Not Happy Toyota !

[os86]

That was a perfect explanation Andrew, wish some of the dealer reps were upfront like you were, but its not and that's what makes you special

The issue is not all dealers are being upfront with their clients and I think that is why some of the chaps here are not satisfied.

@Andrew - You will not believe the sort of stuff I have herd from multiple dealers here in VIC , its kinda ridiculous.

[karlos13]

Well said andrew. we do get the situation, my gripe is not with the dealer at all - they have been great in the process.

The long and short however is that while some seem to be able to jump the queue others like myself still do not have a build month - and i have jsut been pushed back a month and a half. This is when there are cars available at other dealerships in my spec

it is sort of like me paying to use a toll road that is backed up when i could have used the highway a little to the left.

[Z86]

I was in the same boat. I preordered on the 1st of May, and specifically asked my dealer if I would get a car out of the first allocation - I was quite clear that I really wanted this car and was happy to find one anywhere. They guaranteed that I would get a car in the first allocation - infact they told me I couldn't have the car I wanted in Auto and if I wanted one in the first batch it would need to be manual. So I signed up.
Over the next month I checked in with them 3 times to ensure I was getting a car - I had no tracking number etc and was worried - they assured me that in WA we don't get tracking numbers because its Toyota WA not TMCA, and my car was definitely coming and so I proceeded to sell my existing car privately.

The day the pricing and release date gets announced I figure that they must now know where my car is. So I go and see them again and push them on it. They say they'll find out for me. The next day they call and say "its due to be built in August/Sept so hopefully will be here in October".
Well I blew my stack. Complained to TMCA. They said sorry but not much they can do. I needed a car (I drive for work). I got my deposited refunded and proceeded to call about a dozen Toyota dealerships across the country. I eventually found a Manual GT in WA for August delivery. It was later than I wanted but thought it was the best I was going to do. So I signed up again.
Over the following 3 weeks, I started to see available cars being on this forum and on carsales. Well I wasn't happy - what was I waiting for? But I figured at least mine is coming. Plus these cars were east coast - I was happy to pay shipping but it would be a hassle.
Anyway earlier this week I get a call that a mistake has been made - the car I'm getting is not actually a manual, its an Auto. If it was a GTS I'd be ok with the auto but I did not want an Auto GT. So it will be a couple more months before a suitable car arrives. This dealer was really apologetic, it was their mistake and offered to release me from my contract right away. I accepted.

Well that was it for me. I needed a car for work and was going to go buy my other choice, a 125i.
As I was jumping online to do some research I quickly checked carsales.... what was this... a White GTS AT available for immediate delivery... in WA (regional dealer). How does this happen? Called the dealer, handed over a deposit via card over the phone... and I picked up my car today (just 2 days later).

TLDR... Don't preorder your car. Post on the forums that you want a car and let the dealers come to you, or do the ring around. The system sucks.

[Isometric Bacon]

Thanks Andrew.

I appreciate that a sales rep such as yourself takes the time to get involved in these online forums and gives us a little transparency in the ordering process behind these cars. People's natural instinct is to mistrust car salesmen and all too often there is a thick layer of smoke and mirrors that can cloud the truth. It's nice to hear things honestly from the other side.

I hope your interactions with the community proves fruitful for you and your dealership. If you were in SA, I would certainly make it a point to order my 86 through you.

[Azzaboynt]

Wish I had ordered mine through Andrew.

Just emailed my salesperson at Chatswood Toyota today to ask for a login to the Toyota order tracking site. He said he didn't have the login details and "oh BTW your Sept build for Oct delivery is now Oct build for Nov delivery, and any new orders placed now won't be built till June 2013!"

Oh well, just gives me an extra month to save for my Red GTS automatic and not have to worry about finance.

[panayi]

Firstly thanks Andrew for your comprehensive response.
I don't think in any of this the salesman is being blamed, and I appreciate your information throught this forum.
My gripe is with Toyota and the way they have handled the preordering system.
A read on this forum, a guy ordered 3 weeks after me and got his car yesterday.
One thing is for sure, I will never preorder again! I would have been better off waiting for the release and ringing around for the next available.
P.S from what I have read Subaru are filling all their preorders first before the vehicles become available to general public. They have stopped taking preorders.

[450hp/tonne]

Originally Posted by newft86

As far as pre-orders are concerned, we are one of the dealers in Sydney, NSW that took pre-orders on the car.

...

Another thing too, when we accepted pre-orders from clients - WE ORDERED THE CARS IMMEDIATELY. WE DID NOT WAIT UNTIL THE 4th of JUNE NOR DID WE WAIT UNTIL OFFICIAL RELEASE ON THE 18th of JUNE. As is normal we received planned production dates on the build sheets

Firstly, thanks Andrew for your thoughts. The process at your dealer does sound honest. I am in no way directing this at your dealership, but would like your knowledge to help understand what may have happened to other forum members.

Typically SAP is used for ordering in many industries - is this online system (or similar) used by dealers to order new models, or is there a manual (off-line) form submitted?
On what date was the 86 material code available to order by this system?
For pre-orders taken before this date, how is TMCA notified?
If the dealer must wait until the model is available for ordering, is it up to the management of the dealer to ensure the first per-order is the first ordered (as your dealer is doing)?

[newft86]

Originally Posted by 450hp/tonne

Firstly, thanks Andrew for your thoughts. The process at your dealer does sound honest. I am in no way directing this at your dealership, but would like your knowledge to help understand what may have happened to other forum members.

Typically SAP is used for ordering in many industries - is this online system (or similar) used by dealers to order new models, or is there a manual (off-line) form submitted?
On what date was the 86 material code available to order by this system?
For pre-orders taken before this date, how is TMCA notified?
If the dealer must wait until the model is available for ordering, is it up to the management of the dealer to ensure the first per-order is the first ordered (as your dealer is doing)?

Hi mate, no worries, now about SAP - sorry mate, i'm not really qualified to answer that question.

In answer to your third question, at dealer level i'd say it would be the manager's responsibility ultimately but most likely he or she would enlist the aid of stock control to assist in that regard. But i've also kept a close eye on all the 86 deals i have done - that's just something i believe i should be doing in the course of my normal duties as a sales rep.

[450hp/tonne]

Originally Posted by newft86

But i've also kept a close eye on all the 86 deals i have done - that's just something i believe i should be doing in the course of my normal duties as a sales rep.

When you followed-up a March per-order in April/May, what was the stock controller or managers response? Had any order for the customer spec vehicle been submitted to TMCA?

[Skorov]

Originally Posted by 450hp/tonne

When you followed-up a March per-order in April/May, what was the stock controller or managers response? Had any order for the customer spec vehicle been submitted to TMCA?

From what I've been told, no orders were actually put through until late May/early June. Simply because the system didn't allow it.

[blood86]

Originally Posted by Skorov

From what I've been told, no orders were actually put through until late May/early June. Simply because the system didn't allow it.

All orders are submitted 3 months in advance so they would have been able to order back in March.

[davey90]

Originally Posted by blood86

All orders are submitted 3 months in advance so they would have been able to order back in March.

Thanks blood86, you're a legend!

*vents after reading comment*

@Skorov...do you remember when you got your web tracking? I think that's when our orders got put in...probably explains why we are so delayed...

[Skorov]

Originally Posted by davey90

Thanks blood86, you're a legend!

*vents after reading comment*

@Skorov...do you remember when you got your web tracking? I think that's when our orders got put in...probably explains why we are so delayed...

It was around the time everyone else started getting them. May sounds right.

[m0nty]

Originally Posted by blood86

All orders are submitted 3 months in advance so they would have been able to order back in March.

I find it so hard to believe that so many people have been short changed because their dealer didn't order their car? One or two sure. But on these forums alone I've seen at least 10 people complaining about their pre-order not being filled. Factor in people that don't even use these boards and the numbers are just to large to think dealers didn't order cars when customers placed orders.

More likely that dealers were allocated a set number of cars and were allocated those units without prejudice by TMCA. There was a mad rush across the network to swap stock to match customer orders. We got what we were given and were only able to order from May onwards hence why our first customer orders (not allocated, then sold cars) will be arriving in September.