Upset with Lexus Dealer
06-26-06, 02:39 PM
#1
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Upset with Lexus Dealer
Ok! First they call me Saturday and say my exact car I wanted was in. Smokey Granite Mica/Lux/Nav/ML $44,429.00 MSRP. I had paid a $500 deposit to hold a car when it came in. He was not sure about it having the Mark Levinson sound system by the time he confirmed it they had promised the car to someone else. 
I was kind of annoyed. Plus they are not willing to work off of MSRP. I just can't believe there are that many idiots in Houston not willing to shop around, or the average Lexus owner/buyer here in Houston has too much money to just take $3K's and throw it away.
Anyways I get a call from the sales manager, they can get a car from Austin that is Silver instead of the dark gray. However I would have to take the car right now at MSRP. I told him that I could get the car out of the Houston area for less. He hung up on me.
Is he stupid or something.
I have free tickets on Southwest Airlines. From Houston I can fly just about anywhere in the country I need to pick up a car. I can search the internet and buy a car over the phone. I did my Corvette that way. I live in Houston and bought the car in Michigan and picked it up at the factory in Kentucky and had a very nice drive back. Is that small amount of trouble worth paying three grand more for the car. Hell the invoice on this car is $6,000 below MSRP. Greedy little man.
**** I can go buy a BMW 330 for less than this just down the highway.
Even if they would deal on the car now I would tell him shove it
I was kind of annoyed. Plus they are not willing to work off of MSRP. I just can't believe there are that many idiots in Houston not willing to shop around, or the average Lexus owner/buyer here in Houston has too much money to just take $3K's and throw it away. Anyways I get a call from the sales manager, they can get a car from Austin that is Silver instead of the dark gray. However I would have to take the car right now at MSRP. I told him that I could get the car out of the Houston area for less. He hung up on me.
Is he stupid or something. I have free tickets on Southwest Airlines. From Houston I can fly just about anywhere in the country I need to pick up a car. I can search the internet and buy a car over the phone. I did my Corvette that way. I live in Houston and bought the car in Michigan and picked it up at the factory in Kentucky and had a very nice drive back. Is that small amount of trouble worth paying three grand more for the car. Hell the invoice on this car is $6,000 below MSRP. Greedy little man.
**** I can go buy a BMW 330 for less than this just down the highway.
Even if they would deal on the car now I would tell him shove it
Last edited by DaveGS4; 06-26-06 at 02:42 PM. Reason: language
06-26-06, 02:40 PM
#2
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iTrader: (2)
I understand you're upset, but please stop working around our forum language editor and cursing.
You can make your point without the foul language.
You can make your point without the foul language.
06-26-06, 02:45 PM
#3
Lexus Champion
Sorry to hear about your experience. However, the IS (especially the 350 from what I gather) is in short supply in certain areas and the dealerships are getting close to MSRP.
If you were the dealer, would you sell the car for $3K off MSRP if you could get more?
If you were the dealer, would you sell the car for $3K off MSRP if you could get more?
06-26-06, 02:51 PM
#4
Too bad you had a bad experience with the dealers. You'll realize that there are a lot out there that are working for the money, not to help you with your specific needs.
Be patient. In time, you'll find the right car at the right price. Until then, do your best to find a dealer that will help you, not just sell to you.
Be patient. In time, you'll find the right car at the right price. Until then, do your best to find a dealer that will help you, not just sell to you.
06-26-06, 03:26 PM
#6
i take youve never worked in a sales position look at it from both sides, if i was a salesman and if I knew I could easily sell a car for MSRP I would.
which dealer was this sterling mccall, westside, clear lake? PM the salesman if you wish also. Im purchasing a 07 at the end of the year or so
which dealer was this sterling mccall, westside, clear lake? PM the salesman if you wish also. Im purchasing a 07 at the end of the year or so
06-26-06, 03:57 PM
#7
Lexus Champion
hehe, sounds to me like you won't be driving the IS350 this year. You can't get past the car buying experience to get to the car itself. Many people have that problem and end up driving a different car, it's very common. Good luck.
don't get me wrong, no salesperson should hang up the phone on you (profanity notwithstanding). And if you leave a deposit, they really should try to work with you. But if you indeed have the entire country at your disposal (well not really since SWA doesn't exactly fly everywhere), you should have no problems. But I caution you to not overlook the signs (no deal under msrp, deposit doesn't hold up, limited colours) which is the car you are looking for doesnt' exist "all over the country."
do your research. apparently the other buyers who are "throwing away their money" are.
don't get me wrong, no salesperson should hang up the phone on you (profanity notwithstanding). And if you leave a deposit, they really should try to work with you. But if you indeed have the entire country at your disposal (well not really since SWA doesn't exactly fly everywhere), you should have no problems. But I caution you to not overlook the signs (no deal under msrp, deposit doesn't hold up, limited colours) which is the car you are looking for doesnt' exist "all over the country."
do your research. apparently the other buyers who are "throwing away their money" are.
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06-26-06, 04:12 PM
#9
hopefully at the end of the year when i special order an 07 (dont want the premium package they allocate automatically here, dont want nav with ML) hopefully they will come down a little. Even if they dont I still save $1200 (premium package) + $3000 (no nav) and get the exact config I really want
06-26-06, 04:42 PM
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hehe, sounds to me like you won't be driving the IS350 this year. You can't get past the car buying experience to get to the car itself. Many people have that problem and end up driving a different car, it's very common. Good luck.
don't get me wrong, no salesperson should hang up the phone on you (profanity notwithstanding). And if you leave a deposit, they really should try to work with you. But if you indeed have the entire country at your disposal (well not really since SWA doesn't exactly fly everywhere), you should have no problems. But I caution you to not overlook the signs (no deal under msrp, deposit doesn't hold up, limited colours) which is the car you are looking for doesnt' exist "all over the country."
do your research. apparently the other buyers who are "throwing away their money" are.
Kensteele, the dealer was playing games with him 1) offering a car he had "promised" to someone else and 2) hanging up on him when he did not want to pay MSRP. Yes, he is right to want the car at his price - not one dictated by a dealer or by some weasel tactics. Dealers are making holdback in addition to any $ above invoice.... If everyone dropped a blank check off to the dealer when they ordered a car, we would all be paying $50,000 for Ford Escorts --- dealers will charge whatever people are stupid enough to pay and people that want "reasonable" markups hold the line for everyone - on this year prices and next years. Yes, they are in the business of profit and consumers are in the business of "buyer beware" and getting what THEY want for THEIR money...the salesman does not have to make the payments.
With your "hehe", arrogant response did not help the guy.... Are you in the car business? Your reply seemed like the typical car salesman attitude - and that is what causes these weasel car selling games in the first place.
don't get me wrong, no salesperson should hang up the phone on you (profanity notwithstanding). And if you leave a deposit, they really should try to work with you. But if you indeed have the entire country at your disposal (well not really since SWA doesn't exactly fly everywhere), you should have no problems. But I caution you to not overlook the signs (no deal under msrp, deposit doesn't hold up, limited colours) which is the car you are looking for doesnt' exist "all over the country."
do your research. apparently the other buyers who are "throwing away their money" are.
Kensteele, the dealer was playing games with him 1) offering a car he had "promised" to someone else and 2) hanging up on him when he did not want to pay MSRP. Yes, he is right to want the car at his price - not one dictated by a dealer or by some weasel tactics. Dealers are making holdback in addition to any $ above invoice.... If everyone dropped a blank check off to the dealer when they ordered a car, we would all be paying $50,000 for Ford Escorts --- dealers will charge whatever people are stupid enough to pay and people that want "reasonable" markups hold the line for everyone - on this year prices and next years. Yes, they are in the business of profit and consumers are in the business of "buyer beware" and getting what THEY want for THEIR money...the salesman does not have to make the payments.
With your "hehe", arrogant response did not help the guy.... Are you in the car business? Your reply seemed like the typical car salesman attitude - and that is what causes these weasel car selling games in the first place.
06-26-06, 04:53 PM
#11
Lexus Champion
Originally Posted by rotoryfan
hehe, sounds to me like you won't be driving the IS350 this year. You can't get past the car buying experience to get to the car itself. Many people have that problem and end up driving a different car, it's very common. Good luck.
don't get me wrong, no salesperson should hang up the phone on you (profanity notwithstanding). And if you leave a deposit, they really should try to work with you. But if you indeed have the entire country at your disposal (well not really since SWA doesn't exactly fly everywhere), you should have no problems. But I caution you to not overlook the signs (no deal under msrp, deposit doesn't hold up, limited colours) which is the car you are looking for doesnt' exist "all over the country."
do your research. apparently the other buyers who are "throwing away their money" are.
Kensteele, the dealer was playing games with him 1) offering a car he had "promised" to someone else and 2) hanging up on him when he did not want to pay MSRP. Yes, he is right to want the car at his price - not one dictated by a dealer or by some weasel tactics. Dealers are making holdback in addition to any $ above invoice.... If everyone dropped a blank check off to the dealer when they ordered a car, we would all be paying $50,000 for Ford Escorts --- dealers will charge whatever people are stupid enough to pay and people that want "reasonable" markups hold the line for everyone - on this year prices and next years. Yes, they are in the business of profit and consumers are in the business of "buyer beware" and getting what THEY want for THEIR money...the salesman does not have to make the payments.
With your "hehe", arrogant response did not help the guy.... Are you in the car business? Your reply seemed like the typical car salesman attitude - and that is what causes these weasel car selling games in the first place.
don't get me wrong, no salesperson should hang up the phone on you (profanity notwithstanding). And if you leave a deposit, they really should try to work with you. But if you indeed have the entire country at your disposal (well not really since SWA doesn't exactly fly everywhere), you should have no problems. But I caution you to not overlook the signs (no deal under msrp, deposit doesn't hold up, limited colours) which is the car you are looking for doesnt' exist "all over the country."
do your research. apparently the other buyers who are "throwing away their money" are.
Kensteele, the dealer was playing games with him 1) offering a car he had "promised" to someone else and 2) hanging up on him when he did not want to pay MSRP. Yes, he is right to want the car at his price - not one dictated by a dealer or by some weasel tactics. Dealers are making holdback in addition to any $ above invoice.... If everyone dropped a blank check off to the dealer when they ordered a car, we would all be paying $50,000 for Ford Escorts --- dealers will charge whatever people are stupid enough to pay and people that want "reasonable" markups hold the line for everyone - on this year prices and next years. Yes, they are in the business of profit and consumers are in the business of "buyer beware" and getting what THEY want for THEIR money...the salesman does not have to make the payments.
With your "hehe", arrogant response did not help the guy.... Are you in the car business? Your reply seemed like the typical car salesman attitude - and that is what causes these weasel car selling games in the first place.
06-26-06, 05:14 PM
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Kensteele, I have never bought a Lexus - the IS may be my first....and I may have to pay MSRP, to get the color and options I want. But that ticks me off ...
If Lexus wants to change their business model and have everyone special order to get the color and options they want - that is fine with me.... but, Lexus needs to drop the MSRP a couple of thousand dollars because A) special order cars do not cost the dealer money (i.e. paying interest on cars sitting on their lots, inventory costs, etc.) and B) the wait required of the customer - months.
It seems like Lexus dealers want to have their cake and eat it too - not having the expense of maintaining a full inventory of options and colors but charging full price anyway and letting the customer take the hit of waiting for months....
On a 35K car with 5K markup and 3% holdback - the dealer is making approx. $6,000 on a car he does not even have the expense of stocking....why wouldn't a customer want a lower price ??? Plus, future service costs - car dealers make more on servicing cars than selling them.
I asked a dealer in Houston for a price quote and he said "they do not compete with other Lexus dealers". The town I am in has only one dealer .... and they think they can dictate prices - and to many people they can...but only because the customers let them dictate the price.
If Lexus wants to change their business model and have everyone special order to get the color and options they want - that is fine with me.... but, Lexus needs to drop the MSRP a couple of thousand dollars because A) special order cars do not cost the dealer money (i.e. paying interest on cars sitting on their lots, inventory costs, etc.) and B) the wait required of the customer - months.
It seems like Lexus dealers want to have their cake and eat it too - not having the expense of maintaining a full inventory of options and colors but charging full price anyway and letting the customer take the hit of waiting for months....
On a 35K car with 5K markup and 3% holdback - the dealer is making approx. $6,000 on a car he does not even have the expense of stocking....why wouldn't a customer want a lower price ??? Plus, future service costs - car dealers make more on servicing cars than selling them.
I asked a dealer in Houston for a price quote and he said "they do not compete with other Lexus dealers". The town I am in has only one dealer .... and they think they can dictate prices - and to many people they can...but only because the customers let them dictate the price.
06-26-06, 05:15 PM
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Originally Posted by kensteele
I tried to help to OP. I asked him to do the research because it appears to me that he hasn't. Apparently you haven't either.
Doing my own research, I got my car for a great price (well below MSRP) and got all my desired options and my 2nd favorite color combo...and I live in Southern Cal, no less. It's definitely do-able.
Maybe the dude needs to cool down a bit, but at the same time, I have a zero tolerance policy for bad/greedy salespeople--whether in the auto industry or otherwise--so I understand the ire.
06-26-06, 06:10 PM
#15
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Originally Posted by SuperLexy
Doing my own research, I got my car for a great price (well below MSRP) and got all my desired options and my 2nd favorite color combo...and I live in Southern Cal, no less. It's definitely do-able.