Sid Waldrop | Page 11

Really really wanted to like this dealership First, let me say i really like Pat Lobb and their green LEED building and have successfully used them for service on my other Toyota. So when we star First, let me say i really like Pat Lobb and their green LEED building and have successfully used them for service on my other Toyota. So when we started shopping for a new Prius V Two, we really expected to buy from them as they are also the closest dealer for us. We started out through the USAA car buying service. We got a certificate saying we were guaranteed at least $3092 off the base sticker and a referral to Pat Lobb, and were under the impression this would provide a no xx approach, not the typical retail car sales approach. Sadly that was not the case. My husband was contacted by Sid and we made an appt to go see a new Prius V in the Two trim with a few additional options. We didn't not want a lot of options so that car was great. Sid was nice enough and let us drive the car but somewhat condescending, explaining to us that a hybrid has both gas and electric power. Gosh, really, maybe that's why it's called a hybird? He needs to get better at tuning his spiel based on the knowledge level of his buyer. Things went downhill after the drive. First there was the "Are you going to buy the car today?" spiel. Second, "This the best price we can do. $2700 off that car's sticker." Stupidly we didn't take the certificate along so couldn't remember the exact number we got from USAA but knew it was better than that but when we asked were told this is the best price they could do. There was a $1000 rebate or 0% financing on the car. Sid actually did the Go get the manager routine and the manager whose name I can't remember was even more insulting. You need the 0% financing that will save you $4800 in finance charges. Well we had %1.49 approved at USAA which carries about $900 over the life of a 60 month note, so it's really a wash, you just have to decide what's a better deal for you as a consumer. Manager tried to tell us you'd have to get a finance rate below %0.9 or you'd be upside down on that. We pretty much ignored that info and left. If you are going to tell someone they can save $4800 in finance charges it might be better to first understand how much they are actually looking at in finance charges. Went home, looked at the USAA certifcate ($3092) off and sent Sid an email telling him we expected at least that off the sticker since it was "guaranteed" and that since the car did have some port options and dealer options above the base sticker you actually have room to come off the price even more since all the options, esp. dealer's options have very generous mark up in them. Sid did not respond, instead left my husband a voice mail about other cars to look at. Ultimately we went to another dealer to look at a used Prius V. While there, we liked the salesman and his no nonsense approach and agreed to look at some new ones with him. He searched inventory for a V Two with the homelink mirror which we did like and the only one in the DFW area was the same one we drove at Pat Lobb. He quoted us a price $500 below Pat Lobb's price. We worked it all out, they traded Pat Lobb for the car and went and got it. Finance guy there was no xx, asked if we would let him finance the car if he could beat the %1.49. We said OK, if there is no drama involved. He made one call, got us %1.39, we did the paperwork and were out of finance in 30 mins. That's they way to sell cars to informed consumers. Treating them like idiots who cannot do math is not. More

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