Ms350

My Lexus Dealer is the only one in the area, they don't have the color combination I want on the lot and have told me all long they can do a locate and trade vehicles.

Now that I have a buyer for my car I have called to have them locate the vehicle and let me know how long, and he said "of course you realize there will be a 500 to 1000 fee to bring the car in, depending on where it's located" It was not brought up in previous conversations, Is this customary?

lok888

Dealers often swap cars. Fees? I don't think so. They just want extra $$$ from you. Perhaps you want the car tow (flatbed) from other location.

jim256

Everything's negotiable, and if you've already negotiated a price for the car with "x" options, I could see why they'd forewarn you of the expense to send someone (or a flatbed)to get it if it's a long distance. They will have to pay someone to make the trip. On the other hand, it may be just the salesman's way of getting you to reconsider in stock vehicles.

jfelbab

Just tell them to forget it and that you will go to that other dealer and buy the Lexus you want. Then they won't need to go to all that trouble to get you the car and you will save the $500-$1,000. I suspect they will change their tune quickly.

lok888

Not sure what "the only one in the area" means? Is he willing to travel? Be firm and be patient! This is only the third day of the month.

salimshah

If the dealers can swap the allocated vehicles [not arrived at their lots] and the distribution point is the same then you should not be charged extra. I would highly reccomend selecting the vehicle this way. Note the vehicle would then come with the rest of the allocated lot. The delivery date will most probably couple of weeks away.

Where the dealer may ask for more money is if the new vehicle is sitting at another dealers lot and the vehicle is brought in for you.

All fees are subject to negotiations.

Salim

TripleDES

Hey Ms350, I still say take a trip down to California where the 50 available Lexus dealers will be happy to slit each other's throats to earn your business.

(Okay, a bit of an exaggeration, but you will get a better price)

lok888

Ms350 - What color and package(s) that you are looking for? And what is the closer choice(s) your dealer has? And what is the deal on that?

Ms350

Thanks for the help everyone. The Dealer did call back to say he located one that was allocated to another dealer (but has not yet arrived) so he was able to get it re-allocated to them for me. There would be no additional charge. He said it would take a few weeks.

JorgeGVB

I found my local dealer was relucant to find me a RX from another dealer too. It was implied it would be a lot cheaper to buy one off their lot than to obtain one elsewhere.

My local dealer even owns another dealership about 40 miles away and they wanted me to go over there to get one I wanted. Luckily one rolled off the truck at the local lot with color and the options I wanted. They did not even know that, I actually found it myself. Some dealers just want to sell what is in their inventory.

lok888

Isn't it dealer has a list of inventory something like "to be built", "on ground" or "in port"?

TripleDES

They have a list of "Allocated" vehicles from Toyota/Lexus that basically tell them what vehicles are reserved for them complete with the vehicle inquiry report that includes all the information regarding the RX (even the VIN). This report is updated when items such as invoice date, ship date, etc. are realized. If it's en route to the dealer, they tag it as "Freight".

Any Lexus dealer can perform a Vehicle Inquiry Report. The kind ones will even email the report to you.

Here's an abbreviated example:

Sorry the formatting looks a little off when I pasted.