I got approved online with Toyota financial for a new car.....


So I chose a dealer and since I had worked with this one sales guy before (who I really like) I chose to use that dealer.

So me and sales guy are having a nice conversation and I say, hey, shoot me over to financials before we get too deep in this deal. I want to see what my rate is with Toyota....Sure no problem....


So I tell the guy I got a letter from Toyota Financial and wondered if he could give me the rate. He said no, not until you come in...I said, but i have the letter here, why can't I know the rate before I come in and before I commit to buy??? he said thats not how we do things....and don't worry about the rate, we have all kinds of competitive rates we can get you in....and then went on and on with an arrogant and cocky attitude....

I do belive he just killed a sale for my poor salesguy. I will not take my business there. If he was nicer about it fine, but he was such a jerk about it, like he would be doing ME a favor..HE BUDDY I am the one with the pre approval......

what is it with the Toyota place? they think just because they have the Camry they can be jerks? Wow Dennis is gonna be upset when I call him back..

not possible with captive financing to quote a rate until the vehicle is picked out and the price and trade allowance if any is arrived at.

OH I can totally relate to that....I have no problem wtih that...it was his CRAPPY attitude that turned me off...ya know? He was being a real (*)(@#*$)(@#*$ about it!

Even if his attitude was off, I'd still consider swallowing my pride and going through the motions.
At the end of the day, it's how good of a deal you get for the car...and I'd rather get a good rate with a not-so-mild-mannered salesman than get screwed by a honey-tongued one.

I suppose..however I am a memeber of another message board here in Chicago..and when I told my guys n gals about it a lot of them have said they have had the same experience! Seems as if this particular Toyota dealer is just rude and THEY DON"T HAVE to give deals becuase the CAMRY is the hottest selling car....

Well, I don't HAVE to have a new car now....ya know? I guess I like to treat people with respect (I own my own biz too) and when they choose to spend their money with me, I appreciate the biz and am as nice as I can be..because I know they can go elsewhere....

I am HUGE on Customer service...so if it means waiting another month or two I can do that and take my preapproved offer to another dealer....

I have worked hard to get my scores up, ya know?

Realize that they send those letters out just to get people to come into the dealer. That's all that they mean. The manufacturer and the dealer haven't committed to ANYTHING specific when the letter is sent out.

You can go and negoitate the price before you even get into financing. If you don't like the price, no need to go further, walk away. If they are willing to give you a good "out the door" price, then see what APR you can get. Again if you don't like the terms, walk away, though after you apply for financing you're going to suffer a bunch of inq's on your credit reports.

Sure;y there is more than one Toyota store in Chicago?

Assuming you applied on your own behalf.any approved you got for yourself is usually only good for 30 days. Beyond that, you would need to tender another application.

I can definitely understand that.

I would go somewhere else. This second he was rude and cocky that would have ended the deal.

You have to remember that it is not the rude finance guys business. He doesn't care if you come in or not. You have to do what is best for you. It is your money. If you can get a great deal then brush off the finance guy and get your great deal. Don't let one idiot cost you money. Than he has won twice.

rotflmao.. makes me happy im not in the business anymore.


also reminds me of the time a customer came in wanting me to do A Plan on a mustang cobra we had on the lot one time. Desk man said no after he picked himself up off the floor from laughing so hard. I told the customer no we wont do it. That person came back from another dealer who she said honored the A plan on the car and just wanted me to know I missed out on her business. I replied her business wasnt worth the negative CSI score she would have given me or the time wasted on the mini commission when I made 750 on a deal 30 minutes later.


Some customers just arent worth the time and hassle

The only winners were the customer in this scenario and the dealer who sold him the car. He got what he wanted. The automobile biz is not driven by the manufacturer or the dealer, rather the consumer, and this is more true with domestic cars. To admit laughing at customers and then turning them down, is why most car dealers have bad names.

You don't know what kind of business you lost. I purchased a car from a dealer and have since sent 2 others to that dealership b/c of their honest attitude.

There seems to be something up with Toyota dealers. My mom looked at a car (non-Toyota) at one in Fargo and they kept trying to shove a Solara in her face. When they finally realized that she was NOT in fact buying a Toyota, and they started dealing on the car she wanted ('01 A4 for a company car), Toyota Financial came up with a 14% interest rate...she walked out and came back with a 4.9% loan from her bank the next day. They will never get our business again...which sucks for them because she buys company cars quite often. Not only that, but many family friends and relatives have gone elsewhere because of my mom's experience.

What did she say to that?

EXACTLY!!!!!!! Especially for me too! I have a HUGEEEE network of Chicago women that I chat with DAILY!!! (we have our own message board a lot like this) AND we listen to what I each of us has to say. I'm not Oprah by any means but we are ALWAYS dishing out rec's on home/car/ where to go to dinner, etc...and TRUST ME, I told the message board about my experience and it turned into a 3 page thread of couples and individuals telling similar experience with this same dealer.

I respect anyone's right to make money, and I respect the fact I will pay a fair price to allow someone to get paid...we are all in the biz to make money...and I don't expect anyone to kiss my ass, but I do expect to be treated fair and nice and keep the cocky attitude at the door. Be nice to me and I will be SUPER nice to you...with referal business and perhaps bringing my car in for service!