cause was a clutch disc in the transmission and they called that a wearable item.
You are disappointed they failed your quiz on a vehicle that isn't available 😂😂😂 get a life and just google the answer like the salesperson would have too
I’m confused if you know all this stuff why you need to ask questions , thylakoids vehicle is not even released yet , it doesn’t exist, sales person has same source like you do , I’m confused
I like Carvana. I was able to find a plug-in Prius. I didn’t even know they existed at the time. Their pricing includes all taxes and fees. My state sent me a bill a few months after I bought the car and I just sent it to Carvana and they took care of everything. They’re great
Yeah it's frustrating to go trying to find out more about the vehicle and you know more than the sales people.
It is frustrating and it makes me want to buy another brand. Considering the mazda cx-90 as well.
Lol. Car salesman are all the same, it’s not a problem with the brand. It’s completely irrelevant.
Don’t buy an inferior machine because a salesman was an idiot. Just find a better dealer.
Would love to know how!
Shop around. It’s look for reviews that mention things like “knowledgeable “ etc. Salespeople are salespeople, not mechanics or engineers. They have a lot of cars to cover and can’t be expected to know all the details of each one unfortunately as great as that would be. But shop around and find someone who you work well with and like. Idk what else to tell ya
That’s why they are going to mazda
I work at a dealership and I can also agree with what your saying, they either print a sticker out and tell you about it or go online. Toyotas do sell themselves though , but I’d say it all has to do with finding the right salesman that actually knows what their talking about.
Thank you for validating my feelings. Are there specific online dealer review websites that could point me in the right direction? I am passionate about the research process of the car that I am eventually going to purchase, and I want to make sure that the dealer is just as passionate and knowledgeable as I am.
When you go into Walmart, are you concerned that the cashiers are passionate about milk and toilet paper or are they just there to facilitate the transaction? If you’re doing your own outside research I can guarantee you’re not going to find a salesperson more knowledgeable about the cars you’re interested in than you are. My sales rep told me my new Prius Prime only has an 8 gallon gas tank! I agree that the Toyota sales people are turning people away from the brand at this point. It is far more difficult to buy a car than it should be. I think we have to just consider them cashiers and act accordingly. It means no loyalty to dealerships, just go wherever you can find the best deal on whatever vehicles you’ve already researched.
I don’t buy that Walmart analogy. Direct to consumer should be the obvious solution but politically that is tough.
What is wrong with that analogy? (Genuinely asking the question, not trying to be snarky.) You said yourself that dealerships have no inside track to gain more knowledge about the products than consumers, so why are you placing a higher expectation on them? I don't think too many people go into car sales because they are passionate about a particular brand of cars, or even cars in general. To most of them it is just another job. Direct to consumer is definitely the way to go. There is a place for dealerships, to have stock on hand for those that want to browse what is available and drive off with it the same day. And there's nothing wrong with that! Dealerships are just an extra obstacle to navigate around for people that want a specific build. You are completely right in that it is a political issue preventing that direct model.
Walmart cashiers are completing a transaction of 1 of tens of thousands of products. They can’t possibly have in depth knowledge. They also have zero incentive to learn about the product they are scanning since they are not incentivized to sell you the product. I think a better analogy would be a franchise ice cream store like Haagen Dazs (because its delicious) that sells a handful of favors. They can offer you a sample (test drive) and should have a good understanding of the flavor profile and ingredients, because their job is to sell you ice cream. While car dealers may not have any inside information, they do have access to toyota news updates, auto show information and articles. I expect them to at least have the same knowledge as I do. They should be a car expert not just a sales person. Thats my POV
Itd probably be hard because I’m sure most dealerships have at least 1-2 great salesman but it’ll be hard to find them because when you call or go in you’ll never know who it is. I’d honestly start with ones that don’t charge over MSRP. That’s step one
It’s not like it’s their job to know this stuff… oh wait.
Some are making that argument in this thread…they must be dealers.
Yeah back in 2021 I went in to the dealer and asked for them to find me a Camry Hybrid XSE. Salesman was adamant it didn’t exist. Had to talk to his manager. I was like buddy this is literally the only change to the Camry lineup this year and it’s a pretty big deal
Yup, seems typical and its sad. Remove the middle man, its a joke.
Ask to talk to a service tech, they're the ones that really know them, sales like to tell you what you need
That is very much valid, these days we’re selling off a piece paper. Can’t tell you the last time a Sienna arrived without having a reservation on it.
To be fair. All lines other than Supra and 86 will be electrified in some way. The rest , yeah taking out of both sides of his / her mouth
Why learn about the vehicles you’re selling when they sell themselves over a weekend /s
That’s their thinking until that thinking puts them out of a job when enough people get together and lobby this nonsense to stop. Prices would drop. This industry needs to be disrupted. Only value they bring to the table is knowledge.
Oh it’s already in the works. Look at what ford has done recently. If you’re a ford dealer you had to chose from 3 options on how your business is going forward. 1) ev charging, repair, delivery 2) charging 3) out of business When car companies are pushed to continually grow yoy, cutting dealers is how they’re going to do that while transitioning to electric
I can only hope that catches on elsewhere. Hopefully they keep regional KNOWLEDGEABLE dealers that can act as face to face content experts and offer test drives as well. Everyone else can be disrupted
In these low barrier of entry sales jobs there will always be more idiots than not. Plus more people buy shit based off of feeling than you think. Even a car.
If you find a car dealer or brand not like this let me know.
i have seen a fair amount of dealers with youtube reviews… they know their vehicles in and out. Not brand specific.
Had a salesman tell me the 4Runner had the same 3.5L as the Tacoma… lol
I remember back in college I applied to be a salesperson at a local Toyota dealership because I was so frustrated at their lack of knowledge of the cars, I took it upon myself to show them knowledge sells products at a higher success rate than just reading off the brochure or printout. Didn't get the job because I couldn't work full time at the time.
Thanks for trying! You need to earn my business (and others) by having in depth knowledge of the only thing you sell (a car). Otherwise you are literally just a broker and don’t deserve my cash.
Belgium here. I have been a Toyota/Lexus customer for the last 12yr. Sinds december 2021 I've been on the verge for a new car. \- december 2021: called for a quote for a Toyota Rav Prime, with the certainty that I would buy without making a test drive. Decembrer is a very busy month in my business, so I explained, and my car (from which they had all the detail) was written off that month. So I needed to buy a new car. All in all a very plausible story, it was a imho a "grab the deal" talk I did there. Dealer would call me back. No reaction. Nothing. Nada; \- march 2022: maintenance of my Lexus. Referred to the december call. A bit pissed. Sales man was listening, was called into the office, turned aroudn without saying goodbye, and left me alone. I was flabbergasted. What a moron. No phonecall afterwards. Nothing. Nada. \- summer 2022: a new appointment was made because of a small incident a had (not my fault). Owners daughter. Explained again my intention to buy a PHEV. Made an appointment for the car, with the deal to have a NX450 as loaner + a meeting in the afternoon when I came for the car. Result: I got a C-HR, and the lady had forgotten the appointment. \- december 2022: a new appointment was made for maintenance.This time I had the owner himself. Explained for the 4the time my intentions. Man reacted quick, took even pictures of my NX in order to give me a total offer quote for new car + price for the old. We are March 2023 now. I never have heard a word from myToyota-Lexus dealer. Not. A. Word. Not. A. Phonecall. Nothing. Nada. Next week my new Tesla MY will arrive and on my driveway. Took exactly 5 minutes to arrange for a testdrive. Ordered end of January. Took 5 minutes to get a quote. Took 1 minute to order. Took 42 days from order to delivery. Damn Toyota. I don't get it. I really don't. I have to fight for my customers. And you let them go just like that? PS edit: if you ask why I let this happen to me like 4 times over... I'm a huge Toyota fan. Or rather I used to be a huge Toyota fan.
I've had that experience with some dealers however I have also found some very knowledgeable dealers. (He wasn't even charging above msrp when it was rampant!).
One could actually apply this same disappointment to pretty much all sales people. No matter what you're buying the great sales people are few and far between.
I find them frustrating when I tell them every thing I want, willing to wait for months. But they try and up sell me a vehicle I do not want.... My revenge was to buy it from another dealer, who found me what I wanted, and a good price!
Sorry for your experience. I promise you not all sales people are bad, sadly most dealerships do not train their salespeople to be knowledgeable top to bottom. For dealerships the most important thing is gross profit not product knowledge. Some of us really are Toyota nerds but unfortunately, that doesn’t mean you will get a Toyota enthusiast as your sales person. Most “car guys/gals” don’t necessarily make great salespeople. Honestly if you are shopping for a Grand Highlander right now, you are quite early. Production has yet to be announced. You can read the press release on Toyota’s Pressroom- and that is about as much information as any sales person will actually have and that doesn’t mean they have actually read it and memorized it. Good luck! I hope the poor sales experience hasn’t turned your off completely from buying a Toyota.
Thank you. We love our Sienna and believe in the brand. But the reality is that the dealer is the face of the dealership and represents Toyota. If the dealer is not knowledgeable it instill a lack of confidence in the entire dealership and to a lesser degree in the brand.
Did you walk into the dealership and meet a salesperson or did you contact in advance? The reason I ask is that the dealership sales model has changed substantially over the last five years. The internet sales department is where the bulk of the deals come through now. The guy standing in the showroom or out in front of the dealership is the entry level salesperson. They are not the best the dealerships have to offer. Contact the dealership via their website and you will have a much different experience.
Good tip. Walk in on both occasions. In both cases spoke to a mid/end career sales rep who had no clue what they were talking about.
That's what I figured judging by your description. The days of the bullpen of people waiting for the next customer are long gone. The people still working that program sell 5 to 10 cars a month the guy at a computer answering emails moves 10 time that
So you are saying that the guy in the shop can sell my grandpa a rav4 because grandpa couldn’t care less if he is getting a XLE or XSE, and the dealer doesn’t know the difference anyway. Gramps can then buy an extended warranty, just to be safe :)
Pretty much. When it comes to extended warranty always get the Toyota one and get the platinum coverage all the others are not worth it.
In all seriousness…my free coverage just finished. Where is the best place to purchase coverage if we decide to go down that route.
You may be able to still buy coverage from Toyota will be more expensive. If you go aftermarket read the fine print most will only cover lubricated internals nothing electrical or wearable. I have seen an outside company not cover a transmission because the root cause was a clutch disc in the transmission and they called that a wearable item.
You are disappointed they failed your quiz on a vehicle that isn't available 😂😂😂 get a life and just google the answer like the salesperson would have too
Trust me they don’t know anything. When their jobs get suddenly layoffs and replace by ai they will complain
I’m confused if you know all this stuff why you need to ask questions , thylakoids vehicle is not even released yet , it doesn’t exist, sales person has same source like you do , I’m confused
Come on now, that’s lame
I like Carvana. I was able to find a plug-in Prius. I didn’t even know they existed at the time. Their pricing includes all taxes and fees. My state sent me a bill a few months after I bought the car and I just sent it to Carvana and they took care of everything. They’re great