Had an extended chat with my salesperson yesterday. He claims that they had to return the first two Prius because the folks that placed the orders had gotten tired of waiting and had bought something else. He said that they had to flat-bed them back to the regional office; couldn't even offer them to others on their waiting list.<br>Supposedly - I'm "next"...<br>and still waiting,<br>Bill Powell

That's wierd. Why would your dealer have to send Prius back on a flat-bed if the customers rejected them by buying something else prior to delivery. Didn't your dealer call the customers when the cars arrived at Port Newark, at least to find out what options they wanted?<br><br>It also sounds extremely impolite of the customers not to call when they changed their mind. It's a shame dealers have to put up with that.<br><br>Robert Snyder

Robert,<br>The dealer is obliged to return the cars to Toyota - they don't belong to the dealer!<br>I guess the thing that buggs me is that the first one thay had, for delivery, was EXACTLY like the one I have ordered - and they had to send it BACK!! :-(<br>I don't KNOW what the dealer is doing, a worry... and the fact that it took them an excessive amount of time (in MY opinion) to confirm my order has me a little concerned.<br>As for customers - could be that they (the customer) bought a "lot" car there instead of waitiong for the Prius and the dealer tried to pull a fast one.<br>Not to be (too) nasty but car dealers didn't get their reputation by being angels and Boy Scouts...<br>If the original estimate is at all accurate - I still have at lease month to go...<br>AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!!<br>Bill Powell

Hi Bill,<br>I realize the dealer has to return the Prius, and it's actually good to know Toyota is sticking to its guns on that since it's really the only leverage customers have to keep the dealers at MSRP. From your original message, I thought the dealer was caught by surprise by the customers turning down the Prius. If instead the dealers were trying to pull a fast one, well, I hope they got stuck with the bill to ship them back to port.<br><br>I know the wait's hard, but from all the reports coming back from people who have received their Prius, it seems that cars are being delivered at the early end of the promised range. So your estimate of at least a month probably also means not more than a month. And the two rejections you heard about also mean you move up two spots in line which could save you a few extra days.<br><br>Robert Snyder

&gt; wmhpowell wrote on

I got unduly excited when I discovered a Silver Prius in the dealer's back lot parked next to their Green demo. Eventually saw that it was a "PDS Company Car" (anyone know what that is?). <br>Both now have big yellow stickers saying that the car is not currently available for resale and to contact the dealer for the resale date. The sticker also can not be removed until they have put a used car warranty sticker on that.<br><br>Originally, I thought that I was going to get the green demo car two weeks ago since there was confusion on when I would get the car I ordered. <br>Now the dealer is saying thay can't sell the demo (and presumably the PDS car) until they've taken delivery of the first car ordered (mine...).<br><br>I'm glad that Toyota is sticking to their guns - would be really upset if someone got the demo before I got mine!<br><br><br>Needless to say, if I have to wait until mine comes in, I'll take that - it'll be new (clean fuel credit), no demo miles. But it was green, which I've decided I like better - but not worth giving up the tax credit, unless I got the car significantly sooner...<br><br>Guess I literally "missed the boat" and will be part of the next allocation - mid to end October is the latest info, although I haven't gotten any official e-mails from toyota beyond the initial 2-3 months e-mail on 7/27.<br><br>2 months would have been end of Sept. Looks like I'm not going to get the car on the early end of the estimate...<br><br>Dang.