I might have #$%&* a Tundra deal...

[Sixty8panther]

The Chevrolet/Cadillac dealer I work at is right up the street

from a Wendy's. (you know, as in Dave Thomas) Money

being very tight right now instead of taking my giant tank to

a local joint for lunch I just walk over to the Wendy's & have

lunch there, you know dollar menu and all.

The other day I'm waiting to get my $4 worth of fast food

when a middle aged couple (early 50s) approach the cashier.

I notice that the guy is holding a brochure for a 2007 Tundra

in his hand, along with some pricing info. written down on a

crude worksheet.

Usually I mind my own business.... well, sometimes... but I

was feeling ballsy that day and so I look over at them and

semi-politely say "You're not actaully thinkning of buying a

Tundra?"

I told them to google a few things, like "toyota oil sludge"

and "tundra camshaft failure" they looked dumbfounded,

almost violated... deer in headlights is putting it mildly.

This actually made me even more pumped up to encourage

them to do some research first, buy later.

The guy looks at my shirt & tie & says: "What do you sell?"

I responded proudly Chevrolets & Cadillacs, but I'm not

telling you to buy a GM, go buy a Dodge, go buy a Ford or

hell even a Titan but DO NOT buy a Toyota without doing

some quiick research.

They ate their $13 of Wendy's food in the opposite corner

of the restaurant, later before I left to run back to work I

gave them my card, upside down, with two lines of text

written on the back:

GOOGLE: TOYOTA OIL SLUGDE

TUNRA CAMSHAFT FAILURE

I said as I walked away: It's not that I want to steal your

business away, but Toyota is ethically a horrible company

and I feel it's my duty to encourage you to do some basic

research before you overpay for an inferior product.

then, I just walked away, proud.

[balthazar]

Nothing wrong with trying to steer your neighbor away from frustration & disappointment! Good job, S8!

[ocnblu]

Very sly.

[K.C.]

Good job. I just hope you spelled Tundra right on your business card. I would hate for you to lose a sale over a little typo.

[Camino LS6]

[daves87rs]

[Sixty8panther]

Yeah... my typing skillllz are much worse than when I use an actual pen.

[91z4me]

I thought everyone knew the first rule of sales: When you say something bad about a competing company or product it reflects back to you.

[Sixty8panther]

91z:

Dude, it's high time to fight dirty. C.R. & the Car Rags are foing all of the dirty work for Toyota.

[91z4me]

91z:

Dude, it's high time to fight dirty. C.R. & the Car Rags are foing all of the dirty work for Toyota.

Just giving you a heads up. B/c the rule is true. I know from experience.

Its like the 2-5 rule: a person who has a good experience will tell about 2 people, a person w/ a bad experience will tell 5+.

A better way to say it is "Were you aware of the problems that Toyota has been facing in its quality recently? If you would like to come by my work I could show some of this to you OR I could mail you some of the information. I am not trying to say something bad about the Tundra but I want people to be informed about their decision beforehand."

They could have taken what you said at face value OR they could have thought "Look at this jerk salesman trying to make a sale when we are just getting a bite to eat."

Either way you took a chance that will likely not have the effect you would have liked.

[mustang84]

Wow, that was some ballsy stuff 68...nice work.

[Cory Wolfe]

Next time give them a business card that says you work for the Toyota dealership.

I concur... That would be brilliant.

[Intrepidation]

Next time give them a business card that says you work for the Toyota dealership.

I concur... That would be brilliant.

Nice job Sxity8, maybe they'll actually look it up and not buy the TRD.

[Sixty8panther]

Yeah... TuRDs are never a good thing.

Especially from Japan, I think Toyota calls it a TuRD

because Tubgirls' cousin manages the Toyota plant

in Japan now.

[AxelTheRed]

Man, people actually buy that thing over there?

Its been...what...six months since the Tundra launched? I still haven't seen more than 4 or 5.

[Sixty8panther]

Man, people actually buy that thing over there?

Its been...what...six months since the Tundra launched? I still haven't seen more than 4 or 5.

Lucky you.

[CARBIZ]

I'm with SixtyEight on this one. There is a fine line between 'slamming' the competition and 'enlightening' people. I keep a thick file at my desk (a lot of stuff sourced via C&G, I might add ) pointing out the lies and subterfuge that Toyota and others have been pulling. I don't pull it out very often, but every once in a while when a customer either starts expressing total ignorance about Japanese cars (like: they are automatically better) or, clearly they are at my desk to find reasons to confirm why they've already decided to buy Toyota, I pull out the print outs of various articles that point out that Toyotas are not perfect.

When you are in the business and there are certain blatant problems out there, it can ingratiate the customer to you by telling (or proving) certain pitfalls out there. For example, a 60 month lease is a horrible idea for any manufacturer, but Hyundai and Kia promote the hell out of them around here. I have closed many deals (keep in mind that leasing is a huge part of the Toronto market) by pointing out that in the 5th year they will be stuck for tires, more maintenance, timing belts, etc. It isn't really 'bashing' the competition, but there is nothing wrong with pointing out pitfals for the customer.

I think the way SixtyEight handled it is perfect. I've overheard people in my gym 'bragging' about their vehicles and I usually ignore it, but occasionally I will make a remark. Very often I refer them to C&G where the debates (as we all know) are lively and where the good (and the bad) gets aired equally.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with an informed customer.

[K.C.]

I agree. All 68 did was give them more information so they could make an informed decision. You did good bud.

[Sixty8panther]

Well thanks guys. As I said I was respectful but factual.