Dealers...love Them Or Hate Them...

[Chris Barnes]

Hey dudes.....I work in the workshop at RRG Rochdale Toyota and i was just wondering....whats your views on the whole setup??? I've heard alot of people say they thought the dealers were quite bad really! I know that our dealers wants to be the best and if you guys give me some thoughts maybe i can just cahnge theses things a little where i work...i know that i always try to do the job right...but how can we get better??

Cheers

Chris

[pizza boy]

Id like chocolate donuts while I wait for services.

[dave5282]

I like clean Curtousy cars!!!!!

I dont like the endless excuses for not getting the free valet (rinse off)

Like the new look dealerships with playstation!!!

[Bibbs]

I'd like sensible prices, mechanics that know what they are on about, people able to work on imports ..

oh, you work for Toyota? Sorry, silly suggestions .. :P

[JT]

can you tell me something??..

im considering getting my car serviced at toyota, as i can get a discount, and it has near FTSH. will they know what they're doing with it, as i would imagine it was years since anything the age of my car came in for a service. all im thinking is, that most of them who work there will be fairly young, so will only have experience of newer cars. is this the case?

[jimma]

I don't like 18 yr old assistants who obviously don't know squat about cars trying to tell me i'm wrong when i know i'm right (trying to bump the bill up with unecessary work). I don't like main dealers prices which are absolutely ridiculous. I now go to a non franchised Toyota trained, Toyota specialist who is good enough to be allowed to use the Toyota name (accredited) who costs less than half and still manages to use OEM parts. I dont like when a main dealer thinks he knows what a Toyota Matrix is but when you turn up it's a 5 door Corolla!! and most of all I don't like being sold the wrong bushes, specially as i'd told them the ones i wanted.! Have a nice day! :D

[Sirius]

I find that a disturbing number of Toyota garages have never heard of a GT-Four, doesn't fill me with confidence, the prices are obscene aswell. £80 for oil change is rediculous. A clutch change comes in close to £1000

I now do nearly all of the work myself apart from major undertakings like a clutch change.

[dazwan]

...I now go to a non franchised Toyota trained, Toyota specialist...

How do I find out about these garages?

Just like most people on here it seems, I think the costs involved by going to a main dealer are ridiculous. I can't complain about the service I've received from the local dealer apart from dodgy quotes that is.

The GF had a quote of £160 on a service, when it came to paying they suddenly added VAT and other costs to that taking it to about £220 claiming that the original quote was VAT free even though she had asked if the price incluided VAT when she got the quote (they said it did include VAT when they gave the quote).

[jimma]

...I now go to a non franchised Toyota trained, Toyota specialist...

How do I find out about these garages?

Just like most people on here it seems, I think the costs involved by going to a main dealer are ridiculous. I can't complain about the service I've received from the local dealer apart from dodgy quotes that is.

The GF had a quote of £160 on a service, when it came to paying they suddenly added VAT and other costs to that taking it to about £220 claiming that the original quote was VAT free even though she had asked if the price incluided VAT when she got the quote (they said it did include VAT when they gave the quote).

Just research i spose mate, I stumbled across my place by accident, It's in Portsmouth, so it's probably a bit outta the way for you.

[Nicola]

I have always found good/friendly customer service at a Toyota garage.

Not impressed when a part breaks a couple of months after the service and kills my car (RIP celica).

People with never be happy with the prices (and extra charges are worse).

I now use independant garages.

Special offers are always tempting

[man-bing]

I've found my local Toyota dealer quite friendly

The overall setup was rather good, nice people, despite one of the sales person needed a can of deodorant everytime i saw him , coffee was drinkable , nice TV to watch, and internet to play with as well

I'm sure the kids area with the dreamcast was there way of keeping the kids happy ;) ;)

Prices were reasonable, and the valet was well needed for my car, despite they sprayed the inside of my car, while the sunroof was open, which was funny as it was a sunny day as well, but they tried to cover it, but failed, as i noticed a few stain marks with a dripping of water in my lap. They assured me it will be sorted out on my next visit

As my car is under warrenty, not much to do apart from, keeping them in business

Bing

[yannick]

Remembering that my dealer is in San Remo, Italy :D :

The sales staff were very welcoming and helpful . Only one was competent in French, but he was pleasant and helpful, not too pushy (he respected my decisions on various options without question) and quite happy to discuss prices, options, payment methods etc.., even if the deal I got was probably not as good as an Italian would have had (I probably didn't wave my arms about enough, get emotional enough, or maybe I should have accused him of stealing the bread from my children's mouths - it seems to be normal there! ). I must say that he was experienced with export sales to France and made some recommendations that were helpful. I had to call him several times on the phone and I was always well recieved, especially as I don't speak Italian.

Only 2 things I can criticise:

1) when I had an appointment to pick up the car my salesman was occupied. He asked me to wait 5 minutes, and he took over an hour to finish with the other clients in the end. Not wholly his fault, but there was no waiting area, so I spent the time looking at a Land Cruiser, a Corolla Verso & a Yaris. Even with 3 lovely cars to look at it was a long wait. :(

2) I had a fault on delivery that I discovered a few miles from the dealer's and I returned just at closing time. They sorted it on the spot (as I would expect), but it was something that they should have spotted on the pre-delivery check. Not serious really, but it makes you wonder about the quality of their work. :(

Haven't yet got to the first servicing yet (should happen in 2 or 3 months or so) but happy so far.

[Karma Supra]

My local toyota place is totally useless.

parts secion is fine, sevice is not acceptable, last time they had my car in there the mechanics were talking so much **** I came in to "take my car out of their care"

it was that bad.

[Starensis]

Ok, where do I start?

Sales:- Thay basically just try to sell you the car as quick as possible without any thought about the amount of money you are about to spend!

When you do agree on a sale & return to pick the car up.....why is it NEVER ready!!!!!!!! :ffs: My brother picked up his used Avensis last week & they had swapped the brand new spare for a 80,000 miler & dented the drivers door! :censor:

Service:- The job it goes in for is always done, however, it comes back out with more faults on than it went in with!!!! :censor:

I call it incompetent!!!

Prices are a complete rip off. How can 1 dealer charge £115 for a 20,000 mile service & another £180??????

Environment:- Showrooms are OK & people tend to be friendly & accommodating.

Summary:- There needs to be a marked improvement in workmanship & customer care. Also requires some form of standard pricing structure across sectors.

Finally, once my warranty has run out, I have no intention of taking mine to a dealership for ANY repairs. If I do it myself, then I know what I'm getting!

Hope this does not appear to be too negative.

[SMW]

My 2p . . .

I think the dealers rely heavily on Toys reputation of quality and reliability and therefore think they don’t have to try too hard.

For me it is attention to the little things that make the difference and add to the experience that you are using a main dealer and not a back street garage.

So things I would like are:

1. Use seat covers and mat protectors in my car

2. Stamp the service book clearly and write legibly

3. If your gonna check my tyre pressures do it when they are cold and set them to the right pressure

4. If you are going to give me a courtesy car can it be a. clean and b. have more than an egg cup amount of fuel in it

5. If I'm paying over £150 for a service don’t charge me 89 pence to top up my (already full) washer jet bottle

6. Leave my radio on the station it was on please

Fell strangely better for that !

[yaristpot]

My 2p worth.....

.... what ever the cost it will still be to much.

.... Courtesy car, ITS FREE!, please replace the full you use.

.... The FREE wash is not a full valet!

[ash4197]

Hi All

I own a Landcruiser Colorado 3.0 TD VX and some idiot on a bicycle hit the drivers side, and caused £1500 worth of damage to the front wing/ grey plastic arch and both the doors.

Toyota Dealers (JCT) qouted me £1500 to repair the car. My insurance company were going to sent the car to their approved repair centre but I said no I want it to go to Toyota, this is the first time i used their repair service. Being Toyota they know their stuff so i thought.

The bloke in charge of the body shop said to me that the job will be 110% and you will not be able to tell the work done.

This was in November, when the car came back they only valeted the front and the back but left the rear seats but folded them so it looks as if they were valeted as well but not.

Damaged my leather door card, put an totally different stripe on the out side which I ma add started to peel off the next day, did not do as promised and if you look clearly you can seen dirt in the pait work and ripples where they tried to fill it but not successfully. :ffs: :ffs:

It's going back for the third time after I wrote to the Cheif Exec with my concern complaining. F :censor:

Now i know that Totoyta don't repair the cars themselfs but subcontract it out to cowboys.

Once I get the TLC back I was goint to get it served there but they have lost my confidence as Dealers and now I will be getting it service buy my local garage who I trust.

Dealers never again. :ffs: :ffs: :ffs:

[CarinaII]

i quite like my toyota dealer, although i wouldn't let them service my car.

I buy all my parts from there, apart from the oil which i buy from Halfords (mobile 1 0W40)

i dont like having to wait 2 days for parts, and then pay a ridicoulius price.

I bought pads at £35 which i tough were reasonable ish, but £51 for 2 Wiper Blades!! I know some of you will say its stupid to pay that prive, but the problem is on the carina II they screw on rather than clip, and many pater parts dont fit properly, and judder after 90, so i thought i'd buy genuine ones and just buy replacemenbt rubbers in future.

I do like their coffee though, and its in apropper china cup. quite like the girl on the parts desk too

[blockbuster]

Hey chris just had my car supergaurded at your shop must admit an excellent job was done on it .....hooray i say for the new valet bay .....on the whole i find RRG Rochdale a good shop if i have any quibbles it would always be the parts and service prices, and as soon as the three years warrantee is up i guess i will have the vehicle serviced elsewhere and i guess this goes for many people, if those service/parts charges was to fall i guess those who use toyota dealership for the warrantee period would come back because the service on the whole is good.

[nws25]

I havent tried my 'new' dealer, but the old one was completely *******.

(hadnt seen me pull up)

Me.........hiya can i have a set of front brake pads for a mkiii supra please??

Parts Guy...........errmmm mkiii???

Me.....like that one outside (pointing at my car)

Parts Guy.......hehe thats a mkii mate

Me......ok thanks, bye...........

[Phil Dubery]

As best as I can work out our Toyota approved main dealer:

- stole bits from our vehicle, staged a break-in by breaking the driver's window and taking the lock out to cover up

- misdiagnosed the belt they'd left loose and removed the differential and tampered with it to cover that up

- damaged the side and rear bumper of the vehicle as well as removing other items and

- retrospectively addressed the areas that should have been undertaken during the service to cover up that the service hadn't been done correctly in the first place.

Toyota GB's response to a well documented and photographed account of events showing why the dealerships story was a non-sense - 'Toyota GB are not in a position to assist because Toyota dealerships are independent companies from Toyota GB' - Toyota GB appear to have forgotten to mention that in all their publicity material .....

Heck - I only work as a Chartered Engineer for a living - what do I know.

Just don't expect any support from Toyota GB if you have problems with your dealer !!!!!!!

[ElNombre]

My local toyota place is totally useless.

parts secion is fine, sevice is not acceptable, last time they had my car in there the mechanics were talking so much **** I came in to "take my car out of their care"

it was that bad.

haha! coxons strikes again! or was it Octagon?

either ones complete ****!

[Phil Dubery]

Has Toyota GB ever actually stepped in to resolve anyone's issues with one of their main dealers? Or has everyone else shared my experience?

Really interested in both sides of the story.

Beer smiley added just to see if they really work ..................

[knightrider]

the service at listers toyota coventry was great until i became listers,

i took in for a service and

got charged for filling my already full washer bottle

they lost my service book and replaced it with a new one but refuse to update it apart from that service i am now never going to have FTSH, they say they have no record of the car but it has had EVERY service done there! the member of staff i spoke too said we havent been here long were listers, AND I KNO HE HAS BEEN THERE FOR A YEARS A FRIEND OF MINE USED TO VALET THERE, AND MY DAD HAS HAD 2 VANS FROM THERE,

the best member of staff has left so no good service just arrogant tw*ts dealin with me now, to be quite honest i regret ever gong there,

they fitted a new gear linkage after a long hard moan,

but

the courtesy car was dirty inside and had rubbish inside

my induction kit was sat in my engine bay after being removed for new gear linkage it looked like it had been thrown in,

my handbrake gaitor had been ripped off (now ruined)

my handbrake handle has no fixing grub screw it has been lost ( now got a loose handle)

switch panel not connected properly took sum fidling to fx

my dad went 2 but his 3rd van from there and they messed up the payments and wouldnt let him take his new van although he was leavin his old one as part ex and it would be his 3rd from there, so he sed stuff it and went somewhere else

and got a better deal!

(they dont care bout customer service anymore there more interested in making new customers than keeping the old ones happy!)

:ffs: :ffs: :ffs: :ffs: :ffs: :ffs: :ffs: :ffs: :ffs: :ffs: :ffs:

[GIDDLEPIN]

When I used to be a truck salesman it was always said, "the sales sell the first vehicle and the service sells the next", there must be something about Toyota, because my firsrt experience was frightening, having problems with the car and especially the service, yet still I go and buy another Toyota.

Maybe It's because I enjoy this site so much!