Don't Dismiss Dealer

[MorToy]

I know, I know, I'm not one to go to the dealer for parts either, but...on my last toyotapartszone.com order I spaced out and only ordered one set of sway bar cushions for my lower arms. I planned on tackling the job that weekend and in frustrated desperation I called my local dealer (Lithia) and asked (1) if they could get them and (2) if they could match the total (i.e., with shipping) toyotapartszone price. Yes and yes. They were available for pickup at 5 PM the next day. I even ended up saving a buck.

The secret: I had to explain that the parts were *genuine* Toyota OE and that the source was a dealer network; not some internet after-market off-brand cheapo part from some guy named "Steve."

Just a thought.

[splatterdog]

Probably better to have your part #'s handy too. You say 1985 Tercel at the dealer parts dept. and you get instant attitude along with NLA being the common answer because he never looked in a catalog that far back or even heard of a T4 in his lifetime. I've seen that shutdown more than once. It's like asking them for Ford parts sometimes.

My local dealer has dismissed me enough times, so I only use them to "fill in" my orders from Butler now, business or pleasure. Unless it's something small I need right away. I don't think Dan thought too highly of my local guys either after I told him what I'm up against. Some places make it so hard to spend money, even when you really want to.

Funniest dealer visit- I needed some Mopar parts and ran there with my super rusty T4 parts car. Rustiest car I ever owned actually, and that's saying a lot in Mn. Anyway, things were slow and a car salesman practically came running out to greet me. He speaks, I reply- how much for trade? Suddenly he lost his tongue and looked a little like a mime who just got stuck in an invisible box. You should have seen the look of relief when I told him I was just there for parts. I think that was the only time I wasn't "dismissed" by a car dealer for having a T4. Maybe the sales guy was starving? Who knows. Got a good laugh anyhow.

[Petros]

He had just mistaken you for a person who really needed a new car. Thought for sure you were going to buy something based on the condition of the Tercel, he was already figuring he will be able to make this months rent payment.

Funny how when you said you were there for parts the whole idea of selling you something newer left his mind.

[splatterdog]

Not quite. His sales chance was shot down in flames, not the parts guy. I highly doubt the salesman gets any commission from the parts dept. Car salesman and parts guys are on different hemispheres in their world. Maybe even looked at as competition, like the repair shop. I learned long ago to not pre judge car owners. You never know who will fix/buy what. Maybe this salesman had that attitude. But that almost unsafely rusted car with a Snap On jacketed driver should've had all the car salesman running away to take care of a sudden #2. Guys that drive 25 year old $100 rustbuckets typically are not in the market for even the cheapest new Mopar, and they didn't have any Korean stuff on their lot either. Plus, if I was in the market, it sure wouldn't be that car line. I would take 25 year old Toyota reliability over any Mopar. Can't wait to see their new Fiat flavored cars...

On a side note- I was tire shopping once, no wait, lets call it tire buying. One of the biggest tire chains couldn't seem to see past my (competitor)work uniform and spot the hundred's I was waving in the air after 20 minutes of being ignored in the front office. I bought a full set of 32 inch truck tires elsewhere...

[MorToy]

I had a similar experience when I pulled into the dealer for my parts (except I was driving my wife's 2002 Saturn wagon). Yea, I should say dealer is good place to supplement parts when all else fails. Oh-and yes, I blew the guy away by having the original PNC #. After long pause, "How'd you get that number? No one comes with those numbers!" If they have a valid number listed, he said he could probably get it. Along those lines, I sent Neu a PDF I made of the 1983 PNC catalog exploded diagrams. 169 pages. He said he was going to post it.

[CMB]

I am in a lucky situation. My parts guy at the local dealership has an 86 tercel 4wd wagon. He just had the service guys rebuild his engine. He is a nut like us and goes way out of his way to get parts fast and at 20% of list. I go to the dealership if i can't get OEM from online vendor or if the part is not particularly crucial.

[ARCHINSTL]

CMB -
You are indeed lucky to have a parts guy who has a T4WD! And also that one or more wrenches in the back knows how to work on it, should some heavy-duty stuff come along.
Many of us (most ?) are not that fortunate. I know I certainly am not in St. Louis, which ain't exactly a small burg (there are 10 dealers in the immediate Metro area).

I know sometimes it sounds like I am on the payroll of Butler Toy in Indy, but I am not. Now, it does have great pricing on OE parts but more than that, the parts guys REALLY go out of their way to help and find stuff; I'd go to them even if they charged the same 'retail' as I'd get from STL-area dealers - honest! They will even tell me how many of a certain part are left in the USA if that part is getting low in inventory. Other members here can attest to good dealings with Butler.

Not to be exclusive, but several have apparently had similar dealings (and pricing) with Conicelli Toy in the Philly area (it even has 7 language specialists with familiarity ranging from Arabic to Vietnamese [maybe Canadian, too?]).
Tom M.