Moved topic info. to a new, more accurately titled thread!

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es-7th-gen-2019-present/984327-special-order-custom-order-process-explained.html

 

EXACTLY!!! You’re absolutely right about this. Thank you for the update. I’ve been trying to tell this to everyone in here for the last few days. That there’s NO special ordering going on at Lexus right now. All the Lexus vehicles that are built are all allocations. The person at the Lexus regional headquarters said the same thing. There’s no special ordering going on right now at Lexus. Lexus stopped taking special orders since November of 2021. Nothing has changed since then.

 

At least they are still building them and are, apparently, making minor adjustments in the specs for allocated cars if done on time. My dealer just let me know that the UL I chose from their allotment (they changed the color to Nightfall Mica and deleted the spoiler for me) on 3/12 should be delivered within the week. I'm amazed that it was built that fast! Hopefully it will be delivered as spec'd out. I can't wait!

 

Your situation sounds like they were able to make those adjustments before the specs. were frozen. That also means the the lead time is shorter as it's already one of their allocated vehicles in their pipeline. While technically not a special/custom order by their definition, it still feels like it is since adjustments were made. At the end of the day, if you get close to what you want, sounds like you've won! Congrats and let us know how it turns out.

 

I got lucky timing wise, for certain. What I find interesting is that they are still building them (if it’s on the truck that means it was built within the past two weeks or so), not holding UL builds off to the future. It seems like everything is in flux with this stuff.

 

interesting, though not all surprising. Hopefully the tech industry in general gets the supplies they need by end of the year, but these shortages are insane.

But with a vehicle in allocation with my name on it, why can't it be May already?!?!

 

From what I’ve seen on the Lexus dealership’s allocation computer system for only the northeastern USA geographic region, there were many Ultra Luxury vehicles that were built in the month of March (26 units to be exact) and they’re building the rest of last allocation (another 20 units) for the same northeastern US geographic region next month in May. I’m not 100% sure about this, but I think that this is the last production run for the year for the 2022 Ultra Luxury model for only the northeastern USA geographic region. I think that the next production run for the Ultra Luxury will be in September and October and that it will be the first production run for the new 2023 ES350 model year.

 

******** 2nd Correspondence. ******** Again, this response is from my Lexus contact.

To add context, I will post my question that prompted this response.

My question:

*****, I am grateful for your time when you answer my trivial questions. I just needed clarification on something. It sounds like Lexus might still be allowing adjustments to allocated vehicles in a dealers pipeline where the specs. haven't been frozen. Like changing exterior color or adding an option or something, but what would that be classified as, if not a special order? Thanks again, and just let me know when time permits. Thanks again.

P.S.
Sorry, the reason I ask is as I was looking at all the documents I received, the change request that you sent me had an ES hybrid at the bottom. I wasn't sure if you had to give up an allocation to be able to get my Ult. Lux. Was my order considered a custom order or special order? Or just a change request. I've had a few people tell me that when they contacted Lexus corporate and inquired they stated Lexus said that as a rule, the do not accept Custom Orders. So that got me to thinking, is special order a misnomer or are all special/custom orders really just change requests. Sorry for all the questions. But these are very insightful. Thanks



****

*****
*** Response from my contact ***

All very good questions.The verbiage is what gets confusing with these. A custom order makes someone think they can add something that does not normally come on a vehicle. For instance, you may think it would be possible to get rear DVDs added from the factory on an ES350. However, you cannot get this because it is not a ‘normal’ build. So it will be declined if you request it (which cannot be done through the portal, thus the reason Lexus says it does not accept custom orders).

A special order is a request for a vehicle that is not normally made in your area, but can be produced based on the build allowances. Your order was considered a ‘special order’ or ‘SPO’ due to this. It is possible to make the vehicle you received, they just didn’t have the intention of doing so until I submitted your request.

It is sometimes possible to complete a ‘BOS’ change on an incoming allocated vehicle. However, the window to do so is VERY small and I have not had any luck in getting anything to stick since COVID. You can sometimes change color, equipment, etc, but it’s been impossible recently so we have completely stopped pitching that idea.

*****

 

ALT350,
Do you know exactly on which date that your Lexus dealership got the allocation for your car? Exactly how many days “before” 3/12 did your Lexus dealership get the allocation for you car? On which date did your sales manager at your dealership request the deletion of the rear spoiler and the how many days passed by before the 3/12 date before Lexus made the deletion of the rear spoiler and change the color to Mica Nightfall?

 

No, but from the timing (a few days after we first spoke and they were awaiting their next set of pipeline vehicle information) I think it was perhaps 2 or 3 days at most. They acted on my request immediately and heard back from the factory within 24 hours, so it was all quite rapid. As I said, I think I got lucky on the timing…right place at the right time.